When you crave something sweet, nothing compares to a hand-made confection picked up at a local bakery. The frostings are fluffier, the fillings are finer and the chocolate is simply more divine. Whether you're in the mood for a traditional pastry, classic chocolate chip cookie or a trendy cupcake, our top bakeries in Los Angeles, presented in alphabetical order, will put you on the fast track to sweet tooth satisfaction. If you want to do it yourself, check out our cookbooks for some proven baking recipes.
When you crave something sweet, nothing compares to a hand-made confection picked up at a local bakery. The frostings are fluffier, the fillings are finer an... more
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1
Boule Atelier
408 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048 / 310-289-9977
Boule offers a modern take on the classic Parisian pâtisserie. Boule's pastry team hand-makes every item from the highest quality ingredients, using fresh products from the Santa Monica Farmers Market and Chino Farms, single-bean-origin chocolates, and vanilla beans and spices from around the world. Besides the pâtisserie, where you can choose from the likes of jasmine tea-honey madeleines and macaroons in flavors like rose, lemon and gianduia, there is also a viennoiserie that sells croissants, brioche, scones and pains au chocolat. A glacerie section offers a variety of ice creams and sorbets, and a confiserie holds chocolates and candies like Mumm Champagne-chocolate truffles and lemon-chiffon marshmallows. Teas are available for retail and to enjoy while at Boule, as are a variety of coffees. Looking for something to pick up for a friend? You'll find tea wares, tea books and other gift items available.
2
Clementine
1751 Ensley Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024 / 310-552-1080
A delicious change of pace from the L.A. rat race, Clementine offers simple, rustic dishes made with time and care. The highlights are chef Annie Miler's rustic baked goods such as scones, sticky buns and chocolate chip cookies, but the neighborhood café also offers full breakfast and lunch items as well as gourmet take-out and catering. There's a special menu of bag lunches for kids as well as a deli case filled with tempting selections from old-fashioned chicken salad and deviled eggs to a shrimp-and-calamari mixture and orecchiette pasta salad for the big kid's lunch. Everything is made from scratch, including the unforgettable ginger-limeade. A veteran of the L.A. restaurant scene, Miler lets her Eastern roots shine through with this, her first solo effort, bringing together the best of California's seasonal ingredients with the welcoming, homespun atmosphere of a popular, New England college town café.
3
Delice Bakery
8583 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035 / 310-289-6556
The only totally kosher French bakery in the U.S., Delice offers all sorts of petits fours, tarts, cakes and cookies. We recommend the chocolate ganache with chestnut mousse and meringue Herrisson Cake or the almond biscuit, almond meringue, crema vanilla, coffee mousse and cooked apples with cinnamon Ambre Cake. Other choices to consider are the tarte tatin and the colorful fresh fruit tart with kiwis, blackberries, strawberries and blueberries.
4
La Brea Bakery
624 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036 / 323-939-6813
What began as a diminutive neighborhood bakery has evolved into one of the largest purveyors of artisanal breads and partially-baked dough, supplying fine restaurants across the country. Founder Nancy Silverton, who was also co-founder of adjoining Campanile restaurant, began a tradition of European bread-making in L.A. While her dreams have morphed into a massive commercial operation, the original shop continues as a cherished L.A. culinary landmark, offering store-baked breads, a variety of sweets, olive oils and cheeses. Among the most popular items are La Brea’s sourdough baguette and a fine pain au chocolat. Other specialties include a pecan tart with a bourbon glaze, sticky toffee pudding and the traditional Italian holiday staple, panettone, in either apricot or cranberry. For cookies, choose among iced raisin, linzer and gingerbread. La Brea Bakery also serves sandwiches and salads.
5
La Provence Pâtisserie & Café
8950 W. Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211 / 310-888-8833
European-trained Farshid Hakim turns out refined French pastries, crumbly biscuits and scones, and homemade strawberry butter. His cakes---including a black and white chocolate and a lemon caramel meringue---are pleasing to the eye, but more pleasing to the palate. He does impeccable soups, quiches, pâtés, salads, sandwiches and even a moist baked-turkey with apple. His ice-blended mochas, made with house-roasted coffee and specially blended chocolates, are the best in town. For special occasions and weddings, he goes for broke with a Viennese sweets table.
6
Sprinkles Cupcakes
9635 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212 / 310-274-8765
Causing quite a stir when it opened, this Beverly Hills establishment seems to have a continual line out the door—somewhat reminiscent of Pink’s, only with cupcakes rather than hotdogs. Always offering an assortment of freshly baked mainstay and unique flavors—ranging from vanilla and a variety of chocolates to chai latte and ginger lemon—Sprinkles Cupcakes makes varieties reflecting the season with vanilla peppermint, chocolate peppermint and eggnog spice flavors. For something extra special, request getting some decorated with red and green Christmas trees or blue Stars of David. And to give as stocking stuffers, gift cards are available worth $20 or more.
7
SusieCakes
11708 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049 / 310-442-2253
Susan Sarich is baking all-American desserts using her grandmother’s recipes. Think butterscotch toffee pudding, chocolate wafer icebox pie, iced molasses snap cookies and frosting-filled cupcakes in flavors like orange creamsicle, peanut butter and red velvet. The sleek retro setting features mint green walls and linoleum tile floors.
8
Susina Bakery & Café
7122 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 / 323-934-7900
This European pâtisserie, co-founded by a former Spago pastry chef, creates everything on the premises from the finest ingredients the creative staff can source. Breakfast pastries are a specialty; we like the traditional croissants, cinnamon twists and cherry and chocolate chip scones. Our four-legged friends are mad for the all-natural doggie treats as well. At lunch there is a simple menu of panini with a choice of just-baked white or whole-wheat focaccia, along with salads, lasagna and topnotch quiche. Take home a box of cookies, brownies, an intensely rich chocolate tart or pear tarte Tatin for later. The shop also creates specialty cakes and tarts to-go, as well as picnic boxes for the Hollywood Bowl, the beach or wherever.
9
Sweet Lady Jane
8360 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90069 / 323-653-7145
Everything at this homey café and bakery, from almond croissants to pumpkin cheesecake to chocolate tacos to seasonal pies---there are over 100 items to choose from---is made from the freshest ingredients. Sweet Lady Jane is acclaimed for its cheesecakes, decorated cakes and lemon-meringue tarts, and many a celebrity wedding has included a cake from Jane Lockhart's famous shop. Don't miss the traditional English fruitcakes during the winter holidays. At any time of year, grab one of the tiny tables and enjoy a croissant and coffee, a cup of tea and a luscious scone. Some fine sandwiches make this a worthy destination for the lunch hour, if you're lucky enough to score a seat.
10
3 Square Café + Bakery
1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291 / 310-399-6504
Many mourned the loss of chef Hans Röckenwagner's namesake Santa Monica restaurant, and his breads and decadent pastries have been sorely missed. But now at 3 Square, a casual, neighborhood café, Röckenwagner’s talent with bakery items shines more brightly than ever. Enjoy German apple pancakes, plump fruit scones and sandwiches like a Black Forest panino on fresh-baked breads. Not to be missed is Röckenwagner’s signature burger, served on Hans’ own pretzel bread.
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