Sweetbites Cafe & Bakery

Sweetbites Cafe and Bakery is the vision of Sandra Panetta, an environmental scientist with a finely calibrated sweet tooth.  Born into an Italian family, she learned from childhood how to bake European-style desserts, and soon brough…

Sweetbites Cafe and Bakery is the vision of Sandra Panetta, an environmental scientist with a finely calibrated sweet tooth.  Born into an Italian family, she learned from childhood how to bake European-style desserts, and soon brought her own unique flair to her ancestor's recipes.

Welcome to Sweetbites Cafe and Bakery!  We are a locally-owned cafe and bakery  in the heart of McLean, VA.

Sweetbites began in 2010 as one of the region’s original mobile food trucks (the “Sweetbitestruck") serving gourmet baked goods in the finest neighborhoods of DC and Northern VA.  The truck has earned a loyal following among customers in the Washington, DC area. 

Now you can enjoy our gourmet cupcakes and our expanded artisan dessert menu everyday in our new bricks ‘n mortar location!  

We invite you to come in and enjoy a wide variety of seasonally-influenced, made-fresh daily pastries,  cupcakes, cakes and artisan desserts made from scratch.  We take pride in using the finest natural ingredients to create delicious, decadent desserts with a creative and flavorful twist.  Our healthy cafe menu is made of fresh, wholesome gourmet-to-go breakfast and lunch offerings.

Try our irresistible and distinctive cakes, tarts, cookies, and cupcakes which are available for special order or to make your occasion extra special.

Every day is a new experience at Sweetbites as our menu flavors change frequently.  You'll  be able to rely on our signature flavors but will be inspired to try out new fresh seasonal flavors in our beautiful baked desserts and treats. Our menu is complemented by our favorite Italian coffee, espresso and cappuccino by illy.

Our Commitment to Quality & Sustainability

Sweetbites desserts and other confections are lovingly baked each day in small batches. Our trademarks are freshness, quality and perfect balance—so every bite is just right. Blending fresh butter, fine European chocolate, pure Madagascar vanilla, fresh fruit, and other premium ingredients, we’re committed to using artisanal, sustainable and organic products in our baked goods whenever possible. 

Our packaging is environmentally friendly, too. We use unbleached cupcake liners, recycled boxes and cups made from renewable resources.

Press

“I order a red velvet cupcake and tell Panetta about my mission. She agrees to let me sit in her truck for a while. The cupcake’s airiness belies how buttery it is, and when I finish eating, my fingers are shiny.”
— Inc. Magazine
“Baking is an exact science: Perfect pastries require precise measurements and repeated experiments. So with her background in biochemistry, it’s no wonder that Sandra Panetta excels in the kitchen.”
— Tasting Table
From Inc. Magazine, "The Great Cupcake Wars"

From Inc. Magazine, "The Great Cupcake Wars"