The Naples area has been lucky to have great local bakery departments at markets like Wynn’s, Oakes Farms and DeRomo’s, but there are some new kids in town with unique talents and treasures you’ll want to discover.
Angelic Desserts (North Naples): It harkens back to the sweet shops of our youth with white walls and pastel blue décor, plus it has café tables and organic coffee, so you can sip and savor on-premise. While there are cases of some truly decadent cupcakes, cheesecakes, carrot cakes and cookies, everything is made from organic or non-GMO ingredients, and many of the items are marked as gluten-free and even vegan. The owner also adds treats from her native Serbia to the mix, like baklava and puff pastry stuffed with feta and spinach. angelicdesserts.com
La Colmar Bakery & Bistro (Downtown Naples): Finally! A place where we can buy bread—that’s baked fresh daily. Using the finest-ground 00 organic French flour, finds include a signature sourdough loaf, white chocolate-cranberry rolls and a braided hearth number resembling an alligator. There are a few sweets, too, including European-style pastries and puffed up, flaky chocolate and almond croissants. A menu of omelets, quiches and sandwiches for breakfast and lunch gives plenty of reason to linger longer in the rustic-chic café. lacolmar.com
Epiphany Gluten Free Bakery (North Naples): Anyone entering would do a double take before it sinks in that everything is 100 percent free from that pesky composite protein, from almond-poppy pound cake to pumpkin muffins, cinnamon buns, breakfast sandwiches, and both sweet and ridiculously cheesy monkey breads. If you stop by for lunch or coffee, make sure to feast your eyes on the “cupcake patch,” a tiered display of some of the most artfully frosted flowers in Southwest Florida. epiphanyglutenfree.com
Brooklyn Dough with a Hole (Downtown Naples): You have the option of 20 different kinds of cream cheese alone—including Nutella, red velvet and green olive—before even considering which of the boiled bagels to select, in flavors like chocolate chip, jalapeño cheddar, garlic and pumpernickel. (They also have bialys, pizza bagels and breakfast meats.) Definitely look out for the groovy rainbow bagels. (239) 231-3159
