I’ll be the first to admit it: I have a rather large sweet tooth that struggles to be kept in check, and searching out really good bakeries is one of my favorite pastimes in the city. After all, who doesn’t love a perfectly flaky croissant with their morning coffee?
Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood has become a destination for serious pastry lovers, with everything from NYC-famous cookies to handmade chocolates to Italian pastries from a Top Chef winner. Whether you’re grabbing a quick breakfast before work, settling in for a leisurely brunch, or picking up treats for the office, these are the bakeries worth knowing about.
Best Bakeries in Fulton Market
Good Ambler
📍 216 N Peoria St, Chicago, IL 60607
🕐 Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat-Sun 8am-3pm
✨ Best for: Handmade chocolates, textbook croissants, cozy ambiance
Tucked inside the Mondelēz International headquarters (yes, the Oreo company!), Good Ambler is anything but corporate. This café, bakery, and chocolatier has become one of my absolute favorites in the neighborhood.
While their pastry case is stocked with beautiful croissants, kouign-amann, and seasonal specials, Good Ambler’s real claim to fame is their handcrafted chocolates. The bonbons are little works of art — almost too pretty to eat — and their house-made candy bars make perfect gifts. I’m obsessed with their chocolate-covered Oreos (a nod to their headquarters location).
For breakfast, the Ham and Cheese Croissant is perfection: buttery, flaky layers with just the right amount of filling. The Almond Coffee Cake is rich without being heavy, and their rotating specials (like the BLT Danish and Concord Grape Brioche) are always worth trying. They also have savory options like fresh salads, quiche, and sandwiches if you need something more substantial.
Pro tip: The café can get crowded during weekday lunch hours (11am-1pm) when part of the seating is reserved. Mornings and weekends are your best bet for snagging a cozy spot.
Levain Bakery
📍 840 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
🕐 Daily 8am-10pm
✨ Best for: Famous oversized cookies, late-night sweets
When this NYC cult-favorite opened its first Chicago location on Fulton Market’s restaurant row, the lines stretched down the block. The hype? Completely justified.
Levain’s cookies are the stuff of legend: six ounces of thick, dense, gooey perfection that’s crispy on the outside and practically molten in the middle. The Chocolate Chip Walnut is the classic, but I’m partial to the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip — it’s rich, salty-sweet, and absolutely massive. One cookie is genuinely shareable (or save half for later — they reheat beautifully).
Beyond the famous cookies, don’t overlook their moist loaf cakes (the Sour Cream Coffee Cake is incredible), flaky brioches, sticky buns, and fresh-baked breads. They’ve also added savory items like Tomato & Parmesan Flatbread and Tomato, Arugula & Burrata Sandwiches.
Pro tip: Levain stays open until 10pm — perfect for a post-dinner sweet treat after dining at one of Fulton Market’s many restaurants. They also have a second Chicago location in River North at 408 N Clark St.
Bar Tutto ✨ NEW!
📍 1110 W Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL 60607
🕐 Mon-Fri 7am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-11:30pm
✨ Best for: Italian pastries, all-day dining, patio seating
The newest addition to Fulton Market’s bakery scene comes from Top Chef winner Joe Flamm, and it’s already generating serious buzz. Bar Tutto opened in December 2025 as an all-day Italian café inspired by the wine bars and trattorias of Italy.
In the mornings, the pastry case shines with bomboloni (Italian filled doughnuts), cornetti with gianduja (chocolate-hazelnut), and tiny-but-mighty prosciutto croissants with incredible crunch. The maritozzi — a Roman cream bun — is a must-try if you haven’t had one before.
What sets Bar Tutto apart is that it’s truly all-day: grab a pastry and espresso in the morning, return for a panini at lunch, and come back for pasta and wine at dinner. The space features exposed brick, warm wood finishes, and a lovely patio overlooking a nearby park.
Pro tip: This is from the same team behind Rose Mary and Il Carciofo, so the Italian credentials are serious. The lunch menu is particularly welcome in Fulton Market, where good midday options can be hard to find.
