The owners of Rose Café & Bagel want your visit to be an experience—whether it’s watching bakers forming boules for their house-made breads, baristas concocting caffeinated beverages, or simply sitting and soaking up the café’s calming vibes. Their décor is, fittingly enough, rose-like and über inviting—soft pinks, greys, warm woods, and metals. They have indoor and outdoor seating, both perfect for enjoying one of their homemade bagels (flavors run the gamut from sesame seed and everything to chocolate chip and coconut; I opted for, and highly recommend, the plain bagel with strawberry cream cheese). Enjoy it alongside a freshly brewed cup of coffee, iced Americano, or specialty espresso beverage, like the chocolaty and almost too pretty to sip liquid s’mores. Whatever you choose, know that the coffee beans are 100% organic and roasted locally at Pachamama in El Dorado Hills. If something more satiating is calling your name, you’re in luck, too. They offer build-your-own bagel sandwiches, in addition to menu mainstays like the bacon sunrise (my husband devoured his!), bacon avocado, veggie delight, or turkey melt. Their bakery items all looked, and smelled, amazing as well, including fresh-baked brownies and muffins. If you time it right, you can grab a loaf of San Francisco-style sourdough in the afternoon; but no matter when you visit—morning, noon, or night—you’re truly in for a treat.

Sweet or savory, we’re a sucker for a fresh-baked, still-warm loaf of bread. These are some local spots you “knead” to try.

Sweet Pairings
681 Main Street, Suite 13, Placerville, 530-903-3158, sweetpairingsbakery.com
Try this: Pesto & Focaccia Bread

 

Sweetie Pie’s
577 Main Street, Placerville, 530-642-0128, sweetiepierestaurant.com
Try this: Cinnamon Apple Bread

 

BAD Bakers
195 Placerville Road, Suite 100, Folsom, 916-790-8042; 1420 East Roseville Parkway, Suite 180, Roseville, 916-883-2253, badbakers.com
Try this: Bad Buns

 

Julian's Pâtisserie and Café