Lists
Every list here follows one rule, printed at the top, whether it's wild-yeast country loaves or flaky croissants laminated in-house, and no shop can pay to get on a list or to come off one.
Best naturally leavened
8 shops. bakeries whose main loaves are naturally leavened, made with wild yeast and a long ferment.
Best croissants
9 shops. shops that laminate their own croissant dough in-house.
Best baguettes
4 shops. long, skinny baguettes that are worth getting there early for.
Best milk bread
3 shops. Japanese and Taiwanese bakeries where you go for soft, fluffy milk bread.
Weekend loaf
9 shops. the loaf you pick up on Saturday morning to get you through the week.
Best vegan pastry
11 shops. shops where the bakery itself labels pastry as vegan.
Best gluten-free
11 shops. dedicated gluten-free kitchens only, so a few gluten-free options in a mixed case won't get a shop on the list.
Pastry Shops
12 shops. a shop is on this list when nothing pastry on its official menu is labeled vegan. Vegan bread and vegan chocolate don't count as pastry here, dairy-free doesn't count as vegan, and a single labeled vegan cupcake is enough to keep a shop off.
The vegan and gluten-free lists have narrower rules, and How we decide explains them.