Publican Quality Bread
📍 1800 W Erie St, Chicago, IL 60622
🕐 Daily 7am-5pm (bread arrives around 9am)
✨ Best for: Artisan sourdough, buckwheat chocolate croissants
This West Town bakery is the production hub for The Publican and Publican Quality Meats, with a small storefront offering some of the best bread in the city. If you’ve ever had a perfect sandwich at PQM and wondered about that incredible bread — this is the source.
Fantastic pastries roll out starting at 7am: the buckwheat chocolate croissant has an earthy, nutty depth that’s unlike anything else, and the gruyere brioche buns are dangerously good. But the real stars are the breads — their tangy sourdough has a crust that crackles when you slice it, and the country loaves are worth driving across town for.
Pro tip: There’s no seating, but there’s ample street parking. Fresh bread arrives around 9am, so time your visit accordingly. Bring a big bag — you’ll want to stock up.
Beatrix
📍 834 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
🕐 Daily 7am-10pm
✨ Best for: Full-service dining with excellent pastries, vegan options
Casually elegant and always comfortable, Beatrix is more than a bakery — it’s a full restaurant with a stellar pastry program. This Fulton Market location is my favorite of their Chicago spots, with loads of comfortable seating and a menu that works for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The pastry case is where I focus my attention. The Angel Food Muffin is impossibly light and fluffy — like eating a sweet cloud. Sadie’s Walnut Crunch Cake is rich and nutty with generous chunks of walnut throughout. Their croissants are reliably excellent, and the seasonal specials are always worth asking about.
What makes Beatrix stand out: they have vegan versions of many pastries, including cookies, cakes, croissants, and muffins. It’s one of the few spots where plant-based eaters have real options beyond fruit.
Pro tip: Beatrix has multiple locations around Chicago (River North, Streeterville, Oak Brook), but the Fulton Market spot has the best ambiance for lingering over coffee and pastries.
Howdy Kolache
📍 817 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
🕐 Daily 7am-2pm
✨ Best for: Texas-Czech kolaches, breakfast sandwiches
I wandered in here early one morning last summer and it has quickly become a favorite stop when I’m in the neighborhood. If you’ve never had a kolache, you’re in for a treat — these Texas-Czech pastries are soft, pillowy buns stuffed with savory or sweet fillings.
The savory stuffed breakfast buns are incredibly satisfying: try the Potato, Egg and Cheese or the Bacon, Egg, Cheese and Jalapeño for some kick. They also have gluten-free breakfast tacos for those avoiding wheat.
For something sweet, the open-faced pastries are wonderful. The Blueberry Cheesecake version has fresh blueberry filling on cream cheese topped with brown sugar streusel — it’s like a handheld cheesecake. Other options include Strawberry, Apple Pie, Chocolate, and even Fruity Pebbles for the inner child.
Pro tip: They close at 2pm, so this is strictly a morning and early lunch spot. Perfect for fueling up before exploring Fulton Market.
Bad Butter
📍 Emily Hotel, 311 N Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60607
🕐 Check Instagram for drop schedule
✨ Best for: Exceptional laminated pastries, special occasion treats
Bad Butter operates as a pop-up bakery with scheduled drops at the Emily Hotel, and it’s developed a devoted following for good reason. Their laminated pastries — croissants, danishes, and kouign-amann — have some of the most incredible layers I’ve seen in Chicago.
The s’more croissant is a showstopper with flaky lamination and an amazing combination of flavors and textures. The fig and honey danish is unbelievably crispy with just a touch of jam in the center. Everything sells out quickly, so you’ll need to plan ahead.
Pro tip: Follow @badbutterbakery on Instagram for drop announcements. Pre-ordering is often required for their most popular items.
