Loaf

Best bakery I’ve found while living in Durham. Creative flavor and texture combinations of nuts, molasses, ginger, fruits, and cocoa are a refreshing substitute for the bludgeoning sweetness I have come to expect from desserts. Always fresh baked each morning with new selections. Pricing is all over the map so I tend to frequent the cookies—usually around a dollar. Every time I go I love the simplicity of pick, pay, walk away, but be aware that there is no seating in the bakery. I recommend sitting by the Carolina theatre.

Recently moved to the area and stumbled on this bakery. The man who assisted us knew all about the bread and let me explain the meal I was making and helped me pick the perfect loaf. It was delicious, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I have been going back every week. Please support them so I can keep eating these heavenly loafs.

I absolutely love love love Loaf 🫶🏻 The ube coconut flan is a standout—silky, creamy, and perfectly balanced with the sweetness of coconut and the rich, earthy flavor of ube. The cream puff is just as amazing, with its light, airy shell and luscious, smooth cream filling. I also loveeee their bread! If you're a fan of delicious, well-crafted pastries and bread, this place is a must! loaf i love you ❤️

Amazing pastries with a great vibe. The shop has a limit of 3 people in the store at a time. All the things i brought tasted fresh and so good. While you shop you can catch a glimpse of people making fresh breads in the back which was so cool. They have a wide selection and i will definitely go again!

Odes should be written about Loaf’s devotion to butter. As a Montreal, Canada expat, Loaf has been my French bakery oasis for the past 11 years. Everything they make is perfection and—no exaggeration intended, only serious facts here—my croissant-shaped heart and 2nd belly roll (a tribute to Loaf’s pain aux raisins) would wither without them!

The baked goods here always shine, everything’s delicious but I wanted to shout out the wonderful staff. You could not ask for a sweeter crew, they’re all true gems. There’s something sweet about working downtown and being in community with these wonderful folx!! Thanks for the carbs and kindness <3

Nanaimo Bars in Durham, NC?!! Who could ask for more? If you have never tried these, run, drive, pull up in your car, bring a friend or buy some to share. John (pictured here) and the other members of the team were so nice, helpful and welcoming. If you ever made these Canadian treats, you know that it is labor intensive but worth it. My friend had the almond croissant and it was delicious. I highly recommend this local Durham bakery. Thank you Loaf, you made our day!

Unbelievable bakery. The highlight of our two days spent in Durham. Staff was so friendly, the croissants were delectable, but the showstopper was the olive bread with the European butter they sell in the refrigerated case. We'd go out of our way to visit next time we are in the area.

Food: 5/5 - Worth the visit Service: 5/5 - Quick and informative Ambiance: Nice. Verdict: Well worth the stop.

Always love to come here for delicious pastries when I'm in town. Got the apricot rugelach, pecan shortbread, molasses cookie, and a bag of Little Waves Royal 7. Pastries are always good, but I really enjoyed the coffee. Not a big fan of all these fruitier tasting coffees, so when I brewed the Royal 7 at home I was pleased it had that darker robusta old school flavor. Definitely be back for more goodies when I'm in NC again.

We asked for recommendations on what to order since we hadn't been in a long time. We probably over-ordered because everything was so tempting! The hit was the gougiere, but all of the pastries were top-notch! Sweet and savory, they do it all to flaky perfection.

Let me go on record of saying this place has the absolute best croissant that I have had in the USA. They do not skimp on portions here. They are very kind and patient and I will say very generous with their options. COOKIES are gooddddd! Price points are beyond reasonable and it just feels very cozy! You do not want to miss out on the opportunity to eat here. Grab a quick bite and you'll be feeding for this bread like I am sitting in this bed right now lol! Go grab a bite.

Always friendly, always delicious, always great value :) It's worth going into the store or checking out on Saturdays at the farmer's market!

We have bought baked goods from Loaf plenty of times at the Durham Farmers Market but for some reason had not visited the actual storefront. We finally popped in while walking around downtown Durham on a Saturday. The shop is small but they offer up a decent variety of items, even some that were not at the farmers market earlier that day. They can do sweet and savory and have some items (e.g., onion bialies) that we haven't seen elsewhere. Definitely an asset to Durham's food scene.

Wow!!! What a great bakery! I haven't actually had the bread here but the breakfast pastries are simply to die for! I am visiting for work and found this place - it's a 5 min walk from the Marriott Durham city center. They have every pastry imaginable- great selection of both savory and sweet options. They also have drip coffee which I got both visits. I ordered the gryurer ( MY FAVORITE ) the pan au chocolate and the ham and cheese gruyer. All amazing!!! Also, the folks here are very nice 10/10 I would get so fat if I lived here / would go everyday hahahaha.

