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    The French Corner Bakery

    4.3 (109 reviews)
    InexpensiveBakeries
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    $8.50 for a loaf of so called " sourdough"

    This place is a complete disappointment. They call themselves a French bakery, but that's nothing more than a marketing trick. The lady greeted me " Bonjour", I replied "Comment allez-vous?" no answer!!! I should say " Cómo estás?" In reality, it's a Latino bakery pretending to be something it's not. The breads are awful and overpriced, to be honest, I think the croissants come right from the Sam's club, the sourdough is nothing but a cheap grocery quanlity French bread. The pastries are even worse, with none of the craft, technique, or taste you expect from anything French. It's misleading and deceptive to lure customers in under the "French bakery" label when there is nothing French about it. I left feeling cheated. If you are looking for true French baking, avoid this place. I am sure the original owners, the retired French couple is heart broken!

    Chocolate covered strawberries, blueberry danish, & the BEST tiramisu you will ever have
    Jahnavi Y.

    Such a HIDDEN GEM! This bakery is located in a very unassuming shopping complex. You would never guess that they make THE BEST TIRAMISU you will ever have. I have tried tiramisu from so many places and it does not compare. It's the perfect combination of sweet and cocoa flavored for me. I've had it multiple times, the flavor is consistent every time is always delicious. I'm also a fan of their blueberry danish but you can't go wrong with any of their baked goods. They also have a coffee menu which I haven't tried yet. Other than the baked goods, the service is top tier. The staff are always kind and friendly. The interior decor is whimsical and inviting.

    Seating area
    Andrea A.

    Super cute bakery! While there's not a ton of unique options, what they do have is of high quality. We tried the: - Vanilla macaron: Classically crispy on the outside & chewy on the inside - Coffee cake: Little too sweet on its own, but perfect with coffee as expected haha - Tiramisu: The standout for me with strong coffee flavor & not too sweet - Blueberry scone: Different from most other scones I've had bc it's much thinner & crunchier, but still enjoyable - Profiterole: Great little balls of choux pastry filled with cream - Almond croissant: Loved it, but tbh I'm a sucker for frangipane Loved the eclectic ambiance. Super friendly service. 9/10 would recommend!

    I got a caramel macchiato and a ham & cheese croissant. Both of these were amazing! I loved the atmosphere at this place and the person working there was so kind!

    Freshly baked goodies tempting me from the case.
    Smythe R.

    This little out-of-the-way spot is just a delight. Not only is Benjamin a fantastic Master Baker, but he has a wonderful joie de vrie that makes sitting and having a coffee and pastry a great way to spend some time. Tucked out of the way on the back side of this strip mall, you'd not know it was here, and you'd be missing out on great breads, cakes, cookies, and pastries. I'm not a sweet lover, but it's a great way to score points with anyone you know who is. Stop in for an eclair or some individual cakes, or have them cater your wedding with a beautiful cake. Or, do like me, and sit at the quaint tables and chairs, enjoy the richness of a properly prepared croissant, and pretend you're in Europe.

    Desserts and pastries
    Lexi M.

    Wow! Finally a great French bakery that I can go to when I'm feeling homesick (when I lived in France). I heard the chef was Parisian so I had to try it out. I ordered 2 dozen macaroons and a pain au chocolat and I was back in France. I can't wait to make another stop here!

    Inside
    Rebecca S.

    I loved this place! I just came back from Europe and was craving real macarons. I had them made fresh there and they were to die for good! The owner was behind the counter and such a nice man I probably could have talked to him all day. He has a vast knowledge from all over about baking which was another great thing as well. We talked about Europe and New York and those were probably only a few places he has been. He talked about his love for baking and you could really tell he was passionate about it. He had all kinds of pastries and you could tell he had a local following also. I also overheard that for a special event she had used him for the desserts also which I will definitely be doing in the near future. It was truly hard to decide on what to order here. I decided on the raspberry and lemon macarons and he told me to split each and try together and that was truly delightful! I also got a chocolate and caramel macaron. Great suggestion to mix the raspberry and lemon macarons it was delicious. Also he had this peanut butter chocolate dessert with like a Oreo crust which was truly so rich and amazing I will be getting this again. His lemon bars or tarts were also just perfect! The right amount of sweet vs lemon tartness! His black and white cookie was phenomenal also! I don't think I have had one that was almost like a cake like cookie. I truly think anything you get here you can't go wrong with! I'm definitely coming back check hours because I came on weekend which was 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday which is a good time for me.

