There are doughnuts, and then there are doughnuts worth booking a flight for.
From old-school American glazed rings and Hawaiian malasadas to Japanese mochi doughnuts, vegan Berlin creations and London’s custard-filled beauties, the humble doughnut has gone properly international. And frankly, humanity has never looked better for it.
This guide rounds up 25 of the best doughnut places around the world, judged for flavor, texture, creativity, history and that all-important “Oh no, I accidentally ate three” factor.
1. Doughnut Plant — New York City, USA
Founded: 1994
Address: 379 Grand St, New York, NY 10002, USA
Flavors served: Crème brûlée, tres leches, pistachio, strawberry, chocolate, coffee cake
Texture & Style: Handmade, plush yeast and dense cake doughnuts
Glazes & fillings: Fruit glazes, creams, custards and inventive toppings
Most iconic doughnut: Crème Brûlée Doughnut
Cost for two: ~$12–20
Instagram: @doughnutplant
Website: doughnutplant.com
Doughnut Plant is where doughnuts stop behaving like breakfast and start acting like pastry royalty. Founded by Mark Israel, the shop became famous for handmade doughnuts, unusual flavors and filled creations. The crème brûlée version is particularly legendary, combining a caramelized sugar shell with creamy filling. It’s the kind of doughnut that makes you briefly question every ordinary doughnut you’ve ever eaten.
2. Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop — New York City, USA
Founded: 1953
Address: 727 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222, USA
Flavors served: Glazed, chocolate, cinnamon, jelly, Boston cream
Texture & Style: Light, fluffy, classic American
Glazes & fillings: Chocolate, sugar, jelly and custard
Most iconic doughnut: Red Velvet Doughnut
Cost for two: ~$6–12
Instagram: @peterpandonuts
Website: Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop
Peter Pan has been feeding Greenpoint sweet-toothed New Yorkers since the 1950s, and it still feels wonderfully old-school. The doughnuts are inexpensive, generously sized and gloriously uncomplicated. Fluffy interiors, crisp fried edges and traditional fillings make this a Brooklyn institution. Grab a coffee, order something glazed and enjoy the rare luxury of eating history without needing a museum ticket.
3. Voodoo Doughnut — Portland, USA
Founded: 2003
Address: 22 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97204, USA
Flavors served: Maple bacon, chocolate, cereal, peanut butter, fruit
Texture & Style: Yeast and cake doughnuts with outrageous toppings
Glazes & fillings: Maple, chocolate, peanut butter, jams and novelty toppings
Most iconic doughnut: Bacon Maple Bar
Cost for two: ~$8–15
Instagram: @voodoodoughnut
Website: voodoodoughnut.com
Voodoo Doughnut arrived in Portland in 2003 and basically asked, “What if doughnuts had absolutely no adult supervision?” The answer involved bacon, cereal, candy and wonderfully eccentric combinations. Its flagship became a Portland institution and helped popularize the modern novelty-doughnut movement. The Bacon Maple Bar remains the headline act: sweet maple glaze meeting salty bacon in deliciously chaotic harmony.
4. Blue Star Donuts — Portland, USA
Founded: 2012
Address: Multiple locations, Portland, Oregon, USA
Flavors served: Blueberry bourbon basil, lemon poppyseed, passion fruit, chocolate bergamot
Texture & Style: Brioche-style, substantial and tender
Glazes & fillings: Fruit curds, creams, chocolate and sophisticated glazes
Most iconic doughnut: Blueberry Bourbon Basil
Cost for two: ~$10–16
Instagram: @bluestardonuts
Website: bluestardonuts.com
Blue Star Donuts treats doughnuts more like miniature works of pastry architecture. Founded in 2012, it developed a reputation for brioche dough and grown-up flavor combinations. Blueberry bourbon basil sounds like something from a cocktail menu, yet somehow becomes spectacular on fried dough. The result is rich, chewy, fragrant and sophisticated—basically a doughnut wearing a very expensive blazer.
5. Randy’s Donuts — Los Angeles, USA
Founded: 1952
Address: 805 W Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90301, USA
Flavors served: Glazed, chocolate, maple, jelly, old-fashioned
Texture & Style: Classic American, fluffy and airy
Glazes & fillings: Chocolate, maple, vanilla, fruit and custard
Most iconic doughnut: Original Glazed
Cost for two: ~$6–12
Instagram: @randysdonuts
Website: randysdonuts.com
You cannot discuss Los Angeles doughnuts without mentioning Randy’s—and that enormous rooftop doughnut that looks like it could swallow a small car. Since 1952, Randy’s has served classic American doughnuts while becoming a recognizable pop-culture landmark. Its doughnuts are fluffy, airy and generously sized. The Original Glazed is the uncomplicated hero: no tricks, no drama, just excellent fried dough.
