Whether it’s bagels or baguettes, cinnamon rolls or scones, every town has its go-to bakery and everyone tends to be talking about it. If you or your sweetie has a sweet tooth, go ahead — indulge. Here’s a round-up of iconic spots to stop at for spectacular confections and fresh-baked goods on your next Oregon road trip.
Delicious Treats in Portland and the Columbia River Gorge
A staple in Portland since 2001, Ken’s Artisan Bakery has garnered national praise for its perfectly rustic breads and deliciously flaky croissants (try the Oregon croissant, with local berries and hazelnut cream) from the likes of Food & Wine, Sunset magazine, and other publications. Owner Ken Forkish is a James Beard Award-winning chef who also brings his doughy mastery to the wood-fired pies at nearby Ken’s Artisan Pizza, which, in 2022, was hailed as one of the 50 best pizzerias in the country.
Just south of Portland in Milwaukie, Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain Store Restaurant & Bakery is considered the go-to spot for giant chewy chocolate chip cookies, granola, scones and other bakes made in-house from the brand’s whole grains and gluten-free flours. (Also check out the Southeast Portland location of New Cascadia Traditional for more gluten-free treats.) To the west of Portland, Hillsboro’s La Imperial Bakery is one of the largest and most popular Latino bakeries in the region, specializing in a range of breads and pastries from Central America. Try a loaf of pecan-studded festival bread, baked each Tuesday, or a Guatemalan-style fruit-filled pastry.
Heading out to Mt. Hood? With its giant maple bars, red-and-white-checkered facade, and long lines snaking out of the door, Joe’s Donuts in Sandy is an iconic pit stop on the way to Oregon’s tallest mountain, and for good reason. The parking lot may be crowded at peak times, but it’s always worth the wait. In Hood River, Édeske Patisserie’s chocolate and macarons are a destination in their own right, while Pine Street Bakery brings in the crowds for hot cross buns and cinnamon knots.
Sourdough and Fresh Confections in the Willamette Valley and on the Coast
Miranda’s Bakery in Woodburn is a favorite Mexican bakery in the region, with everything from cocadas (coconut candies) and other authentic confections to colorful, fresh-fruit-topped cakes. Eight miles south of Eugene, Creswell Bakery is renowned for its sourdough loaves and seasonal pastries. The savory handheld meat pies are filled with organic, grass-fed beef from the owner’s family farm just down the road.
You’ll have more than one reason to visit Astoria, with The Naked Lemon serving scratch-made treats like macarons in seasonally inspired flavors and scrumptious slices of cake downtown. In Nehalem Wolfmoon Bakery does howling-good organic sourdoughs while Sea Level Bakery + Coffee in Cannon Beach is your go-to spot for baguettes, batards, brioche and more. Pacific Sourdough in the cozy Central Coast town of Waldport sells its acclaimed loaves with different specialties on each day. On the South Coast, Bandon Baking Company in Old Town Bandon has got you covered with freshly made breakfast bagels, French toast and killer chocolate chip cookies. Pro tip: Buy six cookies and your seventh is free.
Doughnuts and More in Southern, Central and Eastern Oregon
A downtown mainstay of 25-plus years, The Village Baker of Ashland keeps visitors happy with an endless selection of breads and other baked goods. The bakery also donates fresh and day-old loaves to local organizations to help feed those in need. Delish Bakery in Medford is beloved for its croissants, cookie art and gorgeous cakes. The Happy Donut, just off Interstate 5 in Myrtle Creek with a convenient drive-through, keeps road-trippers fueled up with classic doughnuts and breakfast delights like biscuits and gravy. The shop was ranked as one of the 100 Best Fan-Favorite Destinations in Oregon and is part of the Great Umpqua Food Trail — a self-guided road map to top places for eats and farm experiences in Southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley.
Skiers, hikers and other visitors to Central Oregon rely on the wildly popular treats at The Sparrow Bakery in Bend and Sisters Bakery in Sisters as part of their adventures. In Sisters choose from cases filled with assorted doughnuts, muffins, scones and buttermilk bars. At Sparrow, croissant sandwiches or the cardamom-scented Ocean Rolls are a good choice any time of day. The Village Baker in Bend is also a great stop for a Bavarian-style loaf flavored with Deschutes Brewery’s Black Butte Porter beer.
The selection of fresh-baked sticky buns, brioche and more at Sweet Wife Baking in Baker City lures back residents and visitors day after day. Owned by a retired WNBA star turned baker, the bakery also sports a full-service cafe, so you can linger over an espresso, grilled cheese and salted-caramel brownie all at once. If you’re a sucker for great breads, Liberty Theatre Cafe in La Grande has got what you need with sandwiches on homemade sourdough, fluffy potato buns and challah.
