Absolutely amazing hidden gem. There is no reason for any negative reviews. My family has a cottage in Oak Bluffs, and I have been coming here for years without any problems or bad experiences. Granted in the summer there can be quite a hefty line out the door, but it is worth it! Service is friendly, but don't be impatient or rude. Such doughnutty perfection takes time! Get the apple fritters (usually as big as your face and melts in your mouth) or the honey dipped. Pricing is great and everything fresh. In the summer you can smell the donuts for several blocks...best place for a late night snack. read more

Their official name is Martha's Vineyard Gourmet Cafe and Bakery, but the locals just call them the Backdoor Donut Shop. I'm not really a donut lover and the only reason we came to this place at all is because it was #1 in all of Martha's Vineyard on Yelp. So my wife and I went in the front door during normal hours and shared a donut. It was as good as any donut we've ever had but it didn't really blow us away. I mentioned this to the lady at the Pequot Inn where we were staying and she said, "Oh but you have to go there at night and get the apple fritters." We returned that night and stood in a long line. There was a friendly gay man behind us who kept us entertained making the 35 minute wait seem short. He raved that this was really two places and that "you have to come to the back door to find out just how fantastic this place really is." I teased him that "maybe the popularity of this place is in the name... people love coming in through the backdoor." He remarked "That was a good innuendo", and then pointed out a little play on words that cracked us all up. "In this case" he said, "that word in itself is an in-you-end-o". The "o" at the end of it being a donut which can also symbolize a 'backdoor'. I asked, "Do you think this place would be even more popular in Gay Head?" He loved that and then my wife piled on with "Or how about Gay Tail?" Everyone within earshot was laughing and enjoying this playful banter. Then we got our fritters and they were positively outstanding. I give this place 5 stars for the backdoor (fritters) and 4 for the front (donuts). read more

From the moment I walked in I wanted to try everything there was available. The donuts looked delicious as did the other pastries. I had the croissant with sausage, egg, and cheddar cheese and it was amazing. I also had the cheese danish and spinach danish and both tasted very homemade and a true bakery delicacy. I would go back to Martha's Vineyard just to have another taste of more of the amazing treats they have! read more

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. That freshly baked, hot, flavorful, ginormous apple fritter is worth far more time/$ you'll spend to get it (and their butternut donut is also delicious). Don't question, just go. read more

QUICKTIP: apple fritters are good... even in the mornings! yes, they still sell fritters in the front store in the morning. ----------------------------- Failed to go late night, as we were too stuffed full of crabs, clams, lobsters and chowder. While everyone says that you must buy the fritters in the wee hours of the night, I took my chances and moseyed over at ~8am, hoping beyond hope that they had a couple extra fritters. Lo and behold, they had 5+ and I stole 3 of them. Meehehehe. That said, they were obviously not fresh and a bit cold, but man were they still good. As a donut afficionado, I have a hankering for any deep-fried dough smothered in glaze and/or sugar. This hit the spot so early in the morning and I enjoyed a complimentary hotel coffee with a fritter on the hotel porch, watching the morning pass by. Recommended, and if I ever come back again, I will get these late at night. read more

Best donuts on the Island-- try the bear claw, but expect to share it with about 5 other or you'll have a stomachache (its hugee!!). Lots of different tasty donuts and muffins. read more

Stellar baked goods, friendly staff, and all the quality out-of-town newspapers make this a regular stop on my morning rounds in Oak Bluffs. The donuts are not as good in the morning as they are when sold fresh from the Back Door in the evening, but they still put most other donuts to shame. (Summer tip: go for the glazed donuts, the coating helps them hold their texture better in the hot & humid air.) read more

a great sweet treat on the Vineyard. try the apple fritter or the Boston creme donuts. go late night there is a line and great people watching. read more

Best donuts ever! Everyone needs to try this place at least once... Or twice lol. Their Boston creme is a dream!

Decadent! order anything and don't forget to add a milk. Bordering on illegal and incredibly tasty.

Perfect after bar treat. The smell on Circuit Ave will rope you in. There might be a line, but it's worth the wait. Also, if you're a morning person the front door won't let you down. read more

Apple fritters are huge make sure you have more than one person to eat one! And their linguica roll is amazing!

AMAZING!! Their donuts are worth the wait!! We ordered most of the donuts but are favorites (in no particular order) was apple fritter, coconut (if you love coconut), Boston cream, jelly filled and maple bacon (if you love bacon). read more

This place is awesome!!!! Been here a week and have gone with my family every night to wait on line for donuts. Really pleasant staff and well worth the wait. Try the coconut donut! read more

Worth the wait. Fresh hot Apple fritters. Tempted to tell you it's not good to help reduce the lines - but I can't tell a lie.

OMG! Can you say sugar Mouthgasm??? Lol the BEST DONUT EVER!! Melt in your mouth make ya feel like it's Christmas yumm-y!!

One night we were walking along and I smelled fried dough. I love fried dough. So we followed my nose and came across a door through which someone was buying doughnuts. I don't think I have ever been so excited to buy a donut in my life! And that little bugger melted in my mouth...amazing. Just go. read more

Amazing warm apple fritter donut. It's the size of your face. Highly recommend you share with another person.

