Tacoma is filled with delicious local restaurants, but nothing beats freshly baked goods from some of the best bakeries in the city. Featuring unique recipes and flavors from across the globe, each bakery in Tacoma has something special to offer.
Whether you’re looking for a classic cupcake or all-day breakfast pastries, it’s not hard to find a baked good that will satisfy. From specialty cake shops to doughnut legends and cupcake experts, you’ll find the perfect treat at one of the following 12 best bakeries in Tacoma.
12. Top Pot Doughnuts & Coffee
Top Pot Doughnuts & Coffee started in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood back in 2002, and although they’ve grown significantly since then, they continue to focus all they do on quality, integrity, and inclusiveness. Using a secret 1920s recipe, this Tacoma café serves a simple menu that’s bursting with flavor.
Although a menu comprised of just doughnuts may not sound enticing to everyone, Top Pot has gained a steady following for a reason. They offer over 40 types of doughnuts daily, including classic and fancy varieties as well as a collection of seasonal flavors. Popular choices include the blueberry fritter and the bacon maple bar.
As the perfect accompaniment to a doughnut, coffee is also on the menu, and Top Pot places special care on the beans and roasts that they serve. Only brewed coffee is available, but options include a handful of different varieties as well as decaf and seasonal options.
11. J Louis Cakes
Conveniently located across from Macy’s inside Tacoma Mall, JLouisCakes makes beautiful and delicious cakes and pastries for all occasions. Whether you want a snack between shopping or need a customized cake for a special occasion, they’ve got you covered.
All cakes and pastries at JLouisCakes are handcrafted, with featured flavors including Tres Leches and Pink Champagne. Customized cakes are available for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events, and they even offer a free consultation and cake-tasting delivery.
If you’re just passing by, their storefront also has some delectable treats to try. Select cakes are sold by the slice, alongside macarons and cookies, gelato, espresso beverages, and Italian sodas.
10. Wanna Cupcake? Bakery Café
If cupcakes make your heart sing, then this Tacoma bakery will be your new anthem. After serving Puyallup delicious cupcakes for 12 years, Wanna Cupcake? opened a new location in University Place, and they have flavors and options galore.
The rotating menu offers an assortment of five unique flavors each day. Flavor combinations change weekly and monthly, and there are over 100 different varieties to try. From Banana Cream Pie to Raspberry Cheesecake, these cupcakes are rich, beautiful, and sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
The full-service espresso bar creates delicious lattes and cappuccinos to go with your cupcakes, as well as smoothies, Italian sodas, and energy drink spritzers. Several specialty cakes for birthdays and other events are also available, as is the option to order a customized cake.
9. Spilled Butter Desserts
You may have seen Spilled Butter Desserts in cafes and restaurants around Tacoma, but did you know that you can get the same delicious flavors customized to fit your next event or celebration? Although this Tacoma bakery may not have its own retail space for customers to sit and relax, owner Brianne Day brings over 15 years of experience and a lifelong passion to the table to create gorgeous made-to-order cakes and pastries for any occasion.
Some Tacoma restaurants and coffee shops that Spilled Butter Desserts can be found at include:
- Lux Coffee
- Dusty’s Hideaway
- Cosmonaut Coffee
- The Pine Cone Cafe
- Manifesto Coffee
- Jin Jin Matcha
- Wolfe Club Coffee Roasters
The menu at Spilled Butter Desserts includes signature cakes, pies, and other goodies like scones, ding dongs, and seasonal fruit crostatas. Customers also have the option of ordering customized cakes for special events like weddings and birthdays.
8. Le Donut
One of Tacoma’s best-kept secrets is the little donut shop tucked away in the Hilltop neighborhood. The modest storefront may not scream “best Tacoma bakery”, but the over 20 years of business and perfected dough recipe say otherwise.
While many doughnuts appeal to the eye (and the sweet tooth) with heaps of sugary frosting and colorful toppings, Le Donut likes to keep things simple. Instead, their wide selection of flavors focuses on quality over glitz, with customer favorites including the bacon maple doughnut and the apple fritter.
Of course, sprinkle-covered delights are also available, as are a variety of tea, coffee, and espresso beverages to accompany your pastries. Be sure to come early, they’re only open until 1 pm daily and are closed on Sundays.
7. Sur-Argentinian Bakery
Step into a slice of Argentina at SUR Argentinian Bakery. This family-owned gem brings the delicious flavors and aromas from “back home” to Tacoma with a bite of Argentina’s culinary heritage.
Enjoy sweet treats like the popular Alfa-Jores, a delectable treat made with two cornstarch cookies filled with a Dulce de Leche cream and then rolled in sweet coconut shavings or dipped in your choice of chocolate. Savory items are also available, including specialty pizza, sandwiches, and empanadas that will make your mouth water.