    Mike F.

    Love this place. The atmosphere, the decor, the breads and the pastries all just right... We will definitely be recommending and returning regularly.

    My haul: lemon bar, chocolate peanut butter, key lime pie, cheesecake, lemon tart, fudge chocolate, napoleon eclair, macarons, creme brulee
    Suzie S.

    What a gem. Tucked around the corner of a unassuming plaza, French Corner Bakery is a sight for sore eyes. With a rustic vibe, this bakery has so many treats and breads baked by the nicest man, Benjamin. Authentic French accent and genial, he's very fun to talk to. I'm glad I found this place. Creme Brulee is amazing. Macarons were great. I've yet to dig into my haul completely but I'd vouch for everything.

    Pastries
    Jolina C.

    This is a cute kind-of-obscure gem in Durham--located close to Costco though! Not insta-famous like other bakeries in the area but this place is run by an authentic French baker who makes amazing bread and pastries! We've tried their eclairs, croissants, macarons, quiche, cannolis (i know, not French), and baguettes. They were all fantastic--and what's better is that they are not overpriced! I've also seen a couple people pick up custom-made cakes from here. Indoor seating has kind of old, homey vibes--reminds me of my grandma's--maybe because their cute tables are old sewing machines like my grandma used to use! The lady in the counter is also always sweet and friendly. Note: They have kind of odd hours and random early closing/vacation sometimes--it would be wise to call/check their facebook page when you plan to check this place out. PS: can someone explain to me why almond croissant kind of has a cherry hint sometimes? A mystery to me. I asked the French Corner Lady about their almond croissant and she was as confused as I was. Had almond croissant in a couple other bakeries after and noted a hint of cherry flavor as well.

    Melanie M.

    You. Guys. I had NO idea this place was here. We were going out to dinner at a restaurant near here and just happened to see it while stopped at a stop light and thought, "We will check it out if it's still open when we are done with dinner." So so so glad it was. Don't let the outside fool you, this is a gem! The decor was cute and French themed. We ordered a cannoli, chocolate peanut butter thing (I didn't anticipate loving this place and wish I would've taken better pics and descriptions) and one of every flavor macaron they had left. I didn't plan on getting the chocolate macaron (I don't love chocolate, don't judge) and the owner (playfully) chastised me about not knowing good chocolate. Needless to say I also got one of the chocolate macarons. First of all, all of the stuff we got was ten dollars and some change. TEN DOLLARS. I was shocked and honestly thought they forgot one of our items. Everything was so delicious. Our favorite was the chocolate peanut butter thing. 10/10 would recommend. The macarons were great and the cannoli was nice and fresh. We ABSOLUTELY will be back and I would recommend going to check this place out.

    Wonderful ambiance. Unique use of old sewing machine tables. Great food!!

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    17 days ago

    Friendly family owned bakery. The baked goods are delicious. The atmosphere is cozy and unique. I will definitely return.

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    Great pastries and good selection, both sweet and savory. Cute spaces to sit and enjoy coffee, conversation and food.

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    Ninth Street Bakery

    Ninth Street Bakery

    4.2
    (328 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $

    This is our favorite bakery in the area for several reasons. There is a wide variety of baked goods…read moreto choose from and nothing is too sweet. They make cookies, pastries, breads (pan loaf and hand-formed ones), soups, hand pies, and sandwiches. The variety is amazing. During the holiday season, they offer larger pies and have various seasonal goods to offer. But what's also wonderful is this bakery gives back to the community in many ways. During the height of the pandemic, they offered free bagged lunch to anyone who needed one. They also were (are?) part of the pilot project for Durham's guaranteed income. It looks to me that the owners/company are concerned about being good citizens of the community and that's a great thing. These days, so many companies get bought out by private equity companies. I hope this bakery continues to be locally owned and operated! (Also, generally this bakery isn't offering the very fancy European/European-ish style pastries which is fine by me. The prices are very reasonable, possibly in part because they aren't trying to make their baked goods a "high end" item. There are other good local bakeries that offer "high end" pastries, but they are also much less affordable and for my taste, too rich.)

