To deny that Portland is a rainy city would be like denying that the earth is round. Anyone familiar with the climate of Oregon’s western region is well aware of its wet and rainy nature. The good news, however, is that Portland isn’t like other rainy cities – you know, those cities that make you want to stay inside and sleep all day? In Portland, a rainy day is just another legitimate excuse to venture out to one of the city’s delightful bakeries and get lost in a book and a pastry.

Here are my top three choices for Northwest bakeries worth a visit:

1) Lovejoy Bakers
Location: 939 NW 10th Ave. in the Pearl District

Lovejoy Bakers is, hands down, one of my favorite places to go read, eat, and be merry. The staff are all incredibly personable and friendly, and the pastries and coffee never disappoint. They also have delicious soup and sandwich specials during the lunch hour that are worth looking into. What I love most about Lovejoy Bakers, though, is the bread. The ciabatta, the challa, the focaccia, the baguette; I could go on and on about how amazingly soft and flavorful their bread selection is. They also have a fabulous day-old bread basket that you can buy still soft and still delicious breads from. It’s usually pretty busy but it’s well worth the visit.

2) Ken’s Artisan Bakery
Location: 338 NW 21st Ave.
When I’m in the mood to feel like I’m vacationing in France, I go to Ken’s Artisan Bakery. The atmosphere is absolutely delightful, and I’ve never received poor service. The corner building offers spectacular open-air windows which are a lovely addition to the already charming look and feel of the bakery. Ken’s isn’t on the list because it’s just a cool place to sit and read in, though; Ken’s is on the list because they have some of the most amazing baked goods I’ve ever greedily stuffed into my mouth. The croissants are positively to die for – fluffy and soft, they practically melt in your mouth. And the fruit tarts are just as tasty as they are gorgeous. The list of reasons you should check into Ken’s Artisan Bakery is long, take my word for it.

3) Pearl Bakery
Location: 102 NW 9th Ave.
One of the most fabulous things worth mentioning about Pearl Bakery is how dedicated to sustainability they are. The company uses natural, biodegradable cleaning products and recyclable, compostable bags and containers. As for their incredible breads, they insist on using minimal organic ingredients for a fresh and authentic taste – and it’s working out for them very well. In my opinion, however, pastries are where Pearl Bakery shines. Using the freshest and tastiest local ingredients they can find, Pearl Bakery touts phenomenal danishes, cookies, and macarons. Oh, and did I mention they make cakes, too? German chocolate cake with coconut pecan filling and spiced pumpkin cake with molasses buttercream filling are just a couple of cakes worth mentioning. Is your mouth watering yet? Mine is.