APPLE FRITTER, APPLE FRITTER, APPLE FRITTER!!!! This is an island MUST HAVE!!!! You might have to wait in a 20-30 person line on average but they are the freshest, tastiest donuts ever! The line does move quickly and the donuts are always hot off the press! read more

Back Door Donuts is so good! Every time I come to Martha's Vineyard I go get donuts at least three times during a week long trip. All the donuts they have on the menu are delicious!!! 10/10 recommend! Definitely place you should check out when visiting Martha's Vineyard!!!! read more

The best!!!! Family tradition for years!!!! We are big fans of the apple fritter, chocolate cake with Buttermilk frosting and the party donuts. But you can't go wrong! read more

Apple fritters are to die for!! Worth the wait in line. The Apple cider donuts are also I good price.

Nice concept. 2nd year in a row visiting this bakery on my annual vacation. Hot out of the oven and the apple fritters never disappoints. A must if you are in the area. read more

sweet evening treat! literally go to the back door....duh!!!! cheap, delicious, and fresh! lines tend to get long so come early. we tried about 3 and couldn't get enough, but had to limit ourselves. def don't miss out on this island treat! read more

Back Door Donuts is an island staple. However, the new system makes the experience less appealing. Having the single register in the kitchen is more inefficient than having a setup outside. The line took much longer than it should have, I waited 15 minutes before I was told they didn't have the donut I ordered and that over half the menu was unavailable. Good luck to you guys when the season picks up. Great donuts as always though read more

My dad gained about 12 lbs on vacation and he can thank Back Door Donuts. This is the best bakery on and off the island if you ask me! Just go in there and smell the sugaryness and order something, anything!!! They will not disappoint! The girls that work there are just as sweet as their delectable snacks! read more

Quite possibly the ONLY thing that I ate during my week on the Vineyard that was not grotesquely overpriced. How can you say no to a warm from the oven chocolate glazed cake donut handed to you out the back door of a bakery? $1? Really? Is that all?! We ordered 5 donuts - shared a hot chocolate one on the spot and wrapped up the rest for breakfast in the morning. Thankfully, I did not discover this little late-night gem until my last night here or I would have certainly developed an unhealthy back door habit. read more

This is such a fun and quirky experience! What a cool little island spot. The donuts are hot and fresh and good, but I say don't waste your time on the donuts. Go straight for the apple fritter!!!!!! So delicious and the apple chunks are so yummy. The apple fritter is better than any other apple fritter I've ever had. The donuts are not better than other donuts that I've had. Apple. Fritter. The. End. read more

We were craving some dessert and stopped in for an "almond horn'... it was delicious and the staff was welcoming and friendly.

What could be better than piping hot apple fritters and donuts right out of the oven from a nondescript back door in an alley at 11:00PM at night??? Don't worry, the line moves fast! read more

I have NEVER had a donut this good before. At 10pm the line was going down the block, but it was well worth the wait. By far, THE BEST Boston Creme Donut I've ever had, no exaggeration. Almost every inch was filled with delicious custard. I will never look at Dunkin' Donuts or Krispy Kreme the same again. No comparison. If you're ever in Martha's Vineyard, you have to go there! read more

Oh so delish...doughnuts the way they should be, hot and fresh! Not a fan of the long lines, but worth it, even better if you have someone wait in line for you. read more

No was one human can consume a whole apple fritter here and keep it down. It's so awesome. Maybe the best donut I ever had.

Ok, so this place gets great reviews. For us, not so much. Ordered a cake for my Mom's 75th birthday. Go to pick it up 2 hour before the party starts - it's the wrong cake. The frosting looked like it had been done by a 5-year old. The server says " I'll give you a discount for the cake, will that help?" No, it will not. Maybe this place is as good as everyone says. But watch them closely. read more

Two words: apple fritter. The line is always long but it's so worth it. The apple fritters are huge and I feel like dying after I eat one, granted I make my boyfriend eat most of it so that I feel a little better about myself. read more

The most AMAZING donuts I've ever had in my life!!!! We got there when the line (at the back door) wasn't so bad.after about 5-10 minutes the line was insane!!!! Cinnamon sugar donut is to die for. My fiancé had the coconut and it was very good but I think we both enjoyed my donut more! read more

Cute little bakery that serves "leftover" pastries from "The Back Door" (where you get the famous pastries fresh and hot) without standing in the line that goes around the block... They still taste delicious IMO... The staff worked fast and seemed friendly. read more

Place is the fuggin bomb dignity, great donuts and great ice cream donut thing. I went in there and the line looked decently long but the line went quick and I got my donut. Then at night I snagged some hot donuts and ice cream on a donut. I'm actually going to get some donuts tonight. Great place !!!! read more

Came here on a whim cause I wanted a late night donut, turned out to have an adventure. There are more varieties /flavors than I ever seen at Krispy Kreme or dunkin donuts. I got the apple friter and chocolate roll, and they were outstanding. They're also served hot, which for us Krispy Kreme fans here know that's a big deal. The pricing was pretty good as well! read more

totally crazy set up - you wait in a really long line for - wait for it - DONUTS. The kicker is, the wait is TOTALLY worth it - they are being made as you wait in line - NO stale's here! Very good donuts and the pricing is fair. read more