    Cinnamon roll...tasty, flaky, warm, flavorful it was great. There was indoor and outdoor seating…read more Staff was great, friendly, and helpful. Will def go back!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Chocolate brownie
    Chocolate brownie
    Chicken & tomato pesto sandwich, Mediterranean tuna sandwich

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    Chicken & tomato pesto sandwich, Mediterranean tuna sandwich
    Miel Bon Bons

    Miel Bon Bons

    4.3
    (82 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Called in on a tuesday to get a last minute bday cake but they had a private event and wernt open…read more They still answered the phone and told me to come in the next morning and pick up a cake. The lady in front was super friendly and accommodating. Could definitely see the hard work in the product they make. I tried the yuzu lemon and lavender fog truffle. After trying it i knew the decadent chocolate cake was going to be delicious. Ended up getting a 10" cake which was plenty for 13 people with leftovers. Really good cake and decorated really nicely. Did not dissapoint. I would stop by and get another cake just to try it.

    Miel Bon Bons is a cute little artisanal chocolate shop and bakery nestled within Brightleaf…read moreDistrict! We got a pack of 8 chocolates (admittedly they did cost a pretty penny haha), which ranked from my most to least favorite are: 1. Horchata: So good, the horchata essence hit me as soon as I took a bite. Very cinnamony, very milky & creamy. 2. Passionfruit: I'm a sucker for anything passionfruit. The curd-like filling did not taste artificial at all. 3. Almond cardamom: Topped with a real almond, but more cardamom forward, reminded me of chai. 4. Hazelnut sassy monkey: Distinguished more coffee than banana, but it was there. Also liked the layer of crunch. 5. Raspberry lychee: The raspberry jam was strong and tasty, the floral essence from lychee was subtle. 6. Sesame matcha: Surprisingly citrusy? I did taste some bitterness from the matcha and appreciated the earthy sesame crust. 7. Ube: Sadly did not detect much ube flavor. 8. Earl grey lavender: Definitely the prettiest, but tasted like what I imagine soap would taste like. In terms of whether the chocolate is worth the price: I've never had this experience of trying such diverse and interesting chocolate flavors before so it was for me. Ambiance is nice, I think there was only outside seating. There's good parking nearby in the Brightleaf lots or on W Pettigrew St. Service was fast and friendly. 8/10 would recommend!

    Photos
    Pecan pie
    Pecan pie
    Macaroons!
    Macaroons!
    Miel Bon Bons

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    Sweets by Shayda

    Sweets by Shayda

    4.7
    (86 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    This bakery is amazing! I stopped by here on a random weekday and loved the strawberry and cream…read moremacaron and it was SO delicious I had to come back for a box! Truly, these are the most delicious macarons I've ever tasted, and I've had way too many! These have a great bite to them, slightly chewy texture and the smoothest, TASTIEST filling ever. I tried the Bridgerton themed Early Grey one to the double chocolate and black sesame, my favorites are the nutella (not too sweet but tastes heavenly) and strawberries and cream. I think everyone in the rtp should try these at least once!! I know it's going to be the hostess gift I grab whenever I visit friends from now on. They've got also a great selection of baked goods and the chocolate crThey've also got a great selection of baked goods and the chocolate croissants are perfectly flaky and delicious!ssiants are perfectly flaky and delicious!

    Checked out this bakery on the way to Durham since I had it bookmarked and wanted to try out their…read moremacarons. We happen to arrive as they were taking freshly baked croissants out of the oven so we opted for one of those as well. I was impressed with both and would return if I'm in the area. I enjoyed the variety of flavors available to choose from in regards to the macrons. I selected a 6 pack and liked the birthday cake flavor and salted caramel the most. The croissant was quite delicious as well. The bakery is located downtown so you will have to find parking, that was the only inconvenient aspect of it. It wasn't busy when we arrived so I wonder if they would have more customers if it were located in a section with more foot traffic or easier parking. Overall we had a pleasant experience.

