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The Best Portuguese Bakeries in Toronto
The best Portuguese bakeries in Toronto have to offer more than just a good custard tart. While quality pastel de nata is certainly a must-have, it's the ambiance that can define whether a Portuguese bakery in Toronto is truly great. Personally, I like to feel as though I'm getting the full experience of my custard tart or malasada, so if that means listening to conversations I don't understand, watching TV shows I can't follow, or flipping through magazines about people I've never seen, I'm more than happy to endure if it means a taste (no pun intended) of the authentic.
Many of the bakeries that have made it on this list exude just that, plus they each can bake up something fierce. Here is the list of the best Portuguese bakeries in Toronto.
See also:
The best Portuguese custard tarts in Toronto.
Venezia Bakery
Amazing, amazing pastel de nata (custard tarts), so don't be put off by the bland exterior. Venezia Bakery is probably the further thing from hip and trendy, but that only adds to its charm. A classic mom and pop that's been on Ossington before Ossington became Ossington, Venezia Bakery offers lots of sweet treats, along with sandwiches, breads, and espresso. More »
Doce Minho
Doce Minho is the place to go if you're looking for a Portuguese gossip fix (and I'm not talking about the banter on the patio). With all the best rumour rags straight from Portugal, you can feel like you're getting a taste of life across the Atlantic each time you stop in to pick up a loaf of cornbread. More »
Brazil Bakery
Brazil Bakery is one that certainly takes pride in its bread. There are stacks of them--cornbreads, buns, and other loaves--but I don't know if it's enough to distract from Brazil's decadent desserts. There are lots of Bolos de Arroz (Portuguese rice muffins) Folhados Travesseiros (apple turnovers), and of course, lots of custard tarts dusted with sugar. More »
Nova Era
With six Toronto locations, Nova Era is less old-school mom and pop charm and more free WiFi and burgeoning business, but that doesn't make its pastries any less delicious. Nova is famous for its cornbread, though it also makes rye, multigrain, fibre, and more, as well as tarts, squares, mousses, and cakes. And there's a giant tree in its Rogers Road location. Authentically Portuguese? More »
Caldense Bakery
Caldense, like Nova Era, is a growing Toronto enterprise, in business since 1968 with several locations throughout the GTA. You'll find Portuguese buns, sweet bread, and custard tarts whenever you drop by, or else can order up a fresh sandwich, such as presunto or roast beef, on a soft, bakery-made bun. More »
Courense Bakery
Courense is one of those places that always boasts a great atmosphere with lots of seating and customers munching and sipping away. Courense offers many Portuguese favourites, including beef rissoles, cod croquettes, cakes, and pastries, and its custard tarts are good enough to be found at various places throughout Toronto. More »
Seara Bakery
While we all love freshly made, Seara Bakery does have an already prepared favourite on hand - Chocapic cereal. It's akin to chocolate Frosted Flakes, and terribly popular in parts of Europe and Latin America. Seara does make its own pastries, breads, and buns, however, and you should expect them alongside some vibrant conversation emanating from tables by the window or outside the front door. More »
Alcoa Bakery
Alcoa Bakery at Ossington and Davenport has a little bit of everything, including deli meats, pantry items, dry goods, and lots of baked treats. Known again for its custard tarts, Alcoa makes them crispy and creamy--and just a little burnt--which, of course, is the authentic Portuguese way. More »
Jack's Bakery & Pastry
Jack's is the Portuguese bakery for those late-night cornbread cravings (do those exist?) since the Oakwood shop is open all hours of the night. Jack's is a neighbourhood favourite with many regulars chatting away or watching Portuguese TV, and the custards, unsurprisingly, are usually the top-sell. More »
Discussion
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This is quite frankly one of the worst bakeries I've ever been in. I wanted to like it, because I live very nearby.... but no, it's just bad. I assume it's still in business because they own the building and don't pay rent.
Also just a quick note about the natas, they are all basically made by the same two or three bakeries around Toronto and delivered. The reason being is that to make the custard is very delicate process, can be time consuming and expensive, so it just makes more sense for some bakeries to just buy them from somewhere else. So a nata at one place could be exactly the same as another so judging a place on it's nata wouldn't be my first criteria to judge a bakery on.
Just my two cents....
Honestly, I think these top ten lists seem to be randomly aggregated. I tried following a couple of these lists but the recommendations were truly disappointing.