Croissants, buns, pastries, and waffles… It was long ago that I had capitulated to these vicious wreckers of my figure, perpetrators of cholesterol and blood sugar levels. (Thank goodness for outdoor hikes and fitness apps!) A cozy café, a sip of good coffee, and a small gourmet dessert have the ability to raise my spirits in seconds, warm me up, and remind me of pleasant memories. We rarely meet, moderately, and only in the best bakeries of Vancouver. I want to share a few of them with you.
Purebread
At Purebread it’s hard to concentrate and stop to look at just one thing: sweet, salty, savory, chocolatey, berry and nutty, vegetarian, gluten-free… The wide assortment will surprise even the most daring baking fantasies. It makes you want to say at the cash register, “Pack all of them up, please!”
Purebread is a family-owned and operated bakery that has now grown to three locations in Vancouver and two in its hometown of Whistler. In addition to the tasty buns, they treat you to good coffee and friendly conversation.
Open daily from 8/9 am to 4/5 pm. Read more at the link.
READ MORE: Vancouver’s Top 10 Coffee Shops
Angus T
Angus T is a small café five minutes from Yaletown station, with bookshelves under the ceiling and highly artistic pastries in white windows. Their pistachio, raspberry and chocolate (a favorite), almond, and blueberry cream croissants taste as delicious as they look. I have been back several times now, all without disappointment.
The bakery is open daily from 8:30 am to 5 pm. There are several tables inside. If you want to catch the raspberry croissants, go before lunch.
The Bench Bakehouse
The Bench Bakehouse – a humble bakery on the corner of the Il Mercato shopping center in Little Italy. A kitchen, warehouse, store – all in one location. The freshness and quality of the products can be seen with the naked eye. The croissants, scones, muffins, and bread at The Bench are excellent. I suggest you try the London Fog croissant, a Canadian chai latte flavor.
The bakery is owned by a couple of successful accountants. Cooking has always been their passion and hobby, to which they have devoted a ton of time and money, studying at the best schools in Europe and America.
Open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Thursdays and Fridays, 6 p.m.)
L’ atelier Patisserie
The title of Vancouver’s tastiest croissant goes to L’ atelier Patisserie without a doubt.This is where the real french chef is and adds a touch of French soul to his baked goods. Sometimes he looks out to check the line outside, greets everyone with a happy “Bonjour” and swiftly rushes away for another batch of crispy, creamy croissants. Eat the baked goods only when they are fresh out of the oven!
The bakery is open Tuesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Small Victory
Small Victory is a great place for afternoon rolls – scones, Brits would definitely appreciate it. It also serves good coffee, breakfast and lunch! A nice interior with a wide selection of sweets.
The bakery is popular; be prepared for a line during rush hour.
There are 3 stores open: in Yaletown (8 am to 4) and South Granville (8 am to 4) and Brentwood (8:30 to 6pm).
READ MORE: Vancouver’s traditional Afternoon Tea
Fratelli Authentic Italian Baking
Italians know a lot about sweets: tiramisu, biscotti, panacotta, cannoli… For fans of the previous list, Vancouver has its own Italian neighborhood with a real Italian bakery and a ton of Italian delicacies – Fratelli Bakery. The windows of this store are filled with eclairs, pies, cannoli, cupcakes and other delights. Tiramisu must be ordered in advance.
This sweet place was founded in 1997 by two brothers, hence the name “Fratelli” – “brothers”.
The bakery on Commercial Drive is open Tuesday through Sunday (9 a.m. to 5 a.m.). New Westminster Branch Tuesday-Saturday (9:30-4:30)
Thierry Cafe
No surprises here: Thierry is one of Downtown’s most popular dessert cafes. Stylish design, a rich selection of chocolate cakes, macarons, pastries, teas and coffee. I think I’ve even been lucky enough to get a free table there a couple times in three years. In December 2020, they opened a second location on Mount Pleasant: a big one and just as tasty. I strongly recommend it!
The hours of operation are on this website.
Grounds for Coffee
Grounds for Coffee positions itself as “the home of the world’s tastiest cinnamon buns!” The buns are really good, especially with seasonal berries. I also like their less sweet muffins and croissants.
There is a wonderful atmosphere in the cafe! On Commercial – high bright ceilings, comfortable tables and delicious coffee. Grounds for Coffee collaborates with local artists and puts artwork up for sale.
Two locations (on Commercial Drive and in Kitsilano) are open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Moore’s Bakery
Moore’s Bakery is a Vancouver old-timer with Dutch and British roots. This family-run bakery has been delighting visitors with hand-baked goods since 1930! Bread, croissants, cookies, muffins, cakes and all kinds of buns… I recommend choosing cakes in advance on the Internet, you can get confused on the spot and come out with a hefty bag of unplanned sweets.
Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Oh Sweet Day!
The owner of the tiny store, Fanny Lam, moved from Hong Kong in 2008. A self-taught baker, she started a baking blog. Her hobby has led to great popularity, a cookbook and her own bakery in Vancouver.
Oh Sweet Day! – A cheesecake lover’s paradise: you can order whole cakes as well as taste mini versions of several flavors. Be sure to try Fannie’s signature Shortbread Cookies and the incredible mousse cakes.
The store is open Wednesday – Sunday, from noon to 6 p.m.
Sweet adventures to all!
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