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Best Bakeries in Raleigh
Are you searching for the best bakeries in Raleigh, NC? Here are ten great bakeries in Raleigh that locals love!
Raleigh is not just known for its beautiful tree-lined streets and thriving tech scene; it is also home to an incredible bakery culture that will make your morning brighter and your celebrations sweeter. One of the best parts about living in Raleigh is discovering the local bakeries that have become beloved neighborhood institutions.
This isn't a city of chain bakeries with mass-produced goods. Instead, you'll find passionate bakers who mill their own flour, pastry chefs who've trained in some of the country's finest kitchens, and family-owned shops where recipes have been perfected over decades.
As you explore your new city, these ten bakeries will quickly become your go-to destinations for everything from your daily coffee and croissant to custom wedding cakes and holiday celebrations. Let's dive into what makes each one truly special.
Visit these best bakeries in Raleigh
1. Boulted Bread
Address: 328 Dupont Circle, Raleigh, NC 27603
Hours: 7 AM to 4 PM Tuesday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM Saturday and Sunday, and closed Monday
Boulted Bread is an artisan bakery and stone mill in Downtown Raleigh, located near Raleigh Union Station and CAM Raleigh, a contemporary art museum and gallery. This rustic bakery was founded in 2014 and specializes in organic pastries and bread, including baguettes, ciabatta loaves, croissants, scones, and cookies.
Representing the pinnacle of the artisan bread movement in Raleigh, this organic bakery and stone mill operates its own mill on-site, grinding heirloom and locally sourced grains into flour used for their craft breads and pastries.
All bread and pastries are baked fresh daily using local pasture-raised eggs, dairy, and produce. This top-rated bakery also sells freshly-baked goods and serves coffee and hot drinks, including lattes and cappuccinos, which pair well with its food items.
2. Lucettegrace
Address: 235 S Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Hours: 8 AM to 4 PM daily
Phone Number: (919) 307-4950
In the heart of downtown Raleigh, LucetteGrace brings European patisserie excellence to Salisbury Street. Led by pastry chef and owner Daniel Benjamin, who spent 15 years working in some of the finest kitchens across America, from NYC to San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, and Washington D.C., the shop is named after his two daughters.
This popular bakery and cafe near the Marbles Kids Museum in Downtown Raleigh is a great spot to get macaroons, croissants, cookies, muffins, cakes, cheesecakes, and tarts. Their kouign amann achieves the perfect balance of caramelized, flaky layers, while their numbered chocolate desserts showcase refined technique and creativity.
It also serves delicious lunch items, including soups, salads, and sandwiches. This local favorite is fresh food and tasty desserts all day. Best known for its unbeatable prices, cozy atmosphere, and inventive desserts, Lucettegrace is the place to stop by for a mid-day treat.
3. La Farm Bakery
Address: 4248 NW Cary Parkway, Cary, NC 27513
Hours: 7 AM to 7 PM Monday through Saturday and 7 AM to 6 PM Sunday
Phone Number: (919) 657-0657
La Farm Bakery is a well-known and authentic French Bakery in the Raleigh area. Though the original location is in Cary, La Farm has expanded into Raleigh with multiple locations, making their European-style breads and pastries more accessible throughout the Triangle.
First opened in 1999, Lionel Vatinet and his wife, Missy, dreamed of opening a modern bakery where families could gather and enjoy good food. This dream quickly became a reality, and La Farm Bakery has been serving residents in the Triangle ever since.
What distinguishes La Farm is Vatinet's mastery of traditional French baking techniques combined with locally sourced ingredients. Their sourdough breads are crafted from locally grown and milled heirloom grains, baked fresh throughout the day. The baguettes rival anything you'd find in Paris, with a crisp crust that shatters perfectly to reveal a tender, flavorful interior.
La Farm Bakery is an excellent breakfast, lunch, and dinner destination. Customers can also order coffee locally roasted by Counter Culture Coffee. La Farm Bakery currently has three locations in Cary: one in Fuquay Varina off of Broad Street and another on Glenwood Avenue in Downtown Raleigh. There are plans to expand into Apex, another Raleigh suburb, in the near future.
