The counters in Santa Monica worth queuing for: bread, pastry, and the morning ritual.
Bakery counters in Santa Monica worth queuing for: levain breads, laminated pastry, regional bakes and the morning ritual.
Huckleberry has stacked its marble counter on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica since 2009, market-fruit pastries, quiche and all-day breakfast plates.
Worth the queueMaple bacon biscuit
TipWeekday mornings are calm; weekends the line snakes by 09:30, so order the green onion and goat cheese quiche early.
Milo & Olive runs its wood oven from dawn bakery to late pizzeria on Wilshire in Santa Monica, garlic knots, breads and pies from the Rustic Canyon family.
Worth the queueGarlic knot
TipThe garlic knot with sea salt is non-negotiable; breakfast service turns into pizza service at 11:00 without pause.
Petitgrain Boulangerie laminates French croissants beside Mexican conchas on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica, a two-tradition pastry case with cult queues.
Worth the queueConcha
TipThere is a two-cinnamon-roll maximum per party, in person or pre-order; put your name on the list 24 hours ahead.
Jyan Isaac Bread bakes deeply fermented sourdough on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, bagel sandwiches and brunch beside the Ghisallo pizza kitchen.
Worth the queueSourdough country loaf
TipLoaves sell down by early afternoon; weekend brunch adds duck confit hash and cereal milk french toast.
Layla Bagels hand-rolls sourdough bagels daily on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, open-face builds with seasonal fruit, honey and smoked salmon.
Worth the queuePre-Jam open-face bagel
TipThe Pre-Jam with seasonal fruit, cream cheese and honey is the signature; the everything loosies sell out first.
Bread Head bakes a crackly focaccia-ciabatta hybrid daily for its Montana Avenue sandwich counter in Santa Monica, muffulettas and hot weekday specials.
Worth the queueCombo Grinder
TipFounders Jordan Snyder and Alex Williams grew it from a Main Street pop-up; the Combo Grinder is the benchmark order.
Tartine Santa Monica proofs its country loaves in a converted church off Arizona Avenue, the San Francisco bakery's Westside room with a full cafe.
Worth the queueCountry loaf
TipMorning buns and ham and Gruyere croissants go first; the bread rack restocks around midday if you miss the open.
Bay Cities Italian Deli, family-owned since 1925, bakes and stacks the Godmother on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica behind hour-long lunchtime queues.
Worth the queueGodmother roll
TipOrder the Godmother online ahead and skip the queue; it is debit or cash only and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Farmshop pairs a Californian brunch room with an artisan market in the Brentwood Country Mart on 26th Street in Santa Monica, bakery counter from 07:00.
Worth the queueMorning pastry basket
TipThe market side sells the bakery bread, cheese and prepared food to go when the brunch wait runs long.
Breakfast by Salt's Cure griddles its famous oatmeal griddle cakes on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, a compact daytime spin-off of the original room.
Worth the queueOatmeal griddle cakes
TipGluten-free and vegan versions of the griddle cakes exist; the counter sells the mix to take home.
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