Guide to the best bakeries in Vancouver

Croissants, bread, tarts and cookies - we've compiled the best in Vancouver, along with reviews from people who actually visited

Author

Geoff Sharpe
May 26, 2023

If you love that sweet taste of just-baked bread, an airy croissant or a sweet, sweet treat, then you’ll want to hunker down to read Vancity Lookout’s list of the top bakeries in the city.

No list is exhaustive, but we’ve brought together what we believe to be the bakeries that, if you’re craving baked goods, you need to try.

We’ve scoured the internet for reviews, breaking down the best things to try based on reviewers from around the web and our own visits.

We’re constantly adding to this list. Have some suggestions? Reply to [email protected] and we’ll add them.

Purebread

Description": “We are purebread, a family bakery established in Whistler with one simple mission: to bake delicious bread, savouries, cakes & treats that bring a smile to peoples' faces.”

Location: 2887 W. Broadway, Vancouver | 5 E 5th Avenue, Vancouver | 159 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver

What customers love: “One of the best bakeries in town, and super friendly staffs. They were so nice and I really enjoyed shopping. Recommend "Lemon creme cake" (not sure 100%), but you will never fail in this lovely bakery. Each of bite was perfect.” Chirag Bhat

Lookout’s recommendation: You can’t go wrong with their sweet treats. But their breads are also worth trying, they have some darker options that are hard to find around town.

Small Victory

Description: “Life is made out of moments minute to minute, hour to hour. Our morning ritual can make or break the rest of our day. Savouring fresh-baked bread and fantastic coffee is a definite victory over the rest of your day.”

Location: 1088 Homer St | 3070 Granville St

What customers love: “Stopped by for a lovely lunch. I happened to walk by Sweet Victory at the start of the week and promised myself I would come back to check it out. Popular and busy at lunch. Efficient staff who turned out my lunch in good time, especially given how many people were waiting for lunch orders. The Turkey BLT sandwich was delicious. The double-layer chocolate cake, the real reason I came, was lovely. Full coffee bar, marble tables, and a long bar await your visit.” - David Greer

Lookout’s recommendation: Where to start? Certainly, some of the best croissants in the city. Their bakers know how to make an unforgettable baguette. And if you’re looking for something sweeter, the pistachio donut is worth trying. It’s a bit pricier, but you’re paying for quality.

Flourist

Description: “At Flourist, we work exclusively with Canadian family farms to source premium local grains and beans. Then we stone mill the grain in-house, to order. We're a women-owned and operated small business based on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples.”

Location: 859 E Hastings St | 3433 Commercial St

What customers love: “I've been using Flourist flour for a while and the quality is top notch. The cafe is cosy yet very spaced out. Pastries are great especially the sourdough cinnamon bun. No cash payment. Highly recommended for brunch or a late weekend lunch.” - Minh Nguten

Lookout’s recommendation: If you bake bread, throw out your King Arthur and pick up a couple packs of Flourist’s flour. You won’t ever look back. More of a product seller than a baker (though they have lots of great baked goods), they’re products are a worthwhile addition to any bakery. They’ve quickly become my go-to place for any cooking, recipcies or products that includes flour.

Beaucoup Bakery

Description: “Beaucoup Bakery & Café creates exceptional French-inspired pastries and childhood favourites including sweet pastries, artistic cakes, seasonal tarts, nostalgic cookies and rich viennoiserie. The croissants have been cited as the city’s best in publications such as Vancouver Magazine. All sandwiches are made in-house and can be enjoyed ‘to-go’ or at a table in the charming 16-seat café.”

Location: 2150 Fir St

What customers love: “What a bakery! Aesthetically pleasing from the bakery shop, packaged goods to the baked goods themselves. Upon entering you will find a lot of goods to buy as treats, gifts and/or souvenirs on the middle table (syrups, chocolates, books etc). As you start to explore behind the glass cases on baked good offerings, you will find yourself overwhelmed with choices. The thing with this bakery is that it offers very unique tarts, cookies and pastries. Was impressed by the folds and flakiness of the croissant, while maintaining the almond flavour. The flavouring and texture in the yuzu tart was spot on” - CY Siu

Lookout’s recommendation: A unique combination of baked options, with a play on more traditional French items. Owner Betty even has a cookbook on French pastries!

