The Grey Jay comes from the nationally recognized team behind Burlington’s beloved Mediterranean restaurant, Honey Road. It’s a breakfast and lunch cafe, but the daily doughnuts — including cranberry cheesecake-filled creations and maple and fenugreek glazed pear fritters — alone are worthy of a detour.

Long known as the “unofficial town hall of Conway,” this charming, roadside mom-and-pop cottage is the place to go for yeasty doughnuts and Bavarian-filled maple squares. The Leavitts sold the bakery to new owners in mid-2021 after over four decades in business, but it hasn’t skipped a beat. If ordering more than two dozen doughnuts, plan to give the bakery a heads-up and call ahead.

The Holy Donut popularized the potato doughnut, and the world is better for it. The now-closed flagship location in Old Port had lines spilling into the streets. Today the Holy Donut exists on Park Avenue in Portland, as well as in Scarborough and on Commercial Street in Old Port. In January 2023, they opened a location in Arundel as well. The menu spans from traditional glazed and cake doughnuts to maple bacon and ginger varieties and offers vegan and gluten-free options.

Unlike some of the other doughnut spots on this list, Brothers’ wants patrons to stop and take a seat. In fact, the old-fashioned counter is worth a day trip itself. Next door at Brackett’s restaurant, the doughnuts are utilized for sundaes and desserts. Try the butter crunch, and be sure to follow Brothers’ Brew on Facebook, because the shop has been known to give out free doughnuts when the staff “miscalculates” the baking needs for the day.

It’s easy to miss this unassuming storefront while driving by. For those who find it, Ziggy’s doughnuts are old fashioned dough boys. Grab one or two of Ziggy’s glazed or chocolate frosted and head over to Salem Willows Amusement Park. The arcade can transport visitors back to the 1970s along with the doughnuts (Ziggy’s has been around for 59 years).

Heading to Provincetown or spending a weekend on the Cape? Hole in One Bakery boasts three locations in Eastham, Rockland, and Orleans. Get doughnuts early, and note that in the summer, the lines can be long. The sour cream doughnuts and the coffee roll are worth a try when they’re available.

From cake to brioche doughnuts and even old fashioneds, PVDonuts has something for everyone. The shop rotates its options monthly but will always have the honey cruller — for good reason. If available, try the purple cow with black raspberry jam or the samoa.

Allie’s typically has a line, but this window service-only shop is ideal for old-fashioned cake doughnuts on a trip to Newport or Narragansett. Get there on the early (like, really early) side to possibly avoid the line, and grab a coconut or a Boston cream.

Located steps from Mystic Pizza, Young Buns features unique creations like the namesake “Young Bun,” a vanilla cake doughnut coated with vanilla glaze and vanilla streusel. The doughnuts tend to sell out; order online if you have your heart set on a particular flavor.