Good bread is the ultimate comfort food—a symbol of togetherness and tradition, all wrapped up in one experience—and proof that truly good things take time. Luckily there are plenty of bakeries in our area doing their part to turn out out addictive, crusty, flavorful loaves that will reaffirm your love of carbs. Put these stops on your shopping checklist. They’re the best thing since sliced… well… you know.
Atwater’s
Rip it, tear it, crunch it. Every step in the making of these artisanal breads is done by hand. Atwater’s bakers rise and grind every day, milling the flour using an in-house grain mill, hand-shaping the loaves (from scalded rye sourdough to rosemary Italian bread) and baking them in hearth ovens. Order in advance online by 7:30 a.m. Fridays and pick up at the weekend farmers market of your choice in Courthouse, Westover or Falls Church—or just show up and choose from what’s there. But arrive early, as the selection sells out quickly. Seasonal items available through the new year also include cranberry pecan bread, fruitcake, stollen, gingerbread cookies, Mexican wedding cookies and pies.  Courthouse Freshfarm Market (Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon), 1401 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington; Westover Farmers Market (Sundays, 8 a.m.-noon), 1644 N. McKinley Road, Arlington; Falls Church Farmers Market (Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon), 300 Park Ave., Falls Church
Best Buns Bakery
This Shirlington baking emporium provides all of the bread for the Great American Restaurants family of restaurants, including Carlyle next door. Happily, they also sell retail. Everything in the Best Buns repertoire, from crusty rosemary and olive oil bread to classic baguettes, is baked on-site daily. Have a hankering for something cheesy? Kick it up a notch with poblano cheddar bread or herb muenster. For a sweeter option, try the two-raisin pecan loaf. Christmastime also brings traditional Parker House rolls. Your purchase has the added bonus of helping those in need this holiday. Best Buns is contributing 5% of its bread sales to Great American Community Kitchen, which travels into Northern Virginia neighborhoods handing out fresh, hot meals to people who are food insecure. 4010 Campbell Ave. (Shirlington)
The Happy Tart
Everything at this bakery is 100% gluten-free, but you’d never know it, says owner Kerrigan Firth. The holidays bring a limited, seasonal stollen which is also dairy-free, as are the demi baguettes. Also on the menu, find a brioche loaf, sundried tomato and asiago bread, rosemary dinner rolls and classic sandwich bread. Brunch favorites include a half dozen biscuits and four-packs of English muffins (cinnamon-raisin or plain). Preorders start Nov. 21 on the holiday portal. 410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe
When Wolfgang Büchler first started selling his crusty, European-style breads made with imported flour in the 1970s, customers returned them thinking they were stale. He gave them their money back. American tastes have since matured, and those same breads are now in high demand with a third generation of Arlington customers. The bakery is constantly developing new recipes, and bread is baked fresh every day. Popular holiday items include pate breads—long, thin rounds of sourdough or pumpernickel, perfect for dipping—and party loaves, which are similar in shape to French baguettes, but come in sourdough, Jewish rye or pumpernickel. Round out your holiday table with a cranberry walnut loaf, a wheel of rolls (pull-apart bread with a variety of toppings) or challah, which comes as a classic braid or in the shape of a wreath.  2150 N. Culpeper St., Arlington
The Swiss Bakery
Reto Weber’s grandfather was a baker in the Swiss canton of Thurgau, and today those family recipes live on in the Alpine wonderland he owns and operates in Springfield. Holiday specialties include a panettone and stollen, and biberfladen—a soft gingerbread loaf filled with marzipan. To add a little fun to your table, try the grittibenz, a soft, buttery bread shaped into a Santa figure with raisin eyes and pearl sugar on his hat. (He may have a pipe.) Add festive cookies and even a gingerbread house (fully decorated or as a DIY kit) to sweeten your celebration. Daily breads available year-round include baguettes, German sourdough, Suisse boules and pretzels. Orders must be placed 72 hours in advance. The last day to place orders for Christmas is Dec. 21. Visit again at the end of December for the New Year Good Luck Pig’s Bread, a soft buttery Zopf dough shaped like a pig, with raisin eyes and the year’s numbers on his back. 5224 Port Royal Road, Springfield
Fresh Baguette
Feel tres Parisian when you stroll out of this cafe with a baguette tucked under each arm. In addition to three varieties of baguette (traditional, Parisian and rustic), holiday offerings abound. Available weekends in November, the “Thanksgiving in a Loaf” combines all the flavors of the holiday into a sourdough loaf (chicken broth, apples, dried cranberries, celery, thyme, tarragon, rosemary and sage). The bakery will announce a new “Bread of the Weekend,” flavor for December. After Christmas, king cakes can be preordered or purchased in store through Jan. 31. Need dessert? Peruse the selection of seasonal pies and Buches de Noel (starting Dec. 4) available in three flavors: hazelnut chocolate, mango coconut or vanilla salted caramel. 6707 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Northside SocialÂ
Fluffy, buttery dinner rolls are on special here for Thanksgiving. But be sure to order early, they take an extra day’s lead time. All orders must be placed by Nov. 21Â on the online catering shop. Find a selection of breads available at all times, including Northside’s honey IPA rolls, the multigrain sandwich loaf, Italian feather loaf and herb and sea salt focaccia. Northside is also baking up a selection of holiday pies, quiches, pastries and charceuterie plates to help make hosting a breeze. 3211 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon), 205 Park Ave., Falls Church
Le Pain Quotidien
If happiness, in your mind, is a fresh, warm baguette, this Belgian boulangerie has your number. Its baguettes are partially baked ahead of time and then finished up on demand—meaning that if you’re willing to wait five minutes, you’ll be rewarded with a piping hot baton of that French staple, perfect for serving with your favorite soft cheeses and charcuterie. Other bestsellers include whole wheat, a gluten-free super-seed bread and a five-grain raisin bread.  8296 Glass Alley, Fairfax (Mosaic District)
Paris Baguette
This French-inspired bakery cafe with a storefront in McLean is poised to expand into Arlington and Falls Church, with new locations on Wilson Boulevard near the Clarendon Metro, and on Hillwood Avenue. Paris Baguette sells its namesake French loaves and much more. Other breads for pickup include milk bread, multigrain, fresh cream bread and raisin bread. While you’re there, pick up sweet or savory French pastries, or an expertly decorated cake. 8344 Broad St., McLean