The best bakeries in Miami for carbs, wonderful carbs

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Oori 우리 Bakeshop (@ooribakeshop)

You’ve heard this story before: pandemic pop-up turns into brick-and-mortar shop that’s now everyone’s favorite. And with Oori, we’re glad to hear that tale one more time. Now with a no-frills spot in strip of Little River that’s become a Bermuda triangle for delicious things (Tran An, The Citadel, Off Site, Hachidori Ramen Bar), Oori is putting out long-ferment sourdough bread, oozy brown butter chocolate chip cookies and fluffy Japanese milk bread loaves. There are also lots of quite-original creations, like cognac-infused custard pies, red bean and dark chocolate shoku-buns and jet-black charcoal parker house rolls topped in everything seasoning, the irresistible Wednesday Addams of the dinner table.

It took us trying one of Antonio Bachour’s intricate desserts to understand why some people think certain foods are too pretty to eat. His are the kind of complex, masterful creations produced by food stylists, not pastry chefs. They shine on the ‘gram but we can attest that the gooey cream fillings and fruit-based mousses taste good too. With locations now in Coral Gables and Doral, Bachour’s array of oversize croissants fall in line with his fine-patisserie aesthetic and taste more like dessert than a baked good—and that’s just how we like it.

This bright, sun-lit bakery in Sunset Harbour is every bit what you’d imagine an artisanal bakery to look like, with its open kitchen, neutral, rustic design and neatly arranged display of desserts. What you see is what’s available, and things go quickly here. Get there early for True Loaf’s famous croissants, freshly baked challah (available on Friday mornings) and organic loaves of bread that find themselves sliced up for prepared sandwiches after 10.

The concept behind Paradis is a bit antithetical to your average Miamian: Slow down and enjoy the simple things. The library is full of actual books, the bread is naturally leavened in a process that took days, the wine is natural and the dishes are all gorgeous representations of the team's ethos: lamb and labneh pie, anchovy pizza and razor clams with arugula on rye bread. It’s all just enough to convince one to stop in, again and again, and stay a while.

Just an artisanal bakery run by two flour-loving weirdos, Carlos Flores and Renata Ferrara, this Key Biscayne spot lives up to its moniker, doling out all kinds of unusual baked goods. That can include an organic chicharrón sourdough loaf and an irresistible chocolate Danish/almond croissant mashup. The bakery also uses its bread for sandwiches, like the lechon with 48-hour marinated pork and gruyere and a cured brisket with roasted peppers.

Probably the most famous bread person in Miami is Zak Stern, who’s created a Jewish bakery that feels both rooted in tradition yet ambitiously adventurous. If it’s the bread that gets you through the door then it’s ZTB’s deli dishes that will make you a repeat customer. You can’t go wrong with any but the tuna melt is pretty remarkable. Warning: the challah comes out of the oven at noon every Friday and you may have to fight an elderly lady for your loaf. Brace for impact.

Owner Naomi Harris rises bright and early to mill the organic whole grains that go into the multitude of loaves of bread and pastries she bakes daily. Madruga is that kind of place, where food is made from scratch and simplicity is valued. There's a calmness to the bright, minimalist bakery that isn't even jostled by the morning rush. Let yourself be gently awakened by a cup of Counter Culture coffee and Madruga’s smoked salmon sandwich on a seeded baguette. We still haven’t found a better way to start our day.

B Bistro is home to crazy creations from mad pastry scientist Henry Hané. Find croissants bursting with Nutella, an “everything bagel croissant” and something called a cruffin, which is either a type of Arctic bird or a very tasty pastry. Want to Instagram your food before you eat it? You’ll have higher odds of racking up the likes here. And, unlike most splashy Insta-food, this stuff actually tastes great.

