Haute Top 5: Best Bakeries in Chicago

This pretty Patisserie, located near Millennium Park in the Loop, offers an array of scratch-made french pastries from chef Toni Marie Cox, who spent the early years of her career as the opening chef at The Disneyland Hotel in Paris. Her three years in France shine through: Dare we say Toni's serves up the best macaron in Chicago?

If you like your pastries to look as good as they taste, Wicker Park's Alliance Bakery is hard to beat. You can stop into their Division St. storefront for buttery breakfast pasties or rich chocolate cupcakes, but the bakery's best offerings are its custom ones: call them for showstopping wedding cakes or creative themed desserts for special events. Alliance is especially well-known for their custom cookies, and recently did a series of sweets inspired by Chance the Rapper that raised money for Chicago Public Schools.

You don't have to hit up West Town Bakery's Chicago Avenue store to indulge in their to-die-for danishes and doughnuts; the spot supplies wholesale baked goods to cafes and coffee shops around the city. But, you will find the city's largest and most inventive selection of cake balls (Red Velvet, Chocolate Mint, and Lemon Almond are just a few) if you stop into the bakery-diner flagship location. Bonus for those with dietary restriction: West Town Bakery also specializes in creating allergy-friendly pastries, including versions that are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, and vegan.

Don't let Bridgeport Bakery's unassuming South Side storefront fool you: Inside, you'll find the best Polish paczki's in the city. Come Fat Tuesday, lines stretch around the block for it's special flavors, made especially for Paczki Day. During the rest of the year, the store offers four flavors of traditional dessert, along with famed bacon buns, and fluffy, fresh-made doughnuts.

Whether you're planning a wedding or simply looking to satisfy your sweet tooth, Lakeview's Bittersweet Pastry has you covered. The European-style bakery serves up an array of scones, clafoutis, brioche, tea breads and coffee cakes in its storefront, and accepts custom orders for its delectable cakes in flavors like German Chocolate, Almond Strawberry Brulee, Fudge Caramel, and Peanut Butter & Jelly.