Looking for the best of the best in bread, buns and bagels in the Greater Toronto Area? We got you. Here are five top spots to try, broken down by the type of baked delight you’re in the mood for.

Bread- Brodflour, Liberty Village

When it comes to the perfect bread, Brodflour believes freshness is key. They make a completely Canadian product, starting with grain harvested in Manitoba that is supplied to the bakery for in-house flour milling. Brodflour breads are less processed and more nutrient-dense than your average loaf. “Ancient and heritage grains” are used to create every variety from white to rye– plus challah, English muffins, pizza dough and more.

In addition to selling fresh loaves to-go, Brodflour serves a few pastries, made-to-order toasts and sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. You can also find their flour and bread at a few local grocers. 

Fleur du Jour

Croissants- Fleur du Jour, Wychwood

A classic French patisserie, Fleur du Jour makes everything from scratch in the morning and closes when they sell out. Their menu features 18 varieties of viennoiserie: breakfast pastries made from laminated dough that originated in Austria but are common in French bakeries. Included in these 18 viennoiserie are 7 croissant varieties described as “heavenly tender” and “absolutely delicious”. 

Fleur du Jour also creates a very impressive patisserie items, almost all of which are gluten free. They have been recommended in Toronto Life Magazine, and excellently reviewed by BlogTO and French-speaking radio station CHOQ FM 105.1. Check out the website and menu here. 

 

Bà Nội

Buns- Bà Nôi, Koreatown

This casual take-out spot stands apart for its sweet and savoury milk buns, made with a Vietnamese influence. Named for the owner’s grandmother, Ba Noi sells these uniquely flavored items alongside Canadian classics and coffee drinks. Their highly popular chocolate chip cookie is made with big chocolate chunks and sea salt, and their butter tart is flaky and golden brown. Ba Noi also makes galettes with sweet or savoury filling for breakfast.

A small and unassuming shop, people say you can pass by it easily on the street without realizing. However, reviewers insist that the quality at Ba Noi is some of the very best in Toronto. Here’s the address so that you won’t miss it.

Gryfe’s

Bagels- Gryfe’s, Lawrence Manor

“Not a New York Bagel, not a Montreal Bagel—it’s a Gryfe’s Bagel! Light and fluffy with a thin crisp crust, it’s a one-of-a-kind bagel that has had loyal customers coming back generation after generation”. This family bagelry opened in 1915 when Jewish-Romanian immigrant Schlome “Sam” Gryfe perfected his recipe and enlisted siblings to help him bring the dream of running his own store to life.

Still running on Sam’s recipe, Gryfe’s makes all the classic bagel flavours– plus pizza bagels, challah, sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies. Here you can also expect great prices. The store was recently renovated, but maintains its classic look inside. Today you can also get fresh bagels delivered to your home on a recurring basis if you live far away, or just can’t get those things fast enough.

Cafe Serano

Sit-down experience- Serano Café, East York

Finally, for a great all-around bakery experience, we recommend family-owned Serano Café.  The sister branch of Serano bakery (one of the highest rated on Google), this place specializes in serving up “Greek Pies, Pastries, Breads, Gelato and delicious coffees”. Specific items on the menu include filled donuts, cheesecake slices, bougatsa, cinnatsoureki, spanakopita and similar pies with different fillings.

Serano offers plenty of seating, including shaded patio tables in the summertime. Reviewers describe it as a great spot for people-watching as you enjoy a meal, snack, dessert or coffee. 

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