Best Bakery and Cake Shops in Washington DC

"The lines are often out the door, but don’t let that stop you. If you ask a DC local where to find the best cupcake in DC, without a doubt they will tell you, “Baked & Wired!. ” This cute, little bakery on a quiet side street in Georgetown offers delicious, moist cupcakes that are big enough to share (if you’re into that) in a wide variety of flavors."

"Lining up at Baked & Wired for an oversized cupcake is the predictable thing to do. Veer to the left of that front-and-center display, and you’ll find a dozen jars of freshly baked cookies. The centerpiece is the monster cookie, a colorful blend of peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, M&Ms and walnuts."

"This neighborhood bakery, which sits on a quiet Georgetown side street, is beloved by locals for its cupcakes (don’t miss the German Chocolate Cake version) and caffeinated beverages (the dirty chai latte is a favorite)."

"It is the second offering from chef and owner Doron Peterson who is also the owner of the award-winning vegan bakery Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats in Columbia Heights. At Fare Well, Peterson is joined by a small, passionate team of fellow chefs who have worked to recreate classic American diner foods and Mediterranean fare with only plant-based ingredients. The restaurant also offers a kid’s menu, vegan shakes, specialty cocktails, and coffee in a sleek yet subtly retro setting."

"Doron Petersan has expanded her expertise in vegan comfort food at Fare Well in the H St corridor. The sibling eatery to Sticky Fingers Bakery is a diner with all-day breakfasts and a completely plant-based menu. The pancakes are a fan favorite and change with the seasons."

"Fare Well is the very first vegetarian/vegan restaurant in the district and was voted the best among other similar establishments in 2017. But, they also offer great-tasting cakes in classic flavors that are still vegan or vegetarian friendly."

"The author of one of F&W’s favorite cookbooks, DamGoodSweet: Desserts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth New Orleans Style, chef Davis Guas turns his attention to sandwiches and savory comfort food at this Arlington, Virginia café. For dinner, Guas updates NOLA dishes he grew up with, like spiced Gulf shrimp with green onion remoulade and blackened turkey meatballs with roasted tomato sauce, but hasn’t entirely forgotten his pastry chef roots. There are expert biscuits on the menu and super fluffy beignets with a generous coating of powdered sugar."

"Some chefs credit their Michelin-starred mentors for shaping their culinary vision and style. David Guas gives biggest props to his 69-year-old aunt Boo, a cooking-school teacher who hails from Abbeville, Louisiana. Her Cajun-country influence is the reason he keeps his zesty jambalaya extra-moist—unorthodox trick: a little tomato purée—and his crawfish étouffée stays on the mild side (dress it up with hot sauce if you like)."

"Owned by Louisiana native David Guas, Bayou Bakery naturally serves killer beignets. But it doesn’t neglect its French cousin, with freshly baked croissants filled with chocolate or almond, ham and cheese, and a special everything croissant (like the bagels). View this post on Instagram"

"When that sweet-toothed craving hits there’s no choice but to head up to Columbia Heights to indulge in a few treats at Sticky Fingers Bakery. After all, owner Doron Petersan has won the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars twice!. The fully vegan bakery has been open since 1999, serving decadent sticky bun cinnamon rolls, muffins, donuts, cookies, brownies, and even full-sized cakes in unique and seasonal flavors."

"A photo posted by stickyfingersdc (@stickyfingersdc) on Aug 17, 2016 at 12:34pm PDT. This is the go-to place for vegan desserts that your friends wouldn't even know are vegan!. This bakery won Cupcake Wars so they have Food Network's seal of approval, and with fun flavors like tiramisu, raspberry, and Boston creme, it can't be beat."

"Where is it written that breakfast must be sweet, or even that oatmeal requires doctoring with maple and baking spices?. A Baked Joint, owned by the team behind Baked & Wired, provides compelling evidence that steel-cut oats loaded with smoked ham, kale, caramelized onions and pecorino, all topped with a beautifully poached egg, is every bit as satisfying — and filling. Served only till 11 a.m., the hearty $8.75 bowl will easily take you through lunch, whether you’re tromping around the museums or just sitting through interminable meetings at the office."

