Oliboli Donuts

A few local dessert shops are so compelling that we actively struggle to keep from returning weekly and eating everything in sight. For years, Oliboli Donuts has been that sort of place, and outstanding at everything it does. Opened in 2018 with a chef-curated approach to producing donuts, Oliboli selects either uncommon flavors or more challenging spins – even including savory options, such as a stuffed “pizza” and sandwich-sized ham-and-cheese donuts – then delivers ideally realized, gourmet-quality treats rather than half-baked versions.

From pumpkin to meyer lemon, lavender sugar to cactus pear, Oliboli nails fruit and herbal donuts every time. Coffee crisp, gingerbread, and other seasonal versions pop up and consistently stun, too. Perfectly sweet/savory-balanced whiskey and bourbon bacon donuts gave way to more traditional maple bacon donuts as a “classic” menu item, then later maple-only donuts, a gradual erosion we don’t especially love. But others – including bright purple Bumbleberry and banana pudding/toffee-topped Banoffee – are reminders that a lot more effort goes into prepping these donuts than more common versions sold elsewhere.