Bakeries

With Portland [1]’s profusion of excellent bakeries, it’s easy to get into a squabble by asking people to identify their favorite bakery. One thing’s for certain: Ken’s Artisan Bakery (338 NW 21st Ave., 503/248-2202, www.kensartisan.com [2], 6 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Mon., 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Tues.–Fri., 7 a.m.–6 p.m. Sat., 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun.) is always among the top choices for wonderful French-style breads and pastries; the croissants—light, flaky, and crunchy at once—are masterful. At this busy NW 21st Avenue fixture, you can also pick up a freshly made sandwich for lunch (11 a.m.–3 p.m., $5–9), or an espresso and a chocolate chip cookie for an afternoon pick-me-up. Monday evenings only, Ken’s stays open late and serves delectable pizza.

One of Portland’s finest artisanal bread makers,
Pearl Bakery (102 NW 9th Ave., 503/827-0910, www.pearlbakery.com [3], 6:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat., 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Sun.) is on the edge of the Pearl District [4], and its breads are served at many of the city’s top restaurants. However, come to the friendly bakery and café for breads and baked goods that you cannot find elsewhere: dense walnut bread, eggy challah, pain au raisin, flaky Danish, and other delectables from the yeasty realm. Café tables are available in the bakery and on the sidewalk, and sandwiches ($6–9) and coffee drinks are available throughout the day.

A traditional French boulangerie and café for light meals, St. Honoré Bakery (2335 NW Thurman St., 503/445-4342, www.sthonorebakery.com [5], 7 a.m.–8 p.m. daily) is a neighborhood institution in Northwest Portland [6]. Operated by Dominique Geulin, who grew up in a family bakery in Normandy, this is about as authentic as it gets outside of France. There’s a large selection of breads, including excellent baguettes and a dense pain de campagne. Geulin mills his flour in-house from Northwest-grown wheat, and the bread is baked in a natural clay firebrick oven. Of course, there’s a broad selection of pastries, and the bakery doubles as a café at lunch and dinner, when sandwiches, soups, salads, savory tarts, and pizzas are available ($5–14).