Admittedly, I have not enjoyed any of their pastries. I have keyed in on their bread loaves. Wow. Their Classic and Whole Wheat loaves are outstanding; great crust, great texture and flavor. The bakers are serious. I wish for a sourdough and a Parisian baguette. Never the less. Terrific bread. Seek it out. Make the journey. Enjoy. I rarely give out 5 Stars. Deserving. read more

Delicious handmade pastry, both sweet and savory ... and good coffee too! They use good organic grains snd snd only wood fired.

August 2019, 2/2 visits, this place keeps blowing me away. would reccomend! Today was bread pudding and a fruit tart. Seems this place can do no wrong, I will keep coming back with each visit! read more

I love sub Rosa. i go pretty early in the am, so all of the options I want are normally in stock. I love the rotating menu, but that they keep staples, like meat+cheese sandwiches, even if those meats/cheeses are being changed frequently. the coffee is so so to me. not the biggest fan. however, can't go wrong with any of the pastries!!! read more

See all

SO FREAKING GOOD. Go go go! Pastries are better than their mocha was though. They also did give me the wrong order... however, the pastries were so good, it seriously didn't matter read more

See all

Came across Sub Rosa on a list of must try spots in Richmond, and yes - this is a must try spot. I stayed for a while to get some work done and ordered a quiche, cappuccino and then later on a shortbread cookie and tea. It was all absolutely delicious. The crust was perfectly flaky and I could have eaten about 100 of their shortbread cookies. The staff was really nice and while the shop is small (only a few tables) it was pretty quiet while I was there and they made me feel totally welcome to sit and work there for a bit. A bonus - this place uses a wood fire stove! what?! So if you're lucky enough to be there while they're baking the shop just smells like heaven. The wood, the fire, the baking dough - ugh. Heaven. My only regret about going to Sub Rosa Bakery is that I don't live in VA and won't get to go back every day. I miss you Sub Rosa! read more

Nothing makes me feel fancier than eating pastries and sipping high quality tea in a local bistro where you can see and smell bread cooking in the back. The best part about Sub Rosa though is that it provides that sophisticated atmosphere without the pretentiousness that makes people feel excluded. I stopped in when I was visiting a friend in Richmond on a Sunday morning. We didn't have to wait at all (which my friend did say was a surprise) and we found a table right away. Believe me when I say I have eaten a fair number of pain au chocolat in my time (I was born in Belgium and lived in Switzerland for years), and the chocolate pastry here was one of the best I've had, especially being stateside. The pastry was perfectly light and flaky on the outside but so warm and moist on the inside, with the chocolate still melted (not in a solid ribbon along the bottom like in most store pastries) so that the flavors can blend and melt on your tongue and take you to heaven. Seriously, it was that good. The quiche was also great, so fluffy and light but full of flavor. I had a masala chai, and )though I'm a little bit of a masala chai snob after visiting India last year) this wasn't Indian masala chai it still had a great depth of spice. Milk is available as well as dairy free options like oat milk. There was a family with kids here, the whole atmosphere feels warm and inviting, kind of like putting on your favorite fall sweater for the first time that season. The fresh loaves of bread looked phenomenal and you can buy it to go if you don't have time to stay and chat (though there is a limit to how many pastries you can buy). read more

I had wanted to come here for ages, and boy am I glad I finally did! I originally came in for the pain au chocolat because I love a chocolate croissant more than most things in life. However, when we rolled in at about 10:30, the stock had dwindled down so I settled for the salami and cheese croissant and my boy got the morning bun. I was not upset that the pain au chocolat was sold out once I bit into that salami and cheese. Oh man, it was flaky and buttery and oh, so delicious. The morning but was nice and subtle, not too sweet like some breakfast pastries can be. I plan to one day try every croissant they offer- that is the dream. Also! As we were getting ready to leave I spied them putting out more pain au chocolate! So, naturally, I grabbed one for the road and one to take to my sister as well. They did not disappoint. I have never had a croissant with some many satisfying layers. Cannot recommend enough. read more

Sub Rosa Bakery - Morning bun and masala chai - Bakeries Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

This has long been my favorite bakery in Richmond. I never hesitate to trek across the city for the high quality and creative pastries served here. They're made with an insane (but delicious) amount of butter. The breads are also top notch. My favorite pastry combo is the fig and cheese paired with something that has meat. You only need one but won't be able to resist two! The shop is on a quiet street with plenty of nearby street parking within a block or so. The room is open, bright and the staff are friendly. Its a great way to start your day but get there early! read more

if I could give it a 6 I would. these croissants compete with the best. my only shock is that this place doesn't have 1000+ reviews. when I bit into the chocolate croissant it literally exploded with flakes from all the perfectly buttery layers. hats off to the chef read more

