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Home › Donut Guides › Best Holiday Donuts & Baked Goods in San Diego
Best Holiday Donuts & Baked Goods in San Diego
Holiday season in San Diego tastes like festive donuts in Little Italy, bûche de Noël in Hillcrest and rosca de reyes from neighborhood panaderias in January. Here are the seasonal treats we send friends to, grouped by neighborhood, and you can taste a few of them on our San Diego Little Italy Holiday Donut Tour.
By the Underground Donut Tour team · Updated November 2026
Looking for year-round favorites? See our Best Donut Shops in San Diego guide.
Want to taste the best of San Diego with a guide? See our San Diego food tours.
LITTLE ITALY & DOWNTOWN
◉ OFFICIAL UNDERGROUND DONUT TOUR PARTNER
Devil's Dozen Donut Shop
2001 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Devil's Dozen at Kettner Exchange makes fresh, creative donuts, and Little Italy dressed for the season makes it a festive first bite. It is the first stop on our San Diego Little Italy Holiday Donut Tour.
Donut Tour Recommends: A festive seasonal flavor from the case
LITTLE ITALY & DOWNTOWN
◉ OFFICIAL UNDERGROUND DONUT TOUR PARTNER
Nonna + Zucchero
1735 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
Website · Instagram · Facebook
This India Street bakery brings a taste of an Italian holiday with Nutella treats and cannoli. It is a stop on our San Diego Little Italy Holiday Donut Tour.
Donut Tour Recommends: Cannoli
LITTLE ITALY & DOWNTOWN
◉ OFFICIAL UNDERGROUND DONUT TOUR PARTNER
Frost Me Cafe and Bakery
555 W Date St, San Diego, CA 92101
Website · Instagram · Facebook
Frost Me's buttery morning buns are a cozy winter treat just around the corner on Date Street. It is a stop on our San Diego Little Italy Holiday Donut Tour.
Donut Tour Recommends: Morning Bun
LITTLE ITALY & DOWNTOWN
◉ OFFICIAL UNDERGROUND DONUT TOUR PARTNER
● Viral on social media
Donut Bar & Bakery
401 W A St, San Diego, CA 92101
Donut Bar's angel wing logo fits the season perfectly, and its over-the-top creations sell out fast. It is the final stop on our San Diego Little Italy Holiday Donut Tour.
Donut Tour Recommends: Grilled Cheese and Bacon Donut
LITTLE ITALY & DOWNTOWN
Parfait Paris (Gaslamp)
This Gaslamp patisserie is all about elegant French pastries, macarons and seasonal entremets, including festive Lunar New Year cakes in past seasons. It is a lovely stop for a holiday gift box.
Donut Tour Recommends: Lunar New Year Entremet
OLD TOWN
◉ OFFICIAL UNDERGROUND DONUT TOUR PARTNER
Cousin's Candy Shop
2711 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
This classic candy shop is a sweet stop when historic Old Town glows for the holidays. It is a stop on our San Diego Haunted History & Delicious Sweet Treats Tour.
Donut Tour Recommends: A festive treat from the candy counter
OLD TOWN
◉ OFFICIAL UNDERGROUND DONUT TOUR PARTNER
● Women-owned
Silver Hoof Creamery
2548 Congress St Ste C, San Diego, CA 92110
This Old Town creamery scoops small-batch ice cream, a sweet treat on a sunny San Diego December day. It is a stop on our San Diego Haunted History & Delicious Sweet Treats Tour.
Donut Tour Recommends: A festive seasonal flavor from the case
OLD TOWN
◉ OFFICIAL UNDERGROUND DONUT TOUR PARTNER
Old Town Mexican Cafe
2489 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
This lively Old Town favorite is a festive spot when the neighborhood lights up for the holidays. It is a stop on our San Diego Haunted History & Delicious Sweet Treats Tour.
Donut Tour Recommends: A warm treat from the menu
OLD TOWN
◉ OFFICIAL UNDERGROUND DONUT TOUR PARTNER
Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant
2660 Calhoun St, San Diego, CA 92110
This restored historic hotel in Old Town State Historic Park is especially charming during the holidays. It is a stop on our San Diego Haunted History & Delicious Sweet Treats Tour.
