The 15 best bread shops in Charlottesville

Everything from here is fantastic. I've visited many times. This time I tasted both my go-to everything bagel seasoned pastry pretzel and a seasonal king cake. The king cake had an almond that was so light and balanced and wasn't overly sweet. It was perfect. Highly recommend!

Went on a Saturday morning, it was very full but the line moved quick. Almost everyone was taking to go so there would be plenty of seating to eat there. I had the harvest basket and it was amazing!

I’ve been meaning to try HotCakes for a while and finally made it a priority in my search for the best matcha latte in Charlottesville. Now I’m kicking myself for taking so long to get there. Is this what you’d call a hidden gem or do the locals already know what’s up?! I feel like someone has been keeping this place a secret from me and now I’ll have to make up for all the time I’ve missed going here. It was about 30 minutes before closing when I went in, so I really only planned to get a drink and maybe one sweet treat. I hate making employees prepare food when they’re in the mode to start breaking stuff down and cleaning up. I immediately noticed how clean the space was as soon as I walked through the front door. There were a few people dining in and they were all spaced pretty far apart. They definitely have their Covid practices locked down! I was greeted by both employees right away and even though they were properly masked up, I could feel their smiles behind the masks. Winning, so far. I read online that they offer organic matcha, but I didn’t see it on the menu board. I was ready with a backup plan if they didn’t have it, but luck was on my side and I ordered a large matcha latte with oat milk. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to order a few prepared items from the display case as well; everything looked so daggone good. Here’s what I left with: hot matcha latte with oat milk, marinated fresh mozzarella (single portion), Eloise cupcake, tiramisu and holiday tetrazzini. I highly recommend every single thing I ordered. The matcha is QUALITY. It’s slightly sweetened with vanilla, but not overly so. I might try it unsweetened next time. I’ll definitely be trying it iced as well. I haven’t stopped craving that mozzarella since the minute I took the last bite. I could eat that as a side dish or app every day. It wasn’t overly oily like some marinated mozz can be. The flavor was herbaceous, but light enough to not be overwhelming and the tomatoes were A++! The holiday tetrazzini, chosen by my other half and mostly consumed by him, was pure comfort! They offered to heat it up for us, but we had some errands to run and waited until we got back. I’m sure you could put it in the oven or in a saucepan, but we zapped it in the microwave since we were staying in a hotel room and it was DELICIOUS! Super creamy, cheesy and the meat was very tender and flavorful. He’s been talking about it nonstop since he had it. The Eloise cupcake is so elegant. It was almost too pretty to eat. ALMOST. Gah! It tastes just as amazing as it appears. The cupcake is moist and has a creamy center and the icing is so light. It’s not sickly sweet, which means I ate it ALL. Sometimes there’s a pile of icing leftover when I’m done with a cupcake. Not this time. These would make a lovely gift for someone or great for a party when Covid is over. They’re beautiful and oh-so-tasty! Last, but definitely not least is that tiramisu. If this is one of your favorite desserts like it is mine, run to Hot Cakes Gourmet and get a slice!! OMG. It is everything I want in tiramisu. You can tell the espresso they use for the ladyfingers is quality. That flavor was spot on. The layers should’ve been a hint to me that it’s much bigger than it appears when you start eating it. Two of us shared a piece and there was a tiny smidge leftover for breakfast the next morning. If I hadn’t gobbled up that cupcake first, the tiramisu definitely would’ve been demolished. If you’re like me and you’ve passed by HotCakes, but you haven’t stopped in yet – it’s time to give ‘em a try! You can even order ahead for pickup or delivery through their website. I’ll be going back very soon to try some of those yummy looking sandwiches, salads, and of course more sweet treats.

AMAZING place to eat. We stopped in for breakfast one morning and it was great. The breakfast foods were good, but I think they could have been heated a little longer; mine was cold in the middle. My dad and I got chorizo burritos, my daughters got banana bread and a croissant, and my mother got a meat pie. All were delicious and I think of them frequently. The deserts I took home were fabulous. I tried the macaroons, the chocolate torte (gluten free, I believe), a few hand pies, and some other things I don’t remember the name of. I would eat them all again; everyone loved them. The staff was super friendly and for the quality of food, the prices were fair. Thanks guys!

I was on a mission to find the best burger in Charlottesville, and Citizen Burger Bar came up as the top pick—and wow, it absolutely lived up to the hype. Everything about our visit was fantastic. The star of the show was the Citizen Burger itself: stacked with fresh, flavorful ingredients and topped off with a crispy fried pickle that was a delicious surprise. I swapped out the fries for onion rings, and it was totally worth it—perfectly crispy and packed with flavor. The location couldn’t be better—right in the heart of downtown Charlottesville, on the pedestrian mall full of charm, energy, and people-watching. It really captures the vibe of the town and the university. One huge bonus: they’re extremely dog-friendly. They brought out a big bowl of cold water for our two pups without us even asking—such a thoughtful touch! My wife ordered the beet salad and loved every bite. We also appreciated the cold bottle of water left at the table to keep our glasses topped off—small detail, but it made the whole experience feel that much more relaxed and attentive. From start to finish, this was one of the most enjoyable dining experiences we’ve had in a while. Great food, awesome atmosphere, and top-notch service. Highly recommend—easily a five-star spot!

