New bakeries in Toronto are serving up some delicious treats this year. From a West Side bakery making classics to an East Side bakery reinventing the use of ube and calamansi as dessert, each establishment has managed to wow people in the city.
Here are my picks for the best new bakeries in Toronto, organized by neighborhood.
Bloordale Village
The team behind Cafe Neon opened Blue Collar Bakery in late spring. Crusty sourdough bread, baguettes and flaky croissants await you at this place.
Brockton Village
Moonmilk serves delicious ice cream, but also shines in the bakery department. The owners Elysia Leung and Sally Davidson create delicious ice cream rolls, milk rolls filled with pastry cream and jam as well as sponge and chiffon cakes.
Dundas West
For vegan baked goods, head to Bad Attitude Bread in a former bike shop. Their best-selling product is the “Everything Bagel Roll,” but you can also get sweet treats like the Cherry Cheesecake Braid and the Sesame “Honey” Cookie.
East Chinatown
Formerly a long-running pop-up shop, Issho Bakery's brick-and-mortar store features plenty of Japanese and Korean-style pastries. Notable treats include the milk chocolate matcha cookie, milk hojicha spelled sable cookie, miso marshmallow squares and kimchi scones.
East York
Former wholesaler Circles and Squares has been selling out on weekends since opening its first retail space. You can try the bakery's butter tarts, which won the Egg Farmers of Ontario Butter Tart Contest, or their best-selling cruffins.
Etobicoke
Yes, Panettorino has some great pizzas. But as the name suggests, there are also some amazing panettones, including the chocolate panettone, the chocolate orange panettone and the classic. This Italian bakery also serves apple pie, cappuccino croissants and chocolate sourdough bread.
Kensington Market
While the coffee is a popular menu item at 84 Nassau Street, it's definitely not the main attraction. This bakery offers a delicious selection of in-house baked goods, such as French puff pastry kouign-amann, almond croissants and blueberry pastries.
Koreatown
Dessert Fox is known for its outstanding croffles. Matcha, banana, Oreo and strawberry are just a few of the sweet flavors available. You can also get savory croffles, like the spicy salmon sashimi or the spicy mayo ham.
Leslieville
Johnson Family Bakery is an East End bread haven offering sourdough breads, baguettes, sandwiches and Swedish knots. The bakery came about after owner Chuck Johnson was laid off from his retail job during the pandemic; His wife gave him a sourdough bread kit and the rest is history.
Little Italy
As the name suggests, the team behind Pompette and Bar Pompette are also behind Bakery Pompette. Here you'll find buttery, delicious treats like kouignamann, baguettes and pain du chocolat.
North York
Luna Bakery features rice cakes and pastries made from rice flour. You can get Korean treats like injeolmi cookies, white mooncakes filled with brown sugar, and the prickly pear dacquoise cake.
Parkdale
What started as a company based in Ottawa has now expanded to Toronto. Maverick's Donuts specializes in gourmet donuts with many flavors such as chocolate mint, dulce cinnamon swirl and pecan pie.
Queen West
Known for its retro theme, Superballs Café offers vegan dessert balls in the cutest car boxes. You can try these sweet treats in many ways, such as topped with peanut butter and drizzled with condensed milk or topped with dark chocolate and cornflakes.
St Clair West
Former Parallel Brothers chef Tomer Markovitz opened Romi's Bakery earlier this year. The bakery, named after the owner's daughter, is known for its chewy challah bread.
Upper beaches
Bakerrae initially started as an online bakery during the pandemic before becoming a brick-and-mortar store in late summer. The owner, Rhea Abayan, knows how to bring out the best in her Filipino-style wares like the halo-halo rae bun and calamansi meringue cake.
Yonge & Eglinton
If you're looking to satisfy your 3 a.m. sweet craving, Midnight Cookie is for you. The Cookie Spot started as an online delivery service before opening a physical store this year.
Yonge & Bloor
More Natas Please is a Portuguese bakery that knows how to make flaky, creamy natas. You can try the classic natas, natas with Nutella, vegan natas, strawberry natas and almond natas.
Yonge & College
Hitotoki Bakery offers Japanese and French pastries. Best sellers include egg tarts, blueberry cream cake, palmier and shokupan (a fluffy Japanese bread).
Scarborough
If you ever crave soft croissants, Evana Patisserie & Café is the place for you. Cordon Bleu-trained chef Eva Soung's treats include the Ferrero Rocher-style Rocher Croissant, dipped in dark chocolate and topped with toasted hazelnut pieces.
Yonge & Wellesley
Kream specializes in filled croissant cubes that are known not to be too sweet and made with rich cream. If you're looking for a savory option, the basil cream cheese croissant is a must. You can also choose a sweet favorite like matcha, crème brûlée, and yuza.
Yonge & Dundas
Unholy Donuts has opened a new location downtown. As at other locations, the bakery shines with its brioche donuts. There are currently 24 flavors available, including Tiramisu, Raspberry, Caramel Gingerbread and Cappuccino.