Best bakeries: These shops and panaderias offer delicious baked goods

The art of baking was popularized during the Roman Empire, when baked goods were a must for special occasions such as feasts and weddings. Today, we celebrate National Bakery Day on Sept. 20 every year.

Bakeries — defined as makers and sellers of flour-based goods baked in ovens — typically feature a variety of breads, cookies, cakes, doughnuts, bagels, pastries, pies and more. Some are categorized as cafés, also offering coffee and tea for those who want to eat their baked goods on-site.

There are only a few traditional bakeries on the Treasure Coast, as well as several Latin grocery stores that have bakery sections with traditional Mexican breads, cookies and pastries.

Here are some of the best bakeries in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.

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Importico's Bakery Café

Importico aims to preserve the art of traditional European baking. Its breads and baked goods are made by artisans who use century-old methods inspired by old-world French and Italian bakeries. It offers a wide variety of breads, sweet and savory croissants, Danishes, scones, tarts, brownies and other baked goods. It also serves breakfast and brunch items. There are two locations on the Treasure Coast:

• 134 S. Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce; 772-429-3435; website
• 3800 S.E. Dixie Highway, Stuart; 772-286-0204; website

A Kitchen of Her Own AKOHO

AKOHO is known for its wide array of freshly baked homemade quiches. It also offers an assortment of desserts, sweet and savory tarts, pastries, cakes and croissants. On top of that, it serves homemade soups and non-traditional vegetarian curries and bowls. They serve Rio Coco coffee, Hani Honey, LBJ Farms Eggs and Yami's homemade ice cream bars. The owner, Shari Pierce, is devoted to creating a space to empower women and girls who suffer from domestic violence, abuse and any other type of discrimination.

9090 N. U.S. 1, Sebastian; 772-571-5880; website

Cravings

Mary Sue, Marty and Martin Walker own Cravings on Ocean Drive in Vero Beach's beachside downtown area. Mary Sue was one of nine children and grew up baking for everyone. Eventually, this skill became even more useful when she and her husband opened Cravings in the small resort town of Harbor Springs, Michigan. In 1984, they expanded in that state to Charlevoix and Mackinaw Island, then their new hometown of Vero Beach. Cravings is especially known for its cookies, as well as brownies, sweet breads, sweet and savory croissants, bagels, cinnamon rolls, cakes and granolas. It also offers ice cream, sandwiches, salads, coffee drinks, smoothies, paninis, acai bowls and wraps.

3149 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach; 772-231-0208; website

Slice of Paris

Salah Fekih, who was trained by a colleague in France, opened Slice of Paris in 1998. The bakery uses natural ingredients from French suppliers, giving them a fresh-from-France taste. It offers a variety of homemade pastries along with breakfast and lunch items.

879 17th St., Vero Beach; 772-999-0166 (no website or Facebook)

St. Lucie Bakery

St. Lucie Bakery is a family owned and operated business that has been serving the Treasure Coast for over 30 years. It is an Italian bakery that offers donuts, crumb cakes, turnovers, cakes, cookies and an assortment of pastries. It also serves Italian fare and ready-to-go meals.

1066 S.W. Bayshore Blvd., Port St. Lucie; 772-344-3609; website

Costa Café & More

Costa is a Brazilian café and bakery that serves breads, baked goods, breakfast, Brazilian bites and a variety of other food items.

2756 Brigantine Place, Port St. Lucie; 772-777-4124; Facebook

Jennifer's Bakery

Jennifer's Bakery offers cakes, cheesecakes, tortes, cookies, pies, tarts and a variety of other baked goods. It also specializes in customized desserts for events.

2431 S.E. Ocean Blvd, Stuart; 772-569-8989; website

Bomboloni Bakery

Bomboloni is an Italian-Hungarian bakery café offering breakfast and lunch, a wide variety of homemade artisan pastries, bread, coffee and more.

3980 N.W. Highway, Jensen Beach; 772-261-8913; website

Mexican panaderias

• La Primavera Grocery Store: 2729 S. U.S. 1, Fort Pierce
• Garcia Plaza Bakery: 2 S. Pine St., Fellsmere
• Garcia Plaza Bakery 2: 702 S. 25th St., Fort Pierce
• Azteca Mexican Store: 102 Angle Road, Fort Pierce
• Azteca Mexican Store II: 24 S. Lime St., Fellsmere