Donut Tour Recommends: A festive treat from the menu
HILLCREST & SOUTH PARK
Bread & Cie
350 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
This Hillcrest bakery rolls out a full holiday menu with bûche de Noël, panettone, brandy-soaked fruitcake, holiday pies and Chanukah round challah. It is one-stop shopping for a festive table.
Donut Tour Recommends: Bûche de Noël
HILLCREST & SOUTH PARK
● Women-owned ● Latino-owned
Café Madeleine (South Park)
2248 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
This charming South Park café is known for its French pastries, and its galette des rois is a delicious way to celebrate the new year. Grab a croissant and a coffee and settle in.
Donut Tour Recommends: Galette des Rois
BARRIO LOGAN & GOLDEN HILL
Panchita's Bakery
1879 Logan Ave # K, San Diego, CA 92113
Panchita's is a Barrio Logan favorite for pan dulce, and its rosca de reyes is a Three Kings Day tradition for many San Diego families. Pick up a few conchas for the road.
Donut Tour Recommends: Rosca de Reyes
BARRIO LOGAN & GOLDEN HILL
Lucy's Bakery
31 31st St, San Diego, CA 92102
This neighborhood panaderia is a go-to for rosca de reyes in early January, with trays of fresh pan dulce all year. Get there early on Three Kings Day.
Donut Tour Recommends: Rosca de Reyes
BARRIO LOGAN & GOLDEN HILL
Panaderia La Buena
2582 Imperial Ave, San Diego, CA 92102
This Imperial Avenue panaderia bakes roscas de reyes for Three Kings Day alongside a full case of pan dulce. It is a friendly neighborhood stop for a festive January treat.
Donut Tour Recommends: Rosca de Reyes
CITY HEIGHTS
Su Pan Bakery
5006 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92115
Su Pan bakes Mexican breads and pan dulce daily, and its roscas de reyes are a January highlight. The El Cajon Boulevard shop is open late, perfect for an evening treat.
Donut Tour Recommends: Rosca de Reyes
LINDA VISTA
San Diego Bakery & Café
6959 Linda Vista Rd # G, San Diego, CA 92111
This Linda Vista bakery is a local favorite for rosca de reyes in early January and pan dulce all year. It is an easy stop on the way to or from Old Town.
Donut Tour Recommends: Rosca de Reyes
LA JOLLA
Wayfarer Bread & Pastry
5525 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037
Wayfarer's Bird Rock bakery turns out beautiful seasonal pastries, like a pumpkin and cranberry cream bun. Its laminated pastries are some of the best in town.
Donut Tour Recommends: Pumpkin & Cranberry Cream Bun
CARMEL VALLEY & NORTH COUNTY
VG Donut & Bakery
106 Aberdeen Dr, Cardiff, CA 92007
This family-owned Cardiff institution, run by the Mettee family since 1969, has an extensive holiday menu of festive cookies, pies and breads. Its classic donuts are a North County must.
Donut Tour Recommends: Holiday Cookies and Pies
SOUTH BAY
Hans & Harry's Bakery
5080 Bonita Rd b2, Bonita, CA 91902
This Bonita bakery is a holiday favorite for its yule logs, butter cookies and fresh fruit strudel. In January, roscas de reyes join the lineup.
Donut Tour Recommends: Yule Log
Taste San Diego's best on one walk
Skip the guesswork. Our guides pick the best of the best at each stop, with stories along the way.
San Diego Little Italy Holiday Donut Tour →
San Diego Little Italy Donut & Walking Tour →
San Diego Haunted History & Delicious Sweet Treats Tour →
San Diego Donut FAQ
Are these holiday spots ranked?
No. Every donut shop and bakery here is one we would happily send a friend to, so we list them by neighborhood instead of ranking them.
When can I find these holiday treats?
Most holiday specials appear from late November through New Year, sufganiyot arrive for Hanukkah, and rosca de reyes and galette des rois follow in early January. Menus change every season, so check each shop's site or social before you go.
Can I taste some of these on a tour?
Yes. Our San Diego Little Italy Holiday Donut Tour visits Devil's Dozen, Nonna + Zucchero, Frost Me Cafe and Bakery and Donut Bar, with Little Italy dressed for the season. Tour dates fill up fast in December.
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