Kolache Stop, San Antonio

Unlike many kolacky-bakers, the owners of Kolache Stop don't have Czech heritage or recipes passed down through generations to guide them. Rather, they let their passion for the dense Central-European pastry bloom into a menu of unconventional breakfast, lunch, and dessert options. Fillings range from traditional fruit and cream cheese to jalapeño, pulled pork, and other Southwestern ingredients that the owners have dubbed "Tex-Czech." They also veer from tradition by putting their fillings inside rather than on top of every fluffy pastry bun.

Besides its titular snacks—which are baked fresh onsite every day—Kolache Stop charms sweet teeth with cinnamon rolls, cinnamon twists, and sticky buns on the weekends. Whether guests take their treats to go or stay to use free WiFi in the café, they can wash down their baked goods with coffees ground in-house, low-fat frappes, and smoothies made from real fruit rather than vegetables in disguise.