Good bread is the ultimate comfort food—a symbol of togetherness and tradition, all wrapped up in one experience—and proof that truly good things take time. Luckily there are plenty of bakeries in our area doing their part to turn out out addictive, crusty, flavorful loaves that will reaffirm your love of carbs. Put these stops on your shopping checklist. They’re the best thing since sliced… well… you know.
Atwater’s
Good luck making it home without tearing into your purchase from this popular farmers market vendor. Atwater’s bakers rise and grind every day, milling the flour using an in-house grain mill, hand-shaping the loaves and baking them in hearth ovens. Seasonal options such as cranberry pecan, jalapeno cheddar and Irish brown bread are only available for a few weeks. Order online by 7:30 a.m. Fridays and pick up at the weekend farmers market of your choice. You can also just show up and choose from what’s there, but arrive early, as the selection sells out quickly. Courthouse Freshfarm Market (Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon), 1401 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington; Westover Farmers Market (Sundays, 9 a.m.-noon), 1644 N. McKinley Road, Arlington; Falls Church Farmers Market (Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon), 300 Park Ave., Falls Church
Best Buns Bakery
This baking operation provides all of the bread for Great American Restaurants, including Carlyle next door to its Shirlington shop. Happily, they also sell retail. Everything in the Best Buns repertoire, from crusty rosemary and olive oil bread to classic baguettes, is baked on-site daily. Have a hankering for something cheesy? Kick it up a notch with poblano cheddar bread or herb muenster. For a sweeter option, try the two-raisin pecan loaf. The holidays also bring traditional Parker House rolls. Advance ordering begins Nov. 10 on the Best Buns app or online. Best Buns is contributing 5% of its bread sales to Great American Community Kitchen, which travels into Northern Virginia neighborhoods, handing out fresh, hot meals to people experiencing food insecurity. 4010 Campbell Ave. (Shirlington); 8051 Leesburg Pike, Tysons; 265 W. Falls Station Blvd., Falls Church
The Happy Tart
Everything at this Falls Church bakery is 100% gluten-free, but you’d never know it. Owner Kerrigan Firth has added several new items to this year’s holiday menu and has revamped many of the bread recipes. A gluten- and dairy-free sourdough boule promises all the crusty and chewy tang you’d expect. Also on the menu: gluten-free rosemary dinner rolls, baguettes and biscuits; and sweets such as a pumpkin roll with cream cheese frosting, gingerbread-chocolate crinkle cookies and an assortment of holiday pies. Brunch favorites include ham and cheese muffins, savory mushroom or spinach turnovers, cranberry orange scones and apple cinnamon turnovers. Thanksgiving orders close Nov. 19. Order now on the holiday portal and be sure to check back after Thanksgiving for gluten-free stollen and toffee cinnamon rolls in the lead-up to Christmas. 410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe
When Wolfgang Büchler first started selling his crusty, European-style breads made with imported flour in the 1970s, local customers returned them, thinking they were stale. He gave them their money back. American tastes have since matured, and those same crusty, European-style breads are now in high demand at this 50-year-old Arlington bakery. Heidelberg’s most popular holiday items are mini soft dinner rolls, sold by the dozen, and pate breads—long, thin loaves of sourdough or pumpernickel, perfect for dipping. Party loaves, which are similar in shape to French baguettes, come in sourdough, Jewish rye or pumpernickel. Round out your holiday table with a cranberry walnut loaf, a wheel of rolls (pull-apart bread with a variety of toppings) or challah, available as a classic braid or in the shape of a wreath. Thanksgiving orders close Nov. 20. 2150 N. Culpeper St., Arlington
The Swiss Bakery