With a simple, yet spacious seating area, SUR Argentine Bakery is ideal for dine-in or take-out customers. There is also a small, adjoined store selling an assortment of Argentinian goods, making this more than just a bakery, but a true cultural experience.
6. Original House of Donuts
When it comes to the best bakeries in Tacoma, the Original House of Donuts has earned its place on the list. They’ve been serving the Tacoma area freshly baked donuts daily since 1959, and although the venue has been restored and ownership has changed hands, they continue to treat customers to some of the best-baked treats in town.
The menu includes donuts of every kind, including filled, raised, and topped. They also have cakes, scones, and bars, as well as French Crullers and Plops made with fruit and Bavarian cream. Coffee, milk, and other beverages are available to pair with the donuts, and orders can be placed online.
5. Olive Bakery
Korean-style baked goods are characteristically light and fluffy, and Olive Bakery has perfected it. Located inside H Mart, this family-run Korean bakery makes all its products in-house, including a selection of grab-and-go options as well as customized cakes.
One of the most popular items at Olive Bakery is their freshly made cream fruit cake. Classy, colorful, and delicious, these cakes are decorated with fresh fruit and are ideal for birthdays or anniversaries. They also have a large selection of bread, donuts, scones, and other pastries, including both sweet and savory options.
4. Hess Bakery & Deli
The tantalizing aroma of freshly baked German pretzels and bread welcomes customers at Hess Bakery & Deli. Since 1968, this family-owned bakery has been delighting taste buds with handcrafted goods and imported favorites.
The talented bakers rise early each day to whip up the products they pride themselves on, including the ever-popular German pretzels and an assortment of hearty breads. Their selection of pastries is also ideal for those with a sweet tooth, with options including sweet braids and Tortenboden.
A German goods store and deli are also part of this full-service shop. Find meats and cheeses to your heart’s content and choose to take them home or enjoy them right away in a hearty sandwich. Then stop to check out some of the other German goods available, with items ranging from candy to condiments.
Whether you’re seeking a taste of Germany or are simply looking to treat yourself to some heavenly baked treats, Hess Bakery & Deli brings a nice selection of authentic German goods to Tacoma. They’re open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, closing an hour earlier on Saturdays.
3. Pao’s Donut & Coffee Shop
Although Pao’s Donut & Coffee Shop may not have the curb appeal of some Tacoma cafes, that doesn’t say anything about the flavor of their products, the service they provide, or the number of delicious options available.
This family-owned and operated donut shop is a neighborhood favorite and has been proudly serving the community delicious baked goods since 1968. Their many years in business have won Pao’s Donut & Coffee Shop multiple awards for its amazing treats, including several Best of the South Sound awards.
Some customer favorites at Pao’s Donut & Coffee Shop include the Coconut Cake Donut and the Maple Bar. Other items include
- Donut holes
- Scones
- Fritters
- Cinnamon rolls
Tea and coffee are also available, including espresso-based beverages like lattes and cappuccinos.
Pao’s Donut & Coffee Shop is open daily and even offers a drive-through option. However, they only accept cash, so be sure to come prepared.
2. Corina Bakery
Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a specialty cake, Corina Bakery has something. Located on the edge of the Stadium District, this Tacoma bakery is a cute neighborhood shop with a sleek, vintage vibe.
With ample indoor and outdoor seating available, Corina Bakery is a place to hang out as much as it is a place to order spectacularly sculpted centerpieces for parties and events. They have a specialized breakfast menu with dishes like quiche, pastries, and sandwiches, as well as coffee and tea from the local Mad Hat Tea Company. Also available are a selection of cookies and bars, cheesecakes and pies, and specialty cakes.
Customers who need something more elaborate also have the option to build their own customized cake. Start with the type of cake you’d like, then choose a buttercream frosting and a luscious filling to go with it. Gluten-free, vegan, and soy-free options are also available, and orders can be placed online.
1. Legendary Doughnuts
With its tasteful interior and even tastier baked goods, Legendary Doughnuts is a must-try for doughnut enthusiasts. Luckily, Tacoma is home to one of its seven locations throughout the state.
In the heart of the 6th Avenue Business District is a place where doughnut dreams come true. The interior boasts a classy red and black theme that highlights the pictures of doughnut-loving legends like Einstein and Homer Simpson.
Of course, the real stars of the show are the doughnuts themselves. Made fresh daily, their mesmerizing collection includes classic favorites and innovative creations.
From the irresistible Maple Bacon Bar to the colorful Fruity Pebbles doughnut, there’s a pastry for everyone. Also offered are a variety of teas, coffees, and smoothies, and the spacious seating areas is ideal to relax, take in the vibes, and savor the legend.
