For 25 years the Bilidas and Cholakis families ran the Amphora Bakery next to their restaurant in Vienna. But in 2003, they realised the demand for their cakes, cookies and buns was so great, they needed to find a second location. It's in Herndon. Visit it for your patisserie and you can also spend time with a coffee and a Danish watching the bakers decorate the cakes through the massive windows at the back of a congenial space that feels like some grand artist's sitting room.

The cakes themselves are works of art. At inspirational times of year like Easter and Christmas, sugar bunnies hide in flowers among blades of green icing grass, Santas stagger with sugary sacks. Birthday cakes are too beautiful to eat. Everything is a celebration. But along with classic cakes from Carrot to Strawberry Shortcake and German Chocolate, they bake 23 different breads, croissants, turnovers, Danish and sticky buns. Other treats include hamentaschen, bread pudding, and Greek baklava, kourabiethes, galaktobouriko and koulourakia. Don't go when you're hungry. Or rather, if you're hungry - go!

Amphora Bakery, 294 Sunset Park Dr, Herndon, 703 964 0500, 403 Maple Ave West, Vienna, 703 281 5631.

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