Back Door Donuts in Oak Bluffs was named the No. 4 best doughnut shop in America in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, moving up from No. 5 last year and earning attention as the only New England shop in the top 10.
For Oak Bluffs, it’s the kind of news that feels like it belongs to summer nights—the ones that start late, end warm, and keep people coming back the next morning. Back Door Donuts just earned a national nod, ranking No. 4 best doughnut shop in America in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
The Vineyard shop was the only New England business to make USA Today’s top 10 this year. The ranking is determined by reader votes from a list of nominees selected by an expert panel. Back Door Donuts ranked No. 5 last year, and moved up one spot this year.
The top honor went to Donald’s Donuts in Zanesville, Ohio. Back Door Donuts celebrated the finish line with a message to customers on its website: “We did it. fritter fam. ” the shop wrote. “From late-night lines to early morning cravings, this one’s for you. Thanks for showing up, spreading the word, and making us one of the best in the U.S.”.
USA Today pointed to the shop’s decades-long history and its signature late-night service. The publication wrote that “the shop has been selling hot donuts at all hours from the bakery’s back door since 1971.” It also said Back Door Donuts specializes in apple fritters. raspberry jelly donuts. and “a variety of other fried donuts.”.
The business traces back to 1948, when it first opened as Walmsley’s Bakery. Even today, visitors can still line up outside the Vineyard location on summer nights for warm doughnuts fresh from the fryer—an image so familiar to regulars it hardly feels like marketing.
For people who can’t make it to Martha’s Vineyard, Back Door Donuts runs a pop-up at the side door of Loretta’s Last Call at 1 Landsdowne St. In Boston, it serves its iconic apple fritters among other treats nightly from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Back Door Donuts USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards Oak Bluffs Martha’s Vineyard doughnut shops Donald’s Donuts Zanesville Ohio Loretta’s Last Call apple fritters raspberry jelly donuts
No. 4 already? That’s honestly wild. I don’t even like donuts that much but apple fritters sound dangerous.
Back door donuts like… bc it’s behind a building? lol. I saw this on TikTok and thought it said “backdoor” like a whole different thing.
So it’s reader votes right? Which means if one influencer mentions it then boom top 10. Not saying it isn’t good, but it’s not like a lab tested the fritters or anything. Also “fritter fam” is kinda cringe but I would still wait in line at 1 Landsdowne or whatever.
They’ve been selling hot donuts since 1971? That’s older than my dad’s truck. I’m surprised it’s the only New England place in the top 10, like where are the Dunkin people? Anyway I’m craving raspberry jelly now… back door or side door I guess, as long as it’s open late.