I will always distinctly remember the time when I discovered Sub Rosa Bakery because it was around the time my boyfriend and I both gained 10 lbs because we were here every single Saturday morning. This has to be the BEST bakery in Richmond. Not only are all their baked goods absolutely delicious, but many of the local restaurants serve their bread on their menu. If you're not part of the morning pack on the weekends you'll sometimes have to wait for the consecutive batches to come out and the line can get very long - but it's completely worth the wait. I've tried every single item on the menu and my favorites are the salami and cheese and fig and cheese. I don't know how they do it but their pastries are so flakey and buttery! The space is small and cute and really captures the feeling of a local bakery. I only wish that I could enjoy my food here more often because all of the eating spaces are always taken! read more

Sub Rosa Bakery is a wood-fire bakery and stone-milling operation located in the Church Hill neighborhood. All the baked items that they make come from the wood fired masonry oven, using local ingredients, organic flour & sugar, and housemade wheat/corn/rye. How awesome is that?! The menu is limited, offering croissants, pogaca, shortbread cookies, seasonal savory/fruit tarts, quiche, breakfast items, and an espresso bar. The hubs and I came later in the day, and while I knew that most of the items weren't going to be available, it was still a little disappointing! It seems as if the staff's automatic responses were that 'whatever is in the bakery case is what's available' if you ask if a certain item would become available again, even after stating that you would wait. Cat, who was manning the cash register, was the only one who actually went back to ask the 'bakers' whether certain items would be ready. Due to my active pressing, I was able to get a Pear with Orange Cream fruit tart (tart, but the 'orange cream' was actually orange marmalade; I liked the crispy exterior crust, but probably opt for a savory tart the next time), a Pogaca (a Hungarian/Turkish/Albanian D-shaped bread pasty, filled with salty feta; the bread itself was crumbly and soft, and a great complement to the salty cheese within; I just wished these were warm) from the case, and a mini chocolate almond croissant (a little tough and a little dry, this was filled with a generous amount of chocolates and topped with a nice amount of slivered almonds) from the case. I was told it would be about a 15-20 minute wait for the regular croissant, but the 'bakers' had inaccurately estimated the time. Instead, I opted for the freshly-baked Salami & Cheese croissant, which was super MAGICAL. The croissant was super flaky and buttery, and filled generously with sopressata slices and cheese - YUM! I think this is literally one of the best salami & cheese croissants I've had, and probably one of my favorites of all time! The place gets super packed, and there's limited seating as well (counter and some tables and armchairs). I highly recommend in coming early in the morning for more varieties and for more right-out-of-the-oven goodies. Limited parking off of 25th. +Salami & Cheese croissants :D :D :D +Pogaca (when fresh) +ask for Cat :D :D :D +baked goods runs out quick! +go early! +limited free street parking off of 25th read more

See all

This is almost perfection in a bread-focused bakery. The croissants? Ridiculous. Flaky and perfect with a slight char finish from the wood-fires oven that seals the deal. The bread? Weighty and so good. With simple butter, a slice or two is the perfect meal. The ham and cheese croissants? One of my favorite foods in Richmond. I can go on and on. Everything here that comes out of that oven is amazing. My sole disappointment? A weak selection of cold drinks. But everything else? Flat out awesome. read more

If you are in the area (or at least downtown) GO HERE!!! Almond croissant (only on weekends) = 5 stars Pain au chocolat (yummy bittersweet chocolate & flaky, buttery layers) = 5 stars Fig and manchego tart (artsy shape, perfect cheese ::to:: preserves ratio) = 5 stars I only give 4 stars because (a) I haven't tried everything (b) my cappucino was LAME (c) the bread looks really burnt (perhaps that's just my perception), (d) staff are NOT monitored on hand washing! Yes, I will go back. No, I will not consistently drive out of my way. Yes, I will report the hygiene issues. Yes, you should go try the pastries. read more