"Sister shop of Baked & Wired, you will find all the carbs here at A Baked Joint. We love that there are at least ten different ways to order toast on the menu. Quiche, breakfast sandwiches, homemade biscuits, an assortment of pastries, sweet OR savory Oatmeal (steel cut oats, smoked ham, kale, caramelized onions, pecorino, organic poached eggs), and creme brûlée French toast are sure to satisfy your morning hangry monster."

"This bakery is the perfect spot to stop off for a fresh cinnamon roll and a latte if you are on the run in the morning. It is a few blocks away from the Capitol and the ideal place to grab a quick breakfast before taking on the city. Each day of the week, A Baked Joint offers a different, freshly baked good."

"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Bethesda Bagels (@bethesdabagels)"

"The bakery’s name comes from a sweet, fruity drink found throughout the region called “sharbat,” based on the same Persian word that is the origin of the English word sherbet. The variety of pastries and cakes at the Adams Morgan shop reflects what owner Ilhama Safarova describes as a range of influences on her country’s cooking, from local food traditions and those of the neighboring Turkic republics to Russian and European flavors. Safarova, who runs the cafe with her daughter Shukrana, trained as a nurse but later went to cooking school in Baku to become a pastry chef."

"The city’s first Azerbaijan bakery opened over the summer in Adams Morgan, introducing many Washingtonians to treats like pakhlava (similar to baklava), or shekerbura, the ground hazelnut-filled pastry so intricately detailed it looks crocheted. Owner Ilhama Safarova, who immigrated to D.C about two years ago from the South Caucasian country, says they’ve had a warm reception since opening five months ago. “A lot of people have told us that they had the best pakhlava ever from our bakery,” she says."

"When it first opened in 2018 in Park View, the self-described “Jew-ish” deli had lines wrapped around the block for a taste of the city’s first great bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and inventive pastries. Executive chef and co-founder Daniela Moreira draws inspiration for her sweet creations from her childhood, “with my family cooking by the river in my hometown of Alta Gracia, Argentina,” she says. “My dad would make a fire and my mom would make facturas (Argentinian pastries) and pan casero (traditional bread made with lard and chicharrones)."

"Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira, the brain trust behind Timber Pizza Co., are delighting Petworth once again with even more creative ways to consume carbs. Call Your Mother, which bills itself as “a Jew-ish deli,” serves up the classics you know and love with a twist. Candied salmon cream cheese, za’atar bagels, whitefish croquettes and a matzah ball sopa embody Dana and Moreira’s unique take on Jewish cuisine."

"One of the best (and most beloved) bagel shops in Washington, D.C., it’s easy to grab a bagel sandwich to go as you wander around Capital Hill, or sit for a spell with a bagel and smear with a side of coffee before you start your day. We love this location because it is walkable from most of our favorite Capital Hill Airbnb rentals and surrounded by other cute restaurants, shops and attractions."

"One of the city’s most noteworthy spots, the market is filled with artisan eateries. The famous Heart Wall is the perfect place to confess your love for one another. The Heart Wall is a mural created for International Women’s Day in 2015 by Los Angeles-based graffiti artist Mr. Brainwash."

"Home to more than 40 vendors, this artisan hub helps local businesses grow and scale as part of the D.C."

"A post shared by @vegetarianpropaganda on May 27, 2019 at 10:56am PDT. Explore tasty eats that will make you happy at Chalin’s Restaurant. This place offers dine-in, takeaway and delivery, and they serve a wide variety of noodles and rice dishes."

"Most displays and activities are aimed at elementary age children, but younger kids will enjoy climbing in the pilots seat of a plane, and pushing buttons, turning knobs and exploring the many interactives. Kid-friendly exhibits: the open lobbies at the ends of each wing of the building have larger items (planes, rockets, etc) on display and are very kid-friendly. The Pioneers of Flight exhibit on the second floor also is very appealing to children."

"The National Air and Space Museum contains the world’s largest collection of aviation and space artifacts. The museum was first founded in 1876 and welcomes about eight million people annually. The museum features 23 main exhibition galleries and sits in an ideal location with the Capitol Building just a few blocks away."

"The National Air and Space Museum is one of the best museums in Washington D.C. and boasts three galleries of aviation and space exhibits. Wonderful for kids and adults alike, the museum has aircraft, space memorabilia, missiles, and more, all of which chronicle the history of air and space travel."