6. Leonard’s Bakery — Honolulu, Hawaii
Founded: 1952
Address: 933 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816, USA
Flavors served: Original, cinnamon sugar, li hing, custard, chocolate
Texture & Style: Pillowy, chewy, Portuguese-inspired malasada
Glazes & fillings: Sugar coatings and custard-style fillings
Most iconic doughnut: Original Malasada
Cost for two: ~$6–12
Instagram: @leonardshawaii
Website: leonardshawaii.com
Leonard’s Bakery opened in Honolulu in 1952 and helped turn the Portuguese malasada into one of Hawaii’s most beloved sweet treats. These hole-less doughnuts are fried until beautifully golden, then showered with sugar or filled with luscious creams. They’re slightly crisp outside, soft inside and dangerously easy to inhale. One becomes two remarkably quickly. You have been warned.
7. Krispy Kreme — Winston-Salem, USA
Founded: 1937
Address: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; locations worldwide
Flavors served: Original Glazed, chocolate, strawberry, seasonal specialties
Texture & Style: Feather-light yeast doughnut
Glazes & fillings: Signature sugar glaze, chocolate, creams and seasonal fillings
Most iconic doughnut: Original Glazed
Cost for two: ~$4–10
Instagram: @krispykreme
Website: krispykreme.com
Krispy Kreme has been making people suspiciously excited about illuminated signs since 1937. The famous Original Glazed is light, warm and coated in that unmistakable sugary glaze. When the “Hot Now” sign is glowing, resistance becomes largely theoretical. The brand has grown globally, but the original appeal remains beautifully simple: hot doughnut, sweet glaze, instant happiness.
8. Doughnut Vault — Chicago, USA
Founded: 2011
Address: 401 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60654, USA
Flavors served: Buttermilk, pistachio, lemon poppyseed, chocolate, almond
Texture & Style: Old-fashioned, crisp outside and cakey inside
Glazes & fillings: Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and seasonal toppings
Most iconic doughnut: Buttermilk Old Fashioned
Cost for two: ~$7–12
Instagram: @doughnutvault
Website: doughnutvault.com
Doughnut Vault is for people who believe doughnuts don’t need to shout to be spectacular. Its small-batch creations use old-world recipes and are made fresh daily. The buttermilk old-fashioned is the star, delivering crunchy edges and a tender, cakey centre. There is also an important rule: they can sell out. Translation? Wake up early. Your pillow will understand.
9. I’m donut ? — Tokyo, Japan
Founded: 2022
Address: 2-9-1 Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0002, Japan
Flavors served: Matcha, pistachio, chocolate, strawberry, crème brûlée
Texture & Style: Extremely soft, airy and mochi-like
Glazes & fillings: Creams, custards, fruit and chocolate
Most iconic doughnut: Original “I’m donut?”
Cost for two: ¥1,000–2,000
Instagram: @i_m.donut
Website: I’m donut ?
Tokyo’s doughnut scene went delightfully bonkers with I’m donut?, famous for its impossibly soft, almost cloud-like dough. The texture is the real celebrity: airy, moist and wonderfully squishy. Flavors range from simple sugar to elaborate creams and seasonal creations. At its Shibuya shop, expect queues, Instagram photography and at least one person saying, “Wait… why is this so soft?”
10. Mister Donut — Japan
Founded: 1971 in Japan
Address: Multiple locations across Japan
Flavors served: Pon de Ring, French cruller, old-fashioned, chocolate, matcha
Texture & Style: Chewy, bouncy and distinctly Japanese
Glazes & fillings: Sugar, chocolate, matcha, custards and creams
Most iconic doughnut: Pon de Ring
Cost for two: ¥400–1,000
Instagram: @misterdonut_jp
Website: misterdonut.jp
Mister Donut became part of Japan’s doughnut culture after its first Japanese store opened in 1971. Its most famous creation, the Pon de Ring, changed the texture conversation entirely: instead of fluffy or cakey, it is wonderfully chewy and bouncy. The chain also serves French crullers, old-fashioneds and seasonal flavors. Japan, apparently, looked at doughnuts and said, “Let’s make them fun.”
