Brown Bear Baking

"Beat the crowds that gather early on the porch of Eastsound favorite Brown Bear Baking and score a flaky kouign-amann and a morning bun."

"While there may be a few brunch staples on this island, what you really need instead is a big post-hike latte and a continental breakfast involving pastries from Brown Bear. For starters, we wouldn’t mind requesting their cream cheese-stuffed pumpkin muffin loaded with crunchy pepita streusel in place of birthday cake every year. Between those and orange morning buns, ham and cheese tartines on housemade bread, and crackly almond bear claws, don’t be surprised if you end up stopping here every morning instead of branching out to try something new. Also, don’t be surprised when you grab a couple of bags of granola for the ferry ride home." - Aimee Rizzo

"Helmed by two alums of the artisanal San Francisco Baking Institute, Eastsound’s Brown Bear Baking is a cozy spot for croissants, boules, and brunchy classics like quiche and croque monsieur. Fusing classic French techniques with the archipelago’s agricultural bounty, Brown Bear’s small-batch baked goods feature Skagit Valley heirloom wheat and seasonal fruits like apples and peaches from island farms. The well-stocked bakery case typically dwindles fast as locals start their day with a bear paw or almond croissant, but the sit-down brunch and lunch menu entices with smoked salmon quiches and forest-foraged mushroom pasties." - Megan Hill, Zoe Baillargeon

"A favorite local bakery on Orcas Island, known to be LGBTQ+ owned, offering delightful baked goods such as kouign-amaan. It is recommended as part of an itinerary to support LGBTQ+ owned businesses in the area."