Mon-Sun 07:00-19:00Walk-in onlySandwich loaves and morning pastries
A Baked Joint in Washington DC is the Mount Vernon Triangle bakery-cafe on K Street from the GBD team, with house-baked sandwich breads and breakfast service across the morning.
Tip: The everything croissant and egg sandwich is the morning bestseller; pre-order via the website to skip the line.
Worth the queue: Egg sandwich on house bread
Tue-Sun 09:00-18:00American layer cakes and viennoiserie
Buttercream Bakeshop in Washington DC is Tiffany MacIsaac and Alex Mudry's Shaw bakery on 9th Street, with American layer cakes, viennoiserie and a pastel-pink storefront on the corner.
Tip: Whole-cake orders need three days lead time via the website; the by-the-slice case rotates daily.
Worth the queue: Birthday cake slice
Wed-Sun 08:00-16:00Walk-in onlyAsian-American pastries
Rose Ave Bakery in Washington DC is Cheryl Wakerhauser's Georgetown Cady's Alley bakery, an Asian-American pastry counter with black sesame pull-apart bread and miso caramel croissants.
Tip: The black sesame pull-apart sells out by 12:00 on weekends; pre-order via Instagram messages on Tuesdays.
Worth the queue: Black sesame pull-apart bread
Mon-Sun 07:00-15:00Wood-fired bagels and bagel sandwiches
Call Your Mother Deli Park View in Washington DC is the Georgia Avenue wood-fired bagel deli from chef Andrew Dana, with Montreal-Brooklyn hybrid bagels and a strong sandwich menu.
Tip: The Sun City sandwich with pastrami, egg and salt is the bestseller; pre-order on the app to skip the 30-minute weekend line.
Worth the queue: Sun City bagel sandwich
Mon-Sun 07:00-19:00French baguettes and viennoiserie
Fresh Baguette in Washington DC is the Georgetown Wisconsin Avenue French bakery from a Parisian-trained baker, with hand-shaped Tradition baguettes baked at the storefront every morning.
Tip: The Tradition baguette is the bake to take home; the pain au chocolat is the second-most-ordered viennoiserie.
Worth the queue: Tradition baguette
Mon-Sun 07:00-15:00Walk-in onlyLevantine bakery and breakfast
Yellow in Washington DC is Michael Rafidi's Shaw Levantine bakery-cafe on S Street, the daytime sister of Albi, with manakish za'atar flatbreads and Levantine breakfast all morning.
Tip: The shakshuka and za'atar manakish run the morning menu; the spinach fatayer is the under-ordered runner-up.
Worth the queue: Manakish za'atar flatbread