50 Best Bakeries in San Diego

“I knew I wanted to move to San Diego the second I arrived… but I was planning to take my sweet time. Then I ate the chocolate croissant and their sandwich, and now Zillow is open on my phone and I’m emotionally packing boxes. I might be moving next week.

This place is dangerous. Every bite felt illegal like I should have needed a permit to enjoy food this good. The chocolate croissant alone deserves its own national holiday, and the sandwich? I experienced a full body spiritual awakening somewhere between the first and second bite. I saw colors. I forgave people. I briefly considered texting my ex just to thank them for leading me to this moment (I didn’t, growth).

The staff was incredibly kind, welcoming, and patient while I stood there chewing dramatically and whispering “wow” to myself like I had never eaten before.

If I disappear from my current city, please check here first I’ll be the person eating pastries like it’s my full time job.

Would be down to get a job here too, as long as you dont count my pastry intake“

“Love their new location downtown. More space with the same high quality croissants and sourdough loaves. Chocolate croissant and olive pecan sourdough are my favorites.“

“By far the best donuts in San Diego, especially their Apple Fritters!! Very nice family running this shop ... for many, many years. They have watched my kids grow up since they were toddlers, and now my youngest is almost 19 and my oldest is 24!“

“Wonderful experience and an even better cake! The staff and manager were very helpful in coordinating the delivery and the s’mores cake was delicious! Will definitely order from here again. Thank you for making my brother’s birthday special!“

“I've been following their IG for months and was so happy husband brought me here to start off my birthday celebration!

Top fav item - Tiramisu Croissant! 12/10
Crispy and flaky pastry with the vanilla bean mascarpone filling and espresso-soaked nilla wafers
And the cocoa niba and dusting of cocoa powder! There was also a mini Easter egg nest on top since we went on Easter.
What a phenomenal combination! 3 of us shared this one and it was all our favorite. And we could all have gone for more!

Chicken Tetrazzini Chef's (chef's special) 11/10
My favorite among the savory croissants!
It had leeks & chicken in fondue sauce + roasted red pepper hot sauce on top.
It was actually the perfect balance of crispy and the right amount of spicy sauce and I think this this croissant set such a high bar that everything else in the savory menu felt to plain haha.

Soy Glazed Short Rib 10/10
Wow!! Definitely was surprised by that whole chunk of short rib right in the middle of the croissant. Was actually cooked perfectly well and had a really lovely flavor! The herby topping was also really delicious and everything went well together.

Summer Squash (spring special) 6/10
(summer squash, olive oil, salt, pepper, taleggio cheese sauce, and dill green garlic chimichumi)
Honestly was not as much a fan of this one. I think the squash and fillings overall were a little too soggy for my liking. Nice flavors though. Sister in law liked it.

English muffin sandwich with turkey 8/10
Swapped out the sausage in the sandwich for turkey to get some lean protein. I think the sausage would have added a lot more depth of flavor because the turkey made it a little plain but it would be lovely with a little bit of hot sauce. Big highlight though was the natural English muffin! So soft!

Sourdough hot cross bun 8/10
Lovely flavor here! It had that spiced flavor and the dried fruit inside which was yum.
Knocked off points because it was just fine. No wow factor to get it again.

Crunch Wrap Supreme Croissant
Very creative one! Had a flavorful beef filling and gave all the vibes you expect, but personally not my favorite.

Caesar Salad 3/10
Honestly something was a little off here. Not sure if it was the actual lettuce leaves. Most of the bites felt quite bitter.. the grated Parmesan and black garlic dusting on top was lovely though. We had asked for the dressing on the side and dressing itself was quite tasty. So overall probably just the lettuce leaves themselves which were bitter.“

“I absolutely love this place. It’s warm, inviting, and filled with amazing pastries and cakes. The atmosphere is cozy and homey, with a charm that takes you back to an old-time, local bakery in a small European village. The staff are genuinely friendly and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. You can sit down, enjoy pastries fresh and hot out of the oven, and pair them with a great cup of coffee. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to stay a little longer. Try it, you won’t regret it.“

“We went here at like 7:30am so it was quiet and we got to sit for awhile at a cute table! I don't know how busy this place gets but would guess it's poppin' at peak times. The vegan pastry I got was delicious, the only downside was the fact that they weren't all clearly labeled so we had to ask what they were and then listen intently as the person quickly rattled them off. But overall this place was picturesque and cozy and cute.“

“Had a fantastic first-time visit to YikoYiko in San Diego while celebrating a birthday for a family member --- came on a recommendation since I'm not local, and it did not disappoint!

