mass-aveDaily 10:00-19:00Walk-in onlyFrench macarons
Macaron Bar on Mass Ave in Indianapolis runs scratch French macarons in 20-plus flavors. A downtown branch of the Cincinnati pastry shop, fresh daily.
Order: A box of six: salted caramel, pistachio, raspberry, lemon, coffee, chocolate.
Tip: Daily flavor list rotates. Pre-order boxes ahead for parties.
Worth the queue: Salted caramel macaron
northwestMon-Sat 10:00-18:00, closed SunWalk-in onlyBean-to-bar chocolate
Endangered Species Chocolate factory store in Indianapolis runs a bean-to-bar program with 10 percent of profits funding wildlife conservation.
Order: A single-origin tasting flight and a bag of dark sea salt almonds.
Tip: Free factory tours by appointment. The store stocks bars not in retail.
Worth the queue: Single-origin chocolate bar
haughvilleTue-Sun 05:00-13:00, closed MondayWalk-in onlyHot glazed yeast donuts
Long's Bakery in Haughville, Indianapolis is the West Side donut counter since 1955. Hot glazed yeast donuts are the breakfast locals queue early to claim.
Order: A dozen hot glazed donuts straight from the fryer.
Tip: Sunday mornings sell out by 10:00. Cash and card accepted.
Worth the queue: Hot glazed donut
meridian-kesslerTue-Sat 07:00-17:00, closed Sunday and MondayWalk-in onlyHoosier classic cakes and breads
Taylor's Bakery on Allisonville Road in Indianapolis since 1913. The sugar cream pie counter where Indianapolis families pick up their Thanksgiving dessert.
Order: A sugar cream pie. Their version is canonical Hoosier.
Tip: Order pies a day ahead for holiday weekends.
Worth the queue: Sugar cream pie
irvingtonTue-Sat 09:00-18:00, closed Sunday and MondayWalk-in onlyGerman breads and pastries
Heidelberg Haus on Pendleton Pike in Indianapolis runs a German cafe, bakery and grocery for over 55 years. The rye for Indianapolis's German tables.
Order: A loaf of pumpernickel, a slice of Black Forest cake and a coffee.
Tip: The gift shop runs the deepest German grocery selection in the region.
Worth the queue: Springerle Christmas cookies
fletcher-placeWed-Sun 07:00-15:00, closed Mon-TueWalk-in onlySourdough and laminated pastries
Amelia's is the in-house bakery at Bluebeard on Virginia Avenue. The sourdough that supplies half Indianapolis's kitchens opens to the public at the counter.
Order: A country loaf to take home and an almond croissant for now.
Tip: Loaves move fast on Saturday morning. Get there before 10:00.
Worth the queue: Country sourdough loaf