I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’ve got a serious sweet tooth, and DC might be the hardest place in the whole DMV for me to behave myself. So I finally rounded up my favorite spots for the best desserts in DC, everything from handcrafted French macarons to vegan donuts that taste nothing like a compromise. As usual, these are in no particular order, just the places I keep going back to and sending friends to whenever they’re in the city.
Whether you’re planning a treat-yourself afternoon in Georgetown, hunting for something special for a birthday, or just following your cravings around town, there’s a little bit of everything on this list. You’ve got classic cupcakes, creative Asian American and Levantine pastries, small-batch ice cream, whole-grain wood-fired bakes, and donuts that happen to be fully vegan, so no matter what you’re in the mood for, I’ve got you.
1. Olivia Macaron
This might be the cutest dessert I’ve come across, period. Olivia Macaron over at Union Market can print an actual photo right onto their macarons, so naturally I had to get a few done with a picture of Daisy, and I couldn’t handle how cute they turned out! It’s a local DC brand that’s been around since 2013, and the Union Market location leans into that little-piece-of-Paris feel.
Full disclosure, the NOM Digital team (hi, that’s us) handles their social, but I’d be sending you here regardless because the macs are legit SO good. The classics run $3.50 each, crisp on the outside and chewy in the middle, with a flavor lineup that goes deep (salted caramel, pistachio, London fog, lychee rose raspberry, and a rotating cast of others).
For an extra $2 a piece they’ll print your photo on top, which makes these clutch for birthdays, showers, proposals, or honestly just because you want your dog’s face on a cookie. What surprised me most is that the food’s actually really good too, they’ve got one of the BEST waffles I’ve ever had, plus a breakfast sandwich and a chocolate cake I’m low-key obsessed with.
The matcha and coffee program’s impressive (their viral creme brulee matcha is worth a try), the space is beautiful and super aesthetic, and the classic macs are gluten-free with a few vegan flavors usually in the case. A must if you’re anywhere near NE DC.
📍405 Morse St NE, Washington, DC
2. Baked & Wired
If we’re talking cupcakes, Baked & Wired is the name that comes up first for me, and for good reason. They’re famous for their oversized cake cups, which are basically the most generous, bakery-style cupcakes you’ll find in the city, and they do not play around with the portions.
The frosting-to-cake ratio’s on point and the flavors rotate, so there’s always a reason to swing back through. It’s not just a cupcake spot either, they’ve got a whole case of other desserts worth grabbing while you’re deciding. If you’ve got friends visiting the city and you want to show off DC’s sweets in one stop, this is the kind of place I’d bring them. If you only make it to one classic DC dessert spot, make it this one!
📍1052 Thomas Jefferson St NW, Washington, DC
3. Nino’s
Nino’s is my pick when I’m craving a really good croissant. They’ve got a strong focus on laminated pastries, so you’re getting those flaky, buttery, properly-layered croissants that take actual skill to pull off, not the sad grocery-store kind. The one heads up I’ll give you, they sell out often, so preorder if you can swing it.
There’s nothing worse than showing up with your heart set on a croissant and walking into an empty case, trust me. Plan a little ahead and you’ll be rewarded with some of the better laminated pastry in DC. Grab one warm with a good coffee and post up for a slow morning, that’s exactly how I’d do it.
📍2101 L St NW, Washington, DC
4. Dog Tag Bakery
Dog Tag Bakery is one I have to call out for more than just the sweets, because the mission here is genuinely special. It’s a living business school for veterans, military spouses, and caregivers, so when you buy a pastry you’re not just treating yourself, you’re supporting a much bigger social mission and the people going through the program.
That kind of thing matters to me, and it makes the treat taste even better. So if you’re putting together a day of dessert stops in DC, work this one into the route. Good food that does good in the community is always worth showing up for, Nomsters! Knowing the story behind the counter makes it one of my favorite stops to send people to.
📍3206 Grace St NW, Washington, DC
5. Yellow
Yellow’s the spot to hit for Levantine pastries, and the pastries coming out of here are outstanding. They’re done by pastry chef Alicia Wang and her team, and you can taste the care, these are some of the most creative pastries in the entire DC area.
