Pitango Bakery + Cafe is a Fells Point waterfront bakery and cafe in Baltimore, and it’s for anyone who loves flaky, made-in-house pastries and a proper sandwich. The two standouts are the cruffins and the Red, their signature sandwich on house-made tomato focaccia. It’s right on the water next to the Sagamore Pendry, and it’s such a lovely little pit stop whether you’re grabbing breakfast on the go or settling in for a slow lunch.
What Pitango Bakery + Cafe Is Known For
Pitango Bakery + Cafe is the sister spot to Pitango Gelato, and it opened back in 2015 in the old Bonaparte Breads space. The whole concept leans into classic Italian bakeries and sandwich shops, so think in-house breads and pastries baked fresh daily, Italian-style sandwiches, and coffee made with locally roasted Vigilante beans.
Everything’s made on site, and you can honestly taste it in the bread. Fells Point’s cobblestone waterfront is half the appeal, and Pitango sits right in the thick of it, so it’s an easy add-on to a morning walk along the harbor. It’s the kind of place that does the classic stuff really well, which is exactly why it’s stayed on my Fells Point rotation.
While you’re in the neighborhood, Empa511 is a Peruvian empanada shop just steps away from the waterfront and absolutely worth adding to the same outing. If you want to continue your Baltimore day with something beyond food, the Maryland Zoo Penguin Encounter is a paid 30-minute experience at Druid Hill Park where you sit with African penguins, and it is genuinely one of the coolest things to do in Charm City.
Is Pitango Bakery the Same as Pitango Gelato?
Not quite. They’re sister businesses from the same brand, but the Bakery + Cafe on Ann Street is its own thing, focused on breads, pastries, sandwiches, and coffee, while the gelato shop’s just down the block. So if you came purely for a scoop, you’ll want the other storefront, but the bakery’s where I’d start.
What to Order at Pitango Bakery + Cafe
Here’s what I get, plus a few things worth knowing even if you don’t grab them your first visit.
Cruffins
These are my forever order. If you haven’t had a cruffin before, it’s a croissant-muffin hybrid: croissant dough baked up in a muffin tin so you get those tall, flaky, laminated layers with a soft center, usually filled with pastry cream. Pitango’s are buttery and crisp in all the right places.
The Red
The Red’s my go-to sandwich here. It’s built on their house-made tomato focaccia (that gorgeous red bread is where it gets its name), and it’s the kind of sandwich that makes you glad you skipped breakfast. It earns a spot right up there with my favorite sandwich shops in Maryland. Pair it with a cruffin and a coffee and you’ve basically got the perfect Fells Point lunch.
More Worth Knowing
Since I’m usually here for pastries and the Red, here’s a bit of what else they’re known for, straight off their menu: Italian-style sandwiches like the Caprese (fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil) and the prosciutto-loaded Rustico, plus a few more heavy hitters like the Milano and the Speck if you want to work through the lineup. There’s also avocado toast and salmon toast if you’re after something lighter, and a rotating case of pastries like danishes, cinnamon buns, and honey butter biscuits, so there’s usually something new to grab. Their coffee program’s legit too so don’t sleep on a latte with your pastry.
The Vibe at Pitango Bakery + Cafe
The setting’s a big part of the draw. You’re right on the Fells Point waterfront, so on a nice day the outdoor seating overlooking the harbor is unbeatable. Inside it’s cozy and casual, counter service, with wifi if you want to post up and get some work done. It’s got that same easygoing, linger-as-long-as-you-want energy as OneDo, my favorite coffeeshop in Baltimore, where my mom and I once lost a whole afternoon just chatting.
Does Pitango Bakery + Cafe Have Outdoor Seating?
Yes, and it’s one of the best parts. The patio looks right out over the water next to the Sagamore Pendry, which makes it a great warm-weather pick. There’s indoor seating too, so you’re covered year round, and either way it’s a lovely spot to slow down with a coffee and watch the boats go by.
Good to Know
- Location & Hours: 📍 903 S Ann St, Baltimore, MD 21231, open daily, 7am to 9pm Sunday through Thursday, and until 10pm Friday and Saturday.
- Order style: walk up and order at the counter, no reservations.
- Price: moderate. Pastries run a few dollars, sandwiches land in the high teens to low twenties.
- BYOB: bring your own wine or beer for a small corkage fee.
- Parking: it’s Fells Point, so street parking’s your main bet and it can be tricky. Give yourself a few extra minutes.
- Good for: breakfast on the go, a slow weekend brunch, coffee and pastries, or a waterfront lunch.
Have you guys been to Pitango yet? LMK your go-to order in the comments, Nomsters. And if you haven’t been, consider this your sign to go and experience their goodness.