Owner Colleen Thompson got her start making dazzling, art-like custom cookies; you’ll still find those at her University City bakery and café, though you’ll also find an array of pastries, cookies, macarons, biscotti, and other baked goodies that show the full range of her shop’s abilities. The quiche, which features a subtly sweet crust, is a showstopper. 7337 Forsyth, University City.
Ever since it first launched, in 2012, the Comet brand has been revered for both its outstanding, ethically sourced coffee and its equally stellar pastries, in particular its croissant, which is recognized as one of the most perfect examples of the form in the area. Now under the leadership of bakers Natalie Suntrup and Kyle Shelby (who met while working at Union Loafers), Comet’s bakery game has expanded to include even more offerings, including seasonal pastries. Its chocolate chip cookie remains legendary. See website for locations.
Ana Vazquez founded the beloved Diana’s Bakery in 2007, when she was pregnant with her daughter, Diana, and had to stay home due to health issues. Her boredom turned into a baking hobby, which morphed into a tres leches cake company out of her home and finally into a staple of the area’s Latin American dining scene. Her tres leches remain a staple of her pastry case, though her flan is just as special. 2843 Cherokee, South City.
This Maryland Heights shop is a bastion of Filipino fare, including a large assortment of traditional breads and pastries, including items that satisfy the sweet tooth like ube macapuno cake, sapin sapin, and bread pudding, or ube cheese pandesal and pork adobo bread that cater to those looking for something more savory. No matter which way you go, you are bound to have a transportive experience. 11658 Dorsett, Maryland Heights.
If you’ve ever driven near the intersection of Gravois and Mathilda in Affton, you’ve seen the sign: the massive, vintage neon beacon depicting a baker in a floppy chef’s hat holding a birthday cake that has become much more than an indicator of Federhofer’s Bakery; it’s a St. Louis landmark. Gooey butter cake, Swedish crumb loaf, danishes, stollens and doughnuts are not just delicious; they are a taste of the city’s history. 9005 Gravois, Affton.
A molecular geneticist-turned-baker, Ray Yeh turned his passion for the science of baking into this wonderful Maryland Heights bakery he founded with his wife, Leah, in 2018. The shop focuses on Taiwanese delicacies like pineapple gems, red bean buns and bolo buns, as well as several different kinds of breads, including longan walnut and umami burst, which pairs Japanese miso with shiitakes, seaweed and scallions. Recognized by Eater as one of the 32 St. Louis Restaurants in 2022, the Yehs’ storefront is a must-visit for anyone passionate about the science and art of baking. 11424 Dorsett, Maryland Heights.
For two decades, Kim’s has been St. Louis’ best example of the quintessential Korean bakery, filled with glorious pastries, cakes and cookies that are as gorgeous to look at as they are delicious to eat. Cakes like Japanese style cheesecake, sweet potato cake and mocha rolls are standouts, as are other delicacies such as white bean paste pastries, sweet rice donuts and strawberry meringue cookies. Kim’s is also the area’s go-to source for traditional Japanese milk bread. 13357 Olive, Chesterfield.
For roughly a decade, AJ Brown has been turning out some of the region’s best naturally fermented sourdough bread, first at area farmers markets and eventually out of the Lindenwood Park bakery he owns with his wife, Kirsten. However, the Browns offer much more than delicious breads, including delectable cookies, pastries, doughnuts, cinnamon rolls and muffins that show the full range of their talents. 3467 Hampton, South City.
For the past two years, the James Beard Foundation has clued in to what St. Louisans have known since 2013: Simone Faure is one of the most talented pastry chefs in the country. Her Tower Grove South Bakery, La Pâtisserie Chouquette, has received nominations in both 2023 and 2024 for the foundation’s national Best Bakery award. Once you taste an impeccable macaron, decadent mille cake or Darkness croissant, you understand why. To really treat yourself, order a cake tasting box—no wedding date required. 1626 Tower Grove, South City.
After launching to pastry stardom as the winner of TLC’s Next Great Baker in 2014, Lia Weber has returned to her north county roots with her charming bakeship, Made. by Lia. Located in the heart of Old Town Florissant, this scratch bakery boasts a rotating selection of pastries, cakes and treats (including several vegan and gluten-free offerings) and accepts special orders for stunning custom creations. 610 Rue St. Francois, Florissant.
