On a Saturday morning in Lakewood, a line forms early at a modest bakery counter, and most people in it have already decided they will buy more than they planned. The cases are packed with Scandinavian breads, almond pastries, kringle and cookies that many Coloradans have quietly relied on for birthdays, brunches and holiday trays for years. It is not a resort-town splurge or a downtown hot spot, just a neighborhood bakery on the west side of the metro that still does things the old Nordic way.
Read on to find out where it is, what fills those cases, when to go before the best trays sell out, and why so many locals cross town for one paper bag of pastries.
1. A Nordic Counter on South Kipling
Some of the best Scandinavian baking along the Front Range sits in a strip of suburban storefronts that most drivers pass without a second look. The bakery is Taste of Denmark, and its address is 1901 S Kipling St, Lakewood, CO 80227.
The shop sits in the Bear Valley corner of Lakewood, on the southwest side of the Denver metro. For folks in Littleton, Golden, Arvada or central Denver, it is a straightforward drive rather than a mountain expedition.
The headline calls it a Swedish bakery, but the shop itself leans Danish, with a menu of Scandinavian-style breads and pastries served in a casual setting. The Nordic family resemblance is strong, and that is exactly what keeps the cases full of almond, custard and butter-layered treats.
Nothing about the exterior shouts for attention. There is a counter, a long run of display cases, a few tables inside, and a covered patio out front.
That low-key setup is part of the appeal. This is the kind of place locals mention to friends almost reluctantly, worried the line might grow even longer.
With a 4.8-star standing built on more than 1,800 public ratings, the secret is not exactly a secret anymore. Still, plenty of Coloradans have yet to make the trip, and the rest of this story explains why that drive tends to become a habit.
2. Old-World Roots in a Suburban Shopping Strip
Scandinavian baking has its own rules, and this shop has been following them as a neighborhood staple for years. The approach is deliberately less sugary than typical American bakery fare, with pastries made just sweet enough, the way the Danes do it.
That restraint gets noticed. People who have traveled through Denmark often say the shop feels like a genuine slice of Copenhagen dropped into suburban Colorado.
Family has long been part of the picture, with owners and relatives working behind the counter and offering recommendations to first-timers. Asking the staff for a favorite remains one of the smartest ways to start.
The bakery has also changed hands at some point in its history, and a few longtime customers have noticed small shifts in certain recipes. Most regulars, though, continue to praise the quality and keep returning week after week.
Quick fun fact: tebirkes, one of the bakery’s more unusual offerings, is a classic Danish poppy seed pastry that rarely shows up on American menus. Its presence here is a small signal that the shop takes its heritage seriously.
For Coloradans who love immigrant-rooted family businesses, the kind that carry a homeland’s recipes into a new state, this counter checks every box. The next question is simple: what exactly is behind all that glass?
3. Danishes, Kringle and the Almond Obsession
Danishes are the undisputed headliners here, and they come up more than any other item when locals talk about the place. Custard danishes, almond danishes and fruit versions all share the spotlight.
Kringle runs a close second. The almond kringle in particular is the pastry staff members often hand to first-time customers who ask for a recommendation.
Almond, in fact, could be the unofficial theme of the entire shop. Almond croissants, almond bear claws, almond twists and an almond custard bar all have devoted followings.
One regular pattern stands out. People come in for a single almond pastry, leave with a box, and return a few days later for the item they could not stop thinking about.
Strudel earns frequent mentions too, as do the hazelnut and chocolate tarts. Caramel tarts and Napoleons round out the more dessert-leaning corner of the case.
The selection is large enough that even frequent customers admit they have only tried a fraction of it. That is either a challenge or a warning, depending on how much self-control a person brings through the door.
A smart strategy is a mixed four-pack, which lets a first visit cover more ground. Expect to circle back for the ones that win.
4. Cookie Trays Built for the Holidays
Holiday gatherings in Colorado tend to have one guest assigned to dessert, and a surprising number of them quietly outsource the job to this counter. Copenhagen cookies are among the distinctive Danish offerings that set the case apart from ordinary bakery fare.
Florentine cookies, loaded with almonds and on the larger, crunchier side, are another standout. They make a good centerpiece for a cookie platter.
Assortments travel well to brunches, office parties and family get-togethers. People regularly assemble boxes of tarts, cookies and small sweets specifically for an upcoming event.
So what about the cardamom buns promised in the headline? Cardamom is a Nordic baking staple, but the daily lineup shifts, so the best move is to check the case or ask at the counter rather than assume a specific item will be waiting.
The same goes for seasonal specialties. Some longtime fans have even wished aloud for more Danish classics, which shows how invested the regulars are in the menu.
For December planning, timing matters more than anything. Popular items sell out frequently, so arriving early is the most reliable way to fill a holiday tray without a backup plan.
