Bakeries on Hilton Head Island
The best bakery in Hilton Head depends on what you want: French pastry, a Mexican concha, a gluten-free cake or a box of donuts.
French bakeries and pastry
Hilton Head Social Bakery’s two shops are one business. The French Bakery is a separate café; both are at Shelter Cove, on opposite sides of the district.
A bakery café in Sea Pines
A Mexican bakery
Conchas, churros, pan de muerto, tres leches and chocoflan from a bakery and deli that also makes tortas and tamales. Open daily from 7 a.m. (8 on Sunday).
A gluten-free bakery
A dedicated gluten-free bakery, started by a family that went gluten free in 2012: cakes, cinnamon rolls, cannoli and bagels, many of them dairy free too, with tables outside. Closed Sunday.
More places to eat gluten free: gluten-free and dietary needs on Hilton Head.
Donuts, cheesecake and cookies
A walk-up window with scratch-made donuts (vegan ones too), cakes and cheesecakes, and coffee roasted in Savannah. Wednesday to Saturday, mornings and evenings.
About this list
The best bakery in Hilton Head depends on what you are after. For French pastry there are three: Hilton Head Social Bakery, run by a pastry chef who trained at Taillevent in Paris, with shops on William Hilton Parkway and at Shelter Cove Harbour; The French Bakery, a European café in Shelter Cove Towne Centre since 1998; and Paris Baguette, the South Korean chain that bakes in the French style, on the north end. In Sea Pines, Harbour Town Bakery & Café sits by the marina.
Beyond pastry, Pan Fresco Ole is a Mexican bakery and deli for conchas, tres leches and tortas, The G-Free Spot on Main Street bakes everything gluten free, The Purple Cow is a walk-up window for donuts and cheesecake, and Crumbl sells its weekly cookies at Shelter Cove. Most of them open early, so a bakery run doubles as breakfast; for sit-down plates, see breakfast on Hilton Head.
Plan around the days off: Hilton Head Social Bakery’s South shop is closed Monday and Tuesday, The Purple Cow opens Wednesday to Saturday only, and The G-Free Spot and Crumbl close on Sunday. For ice cream, fudge and restaurant desserts, see Hilton Head desserts.
More ways to choose where to eat
Best dessert Hilton Head guide: French bakeries, ice cream, gelato, chocolate and fudge shops, donuts and restaurant desserts, with phone numbers.
Breakfast Hilton Head guide: all-day diners, coffee-shop cafés, marina breakfasts and Sunday brunch, with hours notes and phone numbers.
Coffee shops Hilton Head Island guide: local roasters, bakery cafés, gelato and coffee bars and a drive-thru at the bridge, with phone numbers.
Every French restaurant in Hilton Head, SC: three bistros for dinner, from Chez Georges to Bistro 17 on the harbour, plus French bakeries and cafés.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bakery in Hilton Head?
It depends on what you want. For French pastry, Hilton Head Social Bakery has the highest Google rating of the island’s French bakeries, and The French Bakery is the pick if you want a full breakfast with it. Pan Fresco Ole is the Mexican bakery, The G-Free Spot the gluten-free one, and The Purple Cow is the place for donuts.
Which bakeries in Hilton Head, SC, are open on Sunday?
The French Bakery, Paris Baguette, Pan Fresco Ole and Hilton Head Social Bakery’s South shop, which opens at 8 a.m. on Sunday. The G-Free Spot, The Purple Cow and Crumbl are closed on Sunday.
Is there a gluten-free bakery on Hilton Head Island?
Yes. The G-Free Spot on Main Street is a dedicated gluten-free bakery, with many dairy-free items too. The Purple Cow bakes its gluten-free items first, with separate pans, but its small kitchen can’t promise no cross-contact, and Hilton Head Social Bakery has a few gluten-free items, including macarons.
Where can I get donuts on Hilton Head?
At The Purple Cow’s walk-up window on Office Park Road, Wednesday to Saturday. For donuts made to order, the bakery takes preorders until 3 p.m. the day before.
Where is the French bakery on Hilton Head?
The French Bakery is at Shelter Cove Towne Centre, 28 Shelter Cove Lane, Suite 120. Hilton Head Social Bakery, also French, has shops on William Hilton Parkway and at Shelter Cove Harbour, and Paris Baguette, a French-style bakery café, is in Port Royal Plaza on the north end.
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