Encountered Loaf Bakery for the first time at the Durham Farmer's Market! Although there were so many sweet options at the Market, we were intrigued by the unique offerings at Loaf. We got the Cherry Galette and Summer Squash Croissant, both of which were delicious. I really liked the frangipane in the pastry of the Cherry Galette. Service was fast. Will definitely visit their actual location & update ambiance information. 9/10 would recommend!

The pain aux raisin is to DIE for!!! I always purchase two or three with the intent to share. Never happens. Absolute heaven.

I can't believe I have never reviewed Loaf. This place is, in my humble opinion, the best representation of Durham foodie scene. High quality ingredients, tucked into an old building in a rapidly developing downtown Durham, and no frills - just amazing baked goods. The owners/bakers here know what they're doing. Everything tastes so high quality - the butter, the flour, the nuts, the chocolates. Their pain au chocolat is fantastic, their pignolis and pecan shortbreads are addictive, their savory flatbreads remind me of Roman pinsas that you find all over Rome - perfect for a yummy lunch. Anyways, I don't know what else to say about Loaf other than you should go and you should buy a bit of everything so you know what you want to buy more of the next time you go.

I am surprised I have not helped about y'all before! I stopped by this morning for the first time in awhile. I had one of my old favorites the ham and cheese croissant but was excited to to also give the pumpkin cream cheese danish a try and it did not disappoint! It was the perfect fall morning to have that pumpkin cream cheese danish!

Exceptional, truly Parisian croissants and pastries. We will definitely return. The coffee was also fantastic.

This place is a hallmark of what a neighborhood bakery should be. I drive a pretty fair distance to this place most Saturdays for several reasons. The products are consistently good. The staff is exactly what every bakery lover would enjoy. They are friendly beyond what you might expect. Great place to have and hope they stay in business as long as I'm alive!

DELICIOUS. LOVE THIS PLACE. NEVER MISSES. MY VEGAN FRIEND'S GO-TO (SHE CONSUMES A LOT OF BREAD). FIRST CAME ACROSS IN DURHAM FARMER'S MARKET AND THEN VISITED THE BAKERY. From the moment you walk in, you're hit with the lovely aroma of freshly baked bread, pastries, and other treats. Their selection is extensive, and have their full bake schedule on their website. I would recommend going early on weekends to have the first pick at the best selection. What really sets Loaf apart is that they source noticeably high-quality & local ingredients. You can taste the difference in everything they bake, from the richly buttery challah or the tanginess of the sourdough bread. The owners are super kind and welcoming. Overall, if you love anything bread + pastries, you must stop by Loaf. The owners clearly have a passion for what they do and it shows in every aspect of the bakery, from the food, the inviting atmosphere, and their friendliness.

I loved everything so much that I came back every weekday for my five day trip. One of the best bakeries I've ever visited. They feature different pastries every day and have great coffee from Counter Culture. The chocolate flan is everything I ever craved: rich, velvety, yet a smooth mousse shaped in a cake slice--with some extra chocolate bits for texture. The hazelnut croissant is amazing, because not only are the flaky pastries baked to perfection but the crunchy hazelnut layer in the center is a delight. The pan au chocolat and strawberry tart were yummy too. My favorite might have been the strawberry creme puff: fresh whipped cream and so refreshing.

The coffee here is pretty terrible, and I really wish they would heat up their pastries, because my spinach/gruyere/caramelized onion one was a slimy congealed mess until I put it in the toaster oven at home and it transformed into crispy deliciousness. The blueberry/fig/walnut scone was too sugar-cubey and had no discernible figs. The chocolate pistachio bread, however, is good hot, cold, in between and probably in any elemental form it chooses. I'll be back for that.