Reto Weber’s grandfather was a baker in the Swiss canton of Thurgau, and today those family recipes live on in the Alpine wonderland he owns and operates in Springfield, where fan favorites such as pillowy snowflake rolls and rustic wurtzelbrot sell out daily. Holiday specialties include a panettone and stollen, and biberfladen—a soft gingerbread loaf filled with marzipan. To add a little fun to your table, try the grittibenz, a soft, buttery bread shaped into a Santa figure with raisin eyes and pearl sugar on his hat. (He may have a pipe, too.) Add festive cookies and a gingerbread house (fully decorated or as a DIY kit). Daily breads available year-round include baguettes, German sourdough, Suisse boules and pretzels. Orders must be placed 72 hours in advance. The last day to place orders for Christmas is Dec. 21. 5224 Port Royal Road, Springfield
Fresh Baguette
Feel tres Parisian when you stroll out of this cafe with a baguette tucked under each arm. In addition to three varieties of baguette (traditional, Parisian and rustic), holiday offerings abound. Current seasonal bakes include a savory harvest vegetable focaccia made with pumpkin puree, zucchini and squash pieces, topped with mozzarella cheese. On the sweeter side, opt for the burnt orange Pumpkin croissants or pumpkin mousse cake. Check back after Thanksgiving for king cakes, seasonal pies and Buches de Noel available in three flavors: hazelnut chocolate, mango coconut or vanilla salted caramel. There’s no cutoff date for orders, but the bakery recommends preordering to ensure you get your favorite. 6707 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Northside SocialÂ
Fluffy, buttery dinner rolls are on special here for Thanksgiving, as are the Italian Feather Loaf, multigrain sandwich loaf and herb and sea salt focaccia. All orders must be placed by Nov. 20 from NoSo’s online catering shop. Pastry chef Bridie McCulla’s team is also baking up a selection of holiday pies, quiches and pastries to make hosting a breeze. That includes breakfast faves such as a brown sugar coffee cake and cinnamon rolls, which you can buy ready-made or in bake-at-home form. The take-and-bake options also include three kids of cookie dough: chocolate chip, gluten-free peanut butter and gluten-free chocolate pecan. 3211 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon) and 205 Park Ave., Falls Church
Le Pain Quotidien
If happiness, in your mind, is a fresh, warm baguette, this Belgian boulangerie has your number. Its baguettes are partially baked ahead of time and then finished up on demand—meaning that if you’re willing to wait five minutes, you’ll be rewarded with a piping hot baton of that French staple, perfect for serving with your favorite soft cheeses and charcuterie. Other bestsellers include whole wheat, a gluten-free super-seed bread and a five-grain raisin bread.  8296 Glass Alley, Fairfax (Mosaic District)
Paris Baguette
This rapidly expanding French-inspired bakery cafe now has three Northern Virginia storefronts and is poised to expand into National Landing soon. Visit its website to pre-order its namesake French bread and other baked goodies for pickup, including milk bread, multigrain, fresh cream bread and raisin bread. While you’re there, grab sweet and savory French pastries, or an expertly decorated Thanksgiving cake. 3101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon); 169 Hillwood Ave, Falls Church; 8344 Broad St., McLean
Tatte Bakery & Cafe
This tantalizing cafe that originated in Boston has a full menu of breads, holiday pies, pastries and other carb-y delights available for pickup. Bread options include baguettes, sourdough, challah rolls, focaccia, multigrain and ciabatta. For a heartier option, try a housemade flatbread topped with gooey fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and pesto. Pick up a box of cranberry pistachio or Nutella cookies, plus bags of whole bean coffee to round out your holiday celebration. 2805 Clarendon Blvd. (Clarendon) and 269 19th Ct. S., Arlington (National Landing); 1001 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Tous les Jours
Crusty, flaky, chocolate-filled, loaded with garlic cream cheese or topped with olive and tomato. The bread options are legion at this popular Korean bakery and cafe chain, which opened its first U.S. location in 2004. You’ll find traditional baguettes, yes, but don’t miss the chance to sample Asian inspired sweet breads with fillings such as red bean paste, taro cream or walnut cream. 1100 S. Hayes St., Arlington (Westpost); 4238 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston); 8201 Greensboro Drive, Tysons
