Trying to resist carbs may be part of the norm these days, but it’s hard not to crave the taste of freshly baked bread and indulgent pastries. The siren call of a crusty baguette or flaky croissant filled with chocolate lures us to bakeries suited to satiate those carboholic fantasies.
With restaurant owners accommodating different dietary restrictions in an effort to be all inclusive, Houston bakeries have followed suit, adding gluten-free, dairy-free, and allergen-friendly treats to their menus. And others go the extra mile to incorporate global flavors and international influences into their bounty, as a nod to Houston’s diverse food culture.
Stop in for a croissant, try a kolache or two, or stock up on whole loaves at some of Houston’s best bakeries. The diet can wait.
Magnol French Baking
Owned and operated by Otto Sanchez, this European-style bakery offers some of the best organic breads and hand-crafted pastries in the city. Along with his wife Kristen White, and executive pastry chef-partner, Nicholas Berrais, Sanchez delivers baked goods that reflect his talent from previous stints at Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels. Visitors of the retail shop can linger over a beautifully-laminated croissant and latte, or pick up whole loaves to go. The artisan baguette ($4) is a must, while the organic campagne boule ($9) makes a hearty dinner bread. Magnol’s selection of viennoiserie includes a highly-praised chocolate croissant ($5), and pastries like the lemon meringue tart ($7), Paris brest ($7), and cannele de Bordeaux ($4). Magnol’s popularity extends outside the bakery with Sanchez providing his precious baked goods to local restaurants like Bludorn, Coltivare, and Montrose Cheese and Wine. 1500 N. Post Oak Rd., Houston, magnolfrenchbaking.com
Lady M Cakes
While the origin of the crepe cake can be traced back to 17th century France, the modern version, the mille crepe cake, is a more recent Japanese creation. One of Lady M’s founders, Emy Wada, is often credited for its invention, with Lady M cakes consisting of 20 layers of pastry cream and thin crepes. Houston has two Lady M boutiques, with the Galleria store open as a retail shop, and the Westchase location serving as more of a hangout where guests can indulge in a slice with coffee, a pot of tea, or glass of champagne. In addition to mille crepe cakes, there are other varieties like coconut cheesecake and checkers cake. Multiple locations, ladym.com
Three Brothers Bakery
Celebrating its 76th anniversary this year, Three Brothers Bakery is a Houston institution. Through hurricanes, floods, and economic crises, the Jucker family has weathered it all. Their fortitude is not surprising considering the fact that the three brothers who founded the bakery were Holocaust survivors that immigrated to the United States from Poland. The community often looks to the trusted bakery, which has four locations around town, for celebratory cakes and traditional Jewish desserts, like sufganiyot doughnuts for Hanukkah and beautifully lacquered challah loaves ($8). Breakfast items like the cinnamon roll ($4), cheese danish, and poppyseed bagel ($2) are also big sellers. Fresh baked pies are available whole ($30) or by the slice ($7). Multiple locations, 3brothersbakery.com
Badolina Bakery & Cafe
As part of the Sof Hospitality Group, which operates Doris Metropolitan and Okto, Badolina opened in 2021 in Rice Village, alongside sister concept, Hamsa, a modern Israeli restaurant. The bread service and custom cakes were so popular at Sof’s Doris Metropolitan that the owners launched a retail bakery with indoor and outdoor bistro seating where visitors could shop, and stay and dine. The menu is influenced by Israeli baking traditions and inspired by Middle Eastern flavors with croissants ($7) in varieties like butter, pistachio, almond raspberry, and chocolate; brioche muffins ($6); and white chocolate sour cherry scones ($4). On the savory side, find caramelized onion ($6) and shakshuka focaccia ($9); and sundried tomato burekita ($4). 5555 Morningside Dr., Houston, badolinabakery.com
Mademoiselle Louise
For those longing for Paris, this French bakery in the heart of Downtown can serve as a stand-in, at least when it comes to pastries. Chef-owner Frederick Fortin creates an array of pastries and viennoiserie to enjoy with coffee from Java Pura, or an Orangina. The smell of baking bread permeates the bright and open space, which boasts tables for remote working and a lounge area for a leisurely breakfast or lunch. For a convenient takeaway, try a croque monsieur ($9), empanada ($4), or one of the handheld quiches ($8). There are also baguette sandwiches and, of course, freshly-baked croissants. 1725 Main St., Houston, mademoisellelouise.com
Dessert Gallery
Dessert Gallery’s original Upper Kirby location dates back to 1995, but the bakery and cafe from pasty chef Sara Brook also has a location in the Woodlands today. Like its name hints, the shop is a showcase of immaculately decorated iced cookies ($6); cupcakes ($5) in flavors like red velvet, hot fudge sundae, and peanut butter fudge; and a wide array of cakes, available in six- ($40) and nine-inch ($68) sizes. Visitors to the bakery can order some of the cakes and pies by the slice, and hang around the cafe with an espresso drink or hot tea. Multiple locations, dessertgallery.com
Koffeteria
Pastry chef Vanarin Kuch grew up in a Vietnamese family that operated seafood and donut shops in East Downtown, so opening his cafe in the same district was a special moment. In the five years since, he has earned national recognition from being nominated for a James Beard Award for Outstanding Bakery, and even opened a spin-off bakery in Spring Branch this year, coined L’il Koffeteria. Some of Kuch’s most popular pastries include the beef pho kolache ($7), butter croissant ($5), and the indulgent pistachio baklava croissant ($8). The coffee menu is just as interesting, with beverages like the salty Cambodian ($7), made with sweetened condensed milk, sourdough butter, and Maldon sea salt. For the less adventurous, there is drip coffee, teas, espresso, and wine.1110 Hutchins, Houston, koffeteria.com