My oh my. This place makes a STUPID GOOD croissant. It is a decadent, extravagantly rich croissant with each of the bells and whistles one should look for in such a thing. Not just crispy and salty and oily in all the correct regions, it is gloriously, almost freakishly moist inside thanks to the perfect amount of water that has boiled out from the butter and steam-stiffened it's doughy innards. It is not a cheap croissant. Evidencing in every little flake so grand an investment in materials and expertise, it could not and should not be a "cheap" croissant. Indeed, it is an expensive croissant. I thought so while purchasing. While eating the croissant I was far, far too transfixed and transported to ponder economic banalities. Soon, however, I found myself undeniably considering it's price when the notion of devouring a second croissant inevitably popped into my thinkatorium. Two of these wondrous croissants might be inadvisable to one's wallet and one's belt. These are, of course, deeply personal decisions. Take economic refuge, should you need it, in this croissant's autonomy. Aside from the masticator's choice of coffee or tea, it requires absolutely zero addendum. No jam, no jelly, no extra butter. No marmalade, marmite or honey. No curds. No creams, single or double, and no crèmes, no matter how fraiche. All the requisite flavors are contained within. It is -- as are all of the very finest of its kind -- a complete croissant.

How lucky am I to work a stone's throw from here?! Finally decided to stop in after a long day and luckily, it wasn't busy at all for me. If anyone know's anything about me, I live and die by croissants. I went for the broccoli and cheese, a spinach and cheese and a plain butter croissant (because every experiment needs a control). And then to make things interested I threw in a cherry tomato flatbread. I had asked for one of their caramelized onion gruyere croissants but I think I confused the cashier and she ended up giving me the spinach one. I'm not mad about it though because ALL were very delicious! The butter croissant was insanely buttery and flaky. You can tell they take their time with them. I really enjoyed the savory combinations as well. The broccoli one was delicious and the best one. The spinach is a classic and was delicious as well. The flatbread was tasty and the tomatoes were a wonderfully bright and flavorful addition. I like the hints of garlic on it too. Next time I hope to try some of their breads and sourdoughs. I'll be back with that review!

We ordered a bunch of items to go at the downtown Durham market. I would say half of what we ordered was great. We got about one of each item and sampled them all. My only complaint is the ladies that took our order seemed a little short with me asking questions. But I understand there was a long line of people waiting to place their order. But I just wanted to know what a few of the things were since you can't see the items until it's your turn because of the line. So if you have order anxiety, this place will trigger it. If they could have a menu on the side pointing towards the direction of the line I feel like that would be better. The ladies were not super friendly and acted rude when we kept adding things to the order. So the food was good but the attitude kind of sucked which makes me sad.

This is a very cute bakery. It's a nice stop while walking around downtown Durham. Their chocolate croissants are popular. I bought a lamington for my sister, which is an Australian white sponge cake with marmalade covered in chocolate. I'm astonished that I did not eat it. Their baked goods are tasty. My only complaint is for the cost, the lamington was teeny tiny. If they could give two for the price or make it bigger than it would be a more reasonable purchase.

Remarkably rustic and delicious. This place was great. From the aromatic smell of fresh bread to their delicious pastries. Tucked hidden in small shop loaf is certainly a gem to the bull city. If one comes early enough they could stand outside with the smell of bread baking in the air. The shop is tiny so be ready to order once you arrive the the register for their menu is simple but prize winning.

We LOVE this bakery. My 7yo son asks to come here for special treats; he once got a decadent brownie covered in walnuts, closed his eyes while he ate it, and said, "This is the best thing I've ever had." So there you go -- approval from my kiddo is high approval indeed. Friendly staff, delightful treats, good prices for what you're getting!

The sweet potato and Gouda pastry I had was insanely tasty, and the multigrain loaf we purchased to take back to our hotel? Well, it never made it all the way upstairs at said hotel. Nom, nom!

Dear God, thank you for the detour through Durham. We ended up having to stay the night in Durham and didn't have a great night. But now I know that God and the universe were conspiring a great divine intervention in the form of Loaf. If you, like me, ever wanted to jump into the tv while watching The Great British Baking Show, this is where your dreams come true. First, the staff was incredible--so patient as we ooed and awed and changed our minds on which pastries. Also, they let our well behaved pup inside with us. It wasn't busy so I don't know if that's the norm. Second, actually let me go back to the kind people who baked and served. Truly, great people. They don't have outside or inside seating but there are two parks about 30 ft away where you can bask in the sun and sit at the many tables and chairs available. We got two cups of glorious coffee--coffee you'd swear was French press. And we got the ham and cheese biscuit. Delicious. But the star--the double baked almond croissant. A couple hours later when we were stuck in traffic and then again stuck in DC traffic, we said, that croissant was worth it. Eating at loaf was truly a way to balance the crap of the world with the good: the goodness of butter and flour with almonds. I imagine Loaf could make just about anything okay. Thanks y'all.

