Hidden just off Fay Road in Onondaga Hill, The Clerk’s House is a Syracuse gem and the perfect bakery for your autumn cravings. The café opened in January 2026 and is owned by Dan and Theresa Seeley, the same couple behind The Cider Mill restaurant next door. Disguised as a traditional home, the bakery serves everything from a seasonal “Poison Apple Matcha” to homemade squash and red onion focaccia. Step inside the restored 100-year-old cottage, and you’ll be itching for a pastry and your favorite episode of Gilmore Girls.
The antique fireplace and leather-cushioned armchairs make ordering “to-go” seem foolish. Wooden tables and chairs with striped cushions seat only a couple dozen. Some customers are deep in conversation while others focus on their laptops, but nearly all of them are continuously sipping their iced lattes.
No one slips through the door without a warm welcome from the staff behind the counter. While you order, expect a smile and a recommendation for the apple crumb bun. Take the suggestion. The buttery bun, filled with cinnamon apples and topped with a sweet glaze, is the perfect treat to share.
It’s no surprise the cottage dates back to the early 1900s; its charm is written into every detail. The Seeley family, who once lived in The Clerk’s House, kept the space feeling like a home, with dainty light fixtures, mirrors and artwork that could pass for family heirlooms…