Macon’s donut market is dominated by national chains, with multiple Dunkin’ locations and a Krispy Kreme on Pio Nono Avenue drawing the bulk of the city’s daily donut traffic. Independent, dedicated donut shops are unusually scarce in Macon-Bibb County compared to similarly sized Georgia cities. The few local options that do exist tend to operate as bakery-cafes where donuts share the menu with breakfast items, sandwiches, and coffee rather than standing alone as donut-only shops.
That gap has created opportunity. Glazed, a locally owned shop on Mercer University Drive, opened in the former Daylight Donuts space in partnership with Z Beans Coffee (a Mercer University graduate’s roasting company) and Mini Dixie Donuts from Warner Robins. The location directly across from Mercer’s campus and Five Star Stadium targets the college crowd and downtown commute traffic along the I-75 corridor. Tommy’s Bakery & Cafe on Thomaston Road in west Macon has built a loyal following for its fresh daily donuts alongside a full breakfast and lunch menu, drawing from the surrounding residential neighborhoods and Robins AFB commuters.
Macon’s hot summers push iced coffee and cold drinks to the forefront at donut shops that carry beverages, and the city’s relatively low cost of living keeps individual donut prices modest. A single donut at most Macon shops runs under $2, while a dozen typically costs between $8 and $14 depending on the shop and variety.
Top-Rated Donut Shops in Macon, Georgia
Tommy’s Bakery & Cafe
Adres: 5580 Thomaston Rd, Suite 10, Macon, GA 31220
Website: tommysbakery.com
Tommy’s Bakery fries its donuts fresh every morning alongside a full bakery lineup of muffins, croissants, danishes, and cream horns. The owner grew up in his grandfather’s bakery in Perry, Florida, and brought that family tradition to Macon. Reviewers on Yelp regularly call Tommy’s donuts the best in town. Beyond the bakery case, Tommy’s serves a full breakfast grill (biscuits and gravy, waffles, casseroles) and lunch menu with burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and loaded baked potatoes. The grill runs Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with pastries available all day.
Glazed
Adres: 1530 Mercer University Dr, Suite 500, Macon, GA 31204
Website: Glazed does not maintain a standalone website. Orders can be placed through Grubhub.
Glazed is a locally owned donut shop directly across from the Mercer University campus in the Mercer Landing shopping center. It is a collaboration between Z Beans Coffee founder Shane Buerster (a 2018 Mercer graduate), Mini Dixie Donuts owner Ashley James, and Canady Media’s Carter Canady. Fresh vanilla cake donuts are delivered daily from Mini Dixie’s production and then run through a Thermoglaze machine in the shop so customers can get hot-glazed donuts on demand at any time of day. Glaze options include strawberry, chocolate, and maple, with toppings like coconut, chocolate chips, Fruity Pebbles, bacon, and sprinkles. Glazed also serves Z Beans coffee, milkshakes, and smoothies. Open daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a drive-thru.
Krispy Kreme (National chain with Macon location)
Adres: 2800 Pio Nono Ave, Macon, GA 31206
Website: krispykreme.com/ga/macon
The Krispy Kreme on Pio Nono Avenue is Macon’s only location for the North Carolina-based chain, which has operated since 1937. The shop runs its signature “Hot Light” hours daily from 7 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m., signaling when Original Glazed doughnuts are coming off the production line fresh. The location includes a drive-thru and offers the full Krispy Kreme menu of glazed, filled, iced, cake, and chocolate doughnuts alongside coffee and drinks. Open daily until 9 p.m.
Note: Macon-Bibb County has very few independent, dedicated donut shops with their own websites. The listings above reflect the verified options available. Dunkin’ operates five locations across Macon but is not listed here as an additional national chain.
Donut Shops in Macon: Common Questions
How much does a dozen donuts cost in Macon, GA?
Pricing depends on the shop and variety. At Krispy Kreme on Pio Nono Avenue, an Original Glazed dozen typically runs around $13 to $15. Tommy’s Bakery prices individual donuts under $2, making a dozen roughly $10 to $14 depending on selections. Chain shops like Dunkin’ offer competitive dozen deals, often in the $10 to $13 range. Specialty or topped donuts at places like Glazed may cost slightly more per piece.
Why are there so few independent donut shops in Macon, GA?
Macon’s donut market has historically been served by chains like Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’, which together operate six locations across the city. The market size of Macon-Bibb County (roughly 157,000 residents) makes it difficult for single-product specialty shops to sustain enough daily volume, so most local operators combine donuts with broader bakery and breakfast menus. Daylight Donuts, an independent franchise that opened on Mercer University Drive in 2017, closed and was replaced by locally owned Glazed.
What time do donut shops in Macon typically open?
Most Macon donut shops open early to catch the morning commute. Tommy’s Bakery opens at 6:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Glazed on Mercer University Drive opens at 7 a.m. daily. Dunkin’ locations across Macon open as early as 5 a.m., and Krispy Kreme on Pio Nono Avenue starts its Hot Light hours at 7 a.m. For the freshest selection at any shop, arriving before 9 a.m. is recommended.
Does Macon’s climate affect donut production or storage?
Macon’s high summer humidity (average highs above 90°F from June through September) can soften glazes and frostings quickly, so most local shops keep finished donuts in climate-controlled display cases. Yeast-raised dough is more sensitive to temperature swings, which means bakers often adjust proofing times seasonally. Shops with drive-thrus, like Glazed and Krispy Kreme, see increased summer traffic as customers avoid stepping out of air-conditioned cars.
Are there donut shops near Mercer University in Macon?
Glazed sits directly across from the Mercer campus at 1530 Mercer University Drive in the Mercer Landing shopping center, making it the closest dedicated donut option to campus. It serves Z Beans Coffee, which was also founded by a Mercer alumnus. The nearest Dunkin’ locations are on Forsyth Street (about 1.5 miles from campus) and Tom Hill Sr. Boulevard (about 3 miles north). Tommy’s Bakery on Thomaston Road is roughly a 10-minute drive west of campus.