At Durham: 5 Almond croissant: 5 They have best almond croissant at Durham. It's not too sweet, very crisp and rich flavor. Mascarpone&Peach Cake: 3.5 I am not a fan of moist cake. It is like almond cake if I am right. The cream is a bit sweet for me but better than general American sweets. Chocolate Croissant: 4 It's good but not special Cinnamon roll: 3 I am a fan of crispy cinnamon roll. It is crispy after you rebake it. But the flavor is not good enough.

Unfortunately, the creamy caramel flan could not make it in the picture. But much gratitude to Loaf-- it made breakfast even better! Upon entering the small bakery, even with my mask on, I could instantly smell fresh bread. && when I had trouble picking one last pastry, the young lady was open to providing options. I would also like to note that prices are a bit higher than most bakeries I've been too, but upon tasting we could tell some of the best ingredients go into making these homemade goodies

Came here during a recent visit for a nice morning pastry. Popped in and loved the overwhelming scent of fresh bread. They had lots of tasty options in the display case, but my partner and I ended up each getting a savory party with sweet potato and gouda. It was absolutely delicious and so filling. I honestly wish I could've come in here to get different pastries throughout the day to try more of what they had available, and will try and grab more if I'm ever back in the area.

About the best authentic baguettes I have found in North America, and I've had them in dozens of cities in US/CA...fantastic pastries and other breads as well. Truly a golden thread in the fabric of The Bull City.

Aye who doesn't love the smell of freshly baked pastries . Ohh that sweet smell of bread in the air is heavenly. I tried this spot on two different days & each try was splendid. The first day I had a cinnamon roll & it was just the way I like it...flaky & moist. On my final try I can never turn down a croissant filled with real chocolate. Once again it was a winner as expected. Give this spot a try to have your tastebuds wowed‼

Amazing bakery located in downtown Durham. They have fresh and warm flatbreads with seasonal toppings. I have enjoyed all of their pastries, flatbreads, and savory baked goods. There is street parking near their business but you can also park in a garage. You can also find loaf at the Saturday Farmer's Market. Highly recommend!

Best croissants I've had in Durham. There isn't space to sit and eat so this is definitely a come by and take out spot but will be back next time I'm in the area. The almond croissant is the best almond croissant I've had but it's on the heavier side so one is all you need to be fully satisfied :)

I loved everything I tried here, including the gougere (savory pastry with gruyere cheese sprinkled throughout with herbs), an almond croissant, and the Kouign-amann. The Kouign-amann was our favorite: buttery flaky layers with crispy caramelized sugar on the outside. The almond croissant had a delicious almond filling inside its flaky exterior. We bought our pastries and then walked across the street to eat them under the shaded pergola while people-watching. Perfect way to start my Saturday!

The absolutely best pan aux raisin ever!! Yummy for my tummy! I look forward to the days when they are available.

So so sad that I was introduced to this late! By far my favorite pastry shop in Durham. The folks working at the counter are super sweet and engage in meaningful conversation. I tried the lemon lavender cream puff and vanilla eclair - both were amazing. I'm sad that I didn't get more pastries hahah. Will I be back? For sure! You should check it out too :)

I finally made it to Loaf and it is one of the best pastry shops in Durham. I had the spinach, Gruyère, and caramelized onion croissant and the pan au chocolat. I am looking forward to returning and trying even more pastries.

OMG, their breads are amazing. My favorite is the multigrain loaf, which I typically buy at the Durham Farmer's Market. Spouse and I love that it's whole grain. If they're out of that, or for a treat, I'll buy the olive loaf. I have enjoyed their bialys, which taste authentic to me (full of onions!). At the moment, I'm enjoying a blueberry galette which is chock full of blueberries and smooth as, well, butter (the dough is surely full of butter). Oh, and their chocolate pecan cookies are divine. Highly highly recommended.

Everything rocks. One of the best almond croissants anywhere. Sourdough bread is amazing. Good luck if you can find it walking in. Most times I have to call it in and pay on the phone to not have it gone by the time I arrive. Get em hot too.

An excellent little bakery in Durham that has surprisingly not been priced out yet. If you like delicious cookies and other bakery items loaf is the place to check out. It's a traditional little bakery that still is thriving in Durham even with skyscrapers going up around it. There's not a lot to say about Loaf besides support them, buy their tasty goods and tell your friends about it.

The best bakery in Durham for sure. The chocolate hazelnut croissant is my favorite. Their croissants are delicately crunchy, buttery, perfectly bake and not too sweet. I also live their Gruyere cheese puff and eclairs. I can't miss visiting this bakery whenever I go to Durham

Great bakery and pastries! It has that perfect ambiance of a French family bakery. I have been to multiple bakeries in Durham but Loaf continually stands apart! I always get the almond croissants- not too sweet and perfectly flaky. The only thing missing is a place to sit and enjoy the pastries indoor.

