Where are the best cinnamon rolls in the world?

Copenhagen (Juno the Bakery, Hart Bageri), New York City (Radio Bakery, Sunday Morning), and Stockholm (Fabrique) are the global standouts. Beyond those, London (Roll Boys, Fortitude Bakehouse), San Francisco (Tartine), and Sydney (Rollers Bakehouse) all have spots that compete at the highest level. cinnamap covers all of them in one place.

What country makes the best cinnamon rolls?

Denmark and Sweden produce the most consistent quality at scale — cardamom-forward, lightly sweet kanelsnegl and kanelbullar baked daily at a standard that's hard to match. The United States has the highest ceiling for innovation (sourdough bases, lamination, seasonal flavors), but also the widest quality range. Scandinavia wins on average; the US wins for individual showstoppers.

What's the difference between a cinnamon roll and a kanelbullar?

American cinnamon rolls are typically sweeter, larger, and finished with cream cheese frosting on a soft brioche-style dough. Swedish kanelbullar and Danish kanelsnegl use enriched yeasted dough, less sugar, and are flavored with cardamom as well as cinnamon. They're usually shaped as a knot (Sweden) or tight spiral (Denmark) and finished with pearl sugar rather than frosting. Both styles are delicious; they're solving slightly different problems.

Are these cinnamon roll recommendations independent?

Yes. cinnamap is fully independent — no paid placements, no sponsored rankings, no bakery partnerships. Spots are ranked using a composite score based on Google ratings (Bayesian-adjusted to discount low-review-count outliers), press mentions from Eater, The Infatuation, and similar sources, and whether a spot specializes in cinnamon rolls vs. offering them as one of many items. The methodology is consistent across all 17 cities.

Best Cinnamon Rolls in the World

From Copenhagen's cardamom-forward kanelsnegl to New York's sourdough swirls and Melbourne's laminated masterpieces, the world has never had a better cinnamon roll scene. We've mapped 228 spots across 17 cities so you don't have to guess. Here are the ones consistently rising to the top.

Flour Shop

⭐ 4.8

Sydney · Bakery📍 16 Princes Street, Turramurra NSW 2074

Understated North Shore bakery with a Scandinavian-influenced cardamom-cinnamon sticky bun. Rated 4.8 with 561+ reviews. Also does a Biscoff variant and babka scroll.

Roll Style

Scandinavian

Featured by

BroadsheetNot Quite NigellaSBS Food

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Hewn Bakery

⭐ 4.8

Chicago · Bakery📍 1733 Central St, Evanston

Women-owned artisan bakery specializing in naturally fermented, stone-milled, organic-grain breads. The cinnamon brioche bun uses locally-sourced organic flour and slow fermentation. Named to Food & Wine's Best Bakeries in America.

Roll Style

Classic American

Featured by

Food & WineNew York TimesChicago TribuneSaveur

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An Xuyen Bakery

⭐ 4.7

Portland · Bakery📍 5345 SE Foster Rd, Portland

Vietnamese-French family bakery open since 1995. Cinnamon rolls have a subtle coconut hint and generous icing. Also sells a Cinnamon Roll Cake with cream cheese filling. Better known citywide for banh mi.

Roll Style

Classic American

Featured by

Willamette WeekEater PortlandThrillist

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Nielsen's Pastries

⭐ 4.9

Seattle · Bakery📍 520 2nd Ave W, Seattle

Seattle's premier Danish bakery, founded 1965. The signature snitter is a Danish-American invention: cinnamon roll dough rolled flat with custard and almond paste. Mon-Sat 8am-2pm only.

Roll Style

Scandinavian

Featured by

Seattle TimesAtlas Obscura

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Fortitude Bakehouse

⭐ 4.8

London · Bakery📍 35 Colonnade, London WC1N 1JD

The outer layers are as cinnamon-rich as the center. Sticky exterior, chewy crumb. The Infatuation gave it 8.3/10. Sells out by 1pm.

Roll Style

Classic American

Featured by

The InfatuationLondonist

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