Help a Spy: What's the Best Bakery in Seattle?

I need your help. I personally (as Seattle-based dessert blogger and self-proclaimed "Moderate Internet Celebrity" Jessie Oleson, A.K.A. CakeSpy) need your sweet assistance!

This website is wrapping up a huge contest called "So You Wanna be a CakeSpy?", wherein hundreds of bakers from all over the country submitted recipes inspired by CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life for the chance to win a free trip to Seattle to hang out with me and visit some of my favorite local bakeries. OMG!

Here's where you (and anyone you'd like to ask) come into the picture. Where do you think I should take the winner? Sure, there are plenty of amazing bakeries in Seattle — but which one takes the cake? Will it be a battle between the big famous cupcake shops? Or is it a delicious off-the-beaten-path destination? I really want to pick the best place, so I need sugar-loving Seattleites to weigh in! This is a chance to show off Seattle's stunning array of bakeries.

So, Seattleites (or people who are in the know about Seattle sweet spots): Where would you take someone from out of town for the very best pastries in Seattle?

Comments

[Justin]

Bakery Nouveau.

[Lakshmi]

Columbia city bakery for sure - the chocolate whiskey cake is to die for

[Teresa]

My very favorite bakery in all of Seattle is Bakery Nouveau in West Seattle. (Sorry Trophy! I love you too!) Their croissants, eclairs, and brioche are a gift from heaven.

I'm getting hungry just thinking about it....*drool*

[Lydia]

Hands down the best bakery in Seattle is Bakery Nouveau! It's located in West Seattle and their twice baked almond croissants are to die for. I've been a Seattle resident and a baked goods lover all my life, and I haven't found anything better. Thanks!

[Sarah]

Bakery nouveau in West Seattle is certainly the best bakery as far as pastries and all the togs French. Twice baked almond and chocolate croissants are a MUST. Danishes and macaroons are wonderful too and the pizza is surprisingly delicious for a bakery. Definitely worth the drive to West Seattle, you'll want one of everything! In Capitol Hill, High 5 Pie is worth a stop, although Pie in Fremont is a close contender for best Seattle pie. For cupcakes, Cupcake Royale is a Seattle classic, but I actually think Yellowleaf Cupcakes in Belltown has better texture and flavors.

[Molly Allen]

I want to go to every single one. We could just spend a week doing that. :D


However, I have already been to all of them in Pike's Place!

[Jocelyn]

Bakery Nouveau...yum.

[Kim from Florida]

I'm really looking forward to answers to this one. I will be in Seattle in July before an Alaskan cruise and since I'm a fan of your blog, I look forward to this information. I have already told my family one stop I MUST make is to your shop!

[Krys]

Wow, I'm not SURE! Tell you what, get me a sponsor to pay for the desserts and I'm willing to put on the 20 pounds from visiting EACH AND EVERY bake shop in the city to test and give you the results :D Right now, I think my vote would go to Fresh Flours in Ballard. Their pain au chocolat is the perfect smooth & melty ganache, with soft buttery insides and insanely flakey outsides! Their macarons are delicious and the breton with custard is divine.

[Betsy @JavaCupcake]

You know I'm probably biased....

New York Cupcakes has my FAVORITE cupcakes in town :)

[Johnny]

Depends on if you count cakes as pastries, but Hiroki up in Wailingford makes some AMAZING cakes!

[Amy]

Do you have to choose just one? Of course Bakery Nouveau is a great choice. But I also love Cafe Besalu (Ballard), and for cake slices, the best in town is Simply Desserts (Fremont).

[AC]

I'm in love with the red velvet cupcakes at Cupcake Royale.

[mari]

Simply Desserts in Fremont.

Not pastries, but my most favorite cakes in town! Chocolate white chocolate, chocolate truffle, chocolate fudge, white chocolate strawberry, orange pumpkin, etc. Swirl brownies and fudge chip cookies are also awesome. It's been a family tradition to go here for over 20 years!

[JB]

Gah! Decisions!
#1 Bakery Nouveau
#2 Honore Artisan Bakery (would be #1 if they were open 7 days a week!)
#3 Larsen's Bakery
#4 Little Prague European Bakery- drive by their store front, but it seems they're only @ Farmer's Markets. AMAZING stuff.

[Mike]

Guess it depends on what you want.

If it's croissants, Bakery Nouveau is good, but Cafe Besalu is better - selection is limited but to me they are the best in Seattle.

Buttermilk cake at Dahlia Bakery is amazing...as is the rightfully famous coconut cream pie.

For cupcakes, I'm in the Trophy camp.

That said, if I had to pick one, freshly baked chocolate croissant from Besalu it is.

[Amy]

Yes, bakery nouveau is one very good bakery. Absolutely Cafe Besalu, and they MUST try the croissants and the ginger biscuits there. Trophy should be included on your itinerary, along with Cupcake Royale. Macrina in SoDo is also good, not 100%, but the orange hazenut pinwheels are to die for and the space is interesting and you'd get to drive your winner by the Starbucks HQ.
Mari, you make me want to go back to Simply Desserts, we used to go there when I was a kid, and I haven't been there in years!!

[LaurieA-B]

It's going to be Crumble & Flake, I bet, but until C&F opens, Cafe Besalu.

Dahlia Bakery has wonderful cookies, and it's a great place to take people who want a taste of Tom Douglas (the Tom Douglas restaurant empire, that is).