Best Bakery and Cake Shops in Lincoln Park

"The fried egg salad on an everything bagel–seasoned crumpet is reason enough to visit Little Goat Diner. Owned by Stephanie Izard, who also runs Girl and the Goat and Duck Duck Goat, Little Goat is one of the best places in town for an unfussy yet deeply thoughtful meal. With elevated diner classics (a kimchi-slathered Reuben, a goat burger, a sundae dripping with apple cider vinegar caramel), and mainstays like corned beef hash and cinnamon buns, it’s an ideal spot to bring families made up of both picky and adventurous eaters."

"With Stephanie Izard, the first female chef to win Bravo’s Top Chef, at the helm, you can bet your bottom dollar the Little Goat Diner will serve up a brunch to please the pickiest of people. A menu dedicated to brunching and serving spectacular dishes all day makes this an ever-reliable brunch spot that always exceeds expectations. The retro midcentury-modern diner is casual and cozy so you can brunch away in comfort and choose from an array of delectable brunch options both traditional and worldly."

"Fans of the TV show “Top Chef” may be familiar with the Girl and the Goat franchise, and the Little Goat Diner does not disappoint. This gourmet diner has a fun menu and a bright and airy atmosphere. If the kids get restless waiting for their food you can take them to the bakery which has huge windows to peek in on the pastry chefs."

"Restaurants American Lincoln Park. No matter what the forecast looks like outside, this Lincoln Park restaurant from Lettuce Entertain You transports diners to sunny California through a bright and spacious dining room that's dotted with greenery. Choose from avocado toast loaded with tomatoes and scallion mascarpone, chicken tinga tacos with guac, or the charred summer corn elotes that's imbued with jalapeños and queso fresco."

"Housed in a light-filled room with high ceilings and hanging ferns, Summer House recreates the magic of Southern California even in the dead of a Chicago winter. Using seasonal and local ingredients, trained chefs create fare that’s inspired by California but with a Midwestern heart. Kids can choose from quesadillas, burgers, grilled cheese, chicken fingers, or the ever-popular Breakfast for Dinner option."

"When the nickname for a hometown is The Windy City, it’s great to go somewhere that brings the summer vibes all year 'round. The Summer House employs bright décor and greenery to p..."

"In 2002, Sweet Mandy B’s opened its doors to sprinkle some magic into the community. This nostalgic cake shop in Chicago features old fashioned vibes and pastel colors. From Adult Cakes and Holiday Cakes to Special Occasion Cakes and a never ending selection of cupcakes, there’s something for everyone at Mandy B’s!"

"This Lincoln Park shop is sure to charm anyone with a cupcake tooth. The adorable old-fashioned charmer sells pies, cookies, and other sweet baked treats, but the cupcakes and cakes are perhaps the best in Chicago, coming in traditional flavors and creative seasonal varieties worthy of regular visits."

"As one of Chicago's overall go-to bakeries, Sweet Mandy B's gives us the classics we need. Their chocolate chip and confetti flavors puts comfort back into the best cookies in Chicago."

"A partnership of L.A.’s Stan’s Donuts with our homegrown Labriola Baking Company, the Chicago version may not be quite as star-struck, but wow, do they know how to donut. Now open in nine Chicagoland locations (with a 10th coming soon to Oak Brook Terrace), you can load up on their Standard (Glazed, Powdered Sugar, Plain Old Fashioned), Dough Boy’s Best (Peanut Butter Banana Pocket, Glazed Pretzel), and Specialty (Raspberry Bismark, Glazed Orange Old Fashioned, Dreamsicle Bar) donuts, as well as a small selection of “glutenless” donuts, and wash it down with Stan’s Dark Roast coffee (another happy partnership, this one with local Passion House Coffee Roasters)."

"Stan’s embraces the vintage vibe of a classic donut shop, with a modern spin. They’ve perfected the classics (glazed old fashioneds, cinnamon sugar cake donuts, massive apple fritters) and added in some of their own creations (peanut butter pockets, croissant-donut hybrids, and gluten-free options). Find the one closest to you here"

"Amazing is the first word that comes to mind when describing these doughnuts (or donuts). We ordered an Apple fritter, glazed pretzel, cinnamon roll, and..."

"The Bourgeoise Pig cafe is Lincoln Park’s favorite hipster hangout. It’s a top spot for casual brunch, excellent coffee and cozy vibes. It’s one of those hidden gems that only locals know about."

"But not many are aware that it serves excellent caffeinated drinks as well. The menu has everything that a good coffee shop does. Its hot chocolate is a beverage to die for."

"Restaurants Bakeries West Loop. Chef Stephanie Izard's culinary empire got a little sweeter last year with the opening of Sugargoat, a bakery housed inside Little Goat Diner that features the creations of Izard and pastry chef Faith Taheny. Inspired by each chef's in-home baking experiments during quarantine and the flavors of their childhood (think fries dipped in milkshakes and pancakes topped with lots of maple syrup), Sugargoat serves a rotating menu of cakes, pies, cookies and cupcake, along with muffins, bagels, scones and croissants in the morning (plus Dark Matter coffee)."

