Indulging in a great loaf of bread is one of life’s simple luxuries. But many home cooks would agree that baking a boule from scratch demands some serious trial and error. How do you know when the dough has been kneaded enough or properly proofed? High altitude is a whole other challenge.
Fortunately, if you’d rather leave the baking to the professionals, there are several local places offering crackly sourdough, crusty baguettes, ciabatta, braided challah, and so much more. Load up on the carbs at these top 10 bakeries for bread-lovers in Denver.
Reunion Bakery
Safe to say, Denver doesn’t shy away from carbs. With much success, Reunion Bakery (formally Reunion Bread Co.) also recently moved from its small stall at the Source Hotel to a bigger space in Platt Park. Owner Ismael de Sousa has gained local fame for his signature pastries: golfeados (Venezuelan sticky buns), pastel de nata (Portuguese egg custard tarts), and gooey cookie-croissants.
But don’t overlook this James Beard-nominated and Colorado HOSPY award-winning chef’s classic baguettes and seeded loaves, all naturally fermented and made with organic flour. 1240 S. Pearl St., Denver, no website
Leven Deli Co.
Loved for its made-from-scratch menu, Leven opened “bread quarters” a couple of years ago to keep up with its rising demand. Chef Doug Anderson helps run the 12,000-square-foot space where up to a hundred rye and sourdough loaves are baked fresh each day.
Tasty pastries, housemade dressings, and cured meats are also prepped at this facility, then served at the company’s cafes in Civic Center and Washington Park. Savor some of the best sandwiches around and take a hefty three-pound loaf to-go. 123 W. 12th Ave., Denver; and 300 E. Alameda Ave. Unit D, Denver, eatleven.com
Good Bread
Though it launched during the pandemic, Good Bread never struggled to draw a dedicated fan base. For years, patrons would form a line down East Colfax Avenue even before the doors to its tiny shop would open. But as of last month, that era has officially ended.
Soon, the bakery will debut a much larger space in the RiNo neighborhood. Until then, stop by the new location for its weekend sidewalk pop-up or visit its sister concept Lula Rose General Store for laminated pastries, bagel sandwiches, and crusty loaves. 3153 Larimer St., Denver, goodbreaddenver.com
Bakery Four
From flaky croissants and cinnamon rolls to really great bread, you can’t go wrong at Bakery Four. This concept by Shawn Bergin began as a cottage bakery in 2019, then became a small brick-and-mortar before growing into today’s spacious Berkeley cafe.
Wake up early to beat the crowds down the block and get your hands on golden baguettes, airy focaccia, loaves of ciabatta, and the best English muffins around. Want to learn to make these goods for yourself? Sign up for one of its new hands-on workshops. 4150 Tennyson St., Denver, bakeryfour.com
GetRight’s
This Wheat Ridge bakery is another spot that absolutely lives up to the hype. You won’t regret waiting for signature pastries like the maritozzi brioche buns and caramelized canelé, nor the gorgeous selection of fresh loaves. Semolina flour baguettes, ciabatta studded with Castelvetrano olives, and other sourdough creations stock the shelves.
Take a couple to go and order a sandwich, too. The menu often rotates but right now, the croissant bread BLT and classic jambon-beurre are solid choices. 6985 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge, goodygetright.com
Tokyo Premium Bakery
Shokupan, a soft and fluffy milk bread with a hint of sweetness, makes Japanese sandos almost impossible to resist. Stop inside this Platt Park bakery for savory choices like the ham and egg, as well as a classic option layered with whipped cream and fresh fruit.
Guests can also buy loaves of shokupan, but consider pre-ordering because these often go quickly. Traditional baguettes, epi loaves braided with black pepper bacon, and buns filled with red bean paste and matcha cream add to the selection. 1540 S. Pearl St., Denver, tokyopremiumbakery.com
Rebel Bread
Sure, it might be pricier than mass-produced flour. But to support local farmers and create more sustainable goods, Rebel Bread is committed to using only regionally-sourced grain. The unique terroir of the state shines in its naturally-leavened loaves.
Choose from marbled rye, seeded sandwich bread, roasted garlic ciabatta, brioche burger buns, braided challah, and more, including a fantastic range of pastries. Hands-on classes and free sourdough starter add reasons to visit this Baker neighborhood shop. 675 S. Broadway, Denver, rebelbreadco.com
Moxie Bread Co.
With careful consideration, this homegrown chain produces some of the best bread in Boulder County. All of its goods are made with organic, unprocessed heirloom grains from regional family farms, and milling is done fresh in-house.
Pick up a sack of all-purpose or one of several ancient wheat flours, along with an incredible sourdough loaf. Options include its fröbröd speckled with sesame and poppy seeds, Algerian baguettes, and daily specials like the cinnamon raisin boule and rosemary polenta bread. Multiple locations, moxiebreadco.com
Elemental Bakery & Coffeehouse
Find this stellar bakery at York Street Yards, a trendy new(ish) development in the Clayton neighborhood. Elemental was quick to gain regulars for the laminated creations like pistachio creme croissants and flaky kouign-amann.
While pastry chef Deva Randolph leads that charge, founder Sani Obhodas oversees the shop’s bread program. Local whole grains star in its crackly sourdough baguettes, pillowy focaccia and seeded sunrise loaves. Grab one alongside a latte and a little sweet treat. 3875 Steele St., Denver, elementalbakeryandcoffee.com
Detour Bakery
Plan a detour to the Virginia Village neighborhood for one of the best bread selections around. Shiny loaves of sweet, soft viennoise, sesame-crusted batards, poppyseed epi, and perfect boules with decorative scoring tempt every guest who walks through the door.
Daily specials like rye with caraway, as well as the goat cheese and tomato bread, encourage repeat visits throughout the week. Ranked among the top French bakeries, this spot also offers house-made quiches, croissants, and more flaky pastries. 1479 S. Holly St., Denver, detourbakery.com
