Very cool and hip cafe in old town Monterey. I think it is in a historic building as it totally looks like a Spanish Mission era type of building. Super open and airy, there's a separate room off to the side with some haphazardly laid out tables and seats. The main retail area is pretty busy with people lined up placing orders/waiting for an order, or people fixing up their coffee drinks. Now even though I took my goods to-go I had to go out to their patio to find a restroom. That outdoor area is totally cool, totally out in the open but you're like in a square inside a fort, surrounded by walls, so you can't see any street action. But you're totally open to roam in here from the street. Next time I'm in this area, I'm definitely gonna make time to chill on that patio. Cold Brew ($6.50/5*) Perfect to my taste, smooth and mellow on the roast. Pricey for a small cup but this is a touristy area. Banana Bread Slice ($5.25/4*) Very thick slice. Super soft yet moist in the center but firmer and more well done on the edges. Pretty dark in color, maybe some cocoa powder went in but there were also tiny hits of dark chocolate throughout. Mild natural banana flavor, wished it were stronger but that's me. Blue Corn Cookie ($5/5*) Never had a cookie like this before but I was pretty impressed. Kinda like a cornbread but made into the texture of a good cookie, so it was crisp and buttery on the bottom and moist and chewy in the center. All whilst having a pronounced corn meal flavor and texture. Major props for exposing me to something new that I enjoyed immensely. Went great with sips of black cold brew. Most other things in their pastry case seemed a tad fancier than most other regular coffee shops. I'm just glad I was able to run into and choose a more special cafe to end my beautiful trip out in the central coast. read more

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You truly can't go wrong with any of the pastries here. The coffee drinks are just ok. The environment is really wonderful. The staff is hit and miss (some are kind, some are a bit impatient). They DONT have WiFi and was told the WiFi password is only for the owner... which i find to be very odd if they are a coffee shop. Definitely not a place to sit and work or study. read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Savory danish- goat cheese and tomato - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

if there is one thing i ate from monterey bay that i'll be thinking about all the time now, it would definitely be the salmon croissant from ALTA !!!! i had heard so much about ALTA bakery from online itineraries for monterey bay, and i think this place definitely lives up to the hype! there was a pretty long line out the door, but it moved by really quickly and efficiently with the pastries! the drinks do have a bit of a wait tho, and i personally would not get them again since my bf and i didn't enjoy either the watermelon mint matcha or the cinnamon latte. all you could taste in the watermelon mint matcha was watermelon LOL and the latte didn't taste like anything special. i would skip out on these and just enjoy the pastries. speaking of the pastries, every single one was soooo yummy! my clear favorite is definitely the salmon croissant, which was so perfectly flakey and crispy and buttery with a good amount of cream cheese and smoked salmon inside. i also loved the everything seasoning crust on the croissant that went well with the salmon. 10/10, will be dreaming about it all the time now. i also really enjoyed the raspberry sweet bun, which was so soft and pillowy and had a nice tanginess from the raspberry! the pistachio-rose swirl was also really yummy and reminded me of a cinnamon roll in texture, and it was pretty soft and not too sweet. overall, every pastry was a banger and i would love to try the other ones if i'm ever in town again! read more

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Food mid. I have high expectations with croissants. It was not crispy at all but the flavors were there. Need to try more of the menu though. Also only two current coffee flavors vanilla and lavender ... place had a line out the door, hype or stellar food, who knows ? Handicap accessible Chocolate croissant 3/5 Glazed donut 4.5/5 Ambiance 5/5 decorations so cute Service was 5/5 staff was so nice and sweet read more

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Some of the best espresso I've had in a minute! Passing through town for a wedding and received a recommendation for ALTA. Wait was about 15 minutes at 9am on a Saturday, but the line moved quickly! My partner and I ordered the salmon croissant, quality was amazing & not just your average coffee shop pastry. We also both prefer strong + well done espresso drinks. My partner orders a quad shot over ice and I typically get an extra short iced latte, so we are able to really enjoy the taste of the coffee. The quad shot was incredibly smooth. It's how I wish every coffee tasted! My xs latte was perfect as well, espresso was perfect with a bit of oatmilk. ALTA exceeded my expectations! Back patio was an unexpected bonus, such a beautiful seating area! read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

Came by in the afternoon and got one of the last slices of chocolate cake. Was expecting something dense and rich but somehow got fluffy and light and rich. Was delicious! We ordered the croissant sandwich which was full of layers and flavor with pickled shallots and layers of meats and cheese. We enjoyed this so much even though I don't like shallots! The tomato tartine came out while we were purchasing and so glad we added that in. Amazing bursts of flavor! read more