    Photos
    Sweets by Shayda
    Sweets by Shayda
    Macarons

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    Macarons
    La Recette Patisserie

    La Recette Patisserie

    4.9
    (49 reviews)
    9.2 mi

    "VERY hole-in-the-wall Middle Eastern patisserie"…read more This gives hole-in-the-wall new meaning. The location is in a strip-mall that's set back a ways from 55, so it's not really visible from the street at all. However, it's weirder than that-- you have to drive AROUND the strip mall to the back, past the various loading docks for other stores, and they you see this place is open just from the BACK of the strip mall. I heard the owner is Algerian, but there are many Palestinian references and flags around the shop, so if that's triggering, then know this in advance before coming in. Still, the place is brightly lit and airy, with tables to eat. They do custom cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts, but we just wanted to sample some sweets. Hours are funny-- just midday Friday through Sunday. We ordered a pecan brownie and a pistachio chocolate dish with kunafa (shredded Middle Eastern pastry), as well as a mocha coffee. The mocha coffee was rich and delicious, as expected. The pistachio chocolate dish with kunafa was to-die-for... SO delicious. Super thick and messy, as you'd hope it would be. And of course the pecan brownie was amazing. I will say the pastries are not "cheap". I got a single tahini chocolate chip cookie to go for a friend, and that was $4.50 for a modest sized cookie. The other dishes above were in the $6 range. But these are unusual custom-made dishes, so it's fair.

    I don't speak French, but trying to find this place left me wondering if the name means "receded"…read moreor something like that, because it is hidden away. in the back of a shopping center. Both the atmosphere and the menu are a mix of French and Arabic, so I got a cherry-infused chocolate cake and some sort of cheese and za'atar savory bun, along with a cardamom chai. The chai flavor was interesting, but not altogether strong, while the cake was as delicious as it looked. My cheese pastry was strongly salty, for better or for worse. The price reflects the quality of the food more than the location, let's say, but I was glad I went.

    Photos
    Mini lemon tarts
    Mini lemon tarts
    Cake pops
    Cake pops
    Macarons

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    Macarons
    AJ's Cheesecakes

    AJ's Cheesecakes

    4.4
    (25 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    OMG!!!!! I have to say AJ is awesome and the cheesecakes are better than..... well let's just…read moresay they are amazing. We strolled in the other night after 10pm looking to find something sweet and found a little bite of heaven right there in Durham. Thanks AJ from the KY boys. We will be back. Even if it takes 9 hours to get there.

    I absolutely love this place. The cheesecakes have NO preservatives which I absolutely love because…read moreI have allergies to preservatives in food. I have to admit that I can't visit as often as I like because I'm diabetic but what I have had, has been great! I love the caramel cheesecake, the red velvet cheesecake, and strawberry cheesecake. I feel the cost is a little on the high side, HOWEVER, you get what you pay for! An excellent melt in your mouth cheesecake without an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis! Worth every penny and I have spent quite a lot pennies at this place. When you get a cheesecake, be forewarned that it more than likely is frozen- it has to be since there are no preservatives!! I like to get home and cut it into 4ths and put back into the freezer to freeze them to keeep them from getting to soft and mushy since I only eat a 1/4 at a time. Plus it's easier to cut them when they are frozen. My only wish is that they had a sugar free version.... But then again, maybe it's a blessing in disguise! I would be there every week and my pocketbook would be tapped out! They do also have vegan cheesecakes, and I tried two- but I honestly wasn't very fond of them. I think they had a good flavor, but it was a texture issue for me and a personal preference. So don't hold that against them! I'm sure if you're vegan, you would appreciate them. Another note: they have odd hours in my opinion. The only time I can go get my cheesecake fix is when I'm on this side of Durham- (my job is driving everywhere in the RTP and further, and when I don't end my day on this side of Durham, I don't make the special trip. They open at 4:00.

    Photos
    AJ's Cheesecakes
    Oreo Cheesecake
    Oreo Cheesecake
    AJ's Cheesecakes

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    The French Corner Bakery - bakeries - Updated July 2026

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