Paonia Bread Works

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!

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.

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.

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

Lovely place to get some breakfast, friendly service. Just a bit too expensive in my opinion.

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

The best bread in the valley!! Plus lots of other goodies!!

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!

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!