Unearth The Voyage
New Jersey has a serious bakery game, and I say that as someone who once drove 40 minutes just for a crumb cake. From Jersey City to Collingswood, the Garden State is packed with spots that will make your Saturday morning feel like a holiday.
Whether you’re after flaky croissants, classic Italian pastries, or a cookie box big enough to share (but you won’t), NJ has you covered. Pack your appetite and maybe an extra tote bag, because this list is about to send you straight to the car keys.
B&W Bakery (Hackensack)
The sign says it all: B&W Bakery in Hackensack proudly calls itself the “Home of the Famous Heavy Crumb Cake.” That title is not handed out lightly in New Jersey, where crumb cake is practically a competitive sport.
The crumb-to-cake ratio here is almost comically perfect. Thick, buttery crumbs tower over a soft, golden base like they own the place.
I took one bite and immediately texted my mom about it.
Locals have been loyal to this spot for years, and one visit tells you exactly why. It is the kind of bakery that does not need a fancy rebrand or a trendy menu update.
The classics work, and B&W knows it. Go early on weekends because the Famous Heavy Crumb Cake sells out fast.
Do not leave without one. Seriously, do not even think about it.
Bovella’s Pastry Shoppe (Westfield + Mountainside)
Since 1949, Bovella’s Pastry Shoppe has been filling display cases and making people forget their diets in the best possible way. Two New Jersey locations, Westfield and Mountainside, carry on a tradition that is older than most of your relatives.
Walking into Bovella’s feels like stepping into an Italian grandmother’s kitchen, except everything is perfectly arranged behind glass and you have to actually pay for it. The cookie trays are legendary around here.
People order them for parties, holidays, and honestly just for the car ride home.
That last part is not a joke. A Bovella’s cookie tray in the passenger seat is a genuine road trip upgrade.
Their Italian pastry selection runs deep, covering the classics with skill and consistency that only decades of practice can deliver. Whether you are buying for a crowd or just yourself, Bovella’s never disappoints.
Go to both locations if you can.
Calandra’s Bakery (Fairfield)
Calandra’s Bakery in Fairfield is the kind of place that makes Northern New Jersey proud. The menu is massive, the pastries are classic, and the seasonal specials keep regulars checking the website like it is a sports schedule.
This is a heavyweight operation. Calandra’s does not dabble in baking.
They commit fully, and the results show in every cannoli, every loaf, and every special event they roll out through the year. The seasonal features alone are worth planning a trip around.
First-timers sometimes get overwhelmed by the options, and that is completely understandable. My advice: grab the classic Italian pastries first, then scope out whatever seasonal item is running that week.
You will almost certainly want both. Calandra’s has the kind of consistent quality that turns first visits into lifelong habits.
It earns its reputation as a Northern NJ institution every single weekend without breaking a sweat.
Bread & Salt (Jersey City)
Bread & Salt in Jersey City operates with the kind of quiet confidence that only truly excellent bakeries have. No gimmicks, no over-the-top social media stunts.
Just seriously good Italian baking and a bakery case that rewards the early risers.
The focaccia here has its own fan club, and after one bite, you will understand why people plan their Saturdays around it. The crust hits the right notes, the inside stays pillowy, and the olive oil situation is handled with respect.
Grab it warm if you can.
Hours at Bread & Salt can be on the tighter side, so checking ahead before you go is genuinely useful advice. Show up too late and you will be staring at an empty case wondering where the morning went.
The bakery case specials rotate, so every visit has the potential to surprise you. Get there early, get the focaccia, and thank yourself later.
Dulce Artisanal Pastry (Collingswood)
South Jersey finally gets its moment, and Dulce Artisanal Pastry in Collingswood is absolutely the right bakery to deliver it. This spot brings a level of craft and creativity to the South Jersey pastry scene that feels genuinely exciting.
The chocolate options here deserve special attention. Dulce takes chocolate seriously, and it shows in every tart, truffle, and layered pastry they put out.
Pairing something chocolatey with a mixed pastry box is basically the move here, and I fully support it as a life decision.
Dulce posts its weekly hours directly on the site, which is helpful since schedules can shift. A quick check before heading out will save you from an unfortunate empty-handed situation.
