14 Of The Oldest Bakeries In Ohio That Still Get Their Pastries Right
Ohio has a long memory, and its oldest bakeries prove it with every flaky layer and glossy glaze. I have walked into places like these “just to look,” and somehow I always leave carrying a box like it is priceless cargo.
The best part is that none of these counters are chasing internet fame or inventing pastry plot twists. They are doing the classics with quiet confidence, the kind that makes you slow down mid-bite and think, yep, this is why people keep coming back.
In this list, I am rounding up 14 of the oldest bakeries in Ohio that still nail the good stuff, from old-school doughnuts to pastries that taste like they have been perfected the hard way.
Bring your sweet tooth and a little road-trip energy, because your snack calendar is about to get busy.
1. Gartman Model Bakery, Painesville
Time-travel is not real, but walking into Gartman Model Bakery gets suspiciously close in a very sugary way. I stopped by once just to look, and my hands left holding a box that felt like a proud life choice.
Downtown Painesville wears this bakery like a badge, and the place has that old-world calm that makes you slow your steps. The case leans classic in the best way, with pastries, doughnuts, cookies, breads, and cakes that do not need trendy speeches to win you over.
Here is the detail that makes my inner history nerd smile: the ovens have been doing their thing since 1898. That kind of longevity makes every cinnamon-scented decision feel oddly important, like I am honoring tradition with powdered sugar.
My favorite part is how quickly your brain starts doing pastry math. Two items become four, and suddenly you are saving some for later with confidence.
Local regulars treat it like a ritual, and you can feel that comfort in the room. Plot this into your GPS at 30 N State St, Painesville, OH 44077, then give yourself permission to browse slowly.
2. Presti’s Bakery, Cleveland
One bite in Little Italy, and I instantly start acting like I have important pastry opinions that must be shared. I wandered into Presti’s once after a walk and left with crumbs on my shirt and zero regrets.
The display cases are the kind that make you forget what you planned to do next. I always tell myself to pick one thing, and my voice gets very quiet the moment I spot the next tray.
Little Italy adds extra charm to the whole experience, so it is easy to turn this into a full afternoon. A bakery stop becomes a stroll, then a second stop becomes research, which is a word that does a lot of work for me.
Presti’s has been delighting Cleveland with Sicilian-rooted sweetness since 1903, and they even call themselves Cleveland’s oldest bakery. That long track record shows up in the confidence of the classics, where the basics feel anything but boring.
Find it at 12101 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland, OH 44106, and arrive with a little extra appetite. I tried to leave with just a couple, and the pastry box politely informed me that was not happening.
3. Butter Maid Bakery, Boardman
Some bakeries make you feel welcomed, and Butter Maid makes you feel adopted by dessert. I once ordered thinking I was being sensible, and then I remembered that self-control is not a pastry ingredient.
The menu focus is proudly nostalgic, with from-scratch treats that lean into comfort and tradition instead of chasing gimmicks. I like how their sweets feel bold without being fussy, because my cravings prefer confidence over chaos.
The best move is to pick a few different items, because variety is a love language here. Your future self will thank you later when you open the box and feel like you planned ahead for joy.
Their Ohio story stretches back to 1903, which explains the we have got this energy behind the counter. That history also makes me weirdly proud to be holding a bag that feels like it belongs in a family photo.
Stop in at 425 Boardman Canfield Rd, Boardman, OH 44512, and consider bringing a friend who enjoys sharing. I say that, but I also know sharing gets mysteriously harder once the box opens.
4. Resch’s Bakery, Gahanna
The first time I planned a quick bakery run here, my schedule laughed and kept laughing. I walked in for something small and walked out holding a box that deserved its own seatbelt.
What I love is the steady, no-nonsense confidence behind the counter. You can tell they have done this a long time, and the pastries come out with calm competence that makes you trust the box immediately.
Their newer home is in Gahanna, so it is easy to make this a dedicated stop instead of a random detour. I recommend arriving early, because popular bakeries do not enjoy being underestimated.
Resch’s calls itself a Columbus favorite since 1912, and that since does a lot of heavy lifting in the best way. A century-plus of practice tends to sharpen the glaze game, and I fully support that as a life philosophy.
Head to 150 North Hamilton Road, Gahanna, OH 43230, and let the smell do the rest of the convincing. I tried to act casual leaving, and the grin on my face refused to cooperate.
