This classic Brentwood bakery still has reliably good croissants, especially of the almond variety. There’s also plenty in the way of danishes, cakes, cream pies and a number of savory dishes at this Wilshire Blvd cafe.

This popular dessert bar B Sweet is a convenient way to satisfy sweet cravings after meal on Sawtelle. Outrageous sweets include such hybrids as the halo, a hot doughnut ice cream sandwich; halo halo, Filipino shaved ice; and, of course, its signature bread pudding with flavors like ube, salted caramel, and banana chocolate. —CC

Though it hasn’t necessarily become the hottest dessert trend in LA, these fancy meringue cakes is an ideal gift or mid afternoon snack for the office. Light cakes are covered in a meringue, then covered with various confections and flavors, from coffee and caramel to raspberry and red velvet.

Beverly Hills denizens rejoiced when Thomas Keller’s 90210 outpost landed a small bakery touting macarons, kouign amanns, and more on the bottom floor of the restaurant. The selection might not be as wide as the New York, Vegas, and Yountville locations, but the quality is still mostly there. The custardy canele are also worth trying.

Baker Ran Zimon trained in Tel Aviv and never planned to open a bakery here. But he eventually started wholesale bread distribution and the rest is history. The classic European-style pastries and baked goods are strictly prepared in house and with the utmost care. It’s a nice place to relax and enjoy some carbs in the Arts District.

This classic European-style bakery in the heart of Beverly Hills has some of the most elegantly styled desserts and pastries in the city, with beautiful tarts, cakes, and more in an airy space on Beverly Drive. There’s also fresh baked bread, croissants, and danishes, all great for a breakfast or a light afternoon snack.

This bustling bakery and cafe doesn’t really try and re-write the rules of baking, but that’s fine, because everything from their cookies and scones to sweet breads and butter cakes are excellent.

This authentic Danish-style bakery has some of the best sweet treats in the city, with things like almondy kringles, raspberry danishes, nougat crowns, braided cinnamon lines, and more, all for very fair prices. Everything is just sweet enough, and plenty addictive. It’s a great thing to bring to the office when everyone’s tired of donuts.

A nice find in Sherman Oaks, Creme Caramel brings creative sweets in the form of bread puddings, marshmallow brulees, and of course, creme caramels. Don’t miss out on the ube flavor.

Jeffrey Cerciello’s food emporium in Brentwood has everything from a larder to prepared goods to a full service restaurant. The bakery up front also has a terrific array of pastries that would make anyone swoon, from the chocolate croissant to the classic coffee cake. They can all be serviced with breakfast or brunch there as well.

It seems the Gjusta team can do no wrong. It would be remiss not to finish an exceptional meal of cured fish or porchetta sandwiches with the counter-service eatery’s outstanding pastries. The pies are fantastic, but don’t skip the much raved about baklava croissant. —CC

Zoe Nathan’s a natural baker, and the results of her perfectionism is this Santa Monica bakery that’s almost always busy. The pastries, bread, and baked goods are great, as are the sandwiches, like the now-famous fried egg sandwich topped with arugula and a slab of bacon.

With two additional outlets, Joan’s is propagating its London-style counter-cum-bakery in both Santa Monica and Studio City alongside its West Third original. The pastry section isn’t going to innovate, but it’ll definitely be a solid option when you’re walking nearby. Consider the cookies, cupcakes, and cakes when you need a sweet fix. [Photo:Yelp]

Homegrown bakery chain La Monarca serves up a wide variety of Mexican pastries and coffee at prices that make it an affordable stop for a sweet treat. Pair your pan dulce with the cold-brewed café de olla, prepared with cinnamon and panela, for an unbeatable pick-me-up on a hot summer day.

This NYC import makes some of the most refined, delectable cakes anywhere in town, using a multitude of layers and various flavors to mix it up. Paired with Stumptown coffee, the green tea milles crepes or strawberry shortcake would certainly make any day better.

Zoe Nathan and Josh Loeb’s pizza and pasta-centric bakery serves up some of the best bread and pastries in town. The bagel with smoked salmon is great, along with collection of sweet treats that changes up daily. [Photo: Yelp]

This Downtown bakery really ups the pastry game in Financial District/Pershing Square, with a massive array of croissants, breads, sweets, and more that are about as good as you can expect for the area. With plenty of seating inside and out, they also have full menus if you want to go beyond the sugary stuff. [Photo: Wonho Frank Lee]

This bakery that dates back to the ‘60s with locations in Burbank, Glendale, and Downey has been wildly popular for its Cuban specialties like guava cheese rolls, potato balls, and tres leches cake. Just be prepared to wait in some serious lines, and grab a few Cuban sandwiches while you’re there.