The mixed box approach is the smartest way to experience everything Dulce does well in one visit. Collingswood has a great food scene, and this bakery fits right into it.
Do not skip the chocolate. Ever.
Antoinette Boulangerie (Red Bank)
Antoinette Boulangerie in Red Bank operates Wednesday through Sunday, which means every visit feels a little like a special occasion. That schedule also means you should plan ahead, because showing up on a Tuesday is a tragedy waiting to happen.
The croissants and viennoiserie at Antoinette’s are the main event, and they live up to the hype. Layers of buttery, flaky pastry done with French technique in a New Jersey town is a combination that works brilliantly.
The desserts are celebration-worthy without needing an actual celebration as an excuse.
There is a well-known phenomenon here where customers buy a dessert specifically to “save for later.” Nobody saves it for later. It disappears in the car before you hit the main road, and you will not feel bad about it at all.
Antoinette’s is the kind of bakery that earns a permanent spot in your weekend rotation very quickly.
Palermo Bakery (Little Ferry)
Palermo Bakery has a history worth knowing. The original Ridgefield Park location closed, and the operation moved to Little Ferry on Liberty Street, according to their own blog.
That kind of transparency from a bakery is refreshing and worth respecting.
The grab-and-go dessert boxes here are a brilliant concept for anyone who wants variety without the commitment of ordering a full custom cake. Speaking of which, peeking at the custom cake options is highly recommended.
They do impressive work on special orders.
Long-time fans of the Ridgefield Park era followed Palermo to Little Ferry, which tells you everything about customer loyalty this bakery has built over the years. New customers show up because the quality speaks for itself.
The Little Ferry location carries the same classic Italian pastry shop energy that made Palermo a trusted name in Bergen County. Go with a box in mind and leave with a cake idea brewing.
CHOC O PAIN (Jersey City + Hoboken)
CHOC O PAIN describes itself as a bakery and cafe with traditional European bread baking and classic French breakfast pastries. Two locations, Jersey City and Hoboken, mean you have very little excuse not to visit at least once this weekend.
The pain au chocolat here is the star, and the name of the place is basically a spoiler. Dark, flaky, buttery, and filled with chocolate in the right proportion.
Pair it with a croissant and you have covered the French breakfast pastry essentials in one trip.
The bread program at CHOC O PAIN is the part people sometimes overlook because the pastries are so good. Buy a loaf for tomorrow.
You will be glad you did when Monday morning rolls around and you have proper bread waiting. European-style bread baking is a specific skill, and this team has it.
Two NJ locations with this quality is genuinely a luxury for the area.
Natale’s Summit Bakery (Summit)
Natale’s Summit Bakery has been drawing crowds in Summit for a long time, and the recent reviews on major platforms confirm it is not slowing down. A bakery that stays consistently busy after years in the same town is doing something very right.
The cookie selection here is the move, especially if you are heading somewhere and need a host gift. A Natale’s cookie box is the kind of present that makes people genuinely happy to see you arrive.
Pro tip: buy one for the host and one for yourself, because sharing is hard when the cookies are this good.
Even if you are the one hosting the party, a Natale’s cookie box on the table still counts as a power move. Updated hours are easy to find on major review platforms, so checking before you go takes about ten seconds.
Natale’s earns its loyal following the old-fashioned way, with consistent quality and no shortcuts.
Rispoli’s Pastry Shop (Emerson)
Rispoli’s Pastry Shop in Emerson runs on classic Italian pastry shop energy, and the steady stream of customers coming through the door proves that energy never goes out of style. This is a shop that knows exactly what it is and executes it with confidence.
The lobster tails here are the item to chase. Sfogliatella-style pastry done well is a specific kind of joy, all shatteringly crisp layers wrapped around a creamy, sweet filling.
Rispoli’s version hits the mark in a way that makes you want to order a second one before you finish the first.
The official site and active customer base tell you this is a place people return to regularly, not just for special occasions. Emerson might not be the first town that comes to mind for a pastry run, but Rispoli’s makes it worth the detour every single time.
Grab the lobster tails. That is the whole instruction.