4. Southern Sugar Bakery
Address: 4517 Lead Mine Road, Suite B, Raleigh, NC 27612
Hours: 9 AM to 3 PM Tuesday through Thursday, 9 AM to 1 PM Friday, closed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday
Email: [email protected]
Do you love cookies? Then, make sure to check out Southern Sugar Bakery, located in the Crabtree Chiropractic Center in Raleigh. This woman-owned and operated specialty cookie company is best known for its custom-designed sugar cookies, drop cookies, and cookie cakes.
Southern Sugar Bakery was started by former school counselors Angie Tucker and Christin Kubasko in 2013, beginning as an NC-licensed home bakery in Angie's kitchen before moving to a commercial space in 2015. This women-owned business has become Raleigh's premier destination for custom-decorated sugar cookies that are almost too beautiful to eat.
The bakery specializes in custom-decorated cookies, corporate logo cookies, and even photo cookies that can be shipped nationwide. Whether you need cookies for a baby shower, corporate event, or wedding, Southern Sugar's detailed designs and vibrant coloring transform simple sugar cookies into edible art.
While not a walk-in bakery, their online ordering system makes it easy to customize your cookie order for any occasion. They also offer cookie decorating classes for those who want to learn the craft themselves.
5. Sugar Euphoria
Address: 606 N Person Street, Raleigh, NC 27604
Hours: 10 AM to 6 PM Wednesday and Thursday, 10 AM to 8 PM Friday and Saturday, and closed Sunday through Tuesday
Phone Number: (919) 631-9796
Sugar Euphoria is one of the best bakeries in Raleigh for custom cakes, cupcakes, and delicious desserts. Located near William Peace University, one of the best colleges in the area, and Seaboard Station, this modern bakery and cake shop is the go-to for all your confectionery needs.
Owner Randi Smith has been a top Triangle area wedding dessert designer for many years, with a reputation as a creative genius that both couples and wedding vendors love. This boutique custom cake design studio has elevated special occasion desserts to an art form.
6. Little Blue Bakehouse
Address: 2116-H New Bern Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27610
Hours: 7 AM to 8 PM Tuesday through Thursday, 7 AM to 9 PM Friday, 8 AM to 9 PM Saturday, 9 AM To 8 PM Sunday, and closed Monday
Phone Number: (919) 239-4256
Little Blue Bakehouse is a unique bakery and coffee house concept in southeast Raleigh that operates as a kitchen incubator for new local bakery businesses. Home to five bakery vendors, Little Blue Bakehouse is a great way for bakers to gain exposure, sell their products, and grow their business.
Founded by Allison Vick and her husband Carl, this dessert food hall gives small sweets businesses a place to both make and sell their products without the enormous financial commitment of opening their own brick-and-mortar location.
Inside, you'll find wares from The Blue Ox Bakery, Yellow Garden Bake Shop, Clover Lane Bakery, and Sweet Nothings. This means one stop gets you everything from perfectly crafted French macarons to giant stuffed cookies, mini donuts, and creative ice cream flavors loaded with mix-ins.
The collaborative atmosphere extends beyond just shared kitchen space. The bakers constantly bounce ideas off each other, come up with new products together, and share advice on marketing, photography, and which markets are best to participate in.
7. Yellow Dog Bread Company
Address: 219 E Franklin Street, Raleigh, NC 27604
Hours: 7 AM to 4 PM Tuesday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday
Phone Number: (984) 232-0291
Yellow Dog Bread Company is a family-owned craft bread, pastry, and coffee shop in downtown Raleigh that specializes in small-batch artisan breads and Southern-influenced pastries made from scratch with locally milled and sourced ingredients. Located in a walkable neighborhood near William Peace University, this bakery has captured the hearts of bread lovers throughout the Triangle.
The cinnamon rolls are generously sized and wonderfully fragrant, the chocolate croissants are buttery perfection, and the rotating selection of fresh-baked breads means there's always something new to try. The warm, friendly service makes every visit feel like stopping by a neighbor's kitchen.
Featuring a great atmosphere and friendly staff, there is no better place in town to order a handcrafted pastry alongside a coffee or tea. With plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, hang out with your friends and family while supporting local Raleigh businesses.