Na Young Ma’s ideal meld between the best of classic European and American sensibilities reflect at this charming bakery in Atwater Village. The croissants are as good as they get, but the seasonal, daily offerings aren’t worth missing either. The expansive coffee program by Cognoscenti is also impressive.

Margarita Manzke oversees this complete baking and pastry operation at the former La Brea Bakery space, resulting in near-perfect renditions of French and American staples, from croissants and cookies to house-baked baguettes. It’s hard to go wrong with anything here.

Jessica Koslow’s bakery and cafe serves things like brioche toast with her famous jam, lard biscuits, brown rice porridge, and granola with house-made yogurt. The real treat here is the buttery malvah pudding cake, though the blueberry corn cakes are spectacular as well.

Karen Hatfield’s ode to the classic American bakery has its ideal form at this lovely bakery along La Brea Avenue. The salted caramel pecan babka roll is more than addictive, as are the rest of the baked goods, but the sandwiches are truly special. The turkey sandwich might be one of the best in town, and the tuna sandwich is made from fresh tuna instead of the canned sort. [Photo:

Echo Park has a new elegant place to have breakfast or brunch, or even tea time. Valerie Gordon’s beautiful American-style goods like muffins, petit fours, chocolates, preserves, and confections. There’s also a great lineup of sandwiches, tartines, and other savory bites to go along with a strong tea program.

This great new bakery in Culver City has a strong focus on house-baked breads, but a small menu of cakes, rolls, and hand pies makes it a destination for those wanting a sweeter bite. Sip on De La Paz coffee and kill any morning hunger pangs with a hearty country toast with nut butter and date-molasses syrup.

This all day eatery in Venice has one of the most ambitious, and spot-on, pastry programs in the area. Indulge in some chocolate croissants and cookies, or take home a loaf of crusty bread.

The newest outpost of Superba Food + Bread is now open in El Segundo, with a refined set of pastries and breads from chef Carlos Enriquez, who’s compiled everything from croissants and turnovers to bombolini, coffee cake muffins, and kouign amanns.

Known mainly for its colorful macarons, Bottega Louie’s overall pastry section might be one of the more impressive ones in town thanks to proper technique and a variety of sweets that sugar fiends will go crazy for. A proper place for post-lunch dessert session if you work in the area.

With creative takes on classic American pastries, Cake Monkey, a long time wholesaler, finally has its own retail space in the heart of Beverly Blvd.

A glorious addition to Pasadena’s dining scene, the daytime specialist offers everything from house baked baguettes to well-crafted sweets.

A meld between a European-style bakery and one that you might find in Tel Aviv, this Susina Bakery replacement has some of the best rugelach and chocolate babka in town.

With some of the best cakes in Los Angeles, this tiny shop on Melrose is the place for pastry fans to congregate. The desserts to be on the sweeter, over the top range versus a more restrained European or Asian part of the pastry spectrum.

If you’ve ever had a bite of a beignet at New Orlean’s Cafe du Monde, you’ve probably been waiting for the day you could sink your teeth into the powdered sugar-laden fried dough treats once more. Thankfully, Beverly Hills Beigent has finally opened with flavors you definitely have never had before, thanks to pastry maestro Lincoln Carson. Think everything from the traditional sugary versions to savory, Gruyere and ham-stuffed varieties.

A long time Pasadena bakery destination, Europane still serves some of the best breads, pastries, and macarons in town. If you’re still around for lunch, don’t skip the excellent egg salad sandwich.

Boyle Heights legend La Mascota continues to push the envelope after all these years, innovating their coffee program and updating their pastries for a rapidly changing neighborhood. Luckily the backbone of the place, from their conch shell cookies to their holiday tamales, remains as intact as ever.

Some LA’s best croissants come from this Downtown restaurant, which opens at 9 a.m. most mornings. Try an avocado toast or maple coconut donut, or if you’re ready to dive deep, have one of the signature “croissinnamon” rolls to go along with your morning coffee.

Relative newcomer Twenty 40 acts as an offshoot of McCall’s in Los Feliz, expanding on the pastry program there to provide ambitious options filled with seasonal fruits and other delicacies. Don’t skip on the well-curated coffee, either.

The Melrose Avenue grab and go spot is the ideal place for the area’s morning pastries. Try a scone or muffin along with a cup of coffee, or opt for a seasonal crostata after finishing off a fried egg sandwich. Because who says you can’t have dessert after breakfast?

The classic LA bakery, perhaps the originator of LA’s artisanal bread movement, is back just a block away from its first location. Touting some of the best breads in town, plus a complement of sweet baked goods, La Brea’s flagship still manages to impress pastry nerds.

This expansive bakery in Encino brings a colorful array of American-style pastries and sweets, from cakes to cookies.