Fluff Bake Bar
Le Cordon Bleu-trained pastry chef, Rebecca Masson is known as the “Sugar Fairy” in Houston, because of the amazing sweets she creates in her Heights-area shop. Her classic cookies ($3) include flavors like ginger molasses and milk chocolate oatmeal; and on the specialty side, there are indulgences like the ever-popular birthday cake whoopie pie. Cakes are made fresh-to-order with a day’s notice, and are available in three sizes. Try the Veruca Salt, a devil’s food cake iced with salted caramel buttercream and topped with pretzel crunch that can be prepared gluten-free as well. As a bonus, Masson collaborates with local chefs to produce savory Saturday morning specials. On those days, it’s wise to visit early. 1701 W. 15th St., Houston, fluffbakebar.com
French Gourmet Bakery
For more than five decades, this family-owned bakery has been serving its selection of French and American pastries to the Houston community. Founded by Frenchman Patrice Romain and his wife Mary, operations of the River Oaks stalwart are now also overseen by their daughter Lauren. The bakery celebrated its milestone 50th anniversary in 2023 by updating the space with wicker-style bistro chairs, marble tabletops, and a splash of soft teal hues. An ironwork staircase gives it a New Orleans-style vibe, and the bakery’s king cake is always a hit during festival season. On regular days, find specialty cakes, cookies, croissants, andFrench eclairs in the bakery case; plus daily lunch specials on sandwiches ($16) and quiche ($18), which are served with a Caesar salad, slice of cake, and coffee or tea. 2250 Westheimer Rd., Houston, fgbakery.com
El Bolillo
This Mexican bakery has been serving its homemade pan dulce and conchas to Houstonians for 27 years, and has since expanded to operating five locations across the Greater Houston area. It’s a bustling market where customers can satisfy sweet cravings, while stocking up on freshly-made tortillas and bolillo rolls. Along with offering custom cakes for pre-order, El Bolillo’s famous tres leches cakes come in several flavors, and are conveniently sold at the bakery in 8-inch rounds ($35) and quarter sheets ($40). For an epic sampling, consider the assorted pan dulce platter ($25), which is stocked with the bakery’s best sellers including conchas, marranitos, empanadas, donuts, and cajeta-filled churros. Multiple locations, elbolillo.com
Love Croissants
Omar Pereney was a child prodigy in the culinary world when he began his career at the age of eleven. The Venezuelan-born chef’s journey led him to Houston, and he has been a rising star in the restaurant scene since. At his Love Croissants bakery, open only from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., French butter and three days of preparation go into making flaky croissants ($5). They come in inventive flavors like toasted almond cardamom ($9) and ham and asiago ($11), with the pain au chocolat ($8) made with Valrhona chocolate, and the savory Ella ($11) packed with mozzarella, mortadella, and basil pesto. There are a handful of indoor and outdoor tables to hang around and sipping a matcha latte ($6) or strawberry lemonade ($5) while you nosh.2808 Caroline St., Houston, lovecroissants.com
EaDough Pastries and Provisions
Husband and wife team, Kripa and Kirthan Shenoy opened this East Downtown bakery in 2022, with Kripa serving as executive pastry chef. Indian-born Kripa showcases her experience with French and Italian pastries via a rotating menu, with items served through the bakery’s walk-up window for guests to enjoy in the outdoor seating area. At the moment, its Dubai chocolate croix is all the rage; while breakfast eats include the morning bodega sandwich ($8); and lunch features pockets, bowls, and salads. EaDough’s kolaches ($5) are a standout of the menu, and feature flavors like nihari, a slow-cooked South Asian-style beef; ham and gruyere; and beef sausage. 3204 Polk St., Houston, eadough.com
La Sicilia Italian Bakery & Cafe
This Italian bakery in a Montrose retail strip serves as an eating spot for breakfast and lunch, as well as a source of fresh bread and pastries. The cannolis are prepared with shells that are made fresh daily and filled with rich ricotta cream on order. Other Italian treats, like sfogliatella are available on the weekends only, but there is a daily selection of sweet and savory cornettos, and the ciambella ($3), a fluffy Italian-style donut, is a must-have. 515 Westheimer Rd., Houston, lasiciliausa.com
Red Dessert Dive
Baked goodies are served up with a side of Southern hospitality at this rustic bakery and cafe that has outposts in the Heights and in Garden Oaks. Red is popular for its celebration cakes, available in a number of flavors, including red velvet, German chocolate, and lemon blueberry, and the stocked bakery cases reveal even more treats. Guests can enjoy a coffee beverage or glass of wine with a muffin or scone. Pastry selections vary from day to day, and there are rotating gluten-free options too. The Garden Oaks outpost features a quaint, dog-friendly green space where you can linger around and properly savor a dessert moment. Multiple locations, reddessertdive.com
Artisana Bread
While this artisanal bakery in Garden Oaks has a booming wholesale business, it also operates a retail storefront open to visitors with scones, cookies, danishes, and a variety of croissants. Fans of sourdough bread will find hearty loaves, like an organic sourdough pullman ($11), pain de campagne ($10), cranberry & walnut ($11), and organic seeded sourdough ($10). The traditional baguettes ($4) and focaccia ($10), in flavors like red onion and cilantro, and jalapeno and bell pepper, are also organic. It can be difficult to find a great kouign amann in Houston, but Artisana has them on offer, in a plain variety ($5), and with cream and berries ($6). 965 Pinemont, Houston, artisanabread.com