This spot is a super cute little shop that instantly screams elite bakery vibes. Watching the girls in the back hustle like true professionals was a highlight, beautiful to see that level of craft in action.

We grabbed a cake that was outstanding: perfectly moist with a light, balanced sweetness that let the all the flavors shine without overwhelming my tongue with sugar. Loved the thoughtful touch of the included little cutter kit, so convenient for easy serving.

This is absolutely the kind of place you return to just to try everything else on the menu. Highly recommend for birthdays or any special treat!“

“Best sourdough rosemary bread ever. Always buy extra loads when I’m in town.“

“The cookies 🍪 are amazing!“

“Thank you French Oven! Everyone at Construction Notice Services loved the pastries I brought for work today.They were literally gone in minutes! Everything was fresh and delicious as always.“

“My family and I were visiting San Diego for my daughters 21st birthday. I thought of everything but the cake. I called Kona Kakes on Friday hoping for a cake by Sunday, I was told they are closed on Sunday, so they could have it ready on Saturday. We were enjoying the zoo Saturday and I completely forgot about the cake. It was after store hours but I tried to reach them by phone anyways, the owner answered and said she would wait for us to arrive. This in itself was truly amazing, but the cake! The cake was beautiful, delicious, moist, decadent, and extremely flavorful! We had the Caramel Macadamia Nut Cake. Everyone and most of all, my daughter loved the cake! If you live near Kona Kakes then count yourself blessed and try this place. I wish there was a Kona Kakes in Las Vegas.“

“I tried the Coconut Cake...best I've ever had. The Mango Cheesecake was delicious! To drink, I had a Double Cortadito, so good! What brought me here were the Guava and Guava Cheese Pastelitos. I have only ever had these from Portos. Sadly, they were too rich! Not the Guava or Cheese, they were way too buttery! The amount of butter used over powered the Guava. Hopefully it's just the batch I had. I will be back to try their other cakes and sandwiches.“

“The cheesecakes here are so good. Super soft, moist, and fluffy! They’re slightly sweet, which is so addicting. I love the original flavor the most. The pandan one wasn’t that good.
The strawberry burnt basque cakes is also very good. It’s better than the original one.
Parking sucks though because the shop shares a small lot with many other stores, so it’s always difficult to find parking unless you come right when they open.“

“Audrey was the best! We came from Maine and short notice we were able to get a dozen cupcakes ordered for pickup with 2 days notice. They were fantastic and gone quickly!! Thank you again!!“

“Everything is spectacular but i especially looooove their lemon bars! 🧡“

“I had the privilege of being a customer of Elite Baking. I live on the east coast and was ordering a cake for a friend in San Diego. Elite Baking's communication was wonderful. I sent her some inspiration and vision pics and the result was way better than anything I asked for. She has so much attention to detail and thoughtfulness in her design. My friend was blown away with beauty of the cake and said the cake tasted delicious! Elite Baking went above and beyond for the delivery and were so patient as it took a bit longer for her to get in touch with my friend for delivery. I would recommend Elite Baking to anyone. The quality in the product and the customer service was phenomenal! Thank you to Elite Baking for adding the joy and memories of my friends birthday!“

“I went here, not realizing, and it was gluten-free until I got to the actual location, because I was looking for vegan friendly bakeries in the area, and it was the best gluten-free stuff I ever had. The espresso ganache thingy was insane and I never thought I liked anything gluten-free in the past. It was moist and good, not like the dry falvorless gluten-free things I have had before. So rather your vegan, gluten-free, or just a regular person I’m sure there will be something that you like here!“

