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    Houlden's Rise Above

    4.9 (122 reviews)
    InexpensiveBakeries, Desserts, Vegan
    Closed 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Houlden's Rise Above Photos

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    HOULDEN'S RISE ABOVE ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Houlden's Rise Above

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    Easter Spread!
    Austin B.

    Houlden's Rise Above is THE BEST sweet and Savory pastries in Tucson. We grabbed a bunch of pastries from Houlden's! They are so great to order from, service is always fantastic and friendly. I like how it's just a pickup and go ambiance. Honestly an Easter tradition at this point. Always incredible. Easy 10/10.

    Pop tart
    Gretchen P.

    I've never bought from their storefront, but have loved every Houldens pastry I've tried from local coffee shops! The pop tarts are my absolute favorite- lift and flakey while being substantial too. The sweetness is always balanced well- not too too much icing on top, with delicate fruit or herb flavors in the filling too. Maple, rose, all the ones I've tried have been excellent!

    Clearly couldn't even wait to take a phot before ai dug in
    Bre G.

    My go-to bakery in town. My favorites are: glazed donut, fauxstess cupcake, oatmeal creampie, and peanut butter choc chip cookie!! Pastries are rich, but not overwhelmingly sweet in my opinion. Moist cake, decadent... you wouldn't know it was vegan. I look forward to the weekend knowing they'll be open again.

    Genevieve M.

    A rotating menu with so many choices (savory and sweet pastries, cakes etc). The owners and staff's passion to sustainability, vegan/ clean living and serving the community exceptional deliciousness shows in their product and in their wonderful service. Of note, when you get to Houldens there will likely be a line. Do not let that deter you... the store front is small and accommodates 3-4 people at a time to order... but service is quick and the line moves relatively fast. There are not seats to dine in- but that doesn't stop me from stuffing my face in my car... because sometimes you just can't wait to bite into these beautiful pastries. Love the music and vibe in their space. They also serve coffee etc and you can also find their pastries in other local business.

    Chili rellano croissant
    Clare M.

    Beautiful, delicious, innovative, vegan bakery! This poor animal rights and social justice initiatives local and otherwise. We love this place. It should always be on your list, especially if you are visiting the area.

    Pistachio cupcake, sourdough cinnamon roll, pizza galettes
    Niki G.

    Houlden's never fails to deliver tasty vegan baked goods and treats. Non vegans can't tell the difference! This time got the picked these up (Pistachio raspberry cupcake, sourdough cinnamon roll, pizza galettes) at the bakery location last Sun but have often gotten faux- stess cupcakes from next door at Midtown Vegan Deli and different treats at Screwbean brewing. Other coffee shops that I haven't been to yet carry their goods as well.

    Savory offerings - including a very tempting sandwich!
    Sarah K.

    Stopped by with kids while traveling through Tuscon and WOW!!!! We arrived near close so there weren't a ton of choices - probably for the best because everything looked amazing and I would have bought everything. We ended up getting a slice of raspberry lemon vanilla cake, a slice of cheesecake, a dirt and worms pudding, an oat tahini cold brew, and a croissant with house made blueberry jelly. The owner was extremely warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable. He patiently explained the day's offerings to my kids and I could see them beaming with joy at getting the full customer treatment. I was impressed with his coffee recommendations and his knowledge of food coloring. No red 40 due to animal testing - swoon. This place was the real deal - vegan for the animals, indulgent delicious treats. On to those treats - The cake - I felt like a kid when I saw this giant gorgeous bake, my eyes got wide and I knew I needed this cake. I was right, the balance of the tart lemon and raspberry with the rich vanilla cake. Perfection. I will be dreaming about this cake. Dirt and worms pudding - solid but I would probably choose a baked good over this one. It's just like the dirt and worms you are as a kid and the nostalgia is delightful. Chocolate cheesecake - loved the berry topping and the cheesecake was not too sweet. It wasn't particularly tangy but it was good and had a nice complexity to it. Croissant - awesome, as a vegan laminated pastry is a rare treat and the blueberry jelly is a lovely compliment. I don't know if it was a sourdough croissant or a cultured vegan butter that gave it the depth but that was a very nice surprise. Tahini Carmel iced coffee - Add tahini to anything and I will buy it. Tahini coffee is never seen before but I loved it and will be trying to replicate at home and likely will never succeed in the way Houldens did.