For nearly seven decades, this institution has been a beloved part of St. Louis celebrations thanks to its best-in-class sheet cakes. However, McArthur’s offers much more than this simple pleasure, its pastry cases filled with brownies,, stollens, pies, coffee cakes, cookies and one of the metro area’s most beloved versions of gooey butter cake – one taste and you realize why this iconic bakeshop has such staying power. 3055 Lemay Ferry, South County.
Brother and sister Chris Gambaro and Mimi Lordo hold court at this Hill institution, keeping alive their family’s baking legacy which stretches all the way back to 1924. Their classic Italian pastries and confections draw people from all over the area, especially the signature chocolate drops; these round, chocolate-covered delicacies, similar to a flat doughnut, are one of the best things to eat in a neighborhood known for its food. 2027 Edwards. The Hill.
What started out as Tim Nordmann’s passion project to bake the perfect loaf of sourdough has morphed into a whimsical bakery that turns out a beautiful selection of treats. Sourdough loaves remain a must-enjoy item, but Nordmann’s croissants have garnered an equal following. Cinnamon buns, tarts, cookies and danishes are essential noshes to help fuel a day of strolling along St. Charles’ Main Street. 107 North Main. St. Charles.
Nathaniel Reid has established himself not only as one of the best bakers in the state; he’s acclaimed throughout the country, and even the world (as evidence, he’s been invited to teach pastry classes in France). You understand why when you walk into his Kirkwood bakery and see gorgeous works of pastry art that are even more delicious than they look. Pastries are equally spectacular, like his almond croissant and kouign amann, which is a butter-soaked croissant pillow that sells out as fast as he and his team can make them. 11243 Manchester Road, Kirkwood.
Christy Augustin and Nancy Boehm’s Lindenwood Park bakery has a vintage cool that is not simply about looks but extends to the way they approach baking: small batch, from scratch and using the sort of farm-fresh ingredients you’d find in grandma’s 1950s kitchen. Bundt cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brookies (cookie-brownies) and Mexican wedding cookies are all outstanding, but the piece de resistance is the salted caramel croissant, a work of pastry so perfect it will leave you speechless. This subtly sweet, buttery wonder is only available on Saturdays and it sells out quickly. It’s the only good reason to drag yourself out of bed on a weekend. 3133 Watson. South City.
Culinary Institute of America grads Agi and Aaron Groff opened their St. Charles bakery in 2016 as an homage to classic European pastry, many of them old German recipes handed down by family. You taste their deep pastry heritage and training in the form of excellent tarts, German chocolate cakes, carrot cakes, muffins and scones, all served with warm hospitality that makes enjoying them even more delicious. 700 South Fifth. St. Charles.
After a brief closure of its storefront in 2022 and a subsequent sale to new owners, this popular Dogtown spot continues to delight diners with the treats that have made it such a vital part of the St. Louis baking scene, such as chiffon cakes, quiches, cookies, pies and even savory items like pot pies and meat pies. 1242 Tamm. Dogtown.
SweetArt is not just a popular bakery and cafe; it’s a beloved Shaw neighborhood gathering place, revered as much for its warm, inclusive atmosphere as it is its wonderful food offerings. Owner Reine Keis is responsible for the magic; over the years she’s developed a following for both her savory and sweet offerings, all of which are vegan and utterly delicious. Her cupcakes, like the Fauxstess are legendary. 2203 South 39th. South City.
A staple of the Hill neighborhood food community since the 1970s, Vitale’s is beloved for its excellent, crusty Italian bread that can be found on sandwiches all around St. Louis, as well as its traditional Italian pastries like ricotta puffs (which are described as a beautiful marriage of a cannoli and a doughnut) and some of the best cannolis you’ll find outside of Sicily. 2130 Marconi, The Hill.
Whisk began as a Tower Grove Farmers Market favorite thanks to its creative cupcakes and has garnered a loyal following over the years for its commitment to locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Cupcakes, banana bread, cookies, rice krispie treats and pop tarts are some of the biggest draws both at the storefront (which is currently open sporadically and for pop-ups; check social media for hours) and at the market, which remains the cornerstone of the business. 2201 Cherokee, South City.