Bakery$$gastownDaily 07:30-17:00Walk-in onlyLoaf cakes, scones, gluten-free
Purebread's Gastown branch is the Whistler-origin bakery's Vancouver outpost since 2014, the sticky cinnamon brioche the kitchen's calling card.
Tip: Boxed pastry-of-the-day samplers from the counter; the Granville Island branch has more daily varieties.
Worth the queue: Sticky cinnamon brioche
Bakery$$yaletownDaily 07:30-18:00Walk-in onlyFrench viennoiserie, sourdough
Small Victory in Yaletown since 2014 is a French-leaning bakery and cafe, plus newer Burrard and Mount Pleasant branches and a reference almond croissant.
Tip: Croissants sell out by 11:00 on Saturday; the Burrard branch is the calmer seat.
Worth the queue: Almond croissant
Bakery$mount-pleasantDaily 07:00-17:00Walk-in onlyDoughnuts, fritters, brioche dough
Lucky's Doughnuts inside 49th Parallel Coffee on Main Street is Vancouver's reference doughnut shop since 2009, fritters fried fresh through the morning.
Tip: Persian rosewater and the daily fritter sell out by lunch; the West 4th branch is the calmer seat.
Worth the queue: Persian rosewater doughnut
Bakery$$$kitsilanoTue-Sat 08:00-17:30, closed Sun-MonWalk-in onlyChocolate, viennoiserie, macarons
Thomas Haas Chocolate and Pastries on West Broadway since 2009 is the Master Chocolatier's Vancouver branch, the double-baked almond croissant a calendar.
Tip: The North Van Park Royal flagship has the chocolate counter; Vancouver branch has tables for a quick croissant.
Worth the queue: Double-baked almond croissant
Bakery$kitsilanoDaily 06:30-18:00Walk-in onlyMontreal-style bagels, wood-fired
Siegel's Bagels on Cornwall in Kits since 1995 is Vancouver's wood-fired Montreal-style bagel shop, sesame and poppy hand-rolled and boiled in honey water.
Tip: Bagels are fresh through 10:00; the Granville Island branch has the lox bar and sit-down counter.
Worth the queue: Sesame bagel
Bakery$$chinatownWed-Sun 09:00-17:00, closed Mon-TueWalk-in onlyLayer cakes, viennoiserie
Cadeaux Bakery on Powell in Railtown from baker Eleanor Chow Waterfall is a French pastry counter since 2015, layer cakes and viennoiserie the calling card.
Tip: Pre-order layer cakes 48 hours in advance through the website; the counter does smaller picks daily.
Worth the queue: Cadeaux cake