    Custom cake

    As a person with a dairy allergy, I was super excited when Houlden's opened their storefront and I had regular access to vegan treats. Their semi limited hours and rotating menu keep things interesting and it feels like an adventure every week to see what they're going to share with us. However, based on my recent experience I wouldn't recommend their custom ordering service unless you are very very patient. My perception is they must be extremely booked and busy with customs, so customer service and communication falls through the cracks. Based on my experience, I would have rather been denied the custom order because they didn't have the capacity to take it on, than have to virtually chase them down every other week for months to confirm details. Overall, I would definitely recommend Houlden's pastries and the cake we received was delicious, but the hassle of getting a reply from them almost ruined the experience entirely. Details: Recently I ordered a custom cake for a NYE party and had a rough time coordinating with them. I submitted an inquiry in late August with specifics about cake size, flavors, and timeline. They got back to me quickly to confirm they could accommodate the order, but every step after that was a real hassle. It took multiple emails sent from me to get one reply from them, and up to 2 months to hear back each time we reached out. We weren't able to confirm the specific details of what we were receiving or how much it would cost until 4 days before our event. If there was another vegan bakery in town we were as familiar with, we likely would've cancelled our request and gone elsewhere.

    Outside
    Hannah H.

    Definitely one of my favorite bakeries in tucson. They have such a distinct flavor and care for their items. Even when I have them at coffee shops I always know it's theirs. I took my mom some treats and she loved it so much she wanted to visit the store herself. It's great they offer both coffee and tea. I loved the mango basil danish they recently had and the strawberry cronut. Make sure to check their social media to see what they have that weekend or what is being served at their many partners. Parking is always easy here cause there's decent amount of spots and you can get in and out. Depending on the time there's a line but definitely worth it.

    Cookie butter cruffin, Orange Blossom Pain au Chocolat, Oatmeal Creampie, Strawberry and Sprinkles Poptart
    Veronica M.

    I've heard so many good things about Houlden's and I am so happy I got the chance to finally check them out! I will say I wasn't expecting the space to be so small, it's definitely an in-and-out quick service bakery. They have all their pastries for the day on display, and they also have a list of their offerings to go off of as well. Staff were really nice and helped me identify the different pastries as well. As for the actual pastries themselves? Absolutely divine! If I didn't know better I'd never guess everything was vegan! Every pastry I tried was amazing. Once I took a bite it was hard to put it down! My favorite was the Orange Blossom Pain au Chocolat and the Cookie Butter Cruffin! I like that the menu is always changing so I can keep trying new delicious goods! My mouth is already watering just thinking about going back!

    Raspberry matcha poptart, Chicken pot(hand)pie, and Arugula scone (all gluten free)
    Tara O.

    This native Angeleno was visiting Tucson and a loved one recommended Houlden's Rise Above. This is a fully vegan bakery who also has gluten free items. As a gluten free girly, I'm used to gluten free offerings often being okay at best, so I was a bit skeptical. Let me just tell you the baked goods we got here today are the best bakery items we have ever had in our life. I know it likely sounds dramatic, but the food was phenomenal. We came a bit later in the day so not all the offerings were available, but we ordered the Raspberry Matcha Poptart, the Chicken Pot(hand)Pie, and the Arugula scone. There are truly no notes. Each of these items was perfection. The poptart reminded me of a nostalgic, delicious toaster strudel. The raspberry filling was perfectly sweet with just enough tart and the crust was crumbly and buttery. The "chicken" hand pie was the ultimate comfort food, and the arugula scone tasted like a cheddar biscuit. My husband and I inhaled everything in the parking lot right away because we were so excited. I could imagine slightly warming each of the items up would elevate them even more. The service was impeccable. Every staff member was so kind and amazing. I am absolutely devastated that we are not local, but the next time we are in Tucson, this will be our first stop!

    Richard H.

    Scrumptious baked goods that are almost unidentifiable as vegan (you can't fool me, Croissant Dog!) Ever-changing menu that will satisfy any boulangerie lover, with a great selection of gluten-free offerings, too. Only open Saturday Thru Monday, and if they sell out, they close the doors for the day. No wonder the line can wrap around the building just before they open! But it's worth the wait when you do get in, even for non-vegans like myself.

    Coffee cupcake and sugar cookie
    Priscilla V.