Worth the reservation needed (recommended)!!! Our server, "Kelly P", was polite and very attentive. The steak was cooked to requested color, and the short rib grilled cheese was amazing! Highly recommend Burtons and would say it's worth a stop even if your final destination isn't Charlottesville.

Absolutely epic pizza! Worth the trip to Charlottesville alone, what a great spot. We ordered a couple of large pizzas, and each was two halves of one of their specialty pizzas so we got to try 4 pizzas essentially which was terrific. The Holy Shitake was possibly the best version of any mushroom pizza I've ever had. The caramelized onions just distinguish this pizza, the sweetness and tenderness in the onions is tremendous. There's a delicious olive oil and garlic base with roasted shiitake, button and portobello mushrooms, and mozzarella. Then the aged Wisconsin Aged White Cheddar cheese, fresh chives, and garlic aioli swirl and a spritz of black truffle oil accent this pizza remarkably well. Just superb. Super Pepp starts with their red sauce base and is topped with mozzarella, loaded with pepperoni, tangy peppers, topped with generous dollops of seasoned ricotta cheese and a swirl of hot honey. I got it with some optional jalapenos and it was epic. Kosmic Karma was made with red sauce, spinach, roasted tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh Roma tomatoes, crumbled authentic sheep’s milk feta cheese, and a generous pesto swirl. Absolutely delicious as well. Last but not least, Merry Prankster has a herb aioli base, chicken, Italian sausage, garlic roasted red peppers, green bell peppers, mozzarella, Wisconsin aged white cheddar, and a key herb aioli drizzle. Another phenomenal pie. Salad we ordered was lackluster but they remedied it kindly. Service was superb, whole staff was really friendly and helpful. Great artwork, funky vibe, and cozy booths make for a fun and unique dining experience.

Great little pie and coffee shop. Their latte has great texture, chocolate hazelnut pie is a bit sweet, but delicious, and their savory mushroom leek gruyere pie is just right, though takes 15 minutes to warm up.

This place has a lot going for it. They have seating outside on a deck and more outback in a patio area with picnic tables. The food is good, and I recommend the hamburger. I do wish they had regular fries in addition to tater tots. One of the most unique aspects is their level of pet friendliness. The waitress brought us out a bowl of water, and they even have a menu just for pets. Kaia Blue recommends the grilled chicken. The game room was a nice touch with a mix of a few retro games and a decent selection of newer pinball games. I do wish the pinball games were a bit cheaper, say 50 cents and not a dollar, to keep the fun going longer, and get more people playing.

First we will start with my daughter who got the "I don't know" from the kids menu. She is a picky eater but she described her chicken as the right amount of salt, seasoning and crispiness. She said the maple syrup add a tasty sweetness to her chicken and her flaky fun paffle. For the adults we enjoyed our breakfast and vegan paffles. I had the vegan with Mac n cheese and there was plenty of filling and the fried tofu was delicious. I read a review that stated it's gets messy. It does but well worth the taste and experience. Would definitely visit again!

Just ate a loaf of Bread Works soda bread! Absolutely delicious. I cannot stop eating it! Slightly crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. Fruit pieces so tasty and overall the perfect amount of sweetness! Highly recommend!! I find all their baked goods to be fantastic. Staff is fabulous too!

If you are anywhere near Charlottesville VA, you should stop at the Great Harvest Bread Co. They are so much more than a “bakery”. They actually mill their own flour and wheat on a mill stone (from wheat berries so it’s as fresh as it can possibly be ) so the consumer gets the cleanest and freshest products possible. The 100% whole grain oatmeal cookies are worth every cent. You won’t find better. The raspberry cream cheese scuffin is also a must. The Monkey bread is in a tin, you just pull off the plastic, put it in the oven and devour the results. If you don’t stop in here, you’ll regret it.

À french Bakery with delicious Pastry and almond croissant. Service and be on the chill/slow side, but not an issue if you stay awhile. Lots of seating outside when the weather is nice. Beautiful, country decor and furniture inside. Their almond croissant is heavy, has a crunch to it and tasted like it was soaked in orange syrup. So good!!!

If you’re in Charlottesville, you have to stop at Bodo’s Bagels! We tried the egg salad with bacon on an onion bagel and the chicken (turkey) salad with cheese on a garlic bagel—both were delicious. The bagel flavors were spectacular and really brought everything together. The salads themselves aren’t heavily seasoned, which I actually prefer—it lets you adjust the flavor exactly to your liking. Just a heads-up: during rush hour, the space can get pretty cramped with people waiting, but the staff keeps things moving fast and efficiently. Local, tasty, and always worth the stop—Bodo’s lives up to the hype!

Sweethaus made the most perfect cupcakes for our office baby shower. They created two dozen cupcakes EXACTLY the way I ordered. I am so grateful for having such a wonderful bakery in town. Thank you Sweethaus staff!