Food News

This Maine bakery is among the best in America, according to NYT

If you're willing to drive north from Boston, you'll find flaky croissants, apple cider caramel Kouign-amann, and savory hand pies on this Camden, Maine menu.

The Place, which sells baked goods and pastries, was picked as a top bakery in the U.S. by the New York Times. The Place

By Katelyn Umholtz

December 30, 2024

1 minute to read

This year it has seemed like a bakery or two have opened around Greater Boston every month. And nationally, The New York Times is calling the moment the “golden age” of American bakeries, putting out a list of our nation’s best bakeries — with only one New England pick.

For some reason, celebrated bakeries in Greater Boston, like Sofra Bakery and Cafe and La Saison Bakery, didn’t make the cut, but the paper of record gave New Englanders another reason to visit coastal Maine.

The Place in Camden, Maine, was among 22 of the nation’s best bakeries, according to several food writers for the New York Times.

“At the Place, a tiny bakery in Camden, Maine, the ethereally flaky croissant dough (made with local flour and butter) appears in many forms and flavors — swirled into cinnamon buns, folded and sugared into kouign-amanns, layered into loaves,” Melissa Clark wrote.

This tiny bakery is located less than a mile from downtown Camden, and serves a wide range of baked goods and pastries like savory and sweet croissants, holiday-themed cookies, pies, and cakes. Its menu changes frequently based on seasonal ingredients, the Times reports.

The owners, Chelsea Kravitz and Chris Dawson, told Bangor Daily News that they didn’t know they made the NYT list until a customer told them.

“I was sure she was mistaken until a few more people came in and said the same thing,” Kravitz told the Maine outlet.

Eager to head north to try a bite from one of the country’s best bakeries? You’ll have to wait until Jan. 18, when the shop reopens after a long winter break.

The bakery is typically only open Friday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. until noon or when they sell out of goods.