Kouign Café

Description: “Kouign Café is the modern neighbourhood bakery offering unique treats, beverages, and flavour forward savoury fare in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown. What you'll find here is a balance between sweet and savoury notes in classic European and Asian pastries inspired by my memories of growing up in Chinatown learning everything I could about food, hospitality, and ingredients from my mother.”

Location: 18 E Pender St

What customers love: “Their Kouign is the perfect Asian fusion. It's delicious and all the flavours work together. The only thing negative I found was that the pastry was a bit on the chewy side.

I also ordered their peanut butter cookie called The Lunchbox. OH MY GOODNESS! That is now my favourite cookie of all time! I ordered it because I love anything peanut butter. The description left me intrigued. I mean, a peanut butter cookie with pork floss, Chinese sausage and Nori. That's not something you see everyday. I wasn't sure how it would all work. But you know what? I love how the sweet, salty and savoury components all complimented each other. So delicious!” - Al May

Lookout’s recommendation: A lesser-known one on the list, but a place that should be more popular. They combine fine pastries with Asian ingredients. Think sesame, white rabbit, miso and shitake mushrooms. Every order I’ve tried was unique and memorable. I could not walk by without buying.

Bâtard Bakery

Description: “We are a small family run boulangerie and café on Vancouver's East side. We are proud to make all of our breads and pastries on location, in house. Many of our products are inspired by our travels in Europe, especially France, and are highlighted by some of the great family recipes from our culinary repertoires.” - Carmen Siegers

Location: 3958 Fraser Street

What customers love: “Thank goodness for Bâtard, the East Van tried & true French bakery & cafe that continues to provide outstanding food. I had the best lunch here today: chicken salad on a baguette with a side of chips, 1/2 a fire-roasted tomato & a very generous portion of dressed greens. All for $14.50. Amazing deal! Bâtard is the best! Don’t go changing…”

Lookout’s recommendation: French through-and-through, they offer some of the more traditional French-style baking in the city.

L’Atelier Patisserie

Description: “L’Atelier Patisserie was created in 2015 by Franck Buiron. Born and raised in Marseille, France, he studied the art and the tradition of making french desserts at the catering school of Marseille. In 2003, he joined the reputed Michelin-starred restaurant in his hometown, “L'Épuisette" In 2009, Franck arrives in Vancouver and joins the Blue Water Cafe team as assistant pastry chef. Since then, he cofounded Au Comptoir and continues to serve as its Pastry Chef to help this famous awards winning French bistro to build his reputation.”

Location: 599 East Broadway

What customers love: “Real gem this one. Bright, pretty and comfortable place to just chill and have a coffee with a side of sweet treat. Staffs are nice and patient while you make your choices of their many delicious cakes. Croissant is a must have! Fluff on the inside and sticky chocolate glaze on the outside makes it perfect ! Highly recommended!” - Tim H

The Bench Bakehouse

Description: “Bread should be simple. Flour. Water. Salt. Our process is slow, using natural leaven (also known as wild yeast) and traditional methods. Each loaf is fermented several days to produce a rich flavourful crumb with a thick caramelized crust.

We believe in making everything from scratch with high quality ingredients. All of our pastries are made onsite by our amazing team of bakers. We use 100% real butter and the freshest ingredients. We couldn't imagine using anything else.”

Location: 1641 Commercial Drive

What customers love: “This delightful bakery is renowned for its premium artisanal bread, delectable pastries, heavenly cakes, and aromatic coffee. The cozy interior with a rustic feel adds to its charming ambiance.

I was particularly impressed by their croissants - they are exquisitely delicious, flaky, and buttery, and in my opinion, a sheer perfection. The variety of breads available, such as sourdough, rye, and multigrain, is also impressive.

Apart from bread, The Bench Bakehouse also offers a diverse array of pastries and cakes. My top picks are undoubtedly the croissants and the irresistibly scrumptious quiche.” - M O