Absolutely delicious. Everything is just so good. Driving through town and made a pit stop for coffee and a snack. Got one of the flatbreads, a blueberry and cheese danish and several shortbread cookies. Devoured everything and went back in to buy more just because.

Had such an amazing raisin pastry here! Want to come back and try their bread as well! Came in at the end of the day and the pastry I got was still fresh, which was amazing. It was flavorful, crisp, and just the right amount of sweet. This is mostly a grab and go place, not much for sitting down. The service was really friendly as well.

I was looking for a local bakery to try in Durham and Loaf popped up on my instagram feed. One day I finally convinced my roommates to come along and order a couple of pastries from there for breakfast. Loaf is a no-frills, tiny bakery and you are greeted with an aroma of fresh bread upon walking in. All the signs seemed like their pastries would taste good. We ended up ordering an assortment of pastries including croissants, a seasonal galette, a torsade and a few other things. Everything we tried was fresh and very good. I have to say so far Durham's bakeries have not let me down and this includes Loaf! I will definitely return and hopefully try their freshly baked bread.

If you want a quick high-quality to-go breakfast in downtown Durham, stop by Loaf and check out their small but varied selection of fresh baked goods. I'm partial to their croissants, which are delicious and baked just right, chewy yet flaky. I usually stop by at least once on every trip to indulge myself. I get their chocolate croissant if I'm in the mood for something sweet, but usually I get a couple of their savory croissants. This morning I had a delicious curried vegetables croissant and a spinach and mushroom croissant. Can't wait to be back next month to see what they've conjured up.

It was fantastic to find such a quality bakery on my trip to Durham from Washington, DC. Wonderful savory ricotta/cheddar/thyme tart - But better yet was the chocolate croissant. Better than Paris, France! Picked up some local wild honey for gifts, and couldn't resist the sweets as a house gift for my friend in Chapel Hill. I wish there were a higher rating than "Great" because this bakery deserves it!

Moved from Miami to Durham recently and thought Ok cost of living here will be less, but a loaf of deli rye bread cost $10.00usd!! I mean honestly I'm not sure How they justify charging such an obscene amount can you. The only reason I gave 3 stars is because their hazelnut croissant was really good but there again charging $5.00?! Zak the baker midtown Miami sourdough rye $6.00 out of this whole. I'm sorry no more.

Service was great but maybe I just picked the wrong item. I got a ginger maple pecan bar and I did like it. I'd like to revisit since there are raving reviews on yelp and on google. If I return, I'd get the almond croissant. Again, the service was awesome, shop was clean and it was nice to see bakers baking in the back.

"Another tasty bakery in downtown Durham" We've always enjoyed Loaf's breads from the Durham Farmer's Market, and we appreciate now having the opportunity to get their breads at other times of the week. The store has ~7 kinds of breads and an assortment of cookies and other sweets (e.g., chocolate croissants) at any time. They also have some coffee, a couple of cheeses, and some sausages. Pluses: + Breads and sweets consistently taste great. Especially love their olive bread. + Very friendly staff- always helpful. + Breads are reasonably priced: ~$6 range/ loaf. Minuses (all of which are minor): - Some of the sweet items are a little pricey given their size: more pricey than Daisy Cakes, for example. - Not always open during their stated hours. Have gone more than once to find it closed. - No place to sit in the store-- to-go only. Overall, we think the pluses outweigh the minuses, and I have to say my family are fans. My WORRY is that the ever-growing number of bakeries just in downtown Durham may not be sustainable in the long-term. Just in a few minutes' walking distance of this place are Scratch, Daisy Cakes, Ninth Street Bakery, and an assortment of cafes (e.g., Beyu, Rue Cler). It's hard to imagine a completely distinct niche for each of these places (except Rue Cler). The advantage for consumers is that, if one happens to be closed or not have a daily special you want, you have many other options. However, I do not know if there's enough business to sustain this many places given the undoubtedly high rents. Time will tell, and I do hope Loaf gets enough business to keep going.

I'm new to Downtown Durham- after stalking bakeries online I headed out on a walk with my dog this morning to LOAF. Wow. Friendly, great service, smells divine. Butter croissants, pain at chocolat, divine baguette! John was helpful, my dog and I were mesmerized by the aromas and the offerings. We're headed back tomorrow!