In Chamblee, a baker nearing retirement age clocks in a short time after midnight—he’s got doughnuts to make. On the Westside, one of the city’s best pastry chefs creates desserts that double as works of art. Off a busy stretch of road in Gwinnett County, sweets shops are so plentiful that they’re practically stacked on top one another, while all over the city, independent bakers working out of shared kitchens and rented spaces are bringing an invigorating array of flavors to Atlanta’s palate—delicate Filipino cookies, floral-scented Persian cakes, beautiful Mexican conchas, and Asian-influenced Rice Krispie treats. If you’re a pastry person—or a bread head—there’s never been a sweeter time to live here.
edited by sam worley | with contributions from heather buckner, von diaz, mike jordan, christiane lauterbach, and lia picard | photography by brinson + banks
The essential elements of Atlanta pastry
Creamy, flaky, fancy, red, green, vegan, Brazilian—whatever kind of treat you’re looking for, here’s where to find it. Keep reading
Atlanta’s sweetest strip
Bejeweled macarons, mountainous bingsu, Japanese honey toast, fish-shaped bread, cat-shaped cake—and great coffee: Gwinnett County’s Pleasant Hill Road has got it all. Keep reading
Rise of the microbakers
Working out of shared kitchens, rental facilities, and sometimes their own homes, these pastry artists are bringing an invigorating array of flavors—and colors!—to the city’s palate. Keep reading
Hot dough action!
Any way you slice ’em, these are the 10 breads you need to try in Atlanta. Keep reading
On a cornbread quest
Everything’s better with a little sugar—especially cornbread. Keep reading
Claudia Martinez is at the top of her game
Now in the kitchen at Miller Union, the pastry chef combines the flavors of her Venezuelan and Southern roots with an artist’s visual flair. Keep reading
The night shift
A 67-year-old Vietnamese refugee, Dandy has been making doughnuts by hand, in the middle of the night, for more than 30 years. Now, he gets ready to hang up his apron. Keep reading
Bread planet
Atlanta is a crossroads of scores of breadmaking cultures and techniques. Here’s the proof. Keep reading
These articles appear in our February 2022 issue.