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We always stop by this bakery / cafe when we're in town. Love their pastries and coffee. Theres a cute little patio in that back that looks like a small vineyard. Sometimes there's a line outside on the weekend but it goes by super fast. Patio is also dog friendly. I would recommend this cafe to those visiting the Monterey area! read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

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Absolutely stunned!! We were took excited to take pictures before eating!! Special Sandwich: 10/10 This sandwich was amazing. Definitely worth the two hour drive. It had freshly cooked bacon to perfection, butter lettuce, the freshest tomatoes, an aioli sauce, on perfectly toasted sourdough bread. Would 100% get it again and I hope it's not seasonal because everyone should try this sandwich!! Flourless Brownie: 8/10 It definitely is a flourless brownie the texture of it is almost like fudge. It melts in your mouth instantly, there's not really much of a structure to the brownie. If you're a texture person this might not be for you as it's not a traditional brownie it's extra gooey. However, absolutely love the flavor of it. It's a rich chocolate flavor with powdered sugar on top. As a dark chocolate lover this was pretty good!! Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips: 6/10 It's nothing too special, it was more on the dry side but still strong banana flavor! Overall experience: 9/10 Customer service wasn't the greatest while waiting for our sandwich we didn't really know we had to wait, where to wait, and when I changed my mind on a pastry someone gave me a face. However, the ambience of the restaurant and food made up for it. I loved sitting outside, an amazing way to sit down and have a chat. read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Special Sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

Holllyy. The best bakery I've ever had! & I'm that person that sees out bakeries everywhere I go! - get there by 10:30/11 for the best baked goods! - try: fruit tart, almost croissant, chocolate croissant Cute, homegrown, very nice staff! read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Almond croissant - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

Cute cafe with delicious options. The staff was really friendly, the vibe was definitely there. If I stop again this way, I will Definitely get another matcha a dessert! read more

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Carrot cake cookie and latte was delicious! By 2/3 PM most pastries are gone. I also got the soup of the day (potato leek) that need a little more leek flavor, but the sourdough bread that came with it was very good. There's an outdoor seating area that is so lovely on a sunny day and ample indoor seating too. Staff were quick to take orders but a lot of it is ordered up front at the cashier so you'll end up waiting. Worth a stop if you're in Monterey! read more

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I visited at the recommendation of a friend. I was headed to Carmel and decided to stop for breakfast. There was quite a line early Saturday morning. It didn't look like it died down which is awesome for this business. I believe I waited 20-30 minutes in line before I reached the display case. There were so many delicious things to choose from, it was a challenge to decide! I opted for a croissant sandwich, a blue corn cookie, and some sweet treats for the beach. I also ordered a seasonal latte, I believe it was cherry chocolate with oat milk less sweet. There's a nice outdoor seating area with many tables in chairs. Since the weather was nice we decided to stop and eat for a bit. The ambience was very nice and calm. The food was delicious and their house made pickles were fantastic. They were crisp, fresh, and complimented the turkey sandwich so well. The blue corn cookie was very interesting and reminiscent of a tortilla chip. I'd definitely come back here if I were in the area. read more

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Charming bakery and cafe with plenty of outdoor seating in the back connecting garden Nice flaky, buttery dough on their pastries. Latte was decent, not too bitter or acidic and it was creamy They try a lot of variations for pastries, both savory and sweet! The savory danish was really tasty and there was some pickled / citrus component that added more depth and made it super interesting to eat! The salmon croissant was alright, had a really nice flaky crust but the filling tasted kinda gamey , would've been nice to have another component to balance it out. Cookies were niceeeee the buckwheat choco cookie had nice amounts of sea salt and was like a brownie texture on the inside. Choco chip cookie was thin and crispy on the outside with chocolate blobs spread around, quite sweet though There was a line going out the door but only had to wait around 15 min! read more

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Super charming place set inside the historic Cooper-Molera Adobe (1827) , the space has a California - European vibes. Inside and outside seating. The pastries are legit!. Made in house fresh daily. The savory mushroom, spinach, and cheese Danish hit the spot for me. Rich, buttery, flaky and satisfying Yogurt parfait was clean and fresh, no sugar overload. Coffee is straightforward and well executed. No need to overcomplicate it. Yes, it gets busy. There was a line but it moved pretty quickly. Afterwards, take a walk around the grounds of Cooper-Molera Adobe and take in the historic beauty of the place. Happy Eating!! 39 read more

