Growing up in New Jersey, I figured a box of Italian pastries and a crusty loaf of bread on Sundays was a universal experience—something every kid had access to no matter where they lived. Every single family get-together started with a fresh loaf of Italian bread and ended with a box of eclairs, cannoli, Napoleons and sfogliatella. Hell, even funerals ended with a plate of pignoli cookies or the crunchy sesame ones I can never seem to remember the name of.
It wasn’t until I grew up and traveled the country a bit when I discovered that it wasn’t just pizza and bagels that were hard to come by, but the Italian bakery scene was sorely lacking everywhere outside of the Northeast U.S too. Across the entirety of my beloved New Jersey is a myriad of Italian bakeries and pastry shops. Some specialize in breads, others focus on pastries—many do both. They’re there for every holiday and you can even find traces of their products throughout the regional grocery chains.
I’ve never met an Italian bakery I didn’t like, but some are better than others. These are the 21 best Italian bakeries and pastry shops across New Jersey.
Aversa’s Italian Bakery
Brigantine, Margate and Turnersville, NJ
With three locations, Aversa’s Italian Bakery does a little bit of everything. Fresh-baked breads, pizza, stromboli, breakfast sandwiches, and of course, a case filled with Italian sweet treats. It’s a true one-stop shop where you can grab breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.
Bread & Salt
Jersey City, NJ
If you take anything away from this list, it should be that Bread & Salt is a must. Located in the Jersey City Heights, Bread & Salt isn’t your typical “Jersey Italian” spot. Savory torta salata, pizza rustica, handmade sandwiches and panettone for the holidays is just the start. Bread & Salt is not just one of the best bakeries in Jersey, it’s one of the best eateries, period.
Calandra’s
Newark, Fairfield, Caldwell, NJ
If you’re from North Jersey, then you know Calandra’s. Since 1962, this staple has been dishing out thousands of loaves and pastries each and every day. With multiple locations, full-service restaurants and even hotels, Calandra’s is still dishing out the same quality that made them famous to begin with. In addition to their operation, Calandra’s delivers product to over 500 restaurants, delis and supermarkets.
Clemente Bakery
South Hackensack, NJ
Fresh-filled cannoli and rainbow cookies are abundant, but it’s the bread that Clemente Bakery is really known for. Originally opened in Union City in 1974, Clemente now operates out of South Hackensack, where they have established themselves as a local favorite for baked goods, desserts and the piled-high Italian subs on their housemade bread.
Del Buono’s Bakery and Carmen’s Deli
Haddon Heights, NJ
Del Buono’s is a staple in Haddon Heights for fresh bread and rolls, Italian pizzelle cookies, stuffed sandwiches and more. They even do Philadelphia-style pretzels which is something you won’t find many other places on this list. Just look for the signature gorilla statue on the roof and you’re one step closer to some exceptional Italian delights.
Deluxe Italian Bakery
Runnemede, NJ
For over 70 years, Deluxe Italian Bakery has been serving top-notch Italian pastries and breads in Camden County. Beyond the usual suspects such as sfogliatella and cream puffs are fresh pizzelle cookies, cream-stuffed donuts and custom cakes.
Farinolio
Westfield and Summit, NJ
This Florentine bakery takes a sharp detour from your usual “Jersey Italian” pastry shop. Instead, Farinolio specializes in authentic treats like custard-filled bomboloni and sweet focaccia stuffed with grapes and walnuts. Past sweets are some of the best sandwiches you’ll find in NJ—stuffing imported meats and cheese into their irresistible schiacciata bread.
Gencarelli’s
Bloomfield and Wayne, NJ
When Gencarelli’s opened in 1975 on Broad Street in Bloomfield, the Gencarelli family would’ve never guessed what it would grow into. Today, with two locations, Gencarelli’s is still dishing out the same great Italian pastries, cakes and more that put them on the map. If you’re from Essex County, you can almost guarantee that you’ve had a Gencarelli’s cannoli before.
Italian Peoples Bakery
Mercerville and Trenton, NJ
Italian Peoples Bakery began serving Trenton all the way back in 1936. They have since expanded to Mercerville and even into PA for a third location. Expect handmade pastries, cakes, crusty bread, sandwiches and the fan-favorite donuts. Nearby groceries and delis also carry their products.
Jersey Artisan Co.
East Hanover, NJ
Sal Pisani originally opened Jersey Artisan Co. to bring hand-crafted cheeses—made with milk from New Jersey cows—to East Hanover. And while that’s still the focus, they’ve got plenty of excellent baked goods to go around. Their naturally leavened breads utilize leftover whey from the cheesemaking process as a fermentation agent. It’s some of the best ciabatta, focaccia and sourdough that I’ve ever had, so while not a traditional bakery, Jersey Artisan Co. has earned its rightful spot on this list.
Read my full story about Jersey Artisan Co.
