In our humble beginning, St John's Bakery was born while a homeless Hungarian ex-baker taught us how to make beautiful sourdough bread in St John's Mission. Thirty four years later, you can find our products in the finest grocery outlets, restaurants and farmers markets as many recognize us as one of Toronto's most unique artisan bakeries.
Since day one, we strived to make the highest quality French sourdough products. Proudly, our recipes come to us from Brittany France following a strict traditional methodology. Our hand-crafted bread takes an excess of 48 hours start to finish while certified organic flour is always our starting point.
Since day one, we strived to make the highest quality French sourdough products. Proudly, our recipes come to us from Brittany France following a strict traditional methodology. Our hand-crafted bread takes an excess of 48 hours start to finish while certified organic flour is always our starting point.
Services
Unique social enterprise provides immigrants, recovering addicts and people with disabilities skilled employment and pride in making great bread. Baker Spencer Smith dusts work surfaces with flour before getting ready to work with the bread dough. St. John Bakery transforms lives with job training and the simple alchemy of bread, yeast and water.
Reviews (27)
Dawn C.
Jan 29, 2022
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Paolo Guer
Jan 12, 2022
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Michael Woo
Dec 12, 2021
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I made a delivery in this area in the summer & stopped at St. John's Bakery for a snack. I bought some fresh bread, scones & a coffee. The scones were deeelicious & I have been craving them for a long time. The only reason I have not returned is the distance because I live in Richmond Hill but, for sure, I will be back soon. This bakery is highly recommended.
Jim Schafer
Oct 16, 2021
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I personally think this bakery is good but seriously overrated. Don't get me wrong -- the bread, scone and banana bread were very good, but I don't think world-class. I felt the crumb on the bread needed more time to rise (too heavy) and crust was not thick like traditional sourdough. Banana bread was average -- glad they used butter, but it had been frozen which killed the texture. Scone was excellent, hot from the oven. They did not have enough staff on a Saturday a.m. and had to wait 20+ minutes -- that's inexcusable. I prefer Blackbird Bakery which is less than a mile away -- their selection
Isabella S.
Aug 05, 2021
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Ali Farshadfar
Aug 03, 2021
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Caroline Suchit
Jul 12, 2021
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Bartek Litwin
May 16, 2021
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Sam J.
Aug 30, 2020
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From the tiny unpretentious store front you’ll find helpful and humble staff that have same day freshly made Sourdough breads that are fantastic. The star of the Sourdough bread lineup for me is the deliciously terrific Cilantro Olive Sourdough loaf, and keep in mind this is all created with people who care and try to better the lives and human condition of others by feeding us the most basic of ingredients, the scones are just as delicious.
Kirstie
Jun 29, 2020
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Derek R.
Mar 03, 2019
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Sarah A.
Jan 17, 2019
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This bakery is Toronto's hidden gem of all things delicious. This lovely bakery is situated in Riverside so it's not too far from the downtown core. The recipes are old and healthy with no weird hidden ingredients for you to shake your head at. You won't find any over the top cupcakes or cakes loaded with sugar. The baked goods here are wholesome and is the closest you can get to home-made. If you are a cookie fanatic like myself, the most amazing ginger cookie resides here. Soft and chewy with no overpowering molasses or ginger, you will chomp down on this cookie so fast that you
Courtney Ayukawa
Jul 14, 2018
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Angelica Batalla
Jun 25, 2017
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Elvis A.
Mar 01, 2016
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This is an odd spot for a great artisan bakery. I wouldn't have even noticed it had I not passed by this route on a regular basis.
They use organic ingredients so will even please those who believe in healthy eating and a healthy dessert (Gasp! IMO a healthy dessert goes by the name of fruit!) I have tried their scones which were good and the shortbread was ranked as one of the best in city by the connoisseurs of this simple in terms of ingredients yet hard to master sweet. I haven't yet tried their claim to fame i.e. their breads and will surely pick up one soon. They have set days
They use organic ingredients so will even please those who believe in healthy eating and a healthy dessert (Gasp! IMO a healthy dessert goes by the name of fruit!) I have tried their scones which were good and the shortbread was ranked as one of the best in city by the connoisseurs of this simple in terms of ingredients yet hard to master sweet. I haven't yet tried their claim to fame i.e. their breads and will surely pick up one soon. They have set days
Graham T.
Feb 04, 2016
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Hands down the best bakery in Toronto. Try any of their sourdoughs. The cilantro and olive loaf is fantastic. Their recipes were handed down from secretive 14th century monks, who apparently did not make cupcakes or nanaimo bars. So if you want a sugar overload - keep walking (in shame) as you will not find it here.
I may have embellished a bit on the monks.
I may have embellished a bit on the monks.
Elle H.
Nov 15, 2015
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The loaves are indeed more expensive than other brands and bakeries, but I like to purchase sourdough bread directly from St John's because it is made with minimal ingredients, is preservative-free and fresh to boot. I figure, why not pay a little more for bread that is as close to expertly home-made as it gets, and also contributes to a greater social cause? It's a no brainer!