5. Busken Bakery, Cincinnati
The quickest way to make me cheerful is to hand me a pastry and let me pretend it was just one. Busken has pulled that trick on me more than once, and I keep volunteering for the experiment.
I appreciate how consistent it feels, because you can show up craving something familiar and get exactly that. The pastry case is basically a choose-your-own-reward situation, and I am easily motivated.
Hyde Park is a great spot for a visit, since the neighborhood makes it easy to pair pastries with a walk. My personal strategy is simple: pick one item you love, then add one wild card that looks too good to ignore.
The brand itself sums up the timeline with a tidy slogan: baking memories since 1928. That long-running Cincinnati presence explains why the place feels like it already knows your order, even when it does not.
Go to 2675 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208, and show up ready to make friendly decisions quickly. I tried to leave with a small bag once, and the bakery politely offered me a better plan.
6. Wyoming Pastry Shop, Wyoming
A bakery that sticks around for decades deserves respect, and this one earns it without trying too hard. I popped in once out of curiosity and left wondering why my life did not include more weekday pastries.
The best part is how it feels both local and special at the same time. You can grab something sweet for now, something for later, and still feel like you kept the day pleasantly simple.
I also like that it has the kind of reputation that turns first-timers into repeat visitors quickly. You will hear people ordering like they have a routine, which is basically my favorite kind of peer pressure.
Here is the history detail I love dropping like a fun fact at the table: the bakery has been serving the Village of Wyoming since 1980, when Erich Reschke first opened the shop, and that still here energy shows up in the steady line of regulars and the confident, classic selection.
Find it at 505 Wyoming Ave, Wyoming, OH 45215, and consider it your excuse to explore the neighborhood afterward. I planned to grab one treat, and the pastry box convinced me to aim higher.
7. Jack Frost Donuts, Cleveland
Some places make donuts, and some places make memories with sprinkles on top. Jack Frost turned me into a regular the first time I showed up and just sampled, which is a phrase I now avoid saying out loud.
I love how the experience feels fast and friendly, even when you are standing there overthinking your choices. The hardest part is picking a favorite, because your favorite keeps changing as soon as you look left.
Old Brooklyn makes it easy to pair this with a quick drive-around and a slow snack in the car. My best advice is to grab napkins with confidence, because powdered sugar enjoys traveling.
They say it plainly and proudly: every batch from scratch since 1937. That kind of consistency is exactly why this shop feels like a neighborhood tradition that refuses to get old.
Stop at 4960 Pearl Rd, Cleveland, OH 44109, and let your willpower take the day off. I tried to be disciplined here once, and the glaze won the debate immediately.
8. Schuler’s Bakery, Springfield
I have a soft spot for bakeries that feel like they have seen every kind of morning Ohio can throw at them. Schuler’s gave me that warm, familiar vibe the second I walked in.
What I notice most is how many people treat it like part of their routine. You will see regulars who already know what they want, and first-timers who look delighted and slightly overwhelmed.
Springfield is a great day-trip town for food lovers, so this bakery fits naturally into a broader snack mission. My usual move is to buy a few extras, because the drive home has a way of making pastries disappear.
Their own history points straight to the origin story: John Schuler opened his first bakery in Springfield in 1937. That long runway of practice shows up in the steady confidence of the classics, where simple tastes like a compliment.
You can visit at 1911 S Limestone St, Springfield, OH 45505, or 2968 Derr Rd, Springfield, OH 45503. I always tell myself I will choose one location, and then I remember both exist, and my plans get deliciously complicated.
9. Davis Bakery, Woodmere
A bakery that doubles as a serious comfort zone deserves a gold medal made of frosting. I stopped into Davis once and immediately started planning what I would bring home for later.
I like how the place feels busy without feeling stressful. You can take your time deciding, and the staff still keeps the line moving, which is a rare and beautiful bakery skill.
Woodmere is a convenient stop when you want something reliable for a gathering. I call it my show up with a box and look thoughtful strategy, and it has never failed me.
The backstory here is oddly charming: the Davis brothers founded the bakery in July of 1939, and their history even notes an early mixer that ran on quarters. That detail makes me smile every time, because it screams we made it work, which is basically Ohio’s motto in pastry form.
Go to 28700 Chagrin Blvd, Woodmere, OH 44122, and do not be surprised if you start naming pastries like they are old friends. I tried to leave with a small box, and the dessert case convinced me to upgrade.