11. Donutelier — London, UK
Founded: 2022
Address: 48–50 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0BB, UK
Flavors served: Pistachio, Black Forest, crème brûlée, chocolate
Texture & Style: Plump, pastry-style and brioche-like
Glazes & fillings: Chocolate, fruit compotes, pistillio creams and custards
Most iconic doughnut: Pistachio Doughnut
Cost for two: £8–14
Instagram: @donutelier
Website: donutelier.co.uk
Donutelier looks at the doughnut and sees a blank pastry canvas. Its London shops specialize in elaborate, almost patisserie-like creations with eye-catching decorations and generous fillings. The pistachio and Black Forest varieties are particular standouts. These aren’t shy little rings hiding beside your coffee—they’re chunky, glamorous and practically demanding their own passport photo.
12. Bread Ahead Bakery Borough Market — London, UK
Founded: 2013
Address: Borough Market, Cathedral Street, London SE1 9DE, UK
Flavors served: Vanilla custard, salted caramel, chocolate, raspberry
Texture & Style: Light, fluffy and generously filled
Glazes & fillings: Custard, chocolate, caramel and fruit jams
Most iconic doughnut: Vanilla Custard Doughnut
Cost for two: £7–12
Instagram: @breadaheadbakery
Website: breadahead.com
Bread Ahead was founded in 2013 at Borough Market and became famous for artisan baking and its wonderfully indulgent doughnuts. Their filled doughnuts are gloriously soft, with generous interiors that practically burst when bitten. The vanilla custard is the classic choice, although chocolate, caramel and fruit variations regularly compete for attention. London sightseeing suddenly has a much better itinerary.
13. Crosstown Doughnuts — London, UK
Founded: 2014
Address: Multiple London locations
Flavors served: Peanut butter, pistachio, chocolate, raspberry, vegan specials
Texture & Style: Sourdough-brioche, chewy and fluffy
Glazes & fillings: Ganache, compotes, creams and glazes
Most iconic doughnut: Dark Chocolate Truffle
Cost for two: £7–14
Instagram: @crosstowndoughnuts
Website: crosstown.co.uk
Crosstown brings sourdough fermentation into the doughnut conversation, creating a texture that is both fluffy and satisfyingly chewy. Founded in London in 2014, the brand became known for creative flavor combinations and impressive vegan options. Chocolate truffle, peanut butter and fruit-filled varieties are particularly popular. Essentially, Crosstown proves that doughnuts can have both street-food swagger and pastry-school credentials.
14. Brammibal’s Donuts — Berlin, Germany
Founded: 2015
Address: Multiple locations across Berlin and Hamburg
Flavors served: Peanut butter, cinnamon, pistachio, chocolate, seasonal fruit
Texture & Style: Soft, fluffy and completely vegan
Glazes & fillings: Plant-based creams, fruit compotes and chocolate
Most iconic doughnut: Peanut Butter Fudge
Cost for two: €8–14
Instagram: @brammibalsdonuts
Website: brammibalsdonuts.com
Brammibal’s started in Berlin in 2015 with a mission to prove that vegan doughnuts could be every bit as indulgent as their dairy-filled cousins. Every doughnut is made fresh from scratch, with changing seasonal specials joining a reliable classic range. The result is fluffy, colorful and unapologetically decadent. Even committed dairy enthusiasts may find themselves quietly reconsidering their life choices.
15. Boneshaker Donuts — Paris, France
Founded: 2016
Address: 86 Rue d’Aboukir, 75002 Paris, France
Flavors served: Chocolate, pistachio, fruit, caramel, seasonal flavors
Texture & Style: Soft, pastry-like and handmade
Glazes & fillings: House-made creams, compotes and glazes
Most iconic doughnut: Glazed Vegan Doughnut
Cost for two: €8–14
Instagram: @boneshakerparis
Website: boneshakerparis.com
Paris got its fully vegan doughnut destination when pastry chef Amanda Bankert began making artisan doughnuts after discovering a €10 fryer at a Montmartre flea market. Boneshaker now produces handmade doughnuts, glazes, creams and compotes on site. The textures are fluffy and pastry-like, while the flavors are far more sophisticated than the phrase “vegan doughnut” might suggest.
