Sift Bake Shop: French-Inspired Pastries and Coastal Charm in Mystic, Niantic, Watch Hill & Mohegan Sun
There’s a certain kind of magic that happens when French technique meets New England soul—and nowhere is that more deliciously evident than at Sift Bake Shop, the beloved bakery founded by James Beard-nominated pastry chef Adam Young.
From its original flagship in Mystic, Connecticut, to its satellite locations in Niantic, Watch Hill, Rhode Island, and Mohegan Sun, Sift has grown into more than a bakery. It’s a shoreline institution. A place where sugar, butter, and flour become art. A place where locals and weekenders line up not just for croissants, but for comfort, ritual, and maybe a little bit of romance.
Mystic Roots, Regional Reach
It all began in Mystic, where cobblestone charm and saltwater breeze set the perfect stage for a bakery that felt plucked from a Paris arrondissement. Inside, a glass case glows with rows of jewel-toned macarons, glossy fruit tarts.
But Mystic was just the start. Driven by demand—and a deep-rooted desire to share his craft more widely—Young expanded Sift to three new shoreline destinations:
Watch Hill, Rhode Island: In this coastal enclave, Sift brings its signature elegance to the whitewashed, resort-town streets. The Watch Hill café is a sweet counterpoint to a morning beach walk or an afternoon stroll to the carousel.
Niantic, Connecticut: This East Lyme location offers everything longtime fans love—flaky pastries, perfect quiches, seasonal breads—in a breezy, family-friendly spot near the boardwalk.
Mohegan Sun: Amid the glitter of one of New England’s top entertainment destinations, Sift anchors the bakery scene with its refined, European sensibility. Even a casino floor feels elevated with a lavender latte in hand.
Wherever you find it, Sift stays true to its roots: hospitality, craftsmanship, and a reverence for detail that transforms each pastry into a small celebration.
What to Order: Across All Locations
While each shop has its own personality, Sift’s core menu offers a lineup of signature treats that blend French finesse with coastal ease. These are the must-try items that locals swear by and visitors come back for:
Butterfly Lemonade: This striking drink is as refreshing as it is beautiful. Made with butterfly pea flower and fresh lemonade, it shifts from violet to blush pink with a squeeze of citrus—an Instagram darling and a summer essential.
Macarons: Flavors rotate with the seasons—think pistachio, earl grey, strawberry basil—but each one is a study in delicacy and balance. Lightly crisp on the outside, soft and chewy within, they’re the perfect edible souvenir.
Savory Quiche: Rich, custardy, and always made with seasonal ingredients, these quiches are ideal for a midday bite. Pair with a cappuccino or tuck one into your beach bag for an elevated picnic.
Almond Croissant: Flaky, buttery, and filled with a generous layer of almond whipped cream, this updated classic takes indulgence seriously. Toasted almonds and a crackle of sugar on top make it irresistible.
Chocolate Cookies: Crisp on the edges, gooey in the center, and packed with rich chocolate chunks. Simple, satisfying, and perfect with a coffee or a cold glass of milk.
Ebbieoche: A Sift original. Think brioche meets cinnamon roll—light, tender layers spiraled with cinnamon and finished with a hint of sweetness. Comfort in its most elegant form.
Pecan Sticky Bun: Glazed with caramel and crowned with roasted pecans, this bakery-case staple is decadent without being overly heavy—a crowd favorite for good reason.
Lemon Tart: A crisp pâte sucrée shell filled with velvety lemon curd and topped with delicate swirls of whipped cream or brûléed peaks. Tart, bright, and beautiful.
Opera Cake: A refined, multi-layered dessert of almond sponge, espresso syrup, ganache, and coffee buttercream. Bold, elegant, and perfect for special occasions—or elevating an ordinary day.
In Mystic, you can linger longer with an espresso upstairs or take your haul to nearby docks. In Niantic and Watch Hill, picnic tables and walkable town greens turn your pastry run into a full-blown outing.
Mix at Sift: The Rooftop Gem
Unique to the Mystic flagship is Mix at Sift, a seasonal rooftop cocktail bar serving handcrafted drinks and sweet-meets-savory small plates. Picture a lemon-thyme gin fizz, coastal breezes, and the sound of the Mystic drawbridge in the background—it’s Connecticut’s answer to a Parisian rooftop in July.
The Man Behind the Brand
Adam Young is more than a baker—he’s a storyteller, a technician, and, perhaps most importantly, a host. Named Best Baker in America by the Food Network and praised for his inventive-yet-approachable style, Young has kept his feet firmly planted in the community that made him.
He can still be found in the kitchen at Mystic, meticulously glazing a mille-feuille or offering a word of encouragement to his team. “It’s about joy,” he’s said. “About creating a moment people remember.”
And create moments he does.
Plan Your Visit
Mystic Flagship
5 Water Street, Mystic, CT
Niantic
367 Main Street, Niantic, CT
Watch Hill
59 Bay Street, Watch Hill, RI
Mohegan Sun
1 Mohegan Sun Blvd, Uncasville, CT (inside Mohegan Sun Casino)
www.siftbakeshopmystic.com
Whether you're road-tripping the coast, ducking out from a casino floor, or tucking into breakfast after a beach sunrise, Sift Bake Shop delivers elegance in every bite. What began as a single bakery in Mystic has grown into a four-location empire of taste, tradition, and the quiet joy of a morning well-fed.
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From its flagship in Mystic to Niantic, Watch Hill, and Mohegan Sun, Sift Bake Shop delivers French pastry excellence with New England flair. Helmed by award-winning chef Adam Young, this beloved bakery is rewriting the rules of shoreline indulgence.