My Best Five Bakeries in Victoria, BC

There are a lot of bakeries making a lot of amazing treats in Victoria – we are so lucky!  For this list, I’m focused on my top five bread bakeries and viennoiserie (croissants, pain au chocolat, brioche, and so on).  Here are my best five bakeries in Victoria, BC!

1. Wildfire Bakery
2. Fol Epi
3. Working Culture Bread
4. Fry’s Bakery
5. Bond Bond’s Bakery

Wildfire Bakery

Warm and welcoming, with fun and full of flair staff, this bakery has been around for quite a while.  There doesn’t seem to be a time I don’t remember it on Quadra, and I’ve been in Victoria since 1989.  I can’t believe I used to live across the street from Wildfire – I never would have moved if I had known about the amazing Three Seed, Black Olive, Raisin Walnut and Apricot Anise loaves!  The Apricot Anise we stock up on – it is meltingly wonderful as toast or as a grilled cheese sandwich!  They complement their bread with excellent pastries and some key cookies in ‘normal’ sizes (meaning: perfect for tea/coffee without being meal size!).  Love, love, love this bakery!

Fol Epi

It would be fair to say that the Whole Wheat bread from Fol Epi got us through the pandemic.  A loaf a week was normal, with a periodic baguette to break with appies and drinks some nights.  We miss their downtown location with Agrius, but, are so happy they continue on Harbour Road.  We are also extremely happy they have a bread slicer now!  Their viennoiserie is delicate and flavorful; and their sandwiches are gourmet!

Working Culture Bread

A recent (last few years) addition to Victoria, this is where we go to get something a bit different and fun!  Their Olives & Lemon Zest Batard is excellent, and sells out quickly; the Dark Chocolate Sourdough is DIVINE.  You need to taste it to understand how that lovely tanginess of sourdough compliments the chocolate!  Their daily pastries and treats are excellent.  They make a very good chocolate chip cookie – when there, I buy two and get a coffee to go.  One cookie for the coffee and the other to gulp down later!  Sign up to their Instagram so you can see the pizza menu for Sunday’s when on offer!

Fry’s Bakery 

In Vic West, this bakery is worth the line up!  Another one we swap in when we want to mix up our Wildfire and Fol Epi breads, Fry’s has an extensive bread menu.  Our particular favorites here are the Cinnamon Raisin & Nut Rye, the Sprouted Spelt, and the Whole Wheat Country.  Don’t go hungry – you will end up buying one of everything (or more!) at the counter!   Another bakery that provides Pizza on Sunday, Fry’s is tasty!

Bond Bond’s Bakery

This bakery is  a go to when we need to find something that is seemingly difficult to find.  Their whole wheat loaves and brioche buns are wonderful; as is their Christmas Panettone – this is one of the bakeries in town that produce a lovely, in-house panettone with authentic flair!  They inspired me to make my own, but I still buy theirs for quality control of course .  

There are many other honourable mentions for sweets and pastries in town.  We love GoodSide Pastry House (https://goodsidepastryhouse.ca ) – their cakes are perfect for special dinners or occasions; and the standby in Victoria for us and cakes – Patisserie Daniel on Cook Street (https://www.patisseriedaniel.com )

Check out our other Food posts on our blog.

Enjoy!