5 Richmond Bakeries to Visit Next Time You're Craving Carbs

Fall makes us crave a lot of things — for instance, crisp apples, spiced pumpkins, sweet-yet-salty goodies like butterscotch and caramel.

But one thing we don’t always talk about is how the change of seasons brings carb cravings along with it!

The next time you’re looking to starch it up, head to one of these local Richmond bakeries to get your gluten on. (Some of these spots have amazing gluten-free options, too — but you catch my drift!).

by Alicia Valenski

Idle Hands Bread Company

This a French bakery in the historic Fan district specializes in sourdough bread and pastries. Stop by for fresh-from-the-oven loaves of bread, sweet and savory croissants, pastries and vegan pastries, pizza dough, and more.

You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the large window with boulangerie (a French word that means “a bakery that mostly or only makes breads, especially French-style breads” — as opposed to pâtisserie, which means “bakery that specializes in pastries and sweets”) scrawled across it in French-inspired typography.

Location: 407 Strawberry St

Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 9 am - 4 pm

Whisk

You can find this cozy bakeshop in Shockoe Bottom, serving up Parisian-style pastries and bread, locally roasted coffee, fresh sandwiches, and wine.

They even sell freezer-to-oven butter croissants so you can have your own Whisk-inspired bakery experience from home.

Location: 2100 E Main St

Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 7 am - 4 pm; Sunday - Monday, 7 am - 2 pm

Sugar & Twine

Sugar & Twine’s pastries are made by hand every morning using fresh ingredients. And with dairy-free and gluten-free options, their shop is a place where all are welcome!

Croissants, muffins, biscuits, scones, brownies, cookies, hand pies, and more await, along with a selection of breakfast sandwiches and a large, glorious espresso selection.

Location: 2928 W Cary St

Hours: Daily, 7 am - 2 pm

WPA Bakery

First, a little clarification: WPA Bakery is closing its original Church Hill location and focusing all efforts on their Forest Hill location.

Their Church Hill location (at 2707 E Marshall St) will be taken over by JJ’s Makery, a similar concept that was actually dreamed up by two of WPA Bakery’s own employees, sisters Jessie Williams and Jackie Holsinger! JJ’s will offer baked goods, quiches, coffee, and other rotating menu items. They hope to open their doors in late October or early November.

That said, you can still find WPA Bakery in Southside serving up sweet and savory treats like biscuits, cupcakes, cookies, cake, pie (& a la mode!), coffee cake, cheesecake, ice cream, macarons, sweet muffins, English muffins, pastries, caneles, toast with jam/cheese, sticky buns, paquets, and pinwheels.

Location: 3414 Semmes Ave

Hours: Tuesday - Thursday, 7 am - 2 pm; Friday - Saturday, 7 am - 6 pm; Sunday, 7 am - 2 pm

Sub Rosa Bakery

This rustic bakery in Church Hill was opened by siblings Evrim and Evin Dogu. Their bio on Facebook reads “in girum imus nocte et consumimur igni,” which is a Latin palindrome that means “We Spin Around the Night Consumed by the Fire” — a nod to the wood-fired oven in which the Dogus and their staff bake the items on their often sold-out menu.

You can check out their bread schedule here and their pastry selection here.

Location: 620 N 25th St

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 8 am - 5 pm