Okay Nomsters, I’ve got a big sweet tooth and zero shame about it, so when a bakery this good lands at Pike and Rose, you already know I had to check it out. Sunday Morning Bakehouse in North Bethesda is my kind of spot: flaky, from-scratch, genuinely yum pastries, a proper espresso bar, and enough pretty corners to make it a great little coffee date or work morning.
The croissants are the reason to come, and the almond one’s my go-to every single time. This visit I finally tried the twice-baked banana caramel croissant, and it completely won me over. If you’re anywhere near the DMV and you love a good pastry, this one’s a must! Here’s everything I got and what I’d order next time.
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What Makes Sunday Morning Bakehouse a Must Try
Here’s the thing I love about this place, everything’s baked from scratch in-house every single day, and you can taste it. A lot of spots in a big development can play it safe, but the baked goods here really do deliver on that from-scratch promise. The croissants are the headliner (more on those in a sec), but the case is stacked with cookies, scones, banana bread, and daily sourdough and baguettes while supplies last.
They even rotate weekend-only treats like a matcha croissant and kouign amann, which is reason enough to show up on a Saturday. If you’ve got a sweet tooth like me, you could easily make a whole morning of it. For another family bakery in the area that’s just as worth the sugar rush, Les Delices Bakery over in Rockville is a longtime favorite for cakes and cookies.
What to Order at Sunday Morning Bakehouse
Honestly, I almost always steer straight for the pastry case here, so here’s what I grabbed this time and what’s going in my order next visit.
Almond Croissant
This is my go-to, full stop. It’s the one I reach for, and the whole reason the croissants are my FAVE here. If you’re new and only trying one thing, make it this one!
Twice-Baked Banana Caramel Croissant
This was the one I branched out for this visit, and wow, it was unbelievable. The almond’s still my usual pick, but this one’s absolutely worth ordering too. If you’re into a croissant that leans a little more dessert than breakfast, you NEED to get this!
Cheddar Jalapeño Biscuit
I did grab something savory too, and this was it. It’s exactly what it sounds like, a biscuit packed with cheddar and jalapeño, and a good option when everything else in the case leans sweet. Grab one if you don’t want something sweet.
Strawberry Jelly Donut
My sweet tooth wasn’t about to let a jelly donut sit in that case, so this came home with me too. It’s a classic strawberry-filled donut, and a good pick when you want something that isn’t a croissant for once.
A few more things worth knowing. The weekend-only matcha croissant is next on my list (I keep hearing about it), and if matcha’s your love language, Dolcezza in Bethesda pulls some of the best matcha drinks I’ve had in the DMV. They also do butter and chocolate croissants, cookies, scones, and fresh sourdough daily, so there’s plenty to work through on a return trip.
What’s a Twice-Baked Croissant?
If you’ve never had one, a twice-baked croissant’s pretty much what it sounds like. Bakers take a croissant from the day before, brush it with syrup, fill it with something rich (here it’s that banana caramel, though almond frangipane’s the classic), add a topping, and bake it a second time.
The result’s denser, a little custardy in the middle, and almost dessert-like compared to a plain butter croissant. It’s a smart way bakeries give yesterday’s croissants a glow-up, and when it’s done right, like it is here, it can absolutely outshine the original.
The Vibe and Experience
This is a great spot for a coffee date or to post up and work for a bit, which is exactly how I’d use it. There’s seating inside, a full espresso bar with oat milk and all the matcha and hojicha lattes you could want, and WiFi if you ask the staff. Quick heads up, laptops are only allowed in their designated coworking area, not at the regular dining tables, so plan accordingly if you’re coming to grind. If you like a pretty cafe to linger in, Simona Cafe in Bethesda has a similar feel.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 11869 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852, right in the Pike and Rose development. There’s also a second location in McLean, Virginia.
- Hours: Open every day, 8AM to 6PM.
- Price: Budget-friendly, it’s an easy, affordable pastry run.
- Parking: Use the Pike and Rose garages, free for the first 2 hours.
- Ordering: No online ordering for walk-in items, and carryout goes through a phone call. There’s a limit of 6 per flavor in-store, so preorder if you need a bunch.
- Seating: First-come, first-served with no reservations, around 40 seats inside.
- From scratch: Everything’s baked in-house daily. Some vegan and gluten-free items exist, but it’s all made in one kitchen, so there’s no cross-contamination guarantee.
- Weekend treats: The matcha croissant, kouign amann, and cake by the slice are weekend-only.
- Website: Check the full menu, weekend specials, and gift cards on the Sunday Morning Bakehouse website.
Is Sunday Morning Bakehouse Worth It?
If you love a from-scratch croissant, this is one of my favorite bakeries in the North Bethesda area, full stop. It’s not some mass-produced pastry case, it’s the real deal, and the almond and banana caramel croissants alone are worth the trip. I’d put it high on the list for anyone building a Pike and Rose morning or hunting the best croissants in the DMV. Come hungry, come caffeinated, and maybe come on a weekend so you can finally catch that matcha croissant before I do.
So there you have it, Nomsters. Sunday Morning Bakehouse is already on my list to come back to, and that weekend matcha croissant is first up. Have you guys been yet? Let me know your go-to order in the comments, and if you’ve got a friend who’d lose it over a banana caramel croissant, send this their way!