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    Bread Alley

    4.6 (73 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Hidden gem
    Monica W.

    I've had BA bookmarked for a while and finally got the opportunity to visit....felt like a spy ring the bell and entering in this side alley establishment, lol. Immediately greeted upon entrance and noticed they didn't have any Cranberry Walnut Sourdough out. Mentioned to the cashier that my sole reason for visiting was to nab a loaf and she smiled and said that some would be put in a minute, YES. Paid for my loaf and some cultured butter and explained that I was headed to a brunch and could they hold my purchase for me. She gladly say yes. So nice and accommodating. After brunch I stopped in and retrieved my purchase. The bread is delicious and filling and you can't go wrong with small batch dairy. Can't wait to visit again and pick up some pastries. Tip: walk the alley, the wall art is creative.

    Bread options
    Caitlin D.

    Super cute semi hidden spot in Union Market. Is all and intimate, with the most incredible smell of bread wafting from the door. I tried the kouign amann, which was excellent. I want to come back soon to try some loaves.

    Me in front of Bread Alley (2024)
    Peter D.

    This may be a controversial take... so hear me out. In theory, I like the concept of this kind of bakery as it's a no thrill bakery with a limited selection of fresh pastries and breads that get distributed to other food vendors throughout DC like Le Dip and the same restaurant group. I personally like their baguettes and pastries, but the selection is whatever you see. The bread is nothing to rave about as it's bread, but I personally like the cozy feeling knowing I can have an intimate experience shopping for bread. Because of the small space too, you aren't fighting inside to get in line. The staff will quickly ring up your total. What I don't get is how there's a line outside most of the times I pass by and people calling this place a "hidden gem". Yes - this place is in an alley. But it's not like the best bakery known to mankind. It's also not the cheapest place in DC and that the hype allows them to charge prices I find a little too much. If you want to go to their sister bakery with more selection, I recommend Pluma nearby. This "gem" of a place may have a good photo opp, but I would just visit once and mark it off your bucket list of trendy places in DC

    Entrance
    Sam O.

    Super friendly staff and even better bread!!! You have to ring the doorbell to get in which can be annoying if it's cold or there's a line but it's a small space once inside. I got a black sesame crusted harissa sourdough and it's the best loaf I've ever had. Such an ingenious combo. It's sweet and spicy and umami all in one. Freeze and use this for your breakfast sandwiches. Thank me later. The cookie is pricey good, reminded me of the lemon white chip cookie from levain.

    Harissa Sesame Crusted Bread
    Anna C.

    Bread Alley is everything like it sounds. It's tucked away around the corner from Union Market in an alleyway. It is a 100 square feet bread speakeasy with a level of mystery because you have to ring the doorbell for entry. All the bread is baked daily and there are many specialty breads available. Tucked in the corner are local items for sale like honey, Jams, butter, etc. I picked up the Harissa Sesame Crusted Sourdough and it was both spicy and delicious. This is a spot worth visiting!

    John B.

    I had the opportunity to order online from this small bakery spun off of a large restaurant. I apparently should have, because when I meandered down the alley leading to the door and rang the doorbell to get in, I found only a single loaf of bread. Even on a Monday, at 2:00 or so. Fortunately, I snapped that thing up, along with a pastry and some butter, before the next guy got in. It was a resplendent cranberry walnut loaf and despite being on the sweeter side it went great with butter. I assume the croissant was good but someone else ate it for me. It irks me that their hours say they're open until 5 and they sell out that early. But if you can get a bread here, the quality appears to be as promised, and I appreciated the option to order a few extras on the side as well. Bear in mind that it's hidden in an alley and parking in this area is increasingly difficult as it blows up.

    Croissant
    Gabrielle B.

    Very charming setup, the inside is small and the baguette and sourdough are allegedly the best things on the menu, but I tried the croissant. The staff was kind enough to tell me that. However it was like walking into a mud room. Then you but your bread. I must say the croissant was good but perhaps a bit more than I'd prefer to pay. If I'm correct it was like over 5 dollars. It was very good. I might not go back again soon as the experience didn't touch my soul philosophically.

    Ailun H.

