Our Story
Zak the Baker is an independent, traditional-craft kosher bakery in the heart of Miami, Florida. This is how it began.
Leaving the Expected
In 2007, Zak H Stern, a Miami native, walked away from pharmacy school to chase something older and richer: the great, timeless crafts of civilization. Bread. Wine. Cheese.
Apprentice to the Crafts
For the next five years he lived and worked on farms across the world through work trades, apprenticing with bakers, winemakers, and cheesemakers in Sweden, Tuscany, France, and Israel.
Coming Home
In 2012, Zak came home to Miami and opened a small cottage bakery in a friend’s garage in South Miami. Within weeks, lines were forming at the local farmers market, everyone waiting for the bread to arrive. And so, Zak the Baker was born.
A Storefront of Our Own
In 2014 we opened our first brick-and-mortar in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District, a big leap from a small wholesale and farmers-market bakery to a place of our own, with a retail counter and a little café. Within weeks it was packed, and by the end of the year we were already bursting at the seams of the 2,000-square-foot space.
Room to Grow
In 2016 we moved a few doors down, right into the heart of Wynwood, converting a 7,000-square-foot art gallery into our bakery and café. Bread and pastry production stayed wide open for guests to watch the beauty of the process, and at last we had room to grow into.
Better Before Bigger
By 2018, after six straight years of non-stop growth, we made a deliberate choice: to get better before getting any bigger. We capped our growth, said no to every expansion opportunity, and turned back to the roots of the business, craft, culture, community, and finance.
Back to the Land
In 2024 that same instinct led us to the soil. We expanded into organic agriculture with a farmhouse of our own, owned and operated by us, keeping us close to the land and the seasons of South Florida, and giving our regional food culture another place to take root.
The Road So Far
2007 — Left pharmacy school for the old crafts.
2007–2012 — Apprenticed on farms in Sweden, Tuscany, France, & Israel.
2012 — Opened cottage bakery in a South Miami garage.
2013 — Moved to commissary kitchen.
2014 — First storefront in the Wynwood Arts District of Miami, Florida.
2016 — Moved down the street to our current home, one bakery, everything made in house, a house of craft.
2017 — First James Beard Award nomination (five since).
2018 — Capped our growth to focus on the roots: craft, culture, community, & finance.
2022 — First Michelin recognition, every year since.
2024 — Expanded into organic farming with our own ZTB Farmhouse.
Kosher
Our bakery, and everything produced in it, is certified kosher under the supervision of Miami Dade Kosher. Learn more.
Careers
We’re always looking for people who love craft and hospitality. See open positions.
Press
Zak the Baker in the news and around the web. Read press.
Contact
295 NW 26th St, Miami, FL 33127
786-294-0876 · Info@zakthebaker.com
Sunday – Friday, 7am – 5pm · Closed Saturday