Bakery counters in Milwaukee worth queuing for: levain breads, laminated pastry, regional bakes and the morning ritual.

Where to queue for bread and pastry

National Bakery and Deli ★ 4.6

Mon-Sat 06:00-18:00; Sun 06:00-14:00Walk-in onlyWisconsin kringle and pastries

National Bakery on South 16th Street has baked Wisconsin kringle, paczki on Fat Tuesday and Polish pastries since 1925, with five locations.

Worth the queue: Almond kringle

Peter Sciortino's Bakery ★ 4.7

Tue-Sat 07:00-18:00; Sun 07:00-13:00Walk-in onlyItalian-American baking and cookies

Peter Sciortino's Bakery on East Brady Street is the city's Italian-American bakery since 1948, with cannoli, biscotti, Italian wedding cookies and weekday.

Worth the queue: Cannoli

Rocket Baby Bakery ★ 4.7

Tue-Sun 07:00-15:00; Mon closedWalk-in onlyEuropean laminated pastry and bread

Rocket Baby Bakery on West North Avenue in Wauwatosa is the city's leading laminated pastry shop with croissants, kouign amann and sourdough loaves since.

Worth the queue: Kouign amann

Amaranth Bakery and Cafe ★ 4.5

Tue-Sat 07:00-15:00Walk-in onlyWhole-grain sourdough

Amaranth Bakery on West Lisbon Avenue in Washington Park bakes hand-shaped sourdough, scones and quiches in a small neighborhood bakery cafe since 2007 today.

Worth the queue: Whole-wheat sourdough loaf

The Cake Lady ★ 4.4

Tue-Sat 09:00-17:00Walk-in onlyBakery cake and pastries

The Cake Lady on South Muskego Avenue in Walker's Point bakes the city's most-ordered birthday cakes, with butter cream icing, custom decorating.

Worth the queue: Butter cream cake

Purple Door Ice Cream ★ 4.5

Sun-Thu 12:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 12:00-22:00Walk-in onlyCraft ice cream

Purple Door Ice Cream on South 2nd Street in Walker's Point is a craft ice cream shop with Wisconsin dairy, rotating flavours and sundaes alongside espresso.

Worth the queue: Wisconsin honey ice cream

Grebe's Bakery ★ 4.5

Tue-Sat 06:00-18:00; Sun 06:00-14:00Walk-in onlyPolish-American baking

Grebe's Bakery on West Lincoln Avenue is a Polish-American bakery, founded in 1937, with babka, donuts, paczki on Fat Tuesday and a long South Side following.

Worth the queue: Babka

Greige Patisserie ★ 4.6

Wed-Sun 07:30-15:00Walk-in onlyFrench laminated pastry

Greige Patisserie on West Florida Street in Walker's Point bakes French laminated pastries including almond croissants, kouign amann and macarons in the Brix Building.

Worth the queue: Almond croissant

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