Paonia Bread Works

A cute place. I had some free time between meetings so I stopped by for hot chocolate and pastries. They are all made in home with the best ingredients. I loved the scones and plan to go back tomorrow morning to get all the goodies. The earlier you come the more options you have. Also make sure to bring cash or check. Over all A++

I was in love as soon as I walked in. The food tasted of love in every bite. The sandwiches were perfect for an amazing lunch. From the food to the atmosphere was very much relaxed and artistic. I really wish I could have tried everything on their menu. 10/10 recommend to everyone!

Stopped in for coffee and baked goods during a road trip through the area. Solid lattes and the cranberry cornmeal scone was sooooo good

This is a great gem with homemade bakery goods. The bagels were amazing! Cash only!

Paonia Bread Works started, as the name implies, making and selling organic, artisan bread. I’ve particularly enjoyed their bagels, sold through local stores. Some deliveries are made by bicycle, although volume has required acquiring some vehicles.

They just opened a retail outlet that sells bread products, as well as coffee and related items.

I love the space. There is a high ceiling, two long tables for individuals and groups, and a corner with a big couch and chairs. One wall is covered with art, and pleasant music plays. This sounds like a zillion other coffee shops, but this is a particularly engaging space. I’ve uploaded several photos.

The bread, bagels, muffins etc. are really good—handmade on site. The owner, Chris, tells me that the ingredients often are locally sourced. For instance, their hard boiled eggs are organic and local.

The drip coffee is Ethiopian and Sumatran, from Rock Canyon coffee (Basalt, CO). It’s good coffee, enjoyed by many locals. They also have iced tea, espresso, macchiato, cappuccino latte.

To give you an idea of prices, at this writing you can get a handmade toasted bagel with cream cheese and a cup of drip coffee for $4 (including tax). That’s a good deal.

(Edit)
Focaccia is a recent addition, and the menu changes daily.  In the photos, from the top down, today they are offering four kinds of focaccia with:

Fresh raspberries, semi-sweet Ghiradelli chocolate, pine nuts

Peaches, lemon, and cinnamon

Fresh raspberries, peaches and pine nuts

Fresh raspberries

They also make rosemary focaccia, African olive with herbs, a breakfast focaccia with eggs sunnyside up and strips of bacon, triple cheese focaccia (gorgonzola, mozzarella, monchago).

And there's more! Specialty pizzas are often available in the afternoons, gourmet quality, typically organic.

(end edit)

The staff is friendly, attentive, experienced and helpful. They’re fun to chat with.

The owner Chris has been called “a master baker with an amazing feel for the bread and textures.” Chris’ vision is to have Paonia Bread Works be a “third space” in support of the community, a place that facilitates interaction.

Consequently, there is no wifi at present although that could change. I discussed the lack of wifi with Chris, and indicated that I thought that could limit business. However, there are plenty of other places with wifi, such as the Paonia Library a couple of blocks away. So my impression is that the Paonia Bread Works is intended to be a place to disconnect from email and social media for a bit, and to enjoy good food, community awareness and conversation.

At present it’s cash only—that reflects Chris’ vision of not getting caught up in technology.

In summary, Paonia Bread Works is a special place, and worth visiting for the quality of the food and drink, the ambiance, and the human connection you can enjoy here. Highly recommended.

We are a couple of french and we stayed few days in crawford next to paonia.
We stopped by bread works at Paonia and we loved it. The bread, toast and sandwich but also cookies are very delicious. The staff was very welcoming and kind. We will come back before we leave 🤗

Had a yummy turkey sandwich here after a bike ride into town. They were closing around 1pm most days when I was there (July 2022) due to staffing shortages, so go early enough unless you know they'll be open past 1pm. I bought a loaf of sourdough bread as well that was really good. We bought another loaf before we left the area to take home with us.

Every time I go in I leave happy. Great breads, great bagels, great sweets, good coffee, friendly people, good music. Just all around, good.

Salted choco cookie was big and delicious, very balanced treat. But the show stopper was the bagel, everything bagel with cream cheese, my god, never had a bagel like that

A jewel. Must try their home made goods.
I found chicken liver pate mousse here, cannot find that anywhere ♥🙏
Their pizza is outstanding. I will be regular, that's for sure.

We got coffee and scones to eat there and then a loaf sour dough rye to take home. AMAZING!

Their bagels are amazing! We got some traveling through. So sad I don’t live nearby to eat them more often. Great spot to chill! They had pizzas, pastries, coffee and more!

This is a fabulous little spot with lots of character. We stopped in for coffee and bagel sandwiches - the bagels were so fresh and delicious! The space has tables as well as comfy couches where we sat and read for a bit. The staff was friendly!

So far the best food we’ve had on our road trip. Only stopped by to grab some sammies for lunch. Delicious crunchy sourdough bread, fresh ingredients, great atmosphere. Be prepared to pay with cash or check.

The employees were VERY friendly and took the time to help me and my husband with choosing the best menu items. The coffee was probably the best I’ve ever had, and so was the bagel!! Will definitely be back here soon.

We just stopped in to grab a bite of breakfast and some coffee before continuing our travels but ended up having a nice breakfast there and buying lunch food to go. What an amazing array of ready-to-eat foods including creative pizzas in addition to great baked goods and made to order sandwiches. Have you ever seen a breakfast pizza? Hint: it involves eggs sunny side up.

Really amazing food/drink, good service, and a really cool atmosphere.

We chose this business to cater our wedding and we could not have been happier with the food they prepared. 6 stars if possible!

Come here for a delicious breakfast. Has large tables for larger families, a comfortable seating area if you want to relax with a coffee and a book or newspaper, and looks like they host some live music at times. Prices are very reasonable and obvious this is all made in a scratch kitchen. Day old and two day old bagels are available for you to purchase and take home as well.

Cute place to visit for breakfast or brunch. Plenty of places to park and also outside seating. Good service and delicious treats.

Chris and crew make beautiful artisan breads like you would find in a Swiss or Italian bakery, and the pizza slices and quiche are beautiful for lunch. It smells great there!