5. The Savory Shelf and Fresh Loaves
Not everyone wants sugar at 7 a.m., and the bakery has a full savory lineup for that crowd. Ham and cheese croissants are the best known, with a reputation that spreads by word of mouth before people even try one.
A cheese and spinach croissant also earns strong praise. Breakfast sandwiches have their own loyal fans who order them on nearly every trip.
The farmers roll is another option for anyone wanting something more substantial. Savory pastries as a category come up often enough to suggest this is not an afterthought.
Bread deserves its own mention. Fresh loaves, including sourdough, are a regular part of the case and a practical reason to stop by even when pastries are not on the agenda.
That makes the shop useful for weekday routines, not just special occasions. A loaf for the week plus one treat for the drive home is a common combination.
Pairing sweet and savory is also a smart way to split a box between household members with different tastes. Nobody has to fight over the last kringle slice, at least in theory.
6. Cream Puffs, Coffee and a Cup of Cocoa
Cream puffs have a fan club of their own here. Some regulars admit they order one every single visit and treat everything else as a bonus.
Beyond the puffs, the case holds raspberry-filled sugar doughnuts, cinnamon rolls and a pumpkin muffin filled generously with cream cheese rather than simply topped. Variety is clearly a point of pride.
The drink menu keeps things simple but solid. Dazbog coffee, a Colorado roaster, is served alongside lattes for those who want a proper pastry-and-coffee pairing.
The hot chocolate is a sleeper hit. More than one customer has called it among the best they have had anywhere, which is high praise for a bakery side order.
That combination makes the shop an easy stop for a low-cost morning outing. A pastry and a hot drink can turn a regular errand day into something that feels like a small treat.
Parents looking for a short grown-up break, or retirees meeting friends for coffee, will find the format easy. Grab a drink, pick a pastry, and settle in before deciding whether a second round is necessary.
7. Busy Mornings and a Fast-Moving Line
Busy is the default setting. Even on a weekday at 8:15 a.m., the room can be full, and weekend mornings bring a steady stream of customers through the doors.
The good news is that the wait rarely drags. The bakery is well staffed, and the team keeps the line moving quickly while still taking time to answer questions.
Friendliness comes up again and again. Staff members are patient with indecisive first-timers, which matters when the case holds dozens of choices.
Seating is limited but practical. There are a few tables inside and roughly six or seven outside under a covered overhang, making the patio a nice option on mild Colorado days.
Cleanliness is another consistent point of praise. The space is casual rather than fancy, built for grabbing a box or lingering briefly with a coffee.
The crowd is a true cross section of the metro. Neighbors on a weekly run, families picking up party trays and travelers heading west on I-70 toward Vail all end up in the same line.
A little patience goes a long way here. The reward is a box that tends to vanish faster than the wait did.
8. Hours, Costs and Beating the Sellout
Plan around the calendar first. The bakery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and it is closed every Monday and Tuesday.
That closure catches people off guard, so double-check the day before driving across town. Many customers have learned the schedule the hard way.
Arriving early is the single best tip. Popular pastries sell out frequently, and the earliest hours offer the widest selection before the weekend rush thins the trays.
On cost, items have averaged around $3.75 each in recent experience. Some people find the bakery on the pricier side, while others say it is more reasonable than comparable high-end bakeries around Denver.
Either way, a mixed box for a household or a gathering can stay within a modest budget, especially compared with ordering from a fancy downtown patisserie.
Getting there is simple. From the other side of the metro, the trip can run about 30 minutes by highway without traffic, and the shop sits right on South Kipling Street in Lakewood.
For mountain-bound travelers, it also works as a fuel stop on the way to I-70. More details are available on the bakery’s website, tasteofdenmarkco.com.
9. Why the Drive to Lakewood Pays Off
Plenty of Colorado businesses promise authenticity, but few have earned this much loyalty from people who return every week, every year, or even right before catching a flight at DIA. Former locals who have moved away still make a point of stopping in when they visit.
That kind of devotion says something. This is a neighborhood bakery that became a destination without losing its everyday, unfussy character.
The appeal is easy to sum up. A large Scandinavian selection, a friendly and efficient staff, and pastries made with a lighter touch on sugar give it a personality that stands apart.
Is every recipe exactly the same as it was years ago? A few longtime fans have noticed changes, and that is fair to keep in mind.
Still, the overwhelming sentiment points the same direction. Most people walk out planning their next order before they reach the parking lot.
For Coloradans hunting heritage, value and a break from crowded tourist spots, this Lakewood counter is worth a Wednesday-through-Sunday morning. Go early, bring a list for the holidays, and leave a little room in the budget for the treat nobody planned to buy.
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