Great Bakery in downtown Toronto?

[pepper_mil]

Visiting Toronto shortly from two times zones behind and am looking for a reason-to-get-up bakery. Particulary looking for great cinnamon buns (quality, not giant) and stellar pastry (not tough or with a greasy aftertaste). My tongue has a thing for a good house made vanilla pastry cream too. Some place to get good coffee nearby would be a bonus. Staying near Church and King.

Recs and any other not to be missed budget suggestions for the area are much appreciated, thanks!

[pepper_mil]

Did make the hike down Queen street and really enjoyed the neighborhood but liked the pastries at Dufflet better than those at Clafouti, which were a bit dense. The lemon curd in the tart at Dufflet was very good. Pastry that is refrigerated is never a good sign, alas. The St. Lawrence market was really impressive but the baking looked pretty average - wished I had come around lunch time instead since there were quite a few interesting food booths there. I found really good peaches (for $$$) there.

[pepper_mil]

Thank you for all the suggestions so far...would love to sample everything but will only be in the area for a couple of days and am hoping to hit the best spots even if it means a bit of a hike. (Unfortunately, there is NO good baking where I live.) Will report back.

[deepcreek]

The two bakeries I can think of within walking distance that are actually worth the walk are Clafouti on Queen (across from Trinity-Bellwoods park) and the Brick Street Bakery in the Distillery District. Either area is worth a pilgrimage from Church and King, especially on a fine Toronto summer morning. Nice baked goods on arrival merely a bonus.

[deelicious]

PS: for an average walker, that pilgrimage to Clafouti from Church and King is 40-45 minutes. Quick walker 30 minutes quickest.

[foodieinTO]

Prague, on King west of Bathurst, has very good cinnamon buns

[zoezer]

Head over to the nearby Distillery District - they have a great bakery and Balzac's coffee

[tasoid]

Not a true bakery but great for breakfast and lunch.....B espresso bar on Queen just east of Church..

[Zengarden]

If you are at Church and King, walk to St. Lawrence Market which is at Front and Jarvis. There are places selling baked goods and you can also pick up some fresh fruit or sandwiches too. Closed Sunday and Monday but open for business the rest of the week.

[Olivia]

Good call... on a Saturday morning, and you're staying at Church and King, SLM is where it's at.

More specifically though, no particular bakeries there stand out to me for their cinnamon buns or pastry cream, but there are tonnes there, and odds are you will find what you are looking for.

[deelicious]

Yea if SLM is exciting for dessert baked goods - it just shows how weak that area of the city is.

[Full tummy]

At Yonge and Queen, there's a Senses Bakery. Northeast corner. Their stuff is quite good.

[deelicious]

Personally I find most of senses pastries and muffins to be much too greasy and their espresso beverages suck - at least down on Wellington.

Illy makes very good coffee and the pastries looked great when I was there. It is located on Queen just east of Church.