There’s something special about picking up some fresh bread, tarts, pies, and other baked goods while on vacation. This statement is particularly true when staying in a vacation rental because you can store these items in your kitchen before enjoying them for the next day’s breakfast or dessert.
Yarmouth is home to numerous high-end bakeries, each of which offers something a little different. You’ll find these venues all over town, so you shouldn’t have to travel far to grab something tasty.
Here’s a look at the top five bakeries you might want to visit while on vacation in Yarmouth, MA.
1) Scapicchio’s Bakery
Route 28 in South Yarmouth is home to a few bakeries, starting with Scapicchio’s. At Scapicchio’s Bakery, you’ll find a wide selection of Italian and American pies, cookies, cakes, and pastries, in addition to some of the best Italian-style bread available anywhere on Cape Cod. You can grab pizza by the slice or pie, as well, if you’re looking for something a little more substantial.
The bakery is owned and operated by Matthew Scapicchio, who got his start in Italian-style baking at the age of 16 before finally opening a bakery of his own. Matthew’s wife, son, and daughter all work at Scapicchio’s, so this is a genuine local, family-run business.
You won’t want to miss Scapicchio’s Bakery because many Yarmouth locals believe it’s the best in town.
2) Englewood Baking Company
Traveling down Route 28 into West Yarmouth takes you to the Englewood Baking Company, another local favorite offering outstanding options for Cape Cod visitors. The Englewood Baking Company is a relatively new business, having first opened its doors in 2019, and they only offer take-out service at the moment. Still, they’re quickly establishing themselves in the community.
Most people who check out Englewood appreciate the small-batch baking and the attention to detail they provide. They also like that everything is made on-site and from scratch.
As for the menu, you’ll find a good selection of breakfast sandwiches, muffins, biscuits, croissants, and quiches in the morning, if you want to stop by for breakfast. They have French bread, garlic focaccia, Scali loaf, and oatmeal bread, as well. Keep in mind that you’ll have to order some items the night before due to the bakery’s small size.
3) Happy Fish Bakery
Main Street in Yarmouth Port is home to Happy Fish Bakery, which sits in a historic home in one of the oldest parts of town. The atmosphere in this area is reason enough to visit, as you can explore the neighborhood and get up close to buildings that are over 300 years old.
If you’re staying in Yarmouth Port, this is the place to go for bread, as they have focaccia, Miche, Cape levain, and sesame baton, to name a few. They also have an excellent pastry menu featuring croissants, sticky buns, babka, and brioche. You can grab a coffee, latte, espresso, or cappuccino at Happy Fish Bakery, and they even serve iced coffee drinks.
Happy Fish Bakery has recently entered the world of cheese, too, as they’ve brought in some excellent options from all over Europe and the United States that you’ve likely never sampled before.
4) Great Island Bakery
The Bass River area of South Yarmouth is home to Great Island Bakery, another small facility with an outdoor dining area and a breakfast menu. If you come in the morning, you can grab a breakfast sandwich or quiche, and they also have muffins, cinnamon rolls, danishes, turnovers, croissants, and sticky buns.
The bread menu at Great Island Bakery is equally impressive, featuring options like Italian, multi-grain, Irish soda, cranberry, oatmeal, and honey wheat. They make carrot, coffee, and lemon cake, too.
Great Island Bakery stays open for lunch, serving clam chowder, chili, clam pie, shepherd’s pie, chicken pie, and mac-n-cheese in the afternoon. They also have cookies, cheesecake, brownies, donuts, cobbler, and cupcakes for dessert.
You can stop by Great Island Bakery at pretty much any time, and you won’t be disappointed.
5) The Bashful Tarte
There’s an industrial area in Yarmouth Port just south of the Mid-Cape Highway that is home to some contractors and specialty stores. You’ll also find the Yarmouth Shopping Mall, Sea Dog Brew Pub, and The Bashful Tarte in the area.
Despite its somewhat obscure location for visitors to the Cape, The Bashful Tarte is well worth your time because of its pies, cakes, and other treats. They put a lot of effort into their pie creations, including fruit and cream options, making them a great choice if you’re planning a special dessert.
There’s also an on-site cafe at The Bashful Tarte where you can grab baked goods, muffins, scones, or a breakfast sandwich in the morning before continuing with your day.
If your sweet tooth is calling your name on your Cape Cod vacation, The Bashful Tarte should be your first stop.
Delicious Options in Yarmouth
All of these bakeries on Cape Cod are worth your time because each provides something a little different. Some make excellent bread, while others are known for their prepared breakfast or desserts, providing you with plenty of reasons to check them out.
One thing for sure is that you’ll be well-fed on your Cape Cod vacation because there are bakeries and other dining options everywhere you look.