Albany’s Best Bakeries: A Sweet Treat for Everyone

Albany is a great place to live for many reasons: the food, the culture, and the people. But one of the best things about Albany is the bakeries. No matter what you're in the mood for, there's a bakery with what you're looking for. In the last few years, several new bakeries have opened up, quickly becoming some of the best places in the city to get a sweet treat. Here are just a few of Albany's best bakeries:

Cider Belly Doughnuts

If you're in the mood for something sweet and fried, Cider Belly Doughnuts is the place for you. They have all sorts of delicious flavors of doughnuts, from classic glazed to more unique flavors like maple bacon and chocolate peanut butter. And if you're not in the mood for doughnuts, they also have cider donuts, which are basically like doughnuts but made with cider instead of oil. Either way, you can't go wrong with Cider Belly.

Sweet Nectar Desserts

Sweet Nectar Desserts is another new addition to downtown Albany, and they specialize in cupcakes and cake pops. The cupcakes are moist and fluffy, with rich frosting melts in your mouth. And the cake pops come in various fun flavors like birthday cake, cookies, and cream. Sweet Nectar Desserts also offers custom orders for special occasions like birthdays and weddings.

Bella Napoli Bakery

Bella Napoli Bakery has served delicious Italian desserts to Albany residents for over 20 years. Bella Napoli is one of my favorites, and my parents still make a weekly stop and are in their 90s, so you know it has to be good! The bakery offers traditional favorites like cannolis and tiramisu and more modern items like espresso cupcakes and Nutella-filled croissants. Bella Napoli also provides catering services for parties and events.

The Cookie Factory is excellent if you're looking for something less sweet. Technically, not downtown Albany, but not that far of a drive across the bridge. They have a wide variety of cookies, from classic chocolate chips to more unique flavors like oatmeal cranberry and white chocolate macadamia. They also have a selection of gluten-free and vegan cookies for those with dietary restrictions. So, no matter your preference, The Cookie Factory has a cookie (or two or three) for you.

Albany's bakeries offer something for everyone: doughnuts, cookies, bread, pastries, and more. Whether you're in the mood for something sweet or savory, there's a bakery downtown that has what you're looking for. So next time you're in Albany, be sure to check out one (or all) of these beautiful bakeries!