This humble bakery in Midtown churns out extravagant cakes and dozens of fine confections that make one wonder how they do it in such a compact space. DB’s signature cakes really get us scratching our heads. The multi-tiered works of art are the definition of festive and can be customized any way you like—from flavor to design to the kind of topper you want. The standard sprinkles variety is worthy of even the most special of birthdays.

Rosetta is Italian through and through, down to its employees who will briefly make you feel as though you’re somewhere in Rome for an espresso break. The American-sized fruit tarts and the famous bombolone—large and oozing with Nutella—tell a different story. The best of both worlds? Surely. Any place that serves authentic, freshly baked focaccia (preferably stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella cheese) and is within a short drive from most major parts of Miami (all thanks to a growing number of locations in metro Miami) gets our vote.

This popular neighborhood cafe serves all sorts of authentic and tasty French treats and takes its croissants very seriously. Though if you want them toasted, which you do, they won’t shun you for Americanizing their national treasure. Does it nail all the other Parisian-approved bakery items with equal national pride? Oui! Buena Vista Deli has long been a local favorite for breakfast and lunch, and one visit will show you why.

Whether it’s a house party, a barbecue or someone’s birthday, every gathering should serve a pavlova from Piononos. And if it does, you know you’re in the right place. Miamians will drive hours to the Key Biscayne bakery just for its signature walnut meringue cake filled with dulce de leche, whipped cream and strawberries. It’s simply that good. In business for 20 years, Maria Luisa’s Peruvian bakery made a name for itself with its famous pavlova but it’s also known for its chocolate volcano and dulce de leche turron, among other desserts.

One of many Cuban bakeries that fill up our fair city, Gilbert’s stands out for its pastries (theirs have the best filling-to-dough ratio) and variety of desserts, which can even be purchased as guilt-free minis. Gilbert’s does a great job of catering to old and new generations of Cuban food lovers.

This Coral Gables institution is a triple threat, operating as a chocolate shop, bakery and a charming café. Stop in for your standard breakfast and lunch (omelets, salads, quiches) or check them out the next time you’re craving something sweet. There are boxes of truffles to bring home, sleeves of fresh-baked cookies and macarons and an assortment of cakes to choose from—just make sure you order in advance. In a pinch? The fresh fruit tarts make for delightful gâteaux.

After years of slinging pies in Wynwood, Fireman Derek opens its first outpost in Coconut Grove. It’s a larger space with more display cases and reason to ogle the bakery’s towering creations, plus an expanded menu of savory items like chicken pot pie and handpies.

Breadman Miami is how the Cuban diaspora eats today, holding onto its pastelitos but adapting them with more contemporary flavors. Abuela might’ve preferred guava but her grandchildren have a taste for Nutella and Oreos. Husband and wife duo Andy and Jessica Herrera take freedoms with their Cuban-inspired desserts but they haven’t shut out the purists, doling out a fair share of homemade flan, rice pudding and dulce de leche in numerous iterations from two western Miami-Dade locations.

Here’s an adorable sweets shop as cute as its name implies. The brightly colored bakery serves mini-cupcakes and more tiny treats you won’t feel guilty about scarfing down. If you’re into reading labels, Bunnie Cakes is ideal. The bakery is vegan and all of its naturally sweetened cupcakes, cakes, brownies and doughnuts are gluten-free. The best part? Picky eaters and folks generally put off by the v-word won’t be able to tell.

Versailles—the famous Cuban bakery that needs no introduction—has a bakery next door to its buzzing restaurant, where a steady stream of tourists and Miamians buy pastelitos pretty much all day. Taking a break from the sugar? Your kitchen counter just looks naked on the weekend without some pastelitos and other Cuban treats from Versailles.

Find this upscale patisserie in the lobby of the Fontainebleau resort. Whether you’re on vacation or just pretending, you can indulge in gourmet chocolates, specialty cakes and pastries almost too pretty to eat. Everything at the Fontainebleau either looks pretty or tastes good. Here, you can find both in one place, especially the truffles. Those tick off all the boxes.