Bittersweet at Time Out Market
📍 Time Out Market, 916 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
🕐 Sun-Wed 8am-9pm, Thu-Sat 8am-10pm
✨ Best for: Key lime pie, cheesecake, elegant tarts
Bittersweet Pastry Shop has been a Chicago institution since 1991, and their outpost in Time Out Market brings those decades of expertise to Fulton Market. This is the spot for refined, elegant desserts rather than rustic pastries.
The Key Lime Tart is legendary — tangy, creamy, and perfectly balanced. The fruit tarts are beautiful and taste as good as they look, and the vanilla bean cheesecake is wonderfully smooth. Everything here is slightly less sweet than typical American desserts, which I appreciate.
Pro tip: Time Out Market is a great option when you’re with a group who can’t agree on what to eat — everyone can get something different while you grab dessert from Bittersweet.
Just Outside Fulton Market: D’Amato’s Bakery
D’Amato’s Bakery
📍 1124 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
🕐 Mon-Sat 7am-5pm, Sun 7am-3pm
✨ Best for: Italian cookies, cannoli, sheet pan pizza
Technically in West Town rather than Fulton Market, D’Amato’s is just a short walk north and absolutely worth the detour. My husband is Chicago Italian, and D’Amato’s passes his high standards — so it will definitely pass yours.
This is old-school Italian bakery done right. The cannoli are filled to order (never pre-filled, which makes them soggy), with a crisp shell and rich ricotta filling. The Italian cookies — rainbow, pignoli, biscotti — are perfect for bringing to Sunday dinner. And the Tiramisu Slice is a perfect balance of creamy mascarpone and coffee-soaked ladyfingers.
They also have excellent subs and sandwiches (the Chicken Parm and Prosciutto e Bocconcini are standouts), fresh soups, and sheet pan pizza by the slice. It’s the kind of place where you walk in for one thing and leave with three bags.
Pro tip: D’Amato’s has been serving this neighborhood since the 1970s. Go early for the best selection of cookies and pastries.
Planning Your Fulton Market Bakery Crawl
Fulton Market is compact enough to hit several bakeries in one morning. Here’s my suggested route:
- Start early at Howdy Kolache (opens 7am) for a savory breakfast bun
- Walk to Good Ambler for coffee and a croissant
- Swing by Levain to grab cookies for later
- End at Bar Tutto for an Italian pastry and people-watching on the patio
Getting there: The CTA Green and Pink Lines stop at Morgan Station, which puts you right in the heart of Fulton Market. Street parking can be tricky on weekdays, but most spots are easier on weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Good Ambler is widely considered one of the best bakeries in Fulton Market, known for handcrafted chocolates and excellent croissants. For famous cookies, Levain Bakery is a must-visit. Bar Tutto, which opened in December 2025 from Top Chef winner Joe Flamm, is the newest standout for Italian pastries.
A: Levain Bakery at 840 W Randolph St is famous for their massive, gooey cookies — the Chocolate Chip Walnut and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip are fan favorites. Good Ambler also has excellent cookies along with their handmade chocolates.
A: Yes! Beatrix at 834 W Fulton Market offers vegan versions of many pastries including cookies, cakes, croissants, and muffins. It’s one of the best options in the neighborhood for plant-based treats.
A: Most Fulton Market bakeries open early: Good Ambler opens at 7am weekdays, Levain at 8am, Howdy Kolache at 7am, and Bar Tutto at 7am weekdays. Publican Quality Bread opens at 7am but fresh bread arrives around 9am.
A: A kolache is a Texas-Czech pastry — a soft, pillowy bun stuffed with sweet or savory fillings. Howdy Kolache in Fulton Market specializes in these, offering options like Bacon, Egg, Cheese and Jalapeño as well as sweet versions like Blueberry Cheesecake.
More Chicago Food Guides
- Complete Guide to Fulton Market
- Best Vegan Bakeries in Chicago
- Ultimate Chicago Pizza Guide
- 30 Best Brunch Spots in Chicago
Did I miss your favorite Fulton Market bakery? Let me know in the comments!