This is my local bakery. I love them! Their spanakopitas are delicious, and I find them well-priced for their size. I've picked up treats such as eclairs, rice pudding, and cookies and found them all satisfying treats. I've had an excellent experience with an employee, I didn't catch his name but he was lovely (4/7/2020 around 2pm)! Was enthusiastic to show me their current cleaning/bleaching process during this pandemic. I hope they stay open and find enough business during this. Thank you for treating us! read more

Food is great, absolutely love it！ Unfortunately, the cashier lady on Saturday is so mean and unfriendly! read more

This place is great--but it depends on your goal. The food here is average. It's nothing to write home about. The sweets are good but super wet which is weird and I dont care for. Their service regimen is also a bit odd but whatever. I come here for coffee and studying and for that it is PERFECT. Generally there's lots of individuals here studying so it's pretty quiet. The employees aren't shouting across the place or blasting music. The tables are the perfect size for doing work for one or two There are great big windows and the light colored ceiling and walls are light and airy and make it feel energizing for one doing work. Compared to just about every other coffee shop around, this place is awesome for the ambiance, particularly if you need a quiet place to study. I dig this place a lot. Also, free wifi. Amazing. read more

Athan's was the most recent stop on my weekly "ice cream date" with my good friend who, like me, will go to the ends of the earth to enjoy all the chilly goodness that can be fit into one of those small cups. We visited Athan's with uncontrollable excitement: I had passed it every day for a month and finally had a reason to go in. We were greeted with display after display of breathtaking gourmet desserts and other goodies. It was almost like walking into a dessert museum: so beautiful to look at, but not to be touched. Or in our case, eaten. As much as I would love to have a miniature strawberry shortcake with extra fresh fruit glaze, I can't see where I would ever be able to rationalize actually purchasing one... We both sampled some of the gelato and settled on some amazing flavors and I was happy with my choice of black currant gelato - though by no means was I blown away or did I find it to live up to the hype, and so I left with a bit of confusion. Did I really not love the supposed best dessert place in town? There must be something wrong with me.... read more

It's not cheap. And when I walked in on one rainy day eying a certain cheesecake I was told by the server that that was a terrible choice, and to go with a bland round chocolate cake instead (can't imagine how bad the cheesecake must've tasted!). However, they have smoothies, and coffee, and sandwiches, even if the sandwiches are just frozen and microwaved, like the breakfast sandwiches at Starbucks. It's the only bakery in the vicinity - that counts for something. read more

The Napoleon I had was pretty good. The Mocha that I ordered was not very good, and no, I don't rank a Mocha based on its sweetness. The vibe of this place is pretty cool, but I think a lot of that can be attributed to the sheer number of college students in the Boston area. The staff, on the other hand, was extremely disinterested and bordered on rude. After I handed her my card to pay, she gave me the credit card slip and threw the pen in my general direction, without even looking in my general direction. I go to college in New Orleans, I'm used to a little bit of sass, but this was downright bitchiness. Kind of annoying. read more

right down the street from my apartment, this place is always packed! Never did dine-in service, but I can tell you their desserts are DELICIOUS! The shop is small, but very cozzy and cute inside. There's hardwood flooring and everything seems speckled with soft gold for that vintage feel to match it's sweet aroma that you'll know as soon as you walk in. Their assortment of ice creams and cakes and sweets are overwhelming that you will definitely have a hard time deciding! I settled for a chocolate concoction of chocolate layered pastry with almonds mixed in (just forgot the name!) and a napoleon and both were amazing! If you're buying a pastry, know that it will run you around $5 or so each, but once you get past the price for an upscale pastry shop, you'll realize the chocolate's divine and they don't skimp on flavor for anything! The napoleon was my favorite mostly because I actually found the chocolate to be almost TOO powerful and the napoleon was just a bit softer. The crusts were flaky and the filling was creamy, but not too sweet like I was just eating plain frosting. Anything in here would make an excellent addition for a birthday or anniversary celebration or when someone you know is craving something sweet. I also see a lot of people studying in here or enjoying afternoon tea, it doesn't matter what the time, the place seems to be consistently full of people! read more