    I have been here multiple times and to other coffee shops that offer their baked goods on days when they're closed. They offer a variety of treats so there's something for everyone. I personally love their fauxstess cupcakes, cruffins and sugar cookies. The staff is always super helpful with helping me decide what treat I want to try and going over what they have that weekend.

    Sweet baked goods, including monkey bread, raspberry peanut butter thing, and an apple cream muffin.

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    Great pastries, you wouldn't know it was a vegan bakery. Owners are welcoming and friendly. Lots of variety in their pastry selections.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Houlden's Rise Above

    Do they have any gluten free items?

    I was there yesterday and they did have a few gluten free options.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Chez Peachy - Counter space!

    Chez Peachy

    4.3(186 reviews)
    4.9 miWest University
    $$$

    After seeing Chez Peachy continue to pop up across my social media, I finally decided to give it a…read moretry, which was of course a FANTASTIC decision! Don't tell your mom or grandma, but these are probably the best cinnamon rolls I've ever had in my life! The classic cinnamon roll will be a must purchase every time I visit from here on out. May have gone a little overboard trying the seasonal flavors, but when in Rome right?! Sampled the Blueberry Muffin, Banana Pudding, Peach Cobbler, and Biscoff Cookie rolls as well, which were all delicious. They are tender, fluffy, and buttery! Was expecting blueberry and banana to be my favorite seasonal ones, but the Biscoff Cookie stole the show! Given the size and sweetness, think I'll be getting one classic and one seasonal from here on out. The inside of the bakery is also super cute and Christa, the owner, is just as sweet as her baked goods! Also worth noting I brought my pup along to get our order and there were no issues having her. One thing to be aware of - get there early and be prepared to wait. We arrived right at 10 AM when they opened and wait about 20 minutes, which wasn't a problem at all. Definitely err on the side of caution and arrive early to avoid long waits or select flavors running out though. Overall, Chez Peachy is definitely worth the hype and somewhere I look forward to check out from time to time and around the holidays or when guests are in town!

    First visit today after seeing the video of banana cinnamon roll about a week ago. Arrived about 20…read moreminutes before opening and were about 4th in line. Lots of other nice people hanging out. The space has a really nice feel to it and very much appreciate the awesome misters and fans. Doors opened promptly at 10am with Peachy coming out to say hi. Had a bit of a visit to Wonka factory feel to me. Made it into the ordering area quickly and the inside is beautifully decorated. Floral accents everywhere in pink and even icing piping on the display case. Very cool vibe. Nobody was rushed and service was efficient and friendly. We got the banana and a carrot cake for my wife and I. Friends got another banana, a classic, and a biscoff. We shared them all. My favorite were the classic and the banana. All of them have the base cinnamon roll which is fantastic. Light, fluffy, soft, amazingness. All the flavors are so well done. I tend to not love things overly sweet and these were excellent. Don't sweat which one you choose, you can't go wrong. For what it is worth there was a line for about an hour but it moves. Got pretty small again by around 11am. Peachy, I love what you are doing and look forward to coming back. One request..... can you sell some bottles of milk? Your stuff just cries for a moo juice pairing. If not, no big deal. I know to bring my own now.

    Photos
    Chez Peachy - These cowgirl hats are absolutely gorgeous! And so fun!

    These cowgirl hats are absolutely gorgeous! And so fun!

    Chez Peachy - Chez Peachy (exterior)

    Chez Peachy (exterior)

    Chez Peachy

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    Back Dough - Strawberry rhubarb pie

    Back Dough

    4.3(147 reviews)
    1.6 miThunderbird Heights/Wilmot Desert Estate
    $

    Solid pies! Stopped…read morehere while in Tucson to get some pies. I went with a Chocolate Pecan, a German Chocolate, and an Apple Crumb. All pies are $7.99 each. Can't beat that price! All 3 pies were pretty tasty. I would rank the Chocolate Pecan #1, Apple Crumb #2 and German Chocolate #3. I will definitely stop by again the next time I am in Tucson and try out 3 more flavors. Staff was incredibly friendly, the size of the pies for the price is great, and the variety of pies is extensive. Cool little spot!

