A few weeks ago, a quick day trip brought me to Richmond, Virginia, and I was excited to spend the day exploring a new food scene. Whenever I visit a new city, I start by searching for the places locals love most—especially when it comes to bakeries.

After browsing Yelp and Foursquare, two spots kept appearing at the top of every list. Since pastries are easily my biggest weakness, I decided a small pastry tour was the perfect way to experience Richmond.

Richmond, VA

A Morning Stop at Sub Rosa Bakery

My first stop was Sub Rosa Bakery in the Church Hill neighborhood.

One of the things that makes Sub Rosa unique is that all of their breads and pastries are baked in a wood-fired oven. The space can get a little warm because of it, but the aroma of fresh bread and pastries more than makes up for it.

I ordered a croissant, and it was everything you hope for in a pastry: buttery, flaky, and perfectly crisp on the outside. Each bite shattered into delicate layers, and it was honestly one of the best croissants I’ve had.

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Even now, writing about it makes me consider planning another trip to Richmond just to pick up a box of them to take home.

Sub Rosa Bakery

Croissant

Croissant

A Quick Stop Next Door

Right next to Sub Rosa is a charming little shop called Dear Neighbor, and it’s worth popping into if you’re in the area.

The store is filled with beautiful handmade goods and jewelry, and I had to seriously restrain myself from buying half the shop.

Dear Neighbor

Dear Neighbor

A Sweet Finish at Whisk

Before leaving Richmond, I made one more bakery stop at Whisk in Shockoe Bottom.

I had heard they served macaron ice cream sandwiches, which immediately caught my attention. Unfortunately, they had already sold out by the time I arrived.

But that didn’t mean I was leaving empty-handed.

Their macarons are noticeably larger than most, so my friend and I decided to split a fig macaron. The filling was sweet and jammy with just the right amount of richness, and it definitely satisfied our afternoon sweet craving.

Whisk

Fig Macaron

A Sweet Way to Explore a New City

Even though my time in Richmond was short, these bakery stops made the trip feel like a mini food adventure. From flaky croissants to delicate macarons, it was the perfect reminder that sometimes the best way to get to know a city is through its pastry shops.

You can see where else my travels take me, here.

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