The counters in San Diego worth queuing for: bread, pastry, and the morning ritual.
Bakery counters in San Diego worth queuing for: levain breads, laminated pastry, regional bakes and the morning ritual.
Bread and Cie in San Diego is the Hillcrest European stone-hearth bakery on University Avenue since 1995, the rustic-bread room that anchors the Hillcrest.
Worth the queueKalamata olive bread
TipThe kalamata olive bread is the room's signature; the cafe upstairs serves sandwiches on house-baked rolls.
Prager Brothers Artisan Breads in Encinitas is the North County sourdough bakery on Coast Highway 101, a wholesale-bakery storefront with daily-baked.
Worth the queueCountry sourdough miche
TipCountry sourdough miche is the room's strongest loaf; the Carlsbad bakery is the wholesale production base.
Sidecar Doughnuts in Del Mar is the Costa Mesa import in Del Mar Highlands Town Center, a small-batch doughnut counter rotating six monthly flavours plus six.
Worth the queueHuckleberry doughnut
TipThe huckleberry and the butter-and-salt are the recurring strengths; arrive by 9am for the full case.
Donut Bar in San Diego is the downtown A Street doughnut shop, the West Coast viral-doughnut shop with oversized creme brulee, croissant doughnuts.
Worth the queueBig Poppa Tart
TipOpen Wed-Sun only and they sell out by lunch; arrive at 8am for the full counter or pre-order online.
VG Donut and Bakery in Cardiff-by-the-Sea is the Mettee family's third-generation Aberdeen Drive doughnut counter since 1969, a North County landmark.
Worth the queueGlazed yeast doughnut
TipDoughnuts are baked twice daily at 4am and 4pm; the afternoon batch is the secret tip.
Tartine in Coronado is the long-running First Street European cafe and bistro on the Ferry Landing side, with patio seating, French pastries.
Worth the queueAlmond croissant
TipIndoor and patio seating; reservations recommended on weekends, the patio fills by 11am.
Sadie Rose Baking Company in San Diego is the Sorrento Valley wholesale artisan bakery since 2004, supplying hearth-baked breads to restaurants and grocers.
Worth the queueHearth-baked sourdough
TipFind their bread at Whole Foods and Bristol Farms in San Diego; or at restaurants citywide, often unbranded on the table.
Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego is Karen Krasne's Little Italy dessert salon on Union Street, a long-running pastry-and-cake shop with a James Beard.
Worth the queueViking chocolate cake
TipCake by the slice is the deepest value; the cafe also runs a savoury small-plate menu in the evenings.
Panchita's Bakery in San Diego is the Barrio Logan Mexican panaderia on National Avenue, a long-running pan dulce counter for conchas, marranitos.
Worth the queueConcha (sweet bread)
TipGet there by 8am for the freshest pan dulce; the bolillos sell out for the lunch sandwiches by 10am.
The Cravory in San Diego is the Loma Square Center cookie bakery, a soft-baked filled counter with rotating flavours and the famous birthday cake cookie.
Worth the queueBirthday cake cookie
TipThe birthday cake cookie is the room's recurring star; the seasonal calendar rolls weekly on Instagram.
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