A darling European-style sweets and coffee shoppe (the -pe make it European, obviously). Love the fact that you can get a sweet (and boy are their sweets delicious), a savory, a gelato, and a coffee (they have Nescafe Frappe!) all at the same time. I adore the feel of this place, you can linger for as long as you want and enjoy your treats in peace... although sometimes they do play some strange music (but then again, so do lots of places). I'm partial to their cappuccino, I think it's one of the best in the area. I love getting a cup, a cookie or biscotti, and just sitting down by the big windows to read a book or study. Ah, lovely. read more

Being a regular for the last 3 years, I think I owe my having to work out a lot harder to this place :) I love their fruit tarts, napoleon, clairs, hazelnut chocolate dome and various chocolate pastries. They are always super-fresh, even right before they close for the night. In addition to a huge variety of pastries, home made chocolates and cakes, they now have a new section where you can get a panini. With this new addition, you always have a place to sit. In my opinion, Athan's is a lot better than Finale. The choices are plenty, the people are super-friendly and everything is delicious. Oh and the music is great too. read more

I met both the owner and the owner's son at Athan's and both were kind and helpful and wonderful. The pastries and chocolates are exceptionally delicious! read more

Great place to duck in and enjoy a good cup of coffee and a delicious pastry. Athan's has the best almond croissant ever. Layers of flaky buttery dough, filled with sweet pastry cream, and topped with slivered almonds. Haven't found one as good anywhere else. I really like enjoy their strudels as well. Their apricot one is delicious! The gelato they serve is tasty. I've been dying to sample some of their baklava as well. Next time! read more

The response to a defective birthday cake, one hour before the party, was: " so don't take it." Our response: we won't be back. There are many options in the area with equivalent or better cakes, more reliable service Update: we fled into Athans tonight because of a downpour. We had to buy tea and cake to avoid eviction. They never fail to disappoint in this place: the service is midway between surly and thick. But at least there are many species of flies in the good cases. read more

Good: Coconut Gelato, interior of the shop-the layout is wonderful. Bad: Impersonal, almost apathetic service, really terrible cappuccino and a disgusting hair at the bottom of the torte. read more

This place is quite dear to me - something about sitting at a table close to the window amidst the chatter of families, students, tourists, many languages, all ages, is so comforting. I remember once, an elderly couple sat down next to me, and in pure delight they enjoyed mugs of steaming hot milk and a pastry. It was so romantic. I love bringing my studies here because in this cafe, I feel transported to another place. I will mention that this place gets crowded! Especially on weekends. I often see the owner racing around during these busy times. They are pretty strict about seating too, so that there is enough room for everyone. A few times, I have sat at the barista counter, which was not so ideal for getting work done. The service can also be slow, and sometimes the drinks (if made by not as experienced employees) can be disappointing. So I've learned to always get something simple - I usually enjoy a pot of mint tea and also treat myself to one of the numerous gold-foil wrapped chocolates that they feature in the front room. I have also tasted their chocolate fig cake, which is amazing. So overall, this place is an international hub of pastry, conversation, and coffee. It surely has its flaws, but I find that these imperfections make it all the more charming. read more

Sunny Saturday morning we made our way here for cappuccino and a cake. The cake was tasty ; the coffee was a disappointment - too much foam, too less coffee. When my husband went to ask a replacement the owner replayed quite impolitely, asking where we were from so maybe we could teach him how to make coffee. My husband turned away and came back to sit quite upset, The owner then came again, and instead of just offering us something else- it was quite apparent we were unsatisfied, continued the ridiculous ordeal of insisting the coffee is fine, he was trained by "Lavaza" from Italy and all kind of other nonsense. We of course were uninterested in his lame explanations and were shocked when he walked away with out suggesting to compensate us. We will not return here. read more

