Tue to Sat 07:00 to 16:00, Sun 08:00 to 14:00, closed MonWalk-in onlyEuropean-style sourdough breads and pastry
Blue Dog Bakery on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville bakes European-style hearth breads and pastries from a Crescent Hill kitchen, a brunch-and-bread spot since the mid-2000s.
Tip: Walk-in counter or stay for brunch in the cafe. Bread sells out by 13:00.
Worth the queue: Country sourdough loaf
Mon to Sat 07:00 to 18:00, Sun 09:00 to 14:00Walk-in onlyGerman-American breads, cakes, deli
Heitzman Traditional Bakery on Shelbyville Road has baked Louisville cakes since 1891, four generations of Butter Kuchen and the Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake every Derby weekend.
Tip: Walk-in counter. Order wedding and birthday cakes a week ahead through the deli.
Worth the queue: Butter Kuchen, Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake
Tue to Fri 07:00 to 17:00, Sat 06:30 to 17:00, closed Sun and MonWalk-in onlyOld-school American cakes and donuts
Plehn's Bakery on Shelbyville Road in Louisville has baked Truffle Torte, Lemon Torte and birthday cakes for the city since 1922, the Saint Matthews counter every local knows.
Tip: Walk-in only. Saturday mornings draw the longest lines for the cake counter; Truffle Torte and Italian Cream sell out first.
Worth the queue: Truffle Torte Cake
Mon to Sat 07:00 to 17:30, Sun 08:00 to 17:30Walk-in onlySmall-batch Southern bakery and coffee
Please and Thank You on East Market in Louisville has baked warm chocolate chip cookies and coffee cake in NuLu since 2011, the city's most-photographed cookie counter.
Tip: Walk-in only. The cookies come out warm in batches all morning.
Worth the queue: Chocolate chip cookie
Mon to Sat 06:00 to 14:00, Sun 07:00 to 14:00Walk-in onlyFried-to-order donuts and espresso
North Lime Coffee and Donuts on Herr Lane in Louisville fries fresh donuts daily out of Westport Village, a small-batch operation locals queue for on weekend mornings.
Tip: Walk-in counter. Get in before 11:00 for the full donut selection.
Worth the queue: Maple bacon donut
Tue to Sat 09:00 to 17:00, closed Sun and MonWalk-in onlyHandmade chocolates and confections
Muth's Candies on East Market in Louisville has made hand-rolled chocolates and modjeskas in NuLu since 1921, the family-owned confectioner with a hundred-year-old storefront.
Tip: Walk-in only. Modjeskas are the city's signature confection: caramel-dipped marshmallow.
Worth the queue: Modjeskas, chocolate-covered marshmallow