“I'm retired but I like it more than others because the service here is fast and they always have cookies available

Parking: I think it's okay except that there are more businesses and a restaurant on one side and it takes longer but it is very big“

“I would love to leave a review for this wonderful café 🤍
Everything here is truly delicious — you can really feel that the food is made from fresh, high-quality ingredients.
But the most special part is the atmosphere created by the owners, Vladimir and Lyubov Deminin, together with their children Elvira and my little angel Jameson 🤍
This place is not just about food — it’s about warmth, kindness, and genuine connection. You always feel welcomed, supported, and uplifted here.
If you’re looking not only for healthy and tasty food but also for meaningful conversations and even new friendships — this is definitely the place to come ✨“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a gem in San Diego. Everything is so good. The cinnamon pull apart bread is something that you will always remember of how good it is. I have dreams about it. The Apple strudel omg.... the cakes. As soon as you walk in you can smell the delicious chocolate. Highly recommended!“

“Pain au chocolat aux amandes is excellent.“

“Delicious Mexican sweet bread, very tasty and fresh, they always have a great variety, the only thing is that they are slow to serve, they sell you the box for one dollar and they only accept cash. Open from Monday to Saturday from very early.“

“We loved this place so much we already have made plans to go back. The food was delicious and portion size is great. Friendly crew, helpful and great service. You can also purchase frozen pies to take home which we will be doing“

“Amaya was so easy to work with from before placing an order to post-delivery for our baby shower. On our initial call, she listened carefully to my requests and how I envisioned our dessert table to look like. She was always available via text messages or phone calls for any questions. Her prices were also reasonable. On the day of the delivery, my friend who was handling my event set up said Amaya was very sweet and came on time to deliver the desserts. She even left us a sweet thoughtful card congratulating us on our baby shower. As for the desserts, they were to die for!! I don’t have much of a sweet tooth and my husband is all about desserts. So between the two of us, we can be picky. From the cookies to the fruit cups to the cupcakes, everything was delicious. Special shoutout to the fruit cups, they were so good (highly recommend them)!! Our guests loved the desserts and asked where we got them from. I will definitely use Love and Bake again for any future events. Thank you Amaya for being so wonderful to work with!“

“Be back fo sho. Delicious“

“The crêpes at this location are superlative. I ordered the galette complete, and was elated by the perfection that this crêpe held. I have been to France and tried many exceptional crêpes, and Ally (the chef) curated a dish that supersedes the majority of them. However, from my personal experience, this was the best crêpe I have had in San Diego.

To relay the flavors that I experienced: as you take your knife to split the crispy egg, a perfect runny yolk flows onto the buttery crêpe. As you take your first bite, your palette is met with a silken béchamel, enriched with cheese, brings a gentle creaminess that lingers without overwhelming. It wraps itself around a generous portion of thin slices of tender ham that anchor the dish.

If you seek a galette complete without buckwheat flour, it is necessary to come, as I am most certainly returning.“

“I love good, freshly baked bread and we have been looking all over San Diego to find it. Secret Sisters has the best country loaf yet and we highly recommend it!!!!!!!!! For us, it's a bit of a drive but worth it.“

“I consider myself a cookie connoisseur, and Nawal’s salty cookies are THE BEST in San Diego. My favorite is of course the OG Salty dozen or salty minis, but the Dubai Chocolate Pistachio is a close second. The little Salty minis in a jar make for a perfect gift. Try them, you won’t regret it, but you might become addicted!“

“Great little breakfast spot that opens as early as 5am! Was perfect to grab some breakfast to go early in the morning. Super solid breakfast sandwiches, I got a sausage, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel. They have a good selection of muffins and donuts as well. Super friendly and quick service, plus they threw in a few donut holes in the bag with our muffins.“

“Great place! Highly recommend!“

“Every time we visit San Diego this place is must stop!! Pan dulce is so soft and fresh we need one on Los Angeles 😎“