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Good Lord this is so delicious! My family and I decided to take a stroll through Monterey and saw this cute little cafe. They had an assortment of breakfast items and well as some yummy desserts and drinks. I'm not much of a coffee/matcha girl so the drinks weren't much interest to me BUT WOW this loaf grabbed my attention. I wasn't gonna get it at first because it was a whooping $27 but I ultimately caved because it sounded and looked amazing. I was not disappointed!!! The loaf is the perfect level of sweetness and the lemon and blueberry compliment eachother well. I am 10000000% coming back for this beauty! Thank you to the staff for being so kind and helping me and my sister decide what treats we were going to get :) read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Lemon blueberry loaf - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

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This sweet bakery is located in on a corner close to the downtown area. The building is inside a historic adobe and has seating inside and out in the back. We came on a Thursday around 11 am and the place was busy. The hardest part of coming into this place is to choose what item to have because all of them look fantastic. I decided on a plain croissant and an iced latte. Both were fantastic. We sat outside and enjoyed the music and beautiful surroundings. I can't wait to go back and try some more delectable items read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Croissant and iced latte - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

ITS COFFEE ALRIGHT. The hype is real. The line wraps out the door. The smell is strong and the wait is long. They are limited to a few flavors and lack any signature drinks. But they have just about all you can extract from an espresso machine ie latte cappuccino, americano. My latte was steamed properly and I got an extra shot in my large vanilla latte. The only issue was they forgot the vanilla, but I didn't mind just adding it in later. The blue corn cookie was interesting. A mix of corn bread and a sugar cookie. Would eat again. In all it wasn't bad, but for an hour wait anyone would be neutral with their experience here. read more

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Located on Munras Ave, is Alta. This place was popping. Line out the door. They have a very nice size selection of all fresh items! My daughter got the donut, she loved. Wife got the croissant with chocolate inside, loved it. And I got a cappuccino with the Leak Quiche! Pillow, fresh, moist, yet firm, love! Nice baked and depth of flavor on it. The cappuccino was delicious, as well. Good depth for coffee flavor. The ambiance is modern coffee house and life an old mission outside! We enjoyed it. Service was great too. read more

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Alta offers great pastries as well as food options worth checking out when you are in the Monterey area. After some activities in Carmel, I made my way to Monterey for lunch. Alta is pretty spacious and inviting with an indoor dining area as well as outdoor seating, which would be perfect when the weather is good. By the time I had arrived at Alta on Sunday afternoon (~2pm), most of the more popular items were clearly gone. Fortunately, there were few items left to choose from as well as their regular menu to order. Here is what I tried: Tuna Melt (5/5): Wow! I felt like my life changed eating this. There was a good layer of tuna goodness mixed with mayo and celery bits to provide the perfect mix of textures and flavors. The generous layer of ooey gooey cheese on top was not too overpowering yet managed to bring the whole thing together. The pickled accompaniments and salad were perfect additions to provide that extra acidity. I only wished there were a bit more! Ginger Cake (4.5/5): Visually stunning. Strong notes of ginger flavor with a mellow cream that helped balance the pastry. My only note was that it was a tad sweet but otherwise just yummy. In terms of service, the food came out pretty quickly and the service was friendly. Like most of Monterey, parking is in the public lots and need to walk over. Overall, Alta Bakery was so great I am definitely making a stop again when I come by Monterey. read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Ginger Cake - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

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I discovered this bakery when I saw the line outside. I stopped by the next time I was back in town and so happy I did! This bakery has lots of delicious bakery items to choose from. It was hard to decide what to get but I got a puff pastry with a custard on the middle and fresh blackberries on top. I also ordered a latte to enjoy with it. The staff brought out some fresh baked goods while we were waiting in line. It was tempting not to order more. Their outdoor patio is beautiful. There's lots of plants including a couple artichoke plants which I've never seen more. They have a lot of small tables but it fills up fast on a nice day. I will be back to try more baked goods on my next trip! read more

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Came here at 10 on a Tuesday morning and still had to wait in line. Luckily it was not too bad of a wait. I think also because Ad Astra nearby was closed for spring cleaning. Everything tasted amazing. I love the croissant (chocolate and ham&cheese). Super flaky and flavorful and sinful. My son said it was the best ham & cheese ever. They also served a special mushroom tartine which was lovely. The backyard outdoor sitting area is super cute. Would definitely come back again!! read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Ham and cheese - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