After hearing some friends talk about this bakery, I had to give Sub Rosa Bakery a try for myself! The best part of Sub Rosa after its baked goods is its friendly service and casual atmosphere. The employees greet you as soon as you set foot in the bakery no matter how busy it gets. The atmosphere is ideal for a person looking to do some work or catch up with some friends. The noise volume is loud enough for some privacy so that the table next to you won't hear what you're talking about but quiet enough that you can carry on a conversation without having to raise your voice. Now, here comes the review of the food: || The Chocolate Bomb || This is my favorite thing here. The name is misleading, and it isn't as sweet as the name sounds so for those of you who aren't a big fan of very sweet things you should definitely still try this! The chocolate that's melted into each layer of the bread has a semi-sweet flavor that is balanced out by the pistachio worked into the dough of the Chocolate Bomb. The texture is flaky like that of a croissant, while the buttery exterior makes for a nice crust. They stopped making Chocolate Bombs on a regular basis, but if you call in at least 48 hours before you plan to eat it or pick it up, they'll prepare you some as long as you buy 5 other pastries to go along with it. || Salami and Cheese Croissant || It's not filling enough to warrant a satisfying breakfast, but it's delicious to say the least. I have gotten it a few times when the cheese was a little rubbery instead of gooey and melted through, so make sure to ask for it to be warmed if it hasn't been freshly made. Otherwise, it has a good meat to cheese ratio and could be paired with one of the coffee drinks on the menu if it's too salty for your liking. || Shortbread Cookies || I wasn't a big fan of their cookies, but they are the cheapest thing on the menu. I like my shortbread cookies to be buttery to give it some flavor, but the regular shortbread cookies without anything on it were just too plain and hard to enjoy. If you want to try these, go for the ones coated with chocolate or the ones with the nuts in the middle and ask for the ones that have just come out of the oven. All in all, Sub Rosa has become one of my favorite local food establishments in Richmond! It's safe to say that when I come back to visit Richmond this will be one of the things on my list for places to go back to! Food: 5/5 Quality: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 read more

Sub Rosa Bakery - The Chocolate Bomb: Flaky and Buttery with Semi-Sweet Chocolate Melted In - Bakeries Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

One of my favorite bakeries in the area. Everything is amazing, and I stock up on favorites when I stop by. The pastries, the bread, the coffee, the occasionally found meat pies, and the service make this a special place. I'm also glad to see the dedication to using local and small grower products in their ingredients list. The owners and staff really care about making the experience a good one, even during the shift to online ordering and service. I'm already looking forward to my next visit. read more

Best bakery in the United States? I've toured the country up and down, and have always tried to seek the best yummy foods whenever I could. I don't think i've tried freshest, most fragrant, tasteful, tasty pastries, croissants and breads than at Sub Rosa. I dare to say a trip to Richmond would be worth it just to visit this exceptional place again. It rivals Paris and Milan's best and most famous bakeries without a sweat. I recommend the Pistachio/cherry and the almond chocolate croissant, but i bet they could serve you napkins and they'd be good to eat! read more

The place is located right across from The Roosevelt on such a quaint corner. When you walk in, it feels like a homey cafe you'd regularly go to. I ordered the bread plate of toasted bread with honey butter & got a cup of coffee. My friend ended up ordering the ollie salami & manchego cheese with coffee as well. Fresh bread really does make a difference & it tastes amazing. I even got a bite of my friend's plate & I would definitely order that the next time I go. read more

Sub Rosa Bakery - Honey butter bread plate & coffee - Bakeries Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

My favorite, humble little coffee shop in Richmond so far. The coffee is great, and the pastries are unique and tasty. The ladies behind the counter tells me many of the menu items are of Turkish origin...I'm still working on pronouncing "Pogaca"! ^_^ My faves are the chocolate croissant and the spinach feta pie (I'm sure there was another name for that, but I can't remember). It's always nice and flaky around the crust... mmm. I always request for the pastries to be toasted and it makes it taste so fresh, crispy, crumbly, and perfect with my coffee. Also I like to get a pogaca on the side...bread with cheese and dill, complimenting my spinach really well. I always walk out stuffed and way more full than I had intended to be. Sometimes I come in on the weekend and they have a violinist playing live music. Love it!! read more

See all

The croissants are HANDS DOWN the best I have eaten! Crisp and flaky on the outside, moist and soft on the inside without feeling greasy at all. That's just the foundation, though. There are so many different types of croissants, and all of them are excellent (classic, chocolate, ham&cheese, and my favorite, fig and cheese). The fig and cheese croissant is by far my favorite mix of sweet and salty/savory. The cheese has a nice nutty flavor against the sweet tartness of the fig. And the mixture of textures with the crunchy/flaky croissant crust is AMAZING! FYI, it gets busy in Saturday mornings, and different batches of pastries come out every half hour or so as needed. So, just because that chocolate croissant isn't in the display case, doesn't mean it might not be cooking in the oven. Just ask! read more