    I've had this bakery saved on my list for awhile and finally got a chance to go this morning with my parents. The inside is really small with no seating, but a good variety of options. We grabbed a couple pastries (pain au chocolat and kouign amann) which we enjoyed. The kouign amann was our favorite because the crispy sugar layer was perfect. The pain au chocolat was tasty, but would have preferred the chocolate to be a bit melted. There were other items like full loaves of bread and jams available for purchase. Overall, pretty solid find and I hope to stop by again eventually.

    Ben D.

    Went here to get some sourdough bread to take home and it didn't disappoint. Bread was great. Crust on the outside and very soft and airy inside. Service was nice and friendly. I ordered online it was ready for my with my name on it when I go there. Great quality and service finding it is a little difficult but it's right passed Minetta tavern.

    Kaya E.

    Came to bread alley with a friend who is a baker visiting from CA. She'd pinned Bread Alley in her favorites because she'd heard really great things and had to visit. Bread Alley is literally in an alley in Union Market and the cutest little shop. We'd stopped by on a Wednesday around 2 ish. There was not much left except for cookies, a couple sourdoughs and a baguette. I opted for the baguette so that I could try something and it was good. Not the best bread I've ever had but still really good. I'd definitely come back for the croissants sometime soon. Thanks! Oh and they do not take Apple Pay as a heads up.

    Pain au chocolat
    Jazlene G.

    A hidden bread speakeasy in Union Marlet DC that I heard about in social media, and is probably some of the best bread I've ever had!!! Bread Alley is small bakery tucked away on Morse Street NE! You need to ring the doorbell and explore their amazing, limited selection of breads. I recommend visiting early because the breads go quick! I went around 1pm and there were only 3 different sourdoughs still available, and a few croissants. I loved their Cranberry Walnut Sourdough and Gingerdoodle Cookie.

    outside
    Jacqueline K.

    Bread Alley is tucked in an alley, and has a smaller storefront, as it looks like they make their bread in the back of the shop. They have a small selection of pastries, bread, jams and butter. Their sourdough bread is worth trying - my boyfriend and I opted for their sesame harissa sourdough, which has slightly too many sesame seeds and spice for my taste / comfort but I'd like to try another sourdough some other time. Their croissants are flaky and good! On our second time here, we had selected a croissant and a ham and cheese pastry. However, upon checkout, we were unfortunately told that they do not take Apple Pay. It definitely was a bummer - hopefully they offer Apple Pay as a form of payment in the future! In the interim, if you have a physical credit card, that worked for us the first time we visited.

    Interior
    Charmie M.

    Hidden gem for sourdough lovers! This tiny bread spot is tucked away in an alley, you'd never expect it, but it's 100% worth it. Only room for 1-3 people inside, so expect a quick in-and-out vibe. The selection is small but curated, with certain loaves only available on weekends. If you go on a weekend, do not skip the harissa sesame sourdough. It's insanely flavorful with the perfect crust. One of the best sourdoughs I've had in DC.

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    13 days ago

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    1 year ago

    Incredible cranberry walnut loaf. Finding the location was also fun, like a mini escape room. Can't wait to try more bread!

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    6 months ago

    Great spot that genuinely cares about their work. They put their heart into it. Definitely support

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    Ask the Community - Bread Alley

    Nino's Bakery - Everything croissant

    Nino's Bakery

    4.8(214 reviews)
    1.7 miDowntown
    $$

    Top marks! Got there right at opening and there was a bit of a line but nothing too bad. We grabbed…read morea pistachio croissant, a savory za'atar gruyere pastry, and a blueberry danish. All the pastry was delightfully flaky and appropriately filled. Pistachio croissant was dancing on the edge of being a bit too sweet but went very well with my latte. Latte and cappuccino were nothing to write home about, potentially underextracted as there wasn't too much flavor coming through. Totally inoffensive and wouldn't hesitate to get another espresso drink if we were grabbing pastries again. Nice quaint limited outdoor seating. Had a nice chat while we demolished our goods right out front. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff that knows how to move the line quickly!