The coffee program’s also extremely special, so it’s a great place to post up with a drink and work your way through the case. One more thing that makes it easy, they’ve got locations in both Georgetown and Union Market, so wherever you’re exploring in the city you’re probably not far from one. If you want dessert that feels a little more inventive than your standard bakery run, start here. It’s the kind of case I could stare at for ten minutes before finally deciding, and I never leave with just one thing.
📍1524 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC
6. Rose Ave
Rose Ave holds a special place for me as DC’s first modern Asian American bakery, and the pastries are as inventive as that sounds. Everything leans away from being overly sweet, which I really appreciate, so you get these beautifully balanced bakes instead of a sugar bomb.
Their passion fruit brioche donut is an absolute must, I’d make the trip for that alone! Beyond that you’ll find flavors like pandan, ube, black sesame, and hojicha running through the case, which is exactly the kind of lineup I get excited about. It’s a must-visit if you love seeing Asian flavors done in a creative, pastry-forward way, and it’s one I get genuinely excited to recommend because there’s nothing else quite like it in the city.
📍2633 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC
7. Donut Run
Donut Run’s whole thing is being 100% vegan without tasting like a single compromise, and I mean that. If no one had told me, I’d have absolutely no idea. They’ve been voted the best donuts in DC three years running, and after finally trying them fresh I’m not going to argue. It’s a takeout-only shop right up on the DC and Maryland line in the Takoma area, and everything’s handmade fresh every day.
The DC Crumb Cake, Cookies + Whipped Cream, and their Samoa were all solid. If you’re deciding between styles, the yeast donuts are the lighter, airier, pillowy ones, while the cake donuts are denser and more, well, cake-like, and I love that you don’t have to pick a lane here.
The flavors rotate often, including fun limited-edition specials, so it’s worth peeking at the day’s lineup before you go, since the one I gush about might’ve rotated out by the time you’re in line. It even earned a spot on my roundup of the best donuts in Maryland, since it sits close enough to the line to count for my Nomsters up that way too. Easily a must!
📍6904 4th St NW, Washington, DC
8. Happy Ice Cream
When I want ice cream in DC, Happy Ice Cream’s where I’m headed. It’s small batch and chef-driven, so the flavors feel thoughtful instead of same-old, and they rotate often enough that there’s always something new to try. The real sleeper here, though, is the house-made sourdough cones, which are SO good and worth the trip on their own!
Fun detail, the shop’s part of Gemini, which is a natural wine shop, so you can make a whole little outing of it. Grab a scoop, grab a bottle, and you’ve got your afternoon sorted. The rotating flavors mean it’s never the same visit twice, which is exactly the kind of place I love having in my back pocket.
📍1509 17th St NW, Washington, DC
9. Saku Saku Flakerie
Saku Saku Flakerie is a Japanese French bakery, and it’s exactly the kind of small, special spot I love putting people onto. Everything’s made from scratch in house, including the laminated doughs, which is no small thing, and the whole operation is small and family owned.
They lean highly seasonal, so the menu shifts with what’s good, and the magic is the way they combine classic French technique with Japanese flavors you just won’t find at a conventional French bakery. It’s the kind of place that rewards curiosity, so go in open to trying something you haven’t had before, because what’s in the case this week might be different next time. That family-owned, made-from-scratch care really comes through in every bite. Delish doesn’t even cover it.
📍4200 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC
10. Seylou
Seylou’s a little different from the rest of this list, and that’s exactly why I wanted it on here. They focus entirely on whole grains, and all the flour is freshly milled right on site, with ingredients sourced from around the mid-Atlantic region. The pastries are baked in a custom Spanish-built wood-fired oven, which gives everything this rustic, character-packed quality.
They’re more rustic and less sweet than your traditional white-flour bakery items, so if you’re someone who finds a lot of pastries too sugary, this is going to be right up your alley. It’s a thoughtful, grain-forward spot that proves dessert doesn’t have to be a sugar rush to be worth it.
📍926 N St NW Ste A, Washington, DC
And that’s my current rundown of the best desserts in DC, from photo-printed macarons to wood-fired pastries and vegan donuts that fooled me completely. The city’s packed with sweet spots, and this is the list I keep leaning on when a craving hits or I need to grab something special.
Have you guys been to any of these yet, and did I leave off one of your go-tos? Let me know in the comments, Nomsters, and save this one for the next time your sweet tooth takes over. I’m always adding to my list, so your recommendations might just end up being my next stop.