alamo-heightsDaily, breakfast and afternoonWalk-in onlyFrom-scratch American cakes and pastries
Bird Bakery on Broadway, founded by Elizabeth Chambers in 2012, turns out from-scratch layer cakes, cupcakes, and pastries from a cheerful room near Alamo.
Tip: The layer cakes and cupcakes are the draw; grab a box to go. A good Alamo Heights coffee-and-cake stop.
Worth the queue: Layer cakes and cupcakes
west-sideDaily, early morningWalk-in onlyMade-from-scratch Mexican pan dulce
Panifico Bake Shop on the West Side makes scratch Mexican pan dulce, with pig-shaped marranitos and raisin-topped piedras the picks; go early for the bake.
Tip: The marranitos (pig-shaped cookies) and raisin-topped piedras are the picks. Go early for the freshest bake.
Worth the queue: Marranitos and piedras
tobin-hillDaily, early morningWalk-in onlyMexican pan dulce and pastries
Bedoy's Bakery is a long-running Tobin Hill family panaderia where conchas and empanadas are the staples, cash-friendly and busy through the morning rush.
Tip: A long-running family panaderia; the conchas and empanadas are the staples. Cash-friendly and busy in the morning.
Worth the queue: Conchas and empanadas
south-sideDaily, early morningWalk-in onlyMexican pan dulce and cakes
El Folklor Bakery on the South Side is a good-value panaderia for a shared tray of pan dulce, with conchas and a tres leches cake among the orders to make.
Tip: The tres leches cake and conchas are the orders. A good-value panaderia for a tray of pan dulce to share.
Worth the queue: Conchas and tres leches cake
north-sideTue-Sun, morningsWalk-in onlyEuropean bakery and deli
Nadler's Bakery & Deli on Babcock Road is a long-running European-style bakery and deli, with strudel, rugelach, and Central European pastries plus a deli.
Tip: The European pastries like strudel and rugelach set it apart from the panaderia scene. The deli does a good sandwich.
Worth the queue: Strudel and rugelach
south-sideDaily, mornings and afternoonsWalk-in onlyFrench viennoiserie and pastry
CommonWealth Coffeehouse & Bakery on the South Side bakes French viennoiserie, with the kouign-amann the standout pastry to pair with an in-house espresso.
Tip: The kouign-amann is the standout laminated pastry. Pair it with the in-house espresso for a French-style breakfast.
Worth the queue: Kouign-amann and croissants