Bakery Nouveau (West Seattle)

Bakery Nouveau is a family-owned bakery that has been operating since 2006, and its West Seattle shop on California Avenue SW, in the Alaska Junction, is in one of the city's best-known neighbourhood shopping streets. There are also branches on 15th Avenue East in Capitol Hill and in Burien, but the West Seattle shop sits at the heart of a neighbourhood with its own independent shops and restaurants. The bakery describes its shops as places people make special trips to visit.

The counter is filled with pastries, breads and cakes, and the bread list is a particular strength. Loaves have included French Sour, Olive Ciabatta, Century Sour and German Spelt, and the Capitol Hill shop has offered a Cheddar Jalapeño Sourdough on Saturdays. Seasonal specials appear through the year; around Thanksgiving, for example, the bakery has made individual banana cream and pumpkin pies. As at most bakeries, arriving early gives you the widest choice.

The bakery is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 7am to 5pm, and closed on Monday and Tuesday. As with most popular bakeries, weekend mornings tend to be busiest, so a weekday morning visit is likely to be more relaxed.

Bakery Nouveau suits food lovers, families and anyone who wants to see a neighbourhood beyond downtown. It is a good reason to spend half a day in West Seattle, which has a different feel from the city centre. Allow 30 minutes for a coffee and pastry, or longer if you plan to browse the Junction.

Getting there from downtown is easiest by bus, car or ride-share. If you are staying on Capitol Hill, the 15th Avenue East branch is more convenient. Seasonal treats appear in the bakery's Instagram posts, so it is worth checking before visiting around the holidays. The Burien branch, south of the city, has offered extras such as peach and saffron jam alongside its pastries, and each shop has its own specials. If you plan to buy a whole cake or a large order, phone the West Seattle shop on 206 923 0534 in advance to check what is available.

The Alaska Junction is the commercial centre of West Seattle, with shops, bars and restaurants on California Avenue SW, so you can turn a bakery visit into a longer outing.