Best Bakery

Not only does BREAD GARDEN provide bread to some of Atlanta’s best restaurants, it sells its perfect loaves directly to the public as well. The small shop in the Amsterdam Walk shopping center also sells sandwiches, pastries and amazing cookies. Now, if only owner Katharine Krasnow would start selling those incredible almond croissants to the public … less...

The cakes at HIGHLAND BAKERY aren’t like the ones you might find at those fancy cake makers, where towering layers impose in their perfection. Instead, there’s something comfortably homey, with a fair dose of bohemian chic, in the rows of cakes dressed with orange and yellow daisies and other unpretentious adornments. From carrot and coconut to traditional chocolate or yellow, the cakes’ ingredients are organic and as wholesome as can be without compromising taste. Or, as one fan puts it, she’d like to bathe in Highland Bakery’s buttercream frosting. The bakery’s sweet-potato pancakes are nothing to scoff at, either — and serve as the perfect excuse to pick up a special-occasion cake during breakfast hours. less...

We’ve been addicted to the lamb sandwiches, croissants, chocolate-chocolate cookies and country French bread at ALON’S BAKERY for more than a decade. In recent years, Alon Balshan has expanded his Virginia-Highland shop into a true gourmet treasure, with prepared foods and artisan cheeses. Balshan is also responsible for the fabulous gelato next door at What’s the Scoop. less...

Katharine Krasnow’s BREAD GARDEN is not the biggest bakery in town. But it’s been our favorite since it opened and instantly transferred 15 pounds of buttery raisin scones from the display case to our abdominal region. Krasnow, given to amiably chattering to herself after powdering her face with flour, treats bread as the living presence it is. Her raisin-nut bread makes beautiful music with many cheeses. Her country Italian loaf loves to become a sandwich. Her pastries? The safest sex we’ve ever had. less...

Newly expanded (more bread racks, wine, cheese, condiments, a few hot items) and with an ice-cream-dipping shop installed just a few doors down, Alon Balshan's standard-setting bakery/market keeps getting better. Country French and whole wheat loaves are the city's best. Lemon, chocolate and fresh fruit tarts, eclairs, buttercream and mousse cakes, scones, croissants, double-chocolate cookies and fruit muffins are entirely noteworthy. Pastrami, chicken-pesto, lamb, peppered turkey and vegetable sandwiches cause polite traffic jams. less...