Cary boulangerie opened in 1999 by master baker Lionel Vatinet, with hearth breads made over 3 days and a café open from 7 am daily.
Stops within about 40 miles of La Farm Bakery. Collect a Lavender Passport stamp at each one.
La Farm Bakery is a French-style boulangerie and café that master baker Lionel Vatinet opened in Cary in 1999 with his wife and partner, Missy. Vatinet trained with Les Compagnons du Devoir, the French artisans' guild, and spent years consulting for bakeries around the world. He is also the author of the bread book A Passion for Bread.
Bread is the reason to stop. Loaves are shaped by hand every day and baked in a European-style hearth oven after a three-day process, using unbleached, unbromated flour. The bakery turns out 15 styles of bread and about 20 seasonal loaves through the year. Look for the house La Farm Bread, ciabatta, challah, multigrain, Piedmont whole wheat and the white chocolate mini baguette, plus seasonal specials such as pumpkin bread, a Fall Harvest loaf, Linzer challah and Galette des Rois.
The café serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner with espresso drinks, and the pastry case holds croissants, almond croissants, pain au chocolat, cinnamon buns, scones and French macarons. The bakery also runs hands-on baking classes and events, and online orders placed at least 24 hours ahead can be picked up curbside.
This Preston Corners shop sits in the Preston Corners Shopping Center at Cary Parkway and High House Road, close to I-40, I-440, US 64 and US 1. Lavender Oaks Farm in Chapel Hill is about 30 minutes west, so a loaf and a coffee here make an easy start to a lavender day.
Lavender Oaks Farm · about 30 minutes away
Lavender Oaks Farm in Chapel Hill is about 30 minutes west, so pick up bread and pastries here before heading to the fields.
Master baker Lionel Vatinet, who opened it in Cary in 1999 with his wife and partner, Missy.
Sunday through Thursday 7 am to 6 pm, and Friday and Saturday 7 am to 7 pm.
Yes, hands-on baking classes are listed on their website.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Chapel Hill & Durham, North Carolina
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
You may also like
Here to help while we’re tending the farm
Hi! I’m Lavender Grower, Great Lakes Lavender Farm’s automated assistant.
I can help with growing lavender, choosing plants, orders, wholesale, claims, reviews, or the Farm Simulator.
