3rd Street Bakery

It’s all true! The bakery is currently open the first and third Monday afternoon of the month. Waiting in line and chatting with locals is part of the experience of getting wonderful bread. On the porch were samples of various breads to slather with butter that served to make one buy even more. We bought two loaves (sesame semolina and cranberry walnut) to put in our RV freezer in addition to a baguette, a pecan bar, and oatmeal cookies. The nearby weekly farmers’ market is a good one too.

Like everyone says, they make great bread. The croisssants aux amandes melt in your mouth. Baguettes — superb! Definitely worth waiting in line, but be open to changing your selection in case they sell out before you get there. Be positive… it’s all good.
Currently they are open first and third Mondays each month, 1:30 pm until sellout — this time coincides with Baywood’s excellent Farmer’s Market so bring your shopping basket and make an afternoon of it. Days and times are subject to change. Like good bread and pretty much everything else in this world, nothing lasts. Enjoy it while you can.

The best bread you can get within several hundred miles in any direction, comparable to the finest European loaves. It’s a one man operation, open sporadically a few days each month from early until they run out. Worth rising with the sun for.

When we first moved to Los Osos, we heard about this place but it was hard to imagine a bakery only open one morning a week. Out of curiosity I went there Saturday morning before they opened and was about fifth in line. I’m an introvert so usually silent in lines but the people around me wound up being friendly and interesting to chat with. Once they opened and the line moved (fairly quickly), I was excited to find myself inside– a tiny shopfront with full view of their small but organized, efficient kitchen. I confessed to the woman behind the counter that I was new. She welcomed me and gave me a free pastry since I was new in town. :-) She also suggested a few different loaves to try. I followed her advice and was so glad– everything was great. My family loved the bread and when I brought a loaf to a dinner party, the hostess asked me to bring that same bread again the next time we came over.
The bread is as good as any I’ve had in big cities, even in Europe. The limited hours and tiny shop add to the charm of the business. Being totally frank, the service is a bit more complicated. Like someone else referred to, they can tease a bit and that’s not comfortable for everyone. Its not malicious by any means but more like how sharp people on the East Coast often kind of challenge each other. If you can, just tease back or at a minimum, smile, pay for your bread and go enjoy it.
Also, usually the week or two before holidays, you can pre-​order specialty breads to pick up the morning before or the morning of the holiday. A nice service, given their limited hours.

This is the best bread in Central Coast California hands down. Located one block from Noi’s Little Thai Takeout, this bakery is open only one day a week (Saturday) and only until they run out of bread (anytime between 11:00 — 1:00)
If you enjoy crusty bread (made from 30-​year-​old sourdoughs starters) prepared by a master baker, this is your place. Cash only. The couple that run 3^rd st bakery are very sharp people, if they make fun of you– make fun of them right back! I strongly recommend the olive rosemary bread– but honestly get whatever you can. They run out quick.