    I have been by Back Dough dozens of times, and honestly we usually make fun of the name. I finally…read morehad an opportunity to stop in and i'm not making fun of it anymore. You order your pies and take them to go. There is no seating. The girl working the counter was fantastic. She was friendly and helped answer my questions. They have a selection of pies, from fruit and cream to pot pies. They are all decently sized "mini" pies for $7.99. Plus if you return 10 pie tins you get a free pie. I ordered the Kahlua cream cheese and a strawberry margarita. In true fashion of wanting to try both I took a quarter of each. This was a lot of pie! I should have only tried one per night. The flavors are good and blend together beautifully that it isn't too terribly rich or tart. These are a fun treat to have as I don't have pie often. There are other flavors I will definitely be trying in the future.

    Photos
    Back Dough
    Back Dough - Pie at Sagurao Nt'l park

    Pie at Sagurao Nt'l park

    Back Dough

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    The Screamery HandCrafted Ice Cream - Bees Knees

    The Screamery HandCrafted Ice Cream

    4.4(322 reviews)
    3.0 miBlenman-Elm
    $

    FOOD - Cowboy Cookie: salted caramel ice-cream with…read morechocolate chip walnut oatmeal cookies. This was sooo good! 5/5 - My son enjoyed the Triple Play (chocolate ice cream with chocolate brownies, and chocolate chips). My daughter enjoyed the vanilla ice cream. SERVICE: Fast and friendly. Samples were offered. 5/5 FINAL THOUGHTS: I would come back. The ice cream was good and there were plenty of flavors to try.

    This place is seriously dangerous for ice cream lovers. It's convenient and tasty. I've been coming…read morehere for years and I love that there are so many locations now, so you have many choices as to where you can get your ice cream fix! There are many flavor options and even a couple of non-dairy choices. The service is a bit hit-or-miss, and really just depends on the staff there at the time as well as the specific location. Beyond the regular cones and cups they also have some options such as the flight, nachos, and the banana split. They also specific which flavors have gluten. They used to advertise that their dairy came from grass-fed cows, but that stopped a few years ago so I'm guessing that is no longer the case. While that's what caught my attention and actually got me in the door, I've stayed a customer because they do mention that their dairy comes from cows that have not been given antibiotics or hormones. So for those who pay attention to such things, take note! This locations is pretty small but I do like that they have just a couple of outdoor tables with chairs so that I can sit outside when it's nice weather.

    Photos
    The Screamery HandCrafted Ice Cream
    The Screamery HandCrafted Ice Cream - Rough At Sea on top of one not visible  11-19-2022

    Rough At Sea on top of one not visible 11-19-2022

    The Screamery HandCrafted Ice Cream - MOO

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    MOO

    Monsoon Chocolate Cafe + Market - Inside

    Monsoon Chocolate Cafe + Market

    4.4(82 reviews)
    3.0 miNorth Dodge
    $$

    If you're looking to add something truly special to your sweet tooth routine, this Tucson chocolate…read morecompany delivers an experience unlike anything else. From the moment you open the package, you can tell this isn't your average chocolate -- the craftsmanship, aroma, and creative flavor combinations immediately set it apart. What makes their chocolates so unique is the way they blend bold ingredients with rich, high-quality cacao to create flavors that are both surprising and perfectly balanced. Each bite feels intentional and thoughtfully crafted, turning a simple treat into a memorable tasting experience. Beyond the flavor, the presentation is beautiful and makes these chocolates perfect for gifts, special occasions, or just treating yourself to something extraordinary. It's refreshing to see a local Tucson company bringing such innovation and passion to their craft. If you want to discover a new favorite indulgence or give a gift that stands out, this is one Tucson gem that brings something new and delicious into your life.

    Exciting news - Monsoon is making their own baked goods again! I stopped in to purchase some…read morechocolate bars to gift to others...and pot de creme, brownies (one GF, one not), cookies and more delicious Monsoon specialties were back in the cases! The friendly staff smiled at my "yay!" and happily packed my chocolate bars and the pot de creme in a to go bag for me. The pot de creme was just as I remembered it...a smooth, deep chocolate flavor with notes of brown butter. Delicious! I'm bringing a group of co-workers in next week, and I know we'll partake of more treats. If you haven't been recently, check them out!

    Photos
    Monsoon Chocolate Cafe + Market - Seating area

    Seating area

    Monsoon Chocolate Cafe + Market - Tea

    Tea

    Monsoon Chocolate Cafe + Market

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    Houlden's Rise Above - bakeries - Updated May 2026

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