It is said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. This holds true especially when it comes to the goodies from the neighborhood bakery. And Mumbai has its fair share of those. Young or old, man or woman, the bakery is a joint which caters to the taste buds of all. Some of the ones in my list are so old that they define Mumbai while the others are the new kids on the block. Both will tickle your palate with their delicacies.
Kyani & Co.
Dotting one of Dhobi Talao’s quaint by lanes; the century old Kyani Bakery has won the hearts of most Mumbaikars, especially South Mumbai for decades. This Irani joint has carved a niche for itself with its wine biscuits, puffs, patties and cakes. Their most famous offering, the elaichi chai and the brun maska bread has been the favourite of many generations.
Location: Marine Lines
Yazdani Bakery
Established in 1955, this is one bakery where you shouldn’t go by the looks of it but rather by the exciting range of goodies. The Apple Pie here is simply to die for. It also serves a variety of healthy confectionaries like the ginger and oatmeal raisin cookies. Their twisted khari and multigrain bread draws in the crowd from the far flung suburbs too. This bakery is known to even attract many international tourists and especially the Germans.
Location: Fort
CeleJor
A bakery chain since 2005 that has made its presence felt in many parts of Mumbai, CeleJor has an appetizing menu. On offer are various scrumptious tarts, puffs, croissants and doughnuts. The cheesecake and cheese straws are a favourite with many. The mousse is delightfully presented in little cups of joy. CeleJor cakes are the first choice for most celebrations.
Location: Colaba, Khar, Mahim, Santacruz
City Bakery
For many years, City Bakery has held its place as one of the foremost suppliers of the typically delicious bakery items. Their USP lies in the reasonable prices that they offer. Their menu includes a range of biscuits, breads, rolls, pastries, cakes and evening snack items too. Their Date and Walnut cake is something most sought after during Christmas. City bakery opens at 5:30 am and closes at 11:30pm.
Location: Worli Naka
A-1 Bakery
The queen of the suburbs is home to this unassuming bakery. It sprang into the limelight with the unfortunate hit and run case of actor Salman Khan. But trust me, the bakery gets its true credit from the tempting spread that it offers. From mutton and chicken patties and puffs to its variety of chicken rolls, most of the stuff is sold out by early evening. The cutlets and croquets have a huge fan following, making A1 bakery a hot favourite with the college crowd.
Location: Bandra West
American Express Bakery
There is a popular remark about this bakery which says that it’s as old as your grandparents. True, as this bakery has been functioning for eight decades now and has managed to still be at the epitome of the baking business. Although AEB does not display its daily rotating menu, it has days reserved for special delicacies which their regular customers know by heart. Their menu is also different from its newbie competitors around. The ambience and the recipes have the old world charm in them. Their Hungarian Coffee Cake, Honey Brown, multigrain breads and the popular sundried tomato and basil bread are things to die for. Other regulars like Chocolate Muffin, Walnut Cake, Strawberry and Blueberry Cheesecake will also bring you immense happiness.
Location: Hill Road, Bandra
210 degrees
This bakery is a melting pot of delights that could send a sweet tooth foodie into ecstasy. Star ratings make it stand out in an internet search, and all for a good reason. Their menu includes a “popular” section right on the front page comprising a spatter of different pastries. The Choco Chip and the Swiss Truffle seem to be the crowd pullers. Add to this are the premium offerings like mousse cakes and cheesecakes. Also check out the different breads, savouries, puffs and cookies. The fun doesn’t stop here, as there are a range of Pound Cakes, Muffins, Jams, Donuts and Danish, all exotic in taste but easy on the pocket.
Location: Churchgate
Oven Fresh 
This quaint outlet is a bakery and restaurant rolled into one. A pure veg menu albeit egg preparations, draws customers from across the city. The dessert counter at the entrance is the heart of the outlet. Blueberry cheesecake, Danish pastries, muffins, brownies and macrons hold you spellbound while you decide your sweet poison. They pride themselves on producing all their breads, sponges, ice creams etc in- house which gives them an edge for instant selling. Besides this, the restaurant serves a happening menu of Continental, Mexican, Mediterranean and Italian fare. From soups, salads to sizzlers they ensure that you have a sublime experience here.
Location: Shivaji Park, Dadar
J. Hearsch & Co.
Just a stone’s throw from the Holy Family Hospital, this tiny place is worth the search. Known best for its Chicken – centric items like the Chicken Burger, Chicken Roti Roll and Chinese Chicken dishes; it also offers a decent veg menu. The puffs and sandwiches are a quick bite for the many collegians and school crowd that visit the place. In the sweet department, delights like the “Death by Chocolate” and the Shrewsbury Biscuits will surely tickle your taste buds.
Location: Hill Road, Bandra West
Theobroma
To get a table at the renowned Theobroma, feels like a dream come true. Although not many square feet wide, this bakery chain is crowded at almost all hours of the day. A prestigious mention in TripAdvisor puts this bakery on par with some of the best. For the dedicated chocoholics the C7 – a seven layered chocolate nirvana and the 3 layered chocolate mousse comes a close second. Theobroma has an extremely wide range of food offerings which includes beverages, veg and non veg snacks, pies, tarts, Danish pastries, cheesecake, and also specially prepared eggless and sugar free cakes to cater to customers with varied tastes and preferences. One is sure to take a while in deciding their order in a bakery haven like this one.
Location: Colaba, Andheri, Powai, Bandra