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LOVE this place! The quiche and donuts are a MUST. The quiche is light, fluffy, and packed with flavor. The donuts we tried were covered in a fruity glaze that wasn't overly sweetened. The lavender latte is delicious without being sickeningly sweet. There are a few long tables inside and more outside. Pretty easy to access with a stroller via the handicap door / ramp. There was a short line each time we went but we didn't have to wait long. read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Entrance - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

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Food: Smoked salmon Toast - 8/10; Good flavor, but the portion was small and the toast was semi hard. / Frittata - 8/10; Good flavor, texture was slight undercooked but my wife loved it. Portion was small. / Iced Chai: 6/10: Tater more like milk and less like chai. Was not impressed by the house made chai. / We got a few pastries and they were all 10/10. Seating: A ton of seating out back with a lot of space and fun scenery. Staff: 8/10. Person taking our party order was extremely friendly, but during checkout my wife asked for the pancake syrup to be on the side. She snapped back saying it's always on the side... low and behold the syrup was most definitely not on the side. Normally it's not a big deal, but we were feeding this to our child and didn't want her to have a ton of syrup. read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

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Before leaving to visit Paso Robles me and the hubby headed to Altas for breakfast since we saw great reviews on Yelp! We found a parking spot across the street. There was a line that was a little bit out of the door but we felt like it went fast. We met a very talkative and friendly lady behind us who loves this place and suggested what we should get. I ended up getting a croissant and matcha latte with oat milk and the hubby got a fruit danish and gingerbread latte. The quiche looked so good and I'm still mad I didn't get it lol. That just means we need to come back! Everything took about 5-10 min to be ready. We sat out on the patio and enjoyed our food and drinks. There was plenty of seats and tables available out front a few inside. Those working there seemed helpful but not very friendly but it was early so maybe that was it. ‍ read more

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Loved everything about this, from the incredible pastries and desserts (pot de crème) to the delectable lunch options to the superior syrup flavors (try the orange cardamom). Plus, love the atmosphere inside this nondescript corner spot: so inviting, welcoming, and love the family-style seating!! Plus bonus points for coffee ice cubes! read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Coffee ice cubes! - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

My all time favorite coffee shop in Monterey! The perfect stop before taking a bike ride along the coast or stopping watch the sea lions. Sitting on their patio with a breakfast treat is one of my favorite ways to spend the morning. Their pastries are top-notch, especially their chocolate croissant. I got a matcha latte last time, but I do prefer their iced lattes, especially during the summer. Service is always quick and friendly, regardless of the crowd. Much love to ALTA! read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Chocolate croissant and matcha latte - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

LOVED ALTA BAKERY!!! We passed by this past weekend and loved everything we got. Super busy, but they work through the line quickly. The daily quiche was bacon and leeks and it was fantastic. The avocado toast was both beautiful and yummy!We also grabbed a few different pastries-- plain croissant, chocolate croissant, chocolate and banana strudel and blueberry muffin. I was trying not to over order, but now I regret not trying more. Coffee was great. They did forget one of our drinks and it took 10 minutes to get, but the friendly service and delicious food made up for it. Plenty of seating options. Will come back next time we're back in Monterey. read more

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The cakes were good but pricey, I'd say the pistachio rose croissant was worth it though. There's always a line and after coming here I'm not quite sure why the line is always so long? But it's definitely a decent bakery in a historic building. read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Assorted cakes - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

I visited on July 4th based on a friend's recommendation. The line was quite long, which raised my expectations, but the experience fell short. The croissants and bread were dry and slightly overbaked, lacking any moistness, and were honestly no better than what you'd find at a typical grocery store. Given the wait time, it wasn't worth it. read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

Tuesday afternoon, there was no wait to order at the counter. I ordered an iced vanilla latte with almond milk. It was really strong, I ordered a medium but the size looked small. The latte itself was not great, I didn't taste any vanilla. The matcha was so strong, it's like once scoop too many. The service was bland, I've had better. read more

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Sooooo yummy! But it was $15... they had a lovely patio and the service was very quick!! read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Avocado Toast - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

We recently visited this charming bakery and instantly fell in love with its cozy outdoor seating tucked into a garden setting. Surrounded by greenery and fresh air, it feels like a peaceful little escape. We started with the soup of the day, which was warm, comforting, and clearly made fresh. The pizza was beautifully done with a crisp crust and flavorful toppings, striking a great balance between rustic and refined. The hummus plate was generous and creamy, paired perfectly with fresh accompaniments, and the mary's chicken was tender, juicy, and infused with a fragrant herb flavor that felt hearty yet wholesome. The service was warm and welcoming, adding to the relaxed garden ambiance. Staff were attentive and everything arrived well-timed and nicely presented. The overall atmosphere feels intimate and unpretentious -- a lovely spot to enjoy a slow meal outdoors, whether for a casual lunch or an easy evening gathering. It's the kind of place that makes you want to linger a little longer. read more