16. Shortstop Coffee & Donuts — Melbourne, Australia
Founded: 2014
Address: Multiple Melbourne locations
Flavors served: Cinnamon, peanut butter, lemon, chocolate, seasonal fruit
Texture & Style: Handcrafted, fluffy and slightly chewy
Glazes & fillings: Chocolate, jams, creams and specialty glazes
Most iconic doughnut: Cinnamon Doughnut
Cost for two: A$10–16
Instagram: @shortstopdoughnuts
Website: shortstopdoughnuts.com
Shortstop helped turn Melbourne into a serious doughnut destination, pairing small-batch doughnuts with excellent coffee. The menu leans into interesting ingredients without losing the comfort-food soul of a great doughnut. Think fragrant cinnamon, rich chocolate and seasonal fruit combinations. The texture hits that sweet spot between pillowy and chewy. Coffee aficionados will also appreciate the very Melbourne decision to take the caffeine seriously.
17. Bistro Morgan Bakehouse — Melbourne, Australia
Founded: 2012
Address: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Flavors served: Cookie Monster, crème brûlée, Kinder Bueno, chocolate
Texture & Style: Soft, indulgent and generously decorated
Glazes & fillings: Creams, chocolate, caramel and confectionery toppings
Most iconic doughnut: Cookie Monster
Cost for two: A$13–18
Instagram: @bistromorgan
Website: bistromorgan.com.au
Morgan Hipworth built Bistro Morgan around fun, memorable baked goods, with doughnuts becoming one of its biggest attractions. Today’s range includes creations such as Cookie Monster, crème brûlée and Kinder Bueno. The doughnuts are soft, rich and unapologetically indulgent. Bistro Morgan understands an important truth: sometimes you don’t want subtle pastry craftsmanship. Sometimes you want chocolate, cream and absolutely no regrets.
18. Donut King — Sydney, Australia
Founded: 1981
Address: Multiple locations across Australia
Flavors served: Cinnamon, glazed, jam, chocolate, iced
Texture & Style: Classic Australian mall-style doughnuts
Glazes & fillings: Cinnamon sugar, jam, cream, chocolate and icing
Most iconic doughnut: Hot Cinnamon Doughnut
Cost for two: A$6–12
Instagram: @donutking_au
Website: donutking.com.au
Donut King opened its first store in Sydney in 1981 and grew into one of Australia’s best-known doughnut chains. Its hot cinnamon doughnuts are the main attraction: freshly made, warm and tossed in cinnamon sugar. The experience is nostalgic, fast and gloriously messy. It is essentially Australia’s answer to the question, “What if shopping malls smelled like cinnamon and happiness?”
19. Doughnut Time — Brisbane, Australia
Founded: 2015
Address: 176 Grey Street, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
Flavors served: Nutella, caramel, chocolate, cookies, seasonal creations
Texture & Style: Large, fluffy and heavily decorated
Glazes & fillings: Chocolate, Nutella, caramel, creams and candy
Most iconic doughnut: Nutella-filled creations
Cost for two: A$12–18
Instagram: @doughnuttimeau
Website: doughnuttime.com.au
Doughnut Time approaches dessert with the subtlety of a marching band. Its doughnuts are oversized, colorful and loaded with fillings, chocolate and toppings. Nutella creations have become especially popular, turning the humble doughnut into a full-on dessert event. The Brisbane shops are particularly handy for anyone who believes moderation is something best discussed after the second doughnut.
20. Léché Desserts — Montreal, Canada
Founded: 2012
Address: Multiple locations in Montreal
Flavors served: Maple, chocolate, crème brûlée, lemon, seasonal fruit
Texture & Style: Light, fluffy and handmade
Glazes & fillings: Maple glaze, custard, chocolate and fruit compotes
Most iconic doughnut: Maple Bacon Doughnut
Cost for two: C$10–16
Instagram: @lechedesserts
Website: lechedesserts.com
Montreal’s Léché Desserts gives the Canadian doughnut a distinctly local accent, with maple syrup appearing in ways that feel almost inevitable. Its doughnuts are handmade, fluffy and generously topped, with flavors moving from classic chocolate to more adventurous combinations. The maple-forward creations are the ones to chase. Because if you’re eating a Canadian doughnut, surely maple syrup is legally required somewhere.
