Pioneer Square & The International District

Grand Central Baking Company, 214 First Ave. S (tel. 206/622-3644), in Pioneer Square's Grand Central Arcade, is responsible for awakening Seattle to the pleasures of rustic European-style breads. This bakery not only turns out great bread, but it also does good pastries and sandwiches.

Although the name is none too appealing, Cow Chips, 102A First Ave. S (tel. 206/292-9808), bakes the best chocolate chip cookies in the city, and the cookies come in different sizes depending on the size of your cookie craving.

Pike Place Market

The Crumpet Shop, 1503 First Ave. (tel. 206/682-1598), in Pike Place Market, specializes in its British namesake pastries but also does scones. It's almost a requirement that you accompany your crumpet or scone with a pot of tea.

Le Panier, 1902 Pike Place (tel. 206/441-3669), located in the heart of Pike Place Market, is a great place to get a croissant and a latte and watch the market action.

With a wall of glass cases full of baked goods and a window facing onto one of the busiest spots in Pike Place Market, Three Girls Bakery, 1514 Pike Place, Stall no. 1 (tel. 206/622-1045), is a favorite place to grab a few pastries or other goodies to go. It also has a counter in back if you prefer to sit down.

Belltown

Macrina, 2408 First Ave. (tel. 206/448-4032), a neighborhood bakery/cafe in Belltown, serves some of the best baked goodies in the city and is a cozy place for a quick, cheap breakfast or lunch. In the morning, the smell of baking bread wafts down First Avenue and draws in many a passerby.

Tom Douglas's three Seattle restaurants -- Dahlia Lounge, Palace Kitchen, and Etta's -- are all immensely popular, and there was such a demand for the breads and pastries served at these restaurants that Douglas opened his own Dahlia Bakery, 2001 Fourth Ave. (tel. 206/441-4540), where you can even get Douglas's fabled coconut cream pie to go.

The Seattle Center & Queen Anne Areas

Up on the top of Queen Anne Hill, you can indulge your craving for Italian-style ice cream and gourmet donuts at Dolce Vita Gelateria and Italian Caffe, 2123 Queen Anne Ave. N (tel. 206/284-3460).

Capitol Hill & East Seattle

Basically, Dilettante Chocolates, 416 Broadway E (tel. 206/329-6463), is a chocolate restaurant that happens to be Seattle's leading proponent of cocoa as the next drink to take the country by storm. If you don't order something with chocolate here, you're missing the point.

If you've been on your feet at Volunteer Park for a while and need a snack, try the North Hill Bakery, 518 15th Ave. E (tel. 206/325-9007), just a few blocks east of the park. There's always a good selection of baked goods in the cases.

North Seattle

Let's say you've spent the morning or afternoon at the zoo and you're suddenly struck with a craving for a fresh apple tart or an almond croissant. What's a person to do? Make tracks to The Essential Baking Company, 1604 N. 34th St. (tel. 206/545-3804), a Fremont neighborhood rustic bread bakery and pastry shop. You can also get sandwiches here.