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I had a fantastic experience at Alta Bakery! The food was standout--the savory danish was excellent, and the smoked salmon on toast was prepared perfectly. Beyond the menu, I really loved the overall vibe of the place. The employees were great and kept things moving efficiently; even though there was a constant line of people, the wait went by fairly quickly. I would definitely recommend this spot and will absolutely be going back again. read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Savory Danish - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

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I waited in line for over half an hour and they ran out of pastries before 10am. I bought a couple of items and two drip coffees to try to get in and out faster. They missed my coffee and I had to wait for a while and ask them to get the order because they missed it. Pastries were good but not as great as people said. Coffee was decent. The staff were nice and tried their best but they need to get a better system to move the line. It was disappointing that they didn't have a lot of items available and were sold out. They had a Dresden style stollen that looked good. There is a large indoor seating area and a lot of tables outside that is very nice. The electronic payment system automatically suggests an 18 percent or more as an automatic tip. That's a bit excessive. I would go here for a pastry if there was no line but it's not worth the long wait. read more

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This cafe had a long line and the wait was hella worth it!! They change their menu seasonally but we were able to get the croque monsieur and this amazing turkey sandwich on a croissant. They have a variety of sweet treats too, all which were delicious! It's also beautiful to sit and enjoy your food in the back area, it's huge and surrounded by beautiful plants and you can take a walk around the museum that's right next to it. read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Turkey sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

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TLDR: just get the regular latte and ignore the menu in favor of buying a heinous amount of sweet treats. Hands down some of the best baked goods I've ever had the distinct pleasure of putting in my mouth. Maple bacon swirl? Filling and perfect mix of sweet & savory. Doughnuts? Delectable but still light. Croissants? Flaky and soft. And they have cookies?! This could be heaven... But, I found their menu items a bit lacking luster. Salmon toast was just ok, too many capers for me and the bread was just alright. The coffee was good, but the pepper tree latte -- their special latte for the month -- was not very special. It was kind of just a latte. read more

ALTA Bakery & Cafe - Smoked salmon toast - Cafes Near Me - Monterey, California

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Came here for a light breakfast during our 3-day mini vacay, and this place never disappoints. Never reviewed on prior visits annual visits, but I had to this time around. Not very crowded being that it's a Thursday, but still a line nonetheless. The sitting area is reminiscent of a house dining room, which made you feel at home. Eclectic rock music was playing over the overhead speakers. We were looking for a light bite, so the employee recommended the salmon croissant. Oh my goodness, a helluva lot of goodness in this treat. Perfect, sliced baked salmon inside a flaky, light crisp outer shell sprinkled with bagel seasoning. Paired that with an oatmilk matcha latte...stomach very happy now! Stop by Alta for a light breakfast treat that feels like a home away from home! read more

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If you're in the Monterey area and feel the urge for an excellent bakery and coffee, skip the touristy places by the water and head to Old Town Monterey. There will be a line, however, it moves relatively quickly and so worth the wait. The baked items all looked amazing and on this occasion I settled on something more savory vs sweet and the ham & cheese croissant didnt disappoint. I always have to get a mocha as this is my go to in comparing coffee shops and bakeries and it was perfect!!! Everything you would want in a well crafted mocha :) They do have a sit down area for dining (breakfast/lunch) and there is plenty of outdoor seating as well so you can take in the beautiful and relaxed surroundings. read more

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Such a cute place with beautiful indoor and outdoor seating, very local plus charming! Their pastries looked sooo good, honestly wanted to try everything. We ordered the savory bun, banana bread with chocolate chips, smoked salmon toast, and two drinks from the special menu (so good!). OMG, the food was amazing! It's hard to explain, but you can really tell everything is locally and handmade. Def recommend this spot for one of the best breakfasts around! We haven't tried their lunch yet, but we'll for sure be back next time. They have a bathroom and street parking, and the staff are absolutely amazing, super friendly and welcoming! read more

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Came on a rainy winter Sunday morning and there was a long line out the door! It's very cozy and welcoming inside. The staff are friendly too the almond cake with blueberries on top as well as the Blondie were worth the wait. The chocolate chip cookie was crispy for my taste. The carrot cake cookie I felt was unique and I would get it again. There is street parking. There is outdoor patio seating, but it was closed due to the rain. read more

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