L’Arte della Pasticceria
Ramsey, NJ
Tiramisu and rum-soaked cakes called Baba are just the beginning at this Bergen County staple. Adding to the allure is a wide range of Neapolitan and Sicilian desserts, strong espresso and an assortment of housemade gelato, sorbetto and granita. If you’re there in the morning, the Sicilian Breakfast is a must, which lands you a fluffy brioche roll and a bowl of tart seasonal granita to dip it in. Sweet treat for breakfast? It’s the Italian way.
Liscio’s
Sewell and Sicklerville, NJ
Liscio’s is a bread bakery, and if you’ve travelled through South Jersey and Philly looking for the best hoagie or cheesesteak, chances are you’ve had a Liscio’s roll. A variety of breads are made at their state-of-the-art facility, but it’s the seeded loaf that’s all the rage these days. As a cheesesteak fanatic myself, a Liscio’s roll is a thing of pure beauty.
Lyndhurst Pastry Shop
Lyndhurst, NJ
I grew up at Lyndhurst Pastry Shop. Not actually, but I did grow up eating their pastries and Italian ice frequently. Every single family get-together ended with a box of pastries from LPS. In the summer, pints of Italian ice too. The fan-favorite Yum-Yum flavored Italian ice is a must try for any newcomer. Think of it as a cross between vanilla and sweet cream. I’ve been eating it for 27 years and I still don’t really know what flavor it truly is—but I sure get it every single time.
Maria’s Italian Bakery
Saddle Brook, NJ
Custom cakes and display cases filled to the brim with fresh pastries define Maria’s Italian Bakery in Saddle Brook, which is about as classic as you can get when it comes to an Italian-American bakery. Napoleons, donuts and Zeppoli di San Giuseppe are just some of the house favorites.
Mattarello Bakery & Café
Montclair, NJ
Cream-stuffed lobster tail, apricot tarts and spongy sfogliatella can be found in abundance at Mattarello. The Upper Montclair bakery is dishing out authentic Italian and Italian-American favorites daily. Beyond sweets, check out their impressive lunch and dinner menu.
Palermo’s Bakery and Cafe
Ridgefield Park and Little Ferry, NJ
This bakery is famous in the area for their beautiful cakes and pastries. Palermo’s second location in Little Ferry offers the same great treats with the addition of a full-service cafe. Paninis, brick-oven pizza, wine and more are available at the Palermo Cafe.
Palazzone 1960
Wayne, NJ
In 1960, two Italian immigrants opened a tiny bakery in Clifton before packing up shop a decade later and moving back to Italy. Fast forward four decades, their son Giancarlo moves back to The States to open a bakery in their name. Palazzone 1960 dishes out breathtaking pastries, pastas, specialty coffees and paninis to their base of loyal customers. It’s one of the most authentic entries on this list.
Palazzone Pastry Lab is now open around the corner in Little Falls.
Prato Bakery
Jersey City and Hoboken, NJ
This Tuscan-style bakery is a favorite in JC and Hoboken. Prato sells a variety of pastries and baked goods that you need to try, but it’s the beloved biscuit-like cookies with dried apricot, almond and chocolate, called cantucci, that you have to get. A crunchy, nutty cookie with a shot of rich espresso? It doesn’t get much better (or more Italian) than that.
Rispoli Pastry Shop and Cafe
Ridgefield, Emerson and Hawthorne, NJ
“One Name, One Family, One Tradition” is the Rispoli motto, which dates back to their opening in 1937. This staple has been in the Rispoli family for three generations and there’s no sign of slowing down. And just in case you don’t live in Jersey anymore (a shame), you can still enjoy Rispoli pastries with nationwide shipping.
Second Street Bakery
Jersey City, NJ
If you want a taste of old-school Jersey City, then this is your place. Second Street leans heavy on the savory side of things with sandwiches, breads and more. Saucy meatballs stuffed into fresh-baked brick oven bread? Yeah, I’ll wait in line for that. For those with a sweet tooth, the fresh-baked cinnamon bread is a favorite that’s offered daily.
Sorrento Bakery
East Hanover, NJ
Sorrento Bakery is another one of those places that you can only find in NJ or New York. A place where you can pick up a box of cannoli and a sandwich to eat on the car ride home. Beyond are ice cream cakes, Italian Napoleon and shelves stacked high with hard-to-find Italian imports. A one-stop shop for re-stocking your fridge and pantry with Italian delights.
BONUS: Carlo’s Bake Shop
Hoboken, NJ and Nationwide
When Cake Boss aired on TLC in 2009, it put this Hoboken institution on the map for good. The show centered around Owner Buddy Valastro’s mystifying cakes. But, before the glitz and glamor, Carlo’s Bake Shop was known as a classic Italian-American bakery, dishing out all of the favorites like cannoli, pignoli cookies and more since 1964.
With several locations across the U.S., restaurants and even a line of vending machines serving slices of their famous cake, it’s safe to say that Carlo’s Bake Shop is no longer a niche Jersey gem.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