Wow, Athan's (pronounced like Nathan's, but with out the "N"). This place is entirely hit or miss. The atmosphere is adorable, and the selection is quite varied (chocolates, baklava, gelato, coffee, pastries etc..) If you visit later in the day- past 6 or so, the food has been left out for a while and is starting to become less appetizing. The cakes and custards often form a filmy layer making them not worth the price. The coffee can vary greatly from day to day, and from barista to barista. However, the tea is consistently good. When fresh, the baklava, especially the chocolate baklava, is the best I have ever tasted. Bottom line: Hit or miss. But when it's good, it is sooooooo good! read more

1) I ordered the roasted chicken panini, on which the counter girl proclaimed, "Oh, we actually made one of those and no one claimed it, so here you go!"... and then made me pay for it. So they got double the money for that sandwich. 2) The panini was absolutely terrible. It had a weird aftertaste that lasted for hours, the bread was very stale and the chicken was dry as bone. Their sweets are good, but beware the savory items on their menu. read more

For treats alone, this place earns five stars. They have quite the variety, and can please any craving. Service, on the other hand, is pretty terrible. Every time I've been here the staff has been less than friendly, and almost irritated that they have to help me. I'm sorry, if it said I could get the pastry myself I WOULD. But the sign DOESN'T say that. SO SMILE AND TELL ME HOW GOOD YOUR PASTRIES ARE. Ugh, this shouldn't be so hard. read more

Next time I want frozen cake I'll stick with Sara Lee. UPDATE: Despite my initial disgust, my boyfriend saved the cake from being summarily tossed out and inadvertently left it out on the counter overnight. By morning it had defrosted and was decent. If I could add a 1/2 star I would... but anything more would be overkill. Unless you're unconscious, you know when you are serving someone a thoroughly frozen cake. Just sayin'... read more

This is a great bakery/ cafe to do work or catch up with an old friend. It's quite lovely during the weekdays, plenty of space and right next to the T. I'm fortunate that I love just 3 minutes walking away. Free wifi and all the pastries, salad, sandwiches and desserts you can eat while working hard or hanging out with a loved one. They have a decent selection of drinks and also lots of whole cakes that you get for parties or birthdays. I absolutely love the biscuit section! It's fun to pick an assortment of interesting biscuits for tea. All these accompanied by a large seating area and free wifi, I'm in a great spot. read more

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This place made me struggling to be on-diet every month..... The taste of cake is unbeatable! I love it the same as cheesecake factory! At first I was introduced by a friend who live in the city, then i stopped by this place every Sunday for a piece of cake! I love the strawberry mousse and chocolate mousse. They melt in your mouth in a second.... Baklava is great as well. Generally Baklava is a bit sweet for my teeth, but I definitely love their baklava. It's made to small size with variety of chocolate, hazelnut, pistachio, or you can have your favorite plain one. Their gelato.... delicious enough that I still visited them for gelato when we have 3-feet snow outside two years ago. My boyfriend often laughed at me while I ate ice cream with gloves on my hand and snow on my hair..... read more

As good as the pastries are here, I dread dealing with Athan's. I have lived in Washington Square for over five years, and the first year was spent exploring the neighborhood bistros, pubs & coffee shops. My first visit to Athan's was memorable only in that I was roundly ignored by the admittedly very young staff at the register. In fact, I was skipped over several times and finally had to let the clerk know (less than pleasantly, as I was, at that point, decidedly aggravated) that I was next in line. At first I thought it was a one-off, perhaps due to the ages of the clerks. Sadly, the customer service I have experienced over the last five years has NOT improved. I avoid Athans because of the less-than-stellar service, although for holidays, birthdays and other special occasions with friends and family that do not live in the area, I get requests for Athan's cakes and pastries, which ARE good. These are the only times I venture into Athan's, although I have in the past opted for other locations due to the poor service despite the requests. read more