"The Goat team decided that having 84 great West Loop restaurants wasn’t good enough, so they opened Sugargoat in the space next to Little Goat Diner. It’s a dessert shop specializing in treats with fun flavor combinations. So you can get things like pickled raisin oatmeal cookies, a gjetost apple pie, or Cheez-it cake filled with cheddar caramel and topped with strawberry Nesquik buttercream and peanut butter and chocolate-covered Cheez-its."

"Who hasn't been quarantine baking and snarfing more sweets than ever?. That includes Chicago Chef Stephanie Izard and Pastry Chef Faith Taheny who launched Sugargoat, a walk up bakery and sweets shop inside of Little Goat Diner in late 2020. Sugargoat stocks luscious items to-go (and national delivery), including cakes, pies, cookies and cupcakes, as well as muffins, bagels, scones, and croissants in the morning."

"Set underneath the Sheridan Red Line el tracks in Lakeview, this BYOB restaurant offers classics like pad Thai and pad see ew, plus a “secret Thai menu” or more exotic offerings such as duck sausage and papaya salad with salt crab. Most dishes are under $10."

"This is my favourite Vietnamese restaurant outside of Asia, and is what to eat in Chicago if you’re looking for something different from classic American cuisine. Every time I visit the city, I go here and order the crispy, stir-fried, large, rice noodles with seafood. Divinity in a serving bowl."

"My go-to comfort food in Chicago, Tank has the best Banh mi’s and pho around. Not fancy by any means, the hole-in-the-wall Asian gems on Argyle are generally family style seating with lazy Susan’s for passing the sauces and toppings. Also Try: Saigon Sisters, Le Colonial"

"With more than a dozen locations in Illinois, including Evanston, Naperville, Mount Prospect, and Bolingbrook, Andy’s is spreading the love of frozen custard throughout Chicagoland. Frozen custard is creamier than traditional ice cream, with more butterfat and less air. At Andy’s the slow-churned custard is made fresh hourly to maintain the rich texture."

"With five Chicago-land locations, Andy’s is very accessible. The Jackhammer is one of many flavors of concretes. Choose from a list of over 25 seasonal toppings to add to a frozen custard of your choice."

"Classic chocolate and vanilla custard with all the fun mix-ins one could possibly want. From concretes to malts to sundaes, Andy’s offers every possible way for you to enjoy your custard."

"A post shared by Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (@ghirardelli) on May 12, 2020 at 10:24am PDT. Their name is historic and their sundaes are world famous. Their scoops have old-fashioned written all over them, arriving at your table in a glass cup or bowl with a heaping dollop of whipped cream and always with a cherry on top."

"This San Francisco chocolate company sells some of the best chocolate squares in the country, however their ice cream creations are just as good, if not better. Grab a cone or milkshake while shopping on Michigan Avenue or sit and enjoy a sundae by the river."

"You know you’re in for something good when there’s a James Beard Award-winning pastry chef in the kitchen. And HotChocolate doesn’t disappoint. Order a cup of their ultra-rich hot chocolate, topped with a homemade marshmallow."

"By the time Cellar Door co-owner/baker Ethan Pikas has a moment to break away from the morning rush to come chat with me, I've already downed one of his dreamy canelés, which are baked to a dark, caramelized sheen and flecked through with fragrant vanilla. "So I hear these things are a pain in the ass to make," I say to him. "No, no," he assures me, and then as he begins to recount the steps—the waxing of the molds, the careful mixing (too much air in the batter and you're done for), the oven temperature adjustments—he stops and considers."

"This hip Logan Square bakery and eatery serves a perpetually-changing menu of baked goods and treats made with a fine-dining sensibility from all in-house and local ingredients. Eaters never know what they'll find here on any given visit, but expect exceptional canneles, infused croissants, scones, breads, and more, plus BYO dinner service on weekends."

"Restaurants Coffee shops Wicker Park. Proving that not every coffee shop must take its inspiration from Seattle in the ’90s, Caffé Streets has the look of a European coffee bar and the coffee expertise to match. The staff is comfortable talking beans (the selection of which changes weekly) and brewing styles, such as pour-over, Chemex and siphon."

"Caffe Streets is a Specialty Coffee Shop featuring different roasters. In a social atmosphere they offer different brewing methods with an emphasis on quality, freshness and flavor. All of their hot beverages contain cute and classy designs that will make you WANT to take a picture."

"Compromise on Italian without spending too much by going to Pizza Rustica. This cozy BYOB feels just like an Italian trattoria and serves huge pizzas with doughy crusts featuring toppings like Italian sausage, mushrooms, pineapple, artichokes or spinach. Salads are heading and pasta is made by hand."