After a hectic week of packed lunches, portion control and meals cobbled together to keep hungry mouths at bay, we’re all looking forward to melting into the weekend, loosening our belts and tucking into a beautifully-baked pastry. We’ve rounded up six local gems helmed by passionate bakers worth a visit.
Bake Room
Nestled inside the The Commons, Bake Room is a small, warm and welcoming mecca for l’art du feuilletage, or the art of lamination—those millions of buttery, flaky pastry layers that melt in your mouth. With limited hours and an intentionally curated menu, you’ll want to get there early, because savory favorites like the everything croissant and sweet treats like the morning bun are sure to sell out.
Open Thursday—Saturday, 8AM – 3PM & Sunday 8AM – 2PM. 147 Welborn St Unit B2, Greenville SC 29601
The Spatula Café
From strawberry meringue to iconic classics and decadent vegan desserts, every patisserie at The Spatula Café is served with a smile. Just imperfect enough to be perfectly scratch-made, their velvety red wine mousse and generous tiramisu slices have flown by word of mouth into the hearts—and eager hands—of diners all across the Upstate.
Open Monday 7:30AM – 1:30PM, Tuesday through Friday 7:30AM – 3PM & Saturday through Sunday 8AM – 3PM. 118 Smythe St, Greenville, SC 29611
Bossy Bakers
At charming neighborhood spot Bossy Bakers, the first thing you might see is pies for days—pies for birthdays, for holidays, for parades!—but the pastry you won’t want to miss is a little harder to spell. The sought-after (and often sold out) kouignamann is a laminated sweet pastry that develops crunchy caramelized layers on the outside and creamy soft layers on the outside.
Open Monday through Friday 8AM – 4PM & Saturday 9AM – 3PM, Closed Sunday. 1540 Wade Hampton Blvd suite G, Greenville, SC 29609
Upcountry Provisions
It’s true: the TOWN team dreams about the jammy, playful layers of the jelly roll at Upcountry Provisions bakery and bistro, located right off the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Travelers Rest. Along with convenient take and bake pastries—from sweet and savory croissants to big-as-your-hand cinnamon rolls—the restaurant also serves a seriously satisfying brunch spread.
Open Monday through Saturday 7:30AM – 7:00PM. 6809 State Park Rd, Travelers Rest, SC 29690
Gio’s Pastry Shop
Tucked into a tiny Fountain Inn storefront, Gio’s Pastry Shop delivers a cannoli worthy of a weekend pilgrimage—a homemade shell complete with creamy, chocolate-studded filling. This family-owned hidden gem is also stocked with fresh-baked Italian treats like rainbow cookies and bombolone, or delicious Italian filled donuts.
Open Saturday 10AM – 3PM & Sunday 11AM – 3PM, Closed Monday–Friday. 218 South Main Street, Unit A Fountain Inn, SC 29644
Swamp Rabbit Café
If you haven’t heard, it’s strawberry season (how have you not? It’s cool—we’ve got you) and few bakeries are serving up pastries and sweet treats that sing the berry’s praises quite like the Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery. Stop by for the crumbly, sticky strawberry slab pie or perfectly-petite strawberry donut, and don’t forget to pop in for a bushel of fresh fruit to go before you hit the road again.
Open Monday through Sunday 7:30AM – 7:00PM. 205 Cedar Lane Rd, Greenville, SC 29611