10. Central Pastry Shop, Middletown
Some bakeries feel like a quick stop, and Central Pastry feels like a tradition you accidentally join. I once grabbed a couple of items here and immediately understood why people talk about it with hometown pride.
What makes it special is the steady consistency over decades. You can tell the place has regulars, and the pastries seem designed to keep families coming back year after year.
Middletown also makes this an easy road-trip snack break, especially if you like poking around small downtowns. My advice is to pick one item you think you want, then add one you did not expect to want.
The history detail does not hide, it practically waves from the sign: Central Pastry Shop was founded in 1949 in Middletown. That timeline helps explain the we have been doing this forever confidence you feel the moment you walk in.
Visit at 1518 Central Ave, Middletown, OH 45044, and enjoy the kind of bakery calm that makes you linger. I went for a quick visit and left with a box that looked like I was hosting a party.
11. Bill’s Donut Shop, Centerville
The phrase just one donut has never survived contact with Bill’s in my life. I have tried to be disciplined here, and the glaze always wins the debate.
I love how the place feels straightforward and confident. You walk in, you pick your favorites, and you leave with a box that makes your car smell like happiness.
Centerville itself is charming, so you can easily turn this into a casual outing. My best move is to grab a variety box, because everyone has a different favorite, and I like avoiding pastry arguments.
Bill’s describes itself as a taste of tradition, embracing its legacy since 1960, and the shop’s around-the-clock hours make it dangerously easy to follow that tradition at any time. That kind of availability turns cravings into a hobby, and I say that as someone with a very active hobby.
Find it at 268 N Main St, Centerville, OH 45459, and let the neon open energy do its job. I planned a quick stop once, and Bill’s turned it into a box-and-a-half situation.
12. Holtman’s Donuts, Loveland
A family-run donut shop with decades of history has my attention immediately. I stopped at Holtman’s once and realized I was smiling at a donut case like it told jokes.
I like how the flavors feel fun without feeling chaotic. You can get something classic, you can grab something playful, and either way, you still get that fresh, warm bakery satisfaction.
Loveland makes the stop even better because the town is perfect for a walk after your treat. My usual plan is to grab donuts first, then stroll, then pretend the stroll was the reason I came.
Their Donut Family story starts with Charles Holtman opening the doors in 1960, and that family tradition still sits at the heart of the shop’s identity. That kind of legacy makes the counter feel like a hometown landmark, only sweeter and significantly more tempting.
Go to 1399 State Route 28, Loveland, OH 45140, and consider it your permission slip to enjoy a sweet tradition. I told myself I would pick just one, and the dozen box politely disagreed.
13. Farkas Pastry Shoppe, Cleveland
The first time I tried a pastry here, I instantly became the kind of person who tells friends, Trust me, you need this. Farkas has that effect, and it is honestly impressive.
Ohio City is a great setting for it, because you can turn your pastry run into a bigger food crawl. I like pairing it with a walk and a little browsing nearby, then circling back mentally to what I should have bought twice.
The shop’s reputation is tied to craft and tradition, not hype. That is exactly my favorite kind of bakery confidence, because the pastry does the talking and my mouth stays busy.
Their own history traces the spark to 1966, when Sandor Farkas started baking the napoleons that would become the shop’s calling card. That origin story makes every layered bite feel like a tiny Cleveland time capsule, only crispier.
Visit at 2700 Lorain Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113, and arrive ready to practice polite restraint. I tried to behave like a calm adult here, and the pastry case had other plans.
14. Buckeye Donuts, Columbus
Any bakery that becomes a campus legend earns a permanent spot on my snack map. I first went to Buckeye Donuts on a whim, and I left thinking about my next visit before I hit the sidewalk.
I love how the place feels confidently itself. No flashy speeches, no fuss, just a steady stream of people grabbing pastries that have fueled a lot of late nights and early mornings.
The location near Ohio State makes it easy to pair with a walk through the neighborhood. My personal move is to grab something familiar, then add one donut I have never tried, because curiosity tastes great here.
Their history is spelled out clearly: Buckeye Donuts was founded in 1969, and that timeline explains why it feels like it is woven into Columbus routines. I like places that feel lived-in, and this one practically hums with I have been here before energy.
Find it at 1998 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201, and treat it like a classic Columbus rite of passage. I planned to grab one donut, and the menu convinced me to build a full pastry playlist instead.