The Best Bread in Maine? This Portland Spot Takes the Crown

Remember when everyone decided to start making their own sourdough bread during the pandemic?

And then, like 99% of those people stopped the minute the world started revolving again. However, that doesn’t mean we lost our greater appreciation for fresh, delicious, recently made bread.

There may be nothing more contrasting than a fresh loaf of bread compared to store-bought. Fresh bread is like a Rolls-Royce (no pun intended), a château on the French Riviera, or USA Hockey. We’re talking the cream of the crop.

And even though all your friends stopped baking theirs, we here in Maine are extremely fortunate to have an amazing community of bakeries that crank out some delicious loaves.

However, is there one that perhaps rises to the top (no pun intended)? Well, according to one site, there most certainly is.

What is the Best Bakery in Maine for Bread?

The popular culinary creators over at LoveFood decided to dive into this very topic. The site recently put together a list of the best bread bakery in every state, including right here in Maine. So, what was their choice for the best loaves in the Pine Tree State? That would be Standard Baking Company in Portland.

This Old Port organic bakery is an absolute gem and first opened in 1995. Fresh breads, sweets, and baked goods are available daily in their flagship store, as well as in markets and specialty food stores across the region.

Where is Standard Baking Located in Portland, Maine?

Located in the walkout basement of sister restaurant Fore Street, Standard Baking is easy to find thanks to the irresistible aroma and the consistent line that’s almost always present. Locals and tourists alike know exactly where to go to grab a great breakfast treat or a delicious loaf of bread for any occasion.

Standard Baking has a plethora of bread options, from a variety of traditional loaves to focaccia styles. You can even find unique flavors and alternative wheat loaves, which can be tough to come by.

But it’s impossible to discuss Standard’s bread prowess without mentioning that all of their bread is handcrafted and baked throughout the day in their 12-ton stone deck oven. It’s prepared in plain view in their open production bakery and often served still warm from the oven — including the best item on the menu: those incredible baguettes. They’re perfectly crusty on the outside and super soft on the inside. Just stunningly simple and perfect.

Here’s a little more from LoveFood on why Standard Baking was the site’s choice:

Expect to find crusty baguettes that rival those in France, focaccia, vollkornbrot (German brown bread), and specials like Cheddar ale loaf and challah. The bakery’s many fans say it’s some of the best bread they’ve tried, with some buying in bulk and stockpiling their freezers so they always have the perfect loaf on hand.

It doesn’t end with just the savory. Standard also has plenty of sweet breads to go along with its other (no pun intended) bakery delicacies. But make sure you get in line early — the last thing you want is to miss out on any of these amazing creations.

READ MORE: These are the 10 Most Popular South Portland, Maine, Restaurants

Congrats to Standard Baking on this fine and well-deserved recognition. Here’s to many more years of bread-baking mastery.