Sub Rosa Bakery - Half-eaten (I couldn't wait!) fig and cheese croissant :). So flaky, so goooood! - Bakeries Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I love pastries, I love chocolate and therefore I LOVE the chocolate bomb. The best way to describe a chocolate bomb is a chocolate croissant, filled with a pistachio cream, all baked in a clay pot. The outside is golden and crisp while still maintaining the softest, flakiest interior. There are ribbons of rich chocolate folded throughout and hints of pistachio with every other bite. The butteriness is far from shy and makes the pastry sublimely decadent. This is one of my go to bakeries whenever I have friends visiting. However, I would go early...everything sells pretty quickly. read more

Sub Rosa Bakery - Chocolate croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

This place is a national treasure, a testimony that brilliant hardworking and inventive bakers still exists in this day and age in this country. It's not about perfection or pretty decoration, just honest bread full of flavor and character, that you can eat without adding anything, ruin your diet and still be happy. The Pastery, mainly "laminates" also share these characteristics. And some very tasty savory offering like Turkish Börek, and savory Croissants. Great experience, highly recommended! read more

See all

I'm a Sunday and sometimes Saturday regular. The food is delicious and the staff is wonderful. I'd give them 5 stars, but the online system is horrific. On Sunday I waited 2 hours before I could order a croissant. Then I prayed my order would go through because they can run out of your selection while you fumble through the system and poof you're back to square one. My suggestion - look at what has been selling historically and have that item prepped and available during rush hours. If you sell 300 croissants from 8 - 10 am, then make them up, bake and ready to roll out the door. I alsmost walked away today. read more

Let's talk about this. I only ordered the blueberry croissant and let me tell you!... BEST croissant I've ever had. Flaky but not dry Moist but not oily Flavorful but not over-powering My soul happy. My mouth is watering for more. And my belly.... Doing a happy dance. read more

See all

So good! So lovely biting into a price of Sun Rosa's classic bread ! U get a taste of deep earthy tang with a great chew and outside crunch! Especially loved their breakfast items and croissants!Real deal fresh and delicious! read more

Everything is wonderful! But might want to pre-order since they sell out really quickly!

Enjoyed this little (very little) bakery in the Churchill neighborhood. We had a berry tart, a croissant, and cheese and berry pastry. All were fresh and delicious. For beverages, we tried a ginger beer, lavender and earl grey iced tea and an iced coffee. Only disappointments - bakery case was light on menu items and there were lots of flies around (not sure how to resolve that issue as they seem to love fresh pastries as much as we do!). read more

Sub Rosa Bakery - Exterior of Sub Rosa bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I am totally feelin this place because it's a cute chill corner cafe where the sun shines through the big windows in the right spots and of course, they have tasty baked goods. Don't write off these baked goods because some might have a bit of a char. This bakery is unique because of its wood fired oven. They try to use grains, fruits, and vegetables grown in Virginia as much as possible. Since I got 2 different pastries, I said that I'd only take a bite each and save the rest for later....didn't happen with the Fig and Manchego pastry. I ate the whole thing. I stopped to share a bite but then quickly and politely grabbed it away so I could devour the rest of the buttery, flaky layers filled with sweet, tart fig and nutty cheese. The almond croissant was okay but was too dense for me to enjoy. I wanted to try the Salami and Gruyere but it was sold out. I'm looking forward to my next visit to Richmond so I can get another Fig and Manchego! read more

Great coffee, amazing croissants & quiches and really friendly staff. Its a win all around for me. I had the kale with onion jam quiche. The crust on this quiche was pure flaky amazingness!! The onion jam had me slightly reserved -- after tasting it I was a fan. This is one of the best quiches I have had. You add the fact that they combine the great quiche with quality coffee from Lamplighter and this was knockout. I highly encourage everyone to go and give this place a go! I have also had the fig croissant which was decadent. Their Polenta blue corn loaf bread is also a winner! This is a weekly visit for me now. read more

Sub Rosa Bakery - Quiche and Salami Croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

My best friend lives in Church Hill, and she wanted to take me to her favorite bakery. We don't have too many places like this close to home, so I was pretty excited to try it. Upon arriving to the bakery, the ambiance gave me the Richmond feel: small, homey, and peaceful. I also liked the large windows which brought so much natural light into the bakery. The menu wasn't too extensive, and it was nice to see the pastries in the display case. The place wasn't very busy at the time, so I was able to place my order right away. I ordered an iced coffee (which they serve to you black and you are able to add cream and sugar to your pleasing, a plus!) and a salami croissant. They were able to warm the croissant and brought it out to our table. The croissant was a pretty large size for me, and I ended up taking some of it home. It was very flaky, cheesy, and delicious! Just thinking about it makes me want another one...the baristas and bakers are so nice. This is definitely one of my favorite bakeries in Richmond and I can't wait to visit again. read more

