Best Pastries in Columbia

"Owners Cole and Aisha Pew created Dovecote Café with the motto “community first, café second.”. This charming little café in Reservoir Hill started as a passion project for owners Aisha Pew and her partner Cole, who were looking to create a community gathering spot. At Dovecote Café, you’ll find artists serving up locally roasted coffee, activists discussing politics over homey desserts like the upside-down peach cake and foodies indulging in grown-up grilled cheese and spinach pie."

"A charming local favorite in the Reservoir Hill neighborhood, Dovecote has delicious coffee, baked goods, and sandwiches, but also serves as a community hub for the neighbors. Tufted couches, local art, eclectic wallpaper and friendly workers make this an inviting spot to get a cuppa coffee along with a taste of local culture. Look out for their monthly chef’s dinner series where they invite guest chefs to cook a meal for the community."

"While cafes half as popular as this Reservoir Hill fixture discourage lingering in hopes of turning your table, the Dovecote crew goes out of its way to make sure you don't skedaddle. But the warm family vibe extends well past the hospitality into the eats. The baked goods are especially appealing, including all manner of sticky buns and muffins and the sought-after peach upside-down cake (co-owner Gilda Pew's secret recipe)."

"A single food has been known to change the course of a person’s life. For Dane Thibodeaux, co-owner of Sacre Sucre in Fells Point, it was a fig macaron he ate in Paris while on vacation. He still remembers biting into the seed of the fig jam in the middle."

"Sacre Sucre’s one of THE most amazing dessert shops I’ve ever been to, like in the world. Their work is edible art, and you absolutely need to experience their sweets firsthand. They started off with macarons, but I personally like their pastries best."

"This Fell’s Point shop offers a variety of seasonal pastries, from classics like eclairs and croissants, to special stylized apple tarts and caneles. They even offer monthly classes for you to learn how to make French macarons."

"Another one of my favorite lists of cafés in the Baltimore area, this café specializes in desserts. They sell pastries, coffee, bubble tea, and frozen yogurt. The service here is really quick, but the seating is minimal, a few couches and a few two people tables."

"A photo posted by Megan (@soupppyyy) on Mar 11, 2015 at 5:45pm PDT. This modern, family-friendly froyo shop serves up six delicious flavors and a LOT of toppings. (49 different types to be exact) If froyo isn’t your thing, don’t panic."

"People come from all over the world to have the G & M crab cake. And they take them all over the world, too. Because the restaurant is just five minutes from Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, G&M is a frequent pre-boarding stop for travelers who want to take home a Maryland crab cake or eat one on the plane."

"The lime green exterior of Spring Cafe signals a new arrival to the Avenue. Inside, owner Rose Ebadi and her parents, former physicians, are serving up tea and cuisine from their native Afghanistan. “In Afghanistan, green tea is really big,” Ebadi said."

"The famous, dark and mysterious American Author’s Baltimore home is a museum sure to serve up chills and thrills. Visitors can walk through the rooms and see artifacts that once belonged to the Poe family. If you are a Poe fan, make sure to also check out some of the local Edgar Allen Poe inspired events in and around Baltimore as well."

"The last home that renowned writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe ever lived in, this museum is filled with personal items and artifacts. Don’t miss their annual International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards!"

"The Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens is one of my favorite places in Baltimore City. It includes outdoor gardens, as well as five indoor rooms that feature a distinct environment. There’s the Palm House, Orchid Room, Desert House, Tropical House, and Mediterranean House, each with a climate and plants to match the environment."

"A true hidden gem in Baltimore, the Rawlings Conservatory is a historic greenhouse and botanical garden right next to the Maryland Zoo. Entry is donations-based, so you can pay as much as you want for total exploration of vibrant tropicals, gorgeous orchids, and a room full of impressive palms. By @willpowerphotos."

"The Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens has been in Druid Hill Park since 1888, so it’s an important part of Baltimore’s history. Who wouldn’t love to receive a marriage proposal surrounded by flowers and plants from around the world?"

"For a cool, industrial backdrop and great natural lighting inside the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower’s clock room, just pay $8 for a guided tour. Not only will you get some great shots, you’ll also learn a little Baltimore history and see some nice artwork since the tower serves as artist residences and studios.@bromotower"

"In Downtown Baltimore, you can actually go inside a real, working clock tower. After taking an elevator up 15 floors through this historic building, you’ll then climb a ship ladder to the industrial clock room. By @one.pic.at.a.tyme."

"Belvedere Square is a delightful food hall that has everything from boutique retail shops to chic, upscale restaurants – they even have a European-style market where you can buy freshly-baked bread, organic chocolate, and more. The neighborhood spot is open all year long but truly comes alive when the weather is nice. There’s plenty of outdoor seating, they often host events where they invite tons of other vendors, and their Summer Sounds at the Square concert series lets you experience local artists performing live every last Friday of the month."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user SounderBruce used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo is only for illustrative purposes. Take your shopping spree to a whole new level, and make your way to this shopping center in the heart of Northeast Baltimore."

"Then go to Belvedere Market, where there are stalls of meat, seafood, candies, cheeses, and produce. (Plus, there are free concerts every Friday evening between May 22 and August 28. Prepare to dance.)"