Larissa F.
Oct 06, 2015
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I've never been to the actual bakery, I buy their bread at Strictly Bulk at Bloor and Ossington. It is delivered Tuesdays and Fridays and usually sells out by the end of the day. My favourite is the Celtic Loaf (organic multi-grain sour dough). It is expensive but worth it for the quality of the bread, I also appreciate the bakery's social mission. The bread freezes well - sacrilege, I know, but I am a single person!! - so a loaf will last me for several weeks.
Truth Or Dare T.
Feb 13, 2015
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I first discovered this bakery by way of a referral from Mad Dog Café, they use their bread and it is amazing (no preservatives). It taste so good, I asked them where they got it and this is where they sent me. The bread I like is the Celtic Loaf. I have since dropped in a few times and I do have to say the selection is very limited and not a place I would frequent often for that reason. How ever, if you want to die and go to heaven I would encourage you to try one of their chocolate croissants. They are smaller in size than most places but they are so full of dark rich chocolate. This makes
City Z.
Jul 07, 2014
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Probably the best bread in town - and certainly in the top 5 bakeries. All organic, always fresh and a wide variety to choose from. The also have tasty deserts, like banana bread and brioche and cookies and more. Proceeds go to charity, so there's a bit of a premium on the price, but absolutely worth it.
Zach H.
Oct 13, 2013
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Davina C.
Jan 10, 2013
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St. John's olive loaf was a complete revelation for me. I had sworn off bread because of a very restrictive, self-imposed diet, but one day while in Fresh and Wild, through some stroke of luck or fate, I picked up the loaf and thought, what the hell, a couple slices won't kill me. But - hear me now! - it did! This olive loaf just slayed me. I had never tasted such delicious, flavorful, moist yet perfectly crusty bread. I was in seventh heaven. Maybe it was the months of dieting deprivation, but this bread made me deliriously, incandescently happy. It reminded me like a shock how wonderful
Juliana H.
Oct 29, 2011
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This is a great bakery. I absolutely LOVE their olive cilantro sourdough bread. I think for the quality of their ingredients and their commitment to helping marginalized members of our community, their prices are completely reasonable. I would totally encourage anyone to drop by because you will not be disappointed.
Eric W.
Oct 20, 2011
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Potentially the best bread you may ever taste, and a solid social justice cred, there's absolutely no reason you should buy terrible bread from a factory when a place like this exists. the bread is expensive, but the quality is without comparison. and when you factor in the fact that this is a Hand up project to help people who may have not had the best luck with work and life, well, you will have no trouble justifying the price.
E. M.
Apr 27, 2011
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I first found out about St. John's Bakery while shopping at the Big Carrot on Danforth. My sister was with me and recommended I try the Olive and Cilantro Sourdough Loaf (Pre-cut). It cost just over $6 and I was hesitant because of the price. I took it home and made myself a tofurky sandwich. It was delicious! I even had a slice on its own with Earth Balance butter.
So, I decided to research St. John's since they had their website printed on their packaging (www.stjohnsbakery.com) This artisan bakery has an amazing history and inspiring mission which you can find out on their website
So, I decided to research St. John's since they had their website printed on their packaging (www.stjohnsbakery.com) This artisan bakery has an amazing history and inspiring mission which you can find out on their website
Goatwriter J.
Mar 02, 2010
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Along Broadview, between Queen East and Dundas there's a small bakery next to a church. St.John's bakery, St.John's church :)
Great bread, nice sour-dough varieties, but danm expensive :(
For me a great place to buy loaves if I'm having a dinner party, perhaps serving up some cheese or a nice hearty stew. But for my every day use, better off buying Dimpflmeier.
I wrote about his place because I really want to give as much support to the small artisan shops. Of course it's tough to buy from them everyday, unless you have a fat pocket book :) But like I mentioned, great
Great bread, nice sour-dough varieties, but danm expensive :(
For me a great place to buy loaves if I'm having a dinner party, perhaps serving up some cheese or a nice hearty stew. But for my every day use, better off buying Dimpflmeier.
I wrote about his place because I really want to give as much support to the small artisan shops. Of course it's tough to buy from them everyday, unless you have a fat pocket book :) But like I mentioned, great
Sarah L.
Jun 25, 2009
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I love baked goods, especially fresh breads. Toronto has been on this Artisan bread kick since I moved here, and although I love it most of the time, there are days where I just want plain, fresh, flavorful whole wheat bookends on my meatwiches.
St John's Bakery doesn't have a ton of fancy pants breads (although the call themselves an artisan bakery). They make all their breads and sweets with organic ingredients and they have a bunch of different sourdoughs and whole wheat.
my Favorite thing.... is that they have HALF SIZED LOAVES [in some breads] which is AWESOME because as a 1
St John's Bakery doesn't have a ton of fancy pants breads (although the call themselves an artisan bakery). They make all their breads and sweets with organic ingredients and they have a bunch of different sourdoughs and whole wheat.
my Favorite thing.... is that they have HALF SIZED LOAVES [in some breads] which is AWESOME because as a 1