The pastries we tried (croissants, pain au chocolat, spinach and cheese pastries, and another one that was sweet and cinnamon-y) were all delicious and 5-star worthy. The service, however, was pretty bad. The girl behind the counter either seemed new or just very slow, and the older man (maybe the owner?) was quite short with her, which was awkward to watch. He also refused to warm up our pastries because we were going to walk two blocks to our destination and he said it would be cold by then...what? Plus, they were cash only and their register was down so it took some time for them to add everything up. The pastries were so good that I would still come back. read more

Athan's Bakery - The Saturday morning selection- good balance of sweet and savory - Bakeries Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

I'm upset. And I'll tell you why I'm upset.... There's no Athan's Bakeries in NY. And I have yet to find anything that is comparable to their Raspberry Filled Croissant/Boat. *Sigh* Oh well! I suppose I'll have to venture back up to Boston just to get this pretty little pastry. Many thanks to Chris L. for bringing me to this quaint little bakery in Brookline. This authentic cafe is very charming and is downright delicious! The place just emits "cozy" and if I lived nearby I would definitely see myself frequenting here with a nice pastry, cup of coffee and a book. Chris spoke VERY highly of the croissants here. They were very well made -- layers and layers of flaky, buttery, crunchy dough. And that raspberry one! It was architecturally shaped in a square form to keep all that delicious jam inside. Genius. That was my absolute favorite. This pastry could move mountains people, it's that good. Overall, Athan's is a solid destination if you're looking for that sweet treat or pick-me-up throughout your day. Check it out if you're in the area! read more

Oh, the oodles and oodles of sugar in trays and on shelves! Sugary goods is my kryptonite for sure, so this place is, to me, worth the diabetic coma that would result in me inhaling all of the baked goods in here. With everything from chocolates wrapped in fancy gold wrapping, chocolate mousse cake, baklava, this is really a dessert girl's dream. I admit, I was drawn to the chocolate mousse cake because the immature part of me thought, "wow, those look a lot like chocolate boobs." But hey, I ended up buying one and eating the whole thing in one sitting, even though it was probably big enough to feed two people. My friend took me to a consignment shop nearby after Athan's, and all I could think was, "What if my chocolate mousse cake melts in the car?!" This is a great place to buy cakes, or samplings of different types of baked goods, for parties or events. Or, just peruse the cases on a Sunday afternoon, grab a coffee (they serve coffee and sandwiches in the other part of the bakery), and a few goods to nibble on. It's the only place I know of that has such a large selection of Mediterranean-inspired baked goods, so I always come here if I'm craving something a little more exotic than some chocolate chip cookies and red velvet cupcakes (which is rare, because I ALWAYS want red velvet cupcakes. I swear I will have 500 of them at every pivotal moment of my life--wedding, child birth, whatever). read more

As soon as i moved to Boston right the next day my friend told me that i have to go to this place as he knows that i love sweets. He told me a lot of good things and review seems pretty good. I was really impressed when i enter and saw lot's of shelves with different kind of pastry's and cakes. They all look so delicious that it's just impossible to pick one. They like asking you to eat all of them :) I know it's sound crazy lol Place is nice but noisy sometimes but still very friendly and relaxing atmosphere. Good for date, stop by with friends or even come alone for cup of tea with some pastry. I have really good experience with ordering cake for my friend b-day. I buy almond cake i believe it was medium size and i pay only $30. That was pretty good deal. It's like a haven for me and everybody who loves read more

I love this place so much. It is like a second home. Athan's Bakery in Brookline has provided me with a comfortable place with AMAZING food and drinks where I can sit and work. This is why is really hurts to give only 3 out of 5 stars. I spend around 2 days a week in the cafe. Each day, I spend around 4 to 5 hours there doing work. Over the course of one of these sessions, I buy drinks and food over and over again and in a given month, I spend well over $200 there. It is all well spent and totally worth it. However, they are now enforcing a 2 hour time limit for customers on weekends. This new rule has eliminated Athan's Bakery as a place of work for me, and therefore, I must, sadly, take my business elsewhere. I hope to find another place that is more accommodating to working folk. For those of you who are just passing through for a quick meal or a drink, I highly recommend it. The products are great the servers are really friendly and hardworking, and the atmosphere is perfect. It is just a shame that this new rule will prevent Athan's from getting repeat business from loyal customers like myself. read more

