mount-vernonDaily, mornings to latePastries and all-day cafe
The Bun Shop on Read Street in Mount Vernon is an all-day cafe and pastry counter, pulling espresso and serving filled buns, kolaches and pastries late.
Tip: It keeps long hours and pours wine and beer in the evening, not just coffee and pastry.
Worth the queue: Sweet and savoury filled buns
fells-pointDaily, mornings to eveningBreads, pastry and gelato
Pitango Bakery + Cafe in Fells Point pairs naturally-leavened breads and laminated pastries with the company's own gelato, a corner cafe on South Ann Street.
Tip: It shares roots with Pitango Gelato; pair a morning pastry with a scoop in the afternoon.
Worth the queue: Naturally-leavened bread and gelato
roland-parkDaily, mornings to afternoonFrench bakery and cafe
Bonjour Bakery & Cafe on Falls Road is a north Baltimore French bakery, baking croissants, macarons, quiche and sandwiches for a steady neighbourhood crowd.
Tip: Weekend mornings draw a line; the almond croissant and quiche are the reliable orders.
Worth the queue: Croissants and macarons
harbor-eastDaily, mornings to eveningArtisan breads and pastries
Kneads Bakeshop is H&S Bakery's Harbor East flagship, a 17,000 square foot cafe and bakery turning out scratch sourdough, laminated pastries, sandwiches and pies under the Paterakis family banner.
Tip: It pulls double duty as cafe and lunch counter; the croissants and the Wednesday-to-Saturday late hours make it the easy Harbor East default.
Worth the queue: Scratch croissants and sourdough loaves
little-italyDaily, afternoons to late eveningItalian pastry and gelato
Vaccaro's has filled cannoli to order in Little Italy since 1956, a sit-down dessert counter for gelato, espresso, tiramisu and trays of Italian cookies.
Tip: The cannoli is filled to order so the shell stays crisp; the lines run late after dinner.
Worth the queue: Cannoli filled to order
downtownTue-Sat, mornings to afternoonClassic French patisserie
Patisserie Poupon near the Shot Tower is Joseph Poupon's French bakery, turning out laminated croissants, macarons and glossy fruit tarts since the 1980s.
Tip: It is a true French patisserie near the Shot Tower; the fruit tarts and eclairs sell out by midday.
Worth the queue: Croissants and fruit tarts