21. Glory Hole Doughnuts — Toronto, Canada
Founded: 2012
Address: Multiple locations in Toronto
Flavors served: Earl Grey, pistachio, maple, chocolate, fruit
Texture & Style: Soft, airy and generously filled
Glazes & fillings: Custards, jams, chocolate, cream and seasonal toppings
Most iconic doughnut: Earl Grey Doughnut
Cost for two: C$9–15
Instagram: @gloryholedoughnuts
Website: gloryholedoughnuts.com
Despite the wonderfully mischievous name, Glory Hole Doughnuts is serious about pastry. Toronto’s beloved shop built a following around creative flavors, soft dough and impressive fillings. Earl Grey, chocolate and fruit-based varieties regularly turn breakfast into a much more ambitious affair. The doughnuts are colorful without being gimmicky and inventive without forgetting that, ultimately, doughnuts are supposed to be ridiculously enjoyable.
22. Duck Donuts — North Carolina, USA
Founded: 2007
Address: Duck, North Carolina, USA; locations across the USA
Flavors served: Cinnamon sugar, maple, chocolate, vanilla, blueberry
Texture & Style: Warm, cake-style and made to order
Glazes & fillings: Chocolate, maple, caramel, vanilla and fruit
Most iconic doughnut: Maple Bacon Doughnut
Cost for two: ~$8–14
Instagram: @duckdonuts
Website: duckdonuts.com
Duck Donuts made one clever decision: don’t make people wait for their doughnuts to become yesterday’s doughnuts. The brand specializes in warm, made-to-order cake doughnuts, which are then dipped and decorated to order. Maple bacon remains the crowd favorite, balancing sweet glaze with salty crunch. The result is warm, soft and dangerously compatible with “I’ll just have one.”
23. Tim Hortons — Canada
Founded: 1964
Address: Multiple locations across Canada
Flavors served: Honey Cruller, Boston Cream, chocolate, glazed, seasonal flavors
Texture & Style: Classic Canadian chain doughnuts
Glazes & fillings: Honey glaze, chocolate, custard, fruit and sugar
Most iconic doughnut: Honey Cruller
Cost for two: C$5–10
Instagram: @timhortons
Website: timhortons.com
Tim Hortons is less a doughnut shop and more a Canadian institution that happens to sell doughnuts. Founded in 1964, it became synonymous with coffee-and-doughnut culture across the country. The Honey Cruller is the cult favorite, with a light, ridged texture and sweet honey glaze. For many Canadians, grabbing a Timbit or two is practically a national ritual. Or twelve.
24. Theobroma — India
Founded: 2004
Address: Multiple locations across India
Flavors served: Chocolate, glazed, cinnamon, caramel, filled doughnuts
Texture & Style: Soft, bakery-style and indulgent
Glazes & fillings: Chocolate, caramel, cream, fruit and sugar
Most iconic doughnut: Chocolate-filled Doughnut
Cost for two: ₹250–500
Instagram: @theobromapatisserie
Website: theobroma.in
Theobroma began in Mumbai in 2004 and grew into one of India’s recognizable modern patisserie brands. While brownies remain its superstar, its doughnuts deserve their own standing ovation. Chocolate-heavy creations, creamy fillings and soft bakery-style dough make these particularly appealing to Indian dessert lovers. It is proof that you don’t need to travel to New York or London for a serious sugar emergency.
25. Mad Over Donuts — India
Founded: 2008
Address: 65 Bhulabhai Desai Road, Breach Candy, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Flavors served: Chocolate, coffee, caramel, fruit, glazed and seasonal flavors
Texture & Style: Soft, fluffy and eggless
Glazes & fillings: Chocolate, cream, caramel, fruit and specialty toppings
Most iconic doughnut: Chocolate Decadence
Cost for two: ₹250–450
Instagram: @madoverdonuts
Website: madoverdonuts.com
Mad Over Donuts has been making India’s sweet tooth happier since 2008 with an entirely eggless doughnut menu. The brand leans into familiar favorites—chocolate, caramel, coffee and fruity creations—while keeping the doughnuts soft and fluffy. It’s a particularly useful stop when someone says, “I want dessert,” and then spends ten minutes pretending they aren’t going to order a doughnut.
The Bottom Line
The world’s best doughnut isn’t necessarily the fanciest one. Sometimes it’s a $2 glazed ring eaten standing on a sidewalk. Sometimes it’s a pistachio-filled pastry that looks like it belongs in a jewellery case. And sometimes it’s a hot cinnamon doughnut you absolutely did not plan to buy.
That’s the beauty of doughnuts.
They’re cheap enough for breakfast, exciting enough for dessert and emotionally powerful enough to ruin every healthy-eating plan before 10 a.m.
And honestly? Life is short. Order the doughnut.