Sub Rosa Bakery - Iced Coffee and Salama & Cheese Croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This wood-fired bakery delivered on the hype. When we arrived they were out of all the croissant based pastries. We settled for a quiche and it was the best I've ever had. A spinach jalapeño filling in crisp delectable pastry. Then, good news on Good Friday...the fig croissants and morning buns were ready. Knowing how increíble they are, I would have waited much longer. Both were fantastically crisp and still warm. Not too sweet. They each hit the perfect balance of breakfast "sweet". I also took a loaf of rye bread home. It was pricey, but I have to believe it will be the best rye bread, ever! My only ding is the coffee. It does not meet the level of quality that the breads are at. Maybe that is an impossible ask. read more

See all

Lord, I love their country Tuscan bread!!! It is the best ever. I just wish they had a store over here in the West End.

What a sweet coffee shop whose pastries are even sweeter! Sub Rosa doesn't have a ton of choices for pastries, but they're unique because they're all baked in a wood-fired oven and they include French pastries that I haven't found anywhere else in Richmond. We tried the pain aux raisins (tasty but was more like a croissant than an authentic pain aux raisins - still delish), butter croissant (lightly charred from the woodfired oven and super flaky), and the sour cherry and pistachio (my favorite of the 3, unique and I have an increasing love affair with pistachios). Next time, I'll be sure to try their almond croissants - I hear they're divine! Don't forget to pair your delicious pastry with one of their caffeinated pick-me-ups; we all thoroughly enjoyed our cappuccinos, lattes, and drip coffees (no iced drinks). Not a ton of seating, but grab a seat at one of the tables, a stool by the window for people-watching, or on the cozy bench for a casual yet homey experience. Saw lots of families with adorable children all hungrily eyeing the buttery pastries. Another awesome bakery in Church Hill! read more

Came here twice in the week I was visiting Richmond. I've never had anything baked so well or that tasted so flaky and decadent. First, I got the lamb borek and second, a fig and cheese pastry. Super duper quality. read more

If you're a fan of pastries and/or croissants like me, this place is for you! Right when you walk in you can smell the fresh, baked goods and coffee- my favorite scents! I was excited to come here on a Wednesday to get their almond croissant but the worker disappointed me after she said they only sell those on Sundays. So instead, I tried their braided croissant and it was alright. Nothing special about it besides the fact that it was braided. I'll probably visit again on a Sunday morning for the almond croissant and maybe bring my work with me (this is a great place to read or get work done because of how quiet and relaxing the neighborhood is). They also have outdoor seating for when it's crowded or the weather is nice! read more

See all

Exceptional bread and pastries. On par with the best in NYC or elsewhere.

Went on a sunday, so it was busy but they were pretty quick. I had an amazing fig and cheese pastry, and there was nice outdoor seating in front read more

I can definitely see the potential in this new bakery, however, wait time is quite long (maybe because they are still getting into the swing of things) and I wish they labeled the pastries in their displays so you knew what you were looking at (other than tempting deliciousness). But the interior is very cozy and looks like an old-fashioned bakery straight out a movie, with their lovely brick oven in the back turning out heavenly smelling pastries that invite you to stay and wait. I ordered a latte and a plain croissant, as well as a spinach and onion quiche. I loved it all! The latte was a solid cup of Joe, the croissant was perfectly light and flaky, and the quiche was very flavorful. I also got to snag a few bites of my roommates' bread with honey butter and bread with salami and cheese - both delicious. The orders came with 4 slices of bread, but with it being a little heavy for my liking I could probably only eat 2 if I had an order for myself. Definitely bring someone with you so you can share! I would love to come back and try some of their sweeter pastries but will save that when I'm feeling like rewarding myself and splurging! An extra treat - they hand-stamp their to-go cups with their own stamp of a pretty flower. It doesn't necessarily look like a rose, and I'm not even sure if that's what they were going for but I loved the extra finishing touch! read more

See all

Delicious greens and feta tart. Hint of spice, great texture and the cuts was to die for! Paired with latte #foodchronicles read more

Sub Rosa Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I appreciate the assortment of baked goods that they provide. I always get a savory pastry and a coffee. Most of the time they will have samples of their baked bread, and man, is it delicious! The service is good. And I like that there is an outdoor seating area. read more