You can have your Tous les Jours and Paris Baguettes. Yes, the proven international brands know what they’re doing, but for our money, the best bites meant to be paired with a coffee or tea come from NoVA originals. From Korean to French to Saudi, the international influences on the sips and sweets at our neighborhood third spaces make our bakery-cafés all the more special.
Breeze Bakery
We love a slice of Black Forest, but the mango mousse cake here, dotted with black cherries, is a whole new level for fruity layer cake lovers. Simpler pleasures include a fresh fruit cream cake complete with slices of peach, and green tea chiffon. Prefer to drink your dessert? Get an affogato made with housemate gelato. 4125 Hummer Rd., Annandale
Château de Chantilly
Since opening late in 2020, the desserts here have only grown in quality and scope. Laminated dough plays a part in a variety of croissant-descended treats, from croffles to the orgasmic chocolate cruffin. But the refrigerated case is where much of the magic happens. The colorful creations range from a take on the Paris-Brest to originals featuring high-quality chocolate. Order them with a rose latte or crème brûlée cappuccino. 13974 Metrotech Dr., Chantilly
Dolce & Ciabatta
Chef-owner Godfrey McKenzie crafts breads, upscale desserts, and a passel of viennoiseries every day using his French-honed pastry knowledge. Pair your éclair, cream puff, or chocolate croissant with a gingerbread latte from the espresso bar, or grab a sandwich for breakfast or lunch. The turkey, with Emmentaler cheese, housemade cranberry sauce, and sweet sautéed bell peppers on multigrain bread, is particularly memorable. 9H Catoctin Cir. SW, Leesburg
Pastry Xpo
The Lebanese and French pastries from chef-owner Tony Srour run slightly sweet, so be sure to enhance your cupcake or trio chocolate terrine with a coffee. The Lord Baltimore dessert features almond macarons, vanilla cake, vanilla kirsch cream, and morello cherries, for a delightful blend of light vanilla and fruit. It’s fantastic with a Queen Bee latte, flavored with honey and cardamom. 8190 Strawberry Ln., Ste. 6, Falls Church
Shilla Bakery
NoVA’s homegrown Euro-informed Korean bakery chain excels at making both Asian-style buns and classic layer cakes. Grab a brown sugar boba latte and sip it with slice of blueberry crêpe cake, strawberry buttercream cake, or green tea chiffon. Bookmark this spot for occasions that call for a whole cake, too. The expertly decorated desserts look like bears, baby chickens, and piglets, to name just a few. Multiple locations
Shotted Specialty Coffee
Pistachio reigns supreme at this Saudi-inspired café inside Tysons Galleria. Get a sweet-and-nutty pistachio latte, either hot or iced, then pair it with a round pistachio basbousa. The Egyptian-bred dessert may look like a doughnut, but it’s actually a crumbly, syrup-soaked semolina cake. If you have time to stick around, get the Moroccan tea service for a minty caffeinated delight. 7860 Tysons Corner Center, Tysons
Le Vingt-Trois Café
Set back from the action in a Herndon warehouse park, it may be easy to miss this French café, but one taste of its slices of layer cake, biscuits au chocolat, and sandwiches like a freshly toasted Croque Monsieur, and it will be worth the pilgrimage. Unusual coffee drinks include the Blanc de Blanc, a white mocha latte with vanilla. 311 Sunset Park Dr., Herndon
Feature image of Château de Chantilly by Alice Levitt
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