8. Asali Desserts and Cafe
Address: 107 Edinburgh S Dr Street 106-A, Cary, NC 27511
Hours: 9 AM to 9 PM daily
Phone Number: (919) 362-7882
Asali Desserts and Cafe is a cute dessert and coffee house owned by husband-and-wife duo Jamaal Ali and Hanadi Asad, both NC State graduates who combined their shared passion for Mediterranean desserts with family recipes. Located in Cary's revitalized MacGregor Village, Asali brings the flavors and hospitality of the Mediterranean to the Triangle.
The café specializes in Mediterranean treats like baklava, kunafa (a delightful sugar-soaked pastry with shredded phyllo dough), mini pecan tarts, and nut-filled ladyfingers. Their kunafa cheesecake is particularly innovative, trading the typical graham cracker crust for shredded phyllo and topping it with crushed pistachios and sweet syrup.
It also features a large coffee and tea menu, a great place to start your day with a pastry and a hot drink. Offering High Tea reservations, which include a pot of tea, assorted sandwiches, and assorted desserts, make sure to visit Asali Desserts and Cafe for a good time.
9. The Cupcake Shoppe Bakery and Cafe
Address: 104 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27603
Hours: 7:30 AM to 6 PM Monday through Thursday, 7:30 AM to 8 PM Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday
Phone Number: (919) 821-4223
The Cupcake Shoppe Bakery and Cafe is a cozy boutique bakery and coffee shop in downtown Raleigh specializing in cakes, cupcakes, and pastries. The shop is committed to using fresh, high-end, local ingredients and proudly serves locally roasted Joe Van Gogh coffee and espresso.
Opened in 2007, this is Raleigh's first cupcake boutique and has been baking from scratch every morning for over 15 years. Their cupcake lineup includes creative names like Plain Jane, Big Red, Simply Cinnamon, Mint Condition, and You Mocha Me Crazy, with seasonal flavors keeping the menu exciting year-round.
The light-filled café offers both indoor seating and a patio where you can enjoy your treats. Beyond cupcakes, they excel at custom cakes for weddings and special events, with gluten-free and vegan options ensuring everyone can enjoy a sweet indulgence.
10. Hayes Barton Cafe and Dessertery
Address: 2000 Fairview Road, Raleigh, NC 27608
Hours: 11:30 AM to 2 PM and 6 PM to 8:30 PM on Wednesday and Thursday, 11:30 AM to 2 PM and 6 PM to 9 PM on Friday and Saturday, closed on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday
Phone Number: (919) 856-8551
Hayes Barton Cafe and Dessertery is a popular restaurant and go-to spot for desserts in the family-friendly neighborhood of Hayes Barton. With a menu and atmosphere inspired by the 1940s, this vintage-style diner is perfect for lunch, dinner, and dessert.
The cakes here are legendary and are perfect for sharing with friends and family. The chocolate raspberry cake, seasonal patty cake (white chocolate layers with chocolate mousse icing), and coconut cake are local favorites.
FAQs
What is the most popular bakery item?
Custom cakes make up a large percentage of bakery sales since they are frequently ordered for large celebrations such as weddings and birthdays. Other popular bakery items include cookies, cupcakes, brownies, pies, and freshly baked bread.
What bakery item makes the most money?
While it will depend on the bakery and what they mainly specialize in, the bakery item that tends to make the most money is custom cakes made for events.
Generally, bakeries can make a 30% to 50% profit on cakes on top of their costs, and bakers can charge more for cakes that take more time and require more detailed designs.
Is La Farm Bakery opening a location in Apex, NC?
La Farm Bakery, a popular local bakery, is confirmed to expand its business in Apex, North Carolina. This new location will open at 202 S. Salem Street in a former SunTrust bank.
Methodology
Information was sourced from Bakesy, Raleigh News and Observer, and local Raleigh bakeries to determine the best bakeries in Raleigh that serve freshly baked goods and sweets.
Bakeries in Raleigh, NC - Final Thoughts
As you settle into life in Raleigh, these ten bakeries will become your go-to spot for birthday cakes, wedding desserts, and other sweet treats. Most bakeries in the area are owned and operated by local bakers and pastry chefs who use fresh ingredients in their menu items.
If you are ready to call Raleigh home and have access to the many great bakeries in the city, the experts at Raleigh Realty can help you find your dream home in one of Raleigh's best neighborhoods.
