Are you sick of grabbing the same muffin and croissant combo from the Study and other campus cafeterias? From decadent cakes to flaky pastries, these five bakeries are a must-visit in the summer. As the days grow longer and the weather gets warmer, grab your textbooks and indulge in some of the best baked goods near campus. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll stumble across your next go-to study snack!
Coin De Rue Bakery & Cafe
Location: 1110 S. Western Ave., Suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90006
Hours: Monday — Saturday: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Distance from UCLA: 24-minute drive
Situated in Koreatown, Coin De Rue is one of the most reputed bakeries in LA due to their unique pastry items. For individuals who like Asian flavors or experimenting with unique flavor combinations, this is the place to go. Their menu features items like the blueberry squid ink bun, green onion bread, shio buns (featured in picture), and mixed berry custard tart, as well as the sweet potato, black sesame, melon and injeolmi cream buns.
Porto’s Bakery & Cafe
Location: 3614 Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505
Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Distance from UCLA: 30-minute drive
From this list, Porto’s is by far the most well-known spot to find baked goods. Established in 1976, this popular bakery has become a favorite amongst Bruins and Angelenos alike. Their must-try items include cheese rolls, guava cheese strudels, chicken croquettes, and potato balls. The addicting flavors leave everyone wishing for more, which explains the long lines no matter when you go.
Artelice Pâtisserie
Location: 11301 W Olympic Blvd., Unit 123, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Hours: Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, Wednesday — Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday — Sunday: 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Distance from UCLA: 11-minute drive
When spiral croissants became all the rage earlier this year, Artelice Pâtisserie was one of the only bakeries in LA to hop on the trend. Their spiral croissants, known as the New York Rolls, included seasonal flavors such as pomegranate, pistachio, blueberry, and guava. As one of the more upscale bakeries on this list, they also feature various fancy desserts including cakes, mousses, and macarons. What makes this bakery stand out is the fact that their ingredients are shipped directly from Europe, giving customers a unique tasting experience that cannot be found anywhere else nearby.
Paderia Bakehouse
Location: 3032 Wilshire Blvd. Suite E, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., closed Mondays.
Distance from UCLA: 12-minute drive
Paderia Bakehouse is one of the pricier bakeries on this list, but the quality speaks for itself. They have an “open until sold out” policy, which means they never have old inventory. Instead, they always provide the freshest pastries and baked goods for customers. Their menu is one of the smallest ones, but each item is crafted to perfection. Must-try items include the Portuguese egg tart, cheesecake and malasada, as well as the cookies. Cookie flavor options include blueberry coconut pecan, peanut butter chocolate and chocolate walnut.
85°C Bakery Cafe
Location: 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 1305, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Hours: Monday — Saturday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Distance from UCLA: 11-minute drive
85°C is a famous bakery franchise that originated in Taiwan in 2004 and later made its way to the U.S. Today, it has over 1,000 locations worldwide and provides a wide selection of baked goods prepared daily and seasonal items that rotate throughout the year. Popular due to its close proximity and low prices, 85°C has become a must-visit for Bruins. The bakery is particularly known for its pineapple cake, marble taro bun, brioche, and pork sung bun.