    We were finally able to make it to Nino's after having it on our list for a long time. We went on a…read moreweekday somewhat after the morning rush, and even then it was still busy! We were lucky enough to snag some goodies and got a bit of everything, we just weren't patient enough to wait to photograph everything. We did the Za'atar Gruyère Croissant, chocolate croissant, the cheese biscuit item they had (don't remember exact name) and the sfogliatelle. I'm in search of the best croissant in DC, so I regret not getting the regular croissant on this visit, but the chocolate croissant gave me an idea of what to expect. Buttery, flaky, crispy, with just the perfect amount of sweetness. The typical chocolate croissant was my personal favorite. When we asked what the most popular items were, we were surprised it wasn't the more classic bakery items, but we enjoyed what we tried. We want to go back soon to try some other items as well. My friend got a coffee and also enjoyed that! This is the perfect place to stop by for a treat if you make it in time!

    Photos
    Nino's Bakery - Hazelnut Kiss

    Hazelnut Kiss

    Nino's Bakery - Gluten free Pistachio Sicilian cookie

    Gluten free Pistachio Sicilian cookie

    Nino's Bakery - Sfogliattele

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    Sfogliattele

    Seylou

    Seylou

    4.3(274 reviews)
    1.4 miShaw, Downtown
    $$
    Locally sourced ingredients
    Healthy dining

    A whole wheat based bakery? Sign me up. Better yet, their grains are locally sources and they…read morecreate fresh milled sourdough. I'm on a kick with trying new whole grains, wheat berries, etc. so this bakery was calling my name. I also loved that they offered some unique pastries that I hadn't seen elsewhere. We ended up picking out four of their pastries and coffee drinks to have breakfast on-site as a family. In our typical tradition, we cut everything into fourths and the whole family tries every pastry (everyone wins... ;). We thoroughly enjoyed both the savory and sweet (chocolate) options. I could see how this would be an acquired taste for some. I loved being able to peak into the kitchen to see the big oven and where all the magic happens. I also appreciated their sweet neighborhood location and the big windows offering lots of natural light. Overall, a positive and tasty experience.

    A really cool spot! Decent amount of seating throughout and a bit of an odd shape, but I love…read moreseeing the bakers hard at work in the back. Cardamom bun didn't really do it for us, but maybe it just isn't to our taste since I know it's a popular item here. Frittata was really nice, great flavor from the garlic especially! Whole wheat croissant was delightful, just added a little more nuttiness - definitely proof you can make a delicious whole wheat croissant! Excellent iced coffee and a solid latte. We'll be back to try some of the other pastries and gnab a baguette!

    Photos
    Seylou
    Seylou
    Seylou

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    Sharbat Bakery And Cafe - Pistachio Cake

    Sharbat Bakery And Cafe

    4.6(132 reviews)
    2.5 miAdams Morgan

    I had one of those days where I went for a walk in an area I've been to many times before but never…read morestopping to notice all the little shops here and there. That's when I stumbled onto Sharbat. It's a rather quaint and cute Azerbaijani bakery and as I was window shopping all the cakes and baklavas, someone across the counter says "let me know if you have any questions" and I look up to see an angelic beautiful woman (this does not affect my rating haha) but I guess I wasn't expecting to see that. Anyway, she went through explaining various pastries and had a couple Turkish ones as well. I went with a pistachio baklava and a slice of honey cake. Honestly, I wanted to try all the cakes and even though they say honey cake is their most popular, there were a few that looked more appetizing. However, slightly convinced by the one other customer there eating her slice of honey cake, I decided to try it. I've only had honey cake once before so I won't act like I know what's best but that time the layers were thinner which I prefer but I like how it wasn't overly sweet despite it being honey forward. The baklava was one of the best, but I probably say that about most baklavas.

    Previously I wrote that Sharbat is a bakery for people who think they don't like baked goods. I was…read morewon over by the silky apricot cake. But still I shunned the baklava, my friends' favorite but at the very top of my list of pastries I could do without. I find it papery and drenched in syrup - way too sweet! But now I suggest that Sharbat is a bakery for people who think they don't like baklava. My friends finally persuaded me to try some, and oh man is it good. It's nothing like the baklava I know. Perhaps because it is made Azerbaijani style - at the eastern end of Turkish culinary reach. It is more cakey and less sweet. But still plenty sweet, with a nice nutty crunch. I don't know whether to kiss or curse my friends for turning me on to this, but now I know. And now so do you.

    Photos
    Sharbat Bakery And Cafe - Inside

    Inside

    Sharbat Bakery And Cafe - Honey Cake

    Honey Cake

    Sharbat Bakery And Cafe

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    Bread Alley - bakeries - Updated July 2026

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