Zak the Baker

"The Dish: Sourdough The evolution of Zak the Baker mirrors the evolution of Wynwood. The first time we met Zak’s bread was in the form of shrink-wrapped sandwiches at the Wynwood Panther Coffee. As the years went by and Wynwood grew in popularity, so did Zak’s bread. There was a certain point in time when it felt like every restaurant with a toast or sandwich on the menu was proudly advertising that it came from this bakery. Miami’s bakery scene is now bigger and better than ever, but a thick slice of Zak’s sourdough, with its tangy flavor and crumb open wide enough to stick a pinky through, is still all over South Florida. And folks continue to write poems and trade mangoes for a loaf.   " - virginia otazo, ryan pfeffer, mariana trabanino

"Zak The Baker, especially during tourist season, can be a bit nuts and doesn't take reservations. But we still firmly believe the Kosher bakery is worth braving even the winter Wynwood crowd. Plus, they do that thing where they'll text you when your table is ready, which allows you to kill time by wandering around Wynwood for 30ish minutes. When you're seated, prepare for delicious forms of bread that include a perfect bagel, various breakfast sandwiches, and more minimal (but delicious) toasts and pastries. There's no DJ or piercing soundtrack in the bakery—just the sound of clanking silverware and a small army of bakers making enough sourdough for the entire tri-county region. And head's up: Zak is closed on Saturday." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino

"If you’re in Wynwood and don't stop by Zak the Baker, you better have a good excuse. Maybe you tripped over a selfie stick and fell onto a tour bus and woke up in Little Havana. Fine. But anything short of that is unacceptable. Zak is not only partly responsible for establishing Wynwood as a place to eat delicious things, but this minimal kosher bakery continues to make some of Miami’s best bread and an assortment of pastries that should absolutely be coming home with you. Get the babka, a bagel, or any sort of eggy sandwich. Crowds can be intense, but takeout is an option or they'll text you when your table is ready, so you can kill time by wandering around Wynwood for 30ish minutes." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino

"Zak Stern’s breads have become a staple at tables across Miami, but his Wynwood bakery is where the magic really happens. The bright, bustling space, with its white walls and simple wooden seating, draws in a non-stop mix of locals and tourists. You can watch bakers in action from the open kitchen while dining on items like flaky olive za’atar sourdough or a hearty slice of Jewish rye. Beyond bread, the kosher cafe serves dishes like nova on a chewy bagel and, on the sweet side, a flourless chocolate almond cookie — seasonal pastries, such as the concha with mamey cream, spotlight Miami’s influence." - Olee Fowler

"Zak The Baker is a kosher bakery, and one of those places that we write about so much it’s getting hard to find new things to say about this Wynwood classic. So just trust us when we say that everything here is amazing. The babka, various sandwiches, bagels, cookies—it’s all worth accidentally driving through a music video while looking for parking in Wynwood. Crowds can be intense during tourist season, but we've never had to wait much longer than 30 minutes for a table." - ryan pfeffer, mariana trabanino