A popular Main Street St. Charles bakery has expanded to a second location, bringing a stronger focus on savory food items and introducing a brand-new bar program. Lydia’s by Sugar & Slice Bakery, now open at 1735 S. River Road, Suite 190, in St. Charles offers an inviting space for guests to enjoy handcrafted pastries, plated desserts and unique cocktails.
Lydia Allen, owner of Sugar & Slice Bakery, has been ready for expansion for quite some time. “Our original space is less than 1,000 square feet, and we outgrew it about a year after opening,” Allen said of her first business that opened in late 2019. “I had always wanted to do coffee and cocktails with desserts – there was nothing like that in St. Charles.”
After years of searching, the right space finally appeared. “I looked at this location a year ago, and as soon as I walked in, I got goosebumps. I knew immediately this was the one,” she said. The new 5,800-square-foot venue allows for a full bakery, a larger front-of-house area and a more efficient kitchen. “Now we bake for [the] Main Street [location] here too, which makes everything faster and of better quality.”
Lydia’s offers a selection of Sugar & Slice’s popular baked goods, along with an expanded menu of breakfast and savory items. “We have scones, savory brioche, and we’re going to add bar snacks like Buffalo chicken dip, candied bacon and marinated olives in mid-March,” Allen shared. Weekend brunch will also be a highlight, featuring dishes like brioche breakfast sandwiches, cinnamon roll French toast, and biscuits and gravy made with the bakery’s signature scones. Lydia’s will also showcase plated desserts such as cheesecakes, pies and specialty cakes, with an ever-rotating selection posted daily on social media.
The new bar program features coffee, cocktails and mocktails, including a lineup of dessert-inspired martinis. “Our Key Lime Pie Martini tastes just like our key lime pie – we came up with it on a whim,” Allen said. “We’re also launching coffee and martini flights.”
Other standout drinks include boozy coffees, classic cocktails and a small but curated wine selection. “Everything is made in-house, from simple syrups to macarons – no frozen doughs here,” she added.
Designed to be a welcoming and stylish escape, Lydia’s features an open, airy layout with floral wallpaper, colorful decor and will soon have gold bakery cases. “When you’re sitting at the bar, you feel like you’re at a bar, and when you’re at the bakery case, you feel like you’re in a bakery,” Allen explained.
The new location aims to be a comfortable gathering spot for all ages. “We’ve created a late-night space where anyone can come in alone or with friends and feel safe,” she said. “No judgment on whether you’re drinking coffee or a cocktail – just a laid-back, visually appealing space.”
As the bakery settles into its new home, Allen is planning for additional features, including live music in the spring, a patio out front with several tables, and themed events like trivia nights. Monday nights are designated as industry night, offering a 20% discount from 5 p.m. to close.
Lydia’s by Sugar & Slice is open Monday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Wednesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The bakery is closed on Tuesdays. For updates on rotating desserts and special events, follow Lydia’s on social media.
Check out the slideshow below for a first look at the new space.
