Three Maryland bakeries have been named among the “Best Bakeries Around DC” by Eater DC, with Montgomery County and Prince George’s County represented.
Sunday Morning Bakehouse, the popular Pike & Rose bakery and cafe founded by Montgomery County native Caroline Yi, was recognized for its pastries, croissants, and other baked goods.
Yi grew up in Montgomery County and attended Wootton High School before earning her degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. Her baking business began at the Pike & Rose Farm Market, where her handcrafted croissants, cookies, and seasonal pastries developed a devoted following.
That success led Yi to open a permanent location at Pike & Rose, at 11869 Grand Park Ave. in North Bethesda, in 2019. Sunday Morning Bakehouse has since expanded outside of Montgomery County with a second location at 1796 Chain Bridge Rd. in McLean, Virginia.
Eater highlighted the bakery’s small-batch croissants, with varieties ranging from ham and Swiss and mushroom truffle to traditional butter, chocolate, and matcha, along with brioche doughnuts, cookies, brown sugar scones, and weekend specials.
Fresh Baguette, which has Montgomery County locations in Bethesda, Rockville, and Germantown, was also included on the list. Founded in 2013 by Florent de Felcourt, a former French naval officer, Fresh Baguette has grown to multiple locations throughout the D.C. region. The bakery specializes in traditional French baking techniques, using stone ovens imported from France and a cold-dough process with house-made levain.
Eater highlighted Fresh Baguette’s namesake baguettes along with its sandwiches, ciabatta, cakes, quiche, croissants, and seasonal offerings. The publication also noted the bakery’s newest location in Germantown, which expanded the company’s Montgomery County presence.
The third Maryland bakery on the list is Manifest Bread, an artisan bakery located in historic Riverdale Park in Prince George’s County, across from the MARC station.
Manifest Bread was started in 2018 by husband-and-wife duo Rick and Tyes Cook, both longtime hospitality industry veterans. The couple initially baked from their home and sold loaves through pop-ups, wine shops, and farmers markets before opening their first brick-and-mortar location on Rhode Island Ave. in January 2023.
The bakery focuses on naturally leavened sourdough and scratch-made baking using organic grains, including wheat, rye, and spelt sourced from Mid-Atlantic growers. Grains are processed in the shop using a custom stone mill built in Vermont, while the bakery’s loaves undergo a multi-day fermentation process.
Manifest Bread has since expanded its offerings beyond bread, pastries, cookies, and breakfast items. Eater noted that an expansion added more space for production as well as specialty sandwiches and pizzas as the bakery moved into dinner service. Its bread can also be found at D.C. restaurants including Lutèce and Primrose.
