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A cinnamon roll made with kolache dough from Republic Cantina in Truxton Circle
A cinnamon roll made with kolache dough from Republic Cantina in Truxton Circle
Gabe Hiatt/Eater D.C.

Where to Eat Decadent Cinnamon Rolls in D.C.

Move over, Cinnabon

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A cinnamon roll made with kolache dough from Republic Cantina in Truxton Circle
| Gabe Hiatt/Eater D.C.

The smell of buttery, freshly baked cinnamon rolls is absolutely intoxicating, even if it’s coming from the Cinnabon in the airport. Around D.C. a number of independent cafes and bakeries make rolls and buns that go beyond what the chains have to offer. Here are 15 different options, including sweets that are vegan and gluten-free.

More cinnamon goodness is headed to the DMV soon, with the planned opening of vegan build-your-own cinnamon roll company Cinnaholic in Gaithersburg.

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Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats

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This vegan bakery and cafe in Columbia Heights serves up an eponymous a sticky bun with a swirl of dough, walnuts, cinnamon, and sweet sugar frosting.

Rise Bakery

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Adams Morgan’s gluten-free bakery offers cinnamon rolls slathered with cream cheese icing, of course.

Matchbox

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This wood-fired pizza chain serves piping hot cinnamon rolls in a cast-iron that makes the trip to the table.

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memorial day brunch at matchbox

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Tyber Creek Wine Bar & Kitchen

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This chill Bloomingdale wine bar serves cast iron skillets full of cinnamon rolls smothered in cream cheese frosting during its weekend brunch (Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

Ted's Bulletin

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This local Americana-style chain known for plus-sized baked goods sells “Cinnamon Rolls As Big As Your Head.” They’re served only on weekends, and always sell out quickly.

Birds Eye Coffee Bar and Eatery

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The Southeast Asian cafe and breakfast spot within Doi Moi serves a spin on the cinnamon roll: a Sri Lankan cardamom roll with vanilla bean icing.

Cardamom roll at Birds Eye
Photo: Raisa Aziz

Mikko Nordic Fine Food

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Try a Scandinavian take on the cinnamon roll at Mikko, a Dupont Circle cafe from a chef whose resume includes cooking for the Finnish ambassador. This is one of its best-selling pastries, and chef Mikko Kosonen says those who try it have one reaction: “Oh wow, this is so different then what you can get in the Cinnabon.”

Convivial

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Chef Cedric Maupillier is lauded for Convivial’s massive cinnamon rolls, with dark rum folded into the cream cheese icing.

Republic Cantina

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Truxton Circle’s new cactus-covered Tex-Mex cafe shapes kolache dough into a yeasty, fluffy cinnamon roll topped with a generous hunk of icing.

A cinnamon roll made with kolache dough from Republic Cantina in Truxton Circle
A cinnamon roll made with kolache dough from Republic Cantina in Truxton Circle
Gabe Hiatt/Eater D.C.

Iron Gate Restaurant

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At the Mediterranean-centric Iron Gate, a cinnamon roll gets crossed with baklava in the best way possible. Try this pastry with pistachio, walnut, and honey lemon glaze during brunch.

Buttercream Bakeshop

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Pastry chef Tiffany MacIsaac’s version is called the “cinnascone,” a mashup-that involves buttermilk scone dough dressed up like a cinnamon roll with cinnamon sugar glaze.

A Baked Joint

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Baked & Wired’s sister bakery in Mt. Vernon Triangle adds cinnamon rolls to its menu on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays — sometimes in special seasonal flavors like pumpkin cheesecake.

Farmers Fishers Bakers

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Don’t be shy at the weekend breakfast buffet at Farmers Fishers Bakers, where the all-you-can-eat spread includes gooey cinnamon rolls. These treats are also available Monday through Friday during the Georgetown restuarant’s “First Bake” breakfast service.

Green Pig Bistro

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This sustainable kitchen in Clarendon offers $10 sides of cinnamon rolls during brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Junction Bakery & Bistro

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This Del Ray bakery and bistro uses a brioche dough for a fluffy cinnamon roll. New Junction locations are also headed to Capitol Hill and Chevy Chase later this year.

Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats

This vegan bakery and cafe in Columbia Heights serves up an eponymous a sticky bun with a swirl of dough, walnuts, cinnamon, and sweet sugar frosting.

Rise Bakery

Adams Morgan’s gluten-free bakery offers cinnamon rolls slathered with cream cheese icing, of course.

Matchbox

This wood-fired pizza chain serves piping hot cinnamon rolls in a cast-iron that makes the trip to the table.

View this post on Instagram

memorial day brunch at matchbox

A post shared by matchbox (@matchbox369) on

Tyber Creek Wine Bar & Kitchen

This chill Bloomingdale wine bar serves cast iron skillets full of cinnamon rolls smothered in cream cheese frosting during its weekend brunch (Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

Ted's Bulletin

This local Americana-style chain known for plus-sized baked goods sells “Cinnamon Rolls As Big As Your Head.” They’re served only on weekends, and always sell out quickly.

Birds Eye Coffee Bar and Eatery

The Southeast Asian cafe and breakfast spot within Doi Moi serves a spin on the cinnamon roll: a Sri Lankan cardamom roll with vanilla bean icing.

Cardamom roll at Birds Eye
Photo: Raisa Aziz

Mikko Nordic Fine Food

Try a Scandinavian take on the cinnamon roll at Mikko, a Dupont Circle cafe from a chef whose resume includes cooking for the Finnish ambassador. This is one of its best-selling pastries, and chef Mikko Kosonen says those who try it have one reaction: “Oh wow, this is so different then what you can get in the Cinnabon.”

Convivial

Chef Cedric Maupillier is lauded for Convivial’s massive cinnamon rolls, with dark rum folded into the cream cheese icing.

Republic Cantina

Truxton Circle’s new cactus-covered Tex-Mex cafe shapes kolache dough into a yeasty, fluffy cinnamon roll topped with a generous hunk of icing.

A cinnamon roll made with kolache dough from Republic Cantina in Truxton Circle
A cinnamon roll made with kolache dough from Republic Cantina in Truxton Circle
Gabe Hiatt/Eater D.C.

Iron Gate Restaurant

At the Mediterranean-centric Iron Gate, a cinnamon roll gets crossed with baklava in the best way possible. Try this pastry with pistachio, walnut, and honey lemon glaze during brunch.

Buttercream Bakeshop

Pastry chef Tiffany MacIsaac’s version is called the “cinnascone,” a mashup-that involves buttermilk scone dough dressed up like a cinnamon roll with cinnamon sugar glaze.

A Baked Joint

Baked & Wired’s sister bakery in Mt. Vernon Triangle adds cinnamon rolls to its menu on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays — sometimes in special seasonal flavors like pumpkin cheesecake.

Farmers Fishers Bakers

Don’t be shy at the weekend breakfast buffet at Farmers Fishers Bakers, where the all-you-can-eat spread includes gooey cinnamon rolls. These treats are also available Monday through Friday during the Georgetown restuarant’s “First Bake” breakfast service.

Green Pig Bistro

This sustainable kitchen in Clarendon offers $10 sides of cinnamon rolls during brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Junction Bakery & Bistro

This Del Ray bakery and bistro uses a brioche dough for a fluffy cinnamon roll. New Junction locations are also headed to Capitol Hill and Chevy Chase later this year.

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