“Really solid cheesecake. The passion fruit is my favorite. I would love a bit more tang and a slightly thicker texture, but it is still delicious. We took it home and dressed it with fresh berries, which made it even better. Definitely one of my go-to spots for a special-occasion dessert.“

“delicious cookies and amazing staff!“

“Thank you Sarah � The macarons were delicious � Will be ordering again!“

“Mejor pan dulce en San Diego!“

“Amazing bakery! love the food and the employees are so nice! Las day here had to come lil“

“Amazing quality and delicious products.“

“Recomendada! pedi in pastel para mi hija y supero mis espectativas en el diseño 😊 puntual en la entrega y muy rico!“

“Went early on a Saturday and there was already a short line. I ordered their croissant, maple pecan bun, and citrus cookie.
I found the maple bun excessively sweet and strongly cardamom-forward. The citrus cookie was decent. The croissant was by far the best, great honeycomb interior and nicely flaked and caramelized on the exterior. Will have to come back and try some more pastries!“

“Small boutique bakery offering gorgeous pastries and drinks. Each item is a delicious work of art. Their current cupcake options include: Tiramisu , Raspberry chocolate passion fruit , Strawberry, Earl Gray lavender, Matcha Yuzu and Ube puff pastry. The also have Scones (excellent!) and cheesecake. Friendly service and prices are reasonable. They are located next to Mitsuwa market.“

“Passed by here plenty of times because of the japanese market next door. Stopped in by chance just to grab some coffee and wound up buying a slice of cake. Turns out this place is a hidden gem. Handmade cake and great espresso drinks for a much better value than you get for similar quality. A slice of handmade cake here is the same price as a cookie at panera, think about that for a second. They earned a regular customer whenever I stop by for groceries“

“I love pan dulce, and this bakery has been my favorite. I recently started coming to this bakery, owners have been at this location for over decades and known for the best Michoacan traditional pan dulce. Its heart warming to be able to eat traditional pan dulce from where my father originated from. Cakes also made here for any special occasions, I guarantee its worth the visit.“

“i love this place! their coffee and taro cake rolls are my family's personal favorite. its fluffy, flavorful, and not too sweet! they do sell out quick though! so i highly recommend going early unless you want frozen rolls! the cake rolls pair nicely with soymilk. the owners are really friendly and will go to long lengths to search for your desired flavor! 10/10!“

“5 star rating 👍 we ordered our kid 1st birthday cake here. it looks wonderful & tasted yummy. it came out as we expected. Thanq so much 🤩. without any doubt u can order it from here“

“Lovely decor with outdoor seating. The Avocado Toast was delicious 😋“

“First and foremost, I truly appreciate the service I received at Hey Sugar. She was kind, knowledgeable, and I felt welcomed as I stepped through the front door. I had the delicious cake jar, and I can’t wait to try my cheesecake. The venue was cute, petite, and vibrant. Thank you for a wonderful experience! I pray your business continues to thrive. ❤️“

“I could not be more thrilled with this cake, it was so beautiful that it was almost a shame to cut into it… ALMOST! Not only was it a work of art on the outside but this was the best dessert I’ve ever had in my life and I’m not a big dessert person! To put it simply they far exceeded my expectations I would recommend them to everyone! They worked with me for months to make sure that every detail would be just how I wanted it. Thank you for being a part of my dream wedding and helping it to be magical 😭 The sunflower was part of my wedding gift to my husband as they were his mothers favorite flowers along with butterflies. This was all completely edible as well. My husband even was like I feel guilty cutting it and said don’t look baby and our photographer captured it. Credit to TwoMermaids photography for all photos“

“cake was delicious, red velvet unicorn cake.highly recommend it.😁“

“Food from heaven! I moved away from San Diego but I asked my friend to take balboa bakery all the way for me. My persian azizam pissed them off saying this is not even the authentic middle eastern bakery but trust me that little brown flower will make you forget what authenticity is“