For me, this bakery is all about the sweets. I've never actually sat here, or eaten here, or drank anything. I basically come in and pick out all the treats I want and take it to go. This is no way diminishes the flavor or deliciousness of the goodies. My favorites are all the different kinds of baklava. Wow. Talk about gooey super-sweet goodness. They have a great selection and more varieties then I knew existed. I think that the baklava is really the highlight for me although I have eaten many of their delicious cookies as well. I noticed that a lot of the cookies feature nuts (lots of almonds!) so be warned nut-haters (I personally love them). The service was a bit slow, even for take-out, but the people were friendly and helpful and they wrap up everything all pretty, including a special box for the baklava so it doesn't leak all over you. I also appreciate that they take credit cards there, even for small amounts. Great place. Everyone should try it out. read more

Fantastic almond croissants. I'm a man of simplicity, and well executed butter croissants do it for me. You will find those here, amongst other artisan treats carefully crafted. read more

I've had a very gorgeous looking cake from here for a friend's birthday, but it ended up tasting just OK. The display case has a lot of pretty choices, along with more unique things like rice pudding and semifreddos. Lots of cookies and pastries are available and seem very appealing, but prices add up quickly. The gelato bar lets you try samples. I'm not a fan of flowered flavors like rose, but they had others like passionfruit, strawberry, tiramisu, and more traditional ones. We had the vanilla baklava, which was a little too sweet but at the same time nice with the texture of sliced almonds. We also had the hazelnut, which I liked because it reminded me of Ferrero Rocher candies. The adjacent room has a coffee bar and tables where you can use your laptop, hang out, etc. It always seems to be packed in here. It's a cute European style bakery, and I'd recommend it if you're bringing cakes or cookies to someone's house or an event. read more

It was close! I almost had to eat lunch at the creepy looking takeout Chinese place across the street. My dad was making a bee-line for lo-mien, I glanced across the intersection "how about the bakery, I think they have sandwiches..." (I didn't know if they did, but my stomach couldn't handle greasy crap today) Luckily when we walked in, we were surrounded by pretty cakes, yummy looking gelato (the real stuff?!) They do indeed have paninis and wraps for lunch. My dad and I both got the grilled chicken, spinach and cheese panini, water and sat for a few minutes until our lunch was called out by the guy standing dangerously close to a pretty espresso machine. The cafe is a nice size, newly done over, it looks... Several students were sitting around with their coffees, laptops and iPods. I would come here all the time for coffee if it wasn't out of the way for me. The coffee is damn cheap! The service is nice, and they have bathrooms, plural - this was key, cause we were working somewhere without a bathroom today. I want to bring my sweet tooth with me next time. read more

Holy buttery baklava! The mere mention of Athan's makes my knees weak and my lower lip quiver. . . but Athan's is more than just baklava. Other sweets with honey and nuts include finger rolls, shredded kataif, birds nests, giannotiko cylinders, and custard filled galaktoboureko. Their cookies also make me swoon- chocolate thumb-print cookies, apricot, and pralines. I've got to hand it to our recent house guests who know my weakness for Athan's for sending us a care package (T, K, M & J - I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!) . We had a crappy flight back from LA and came home to find this outrageous goodness. I'm homesick for the gang and Athan's all at once. *sniff* read more

My discovery of Athan's a few years back was like a breathe of fresh-air preventing me from drowning into the dark abyss of factory-made chocolate and average quality over-priced dessert. A list of what I love... pastries wise... uhm, pretty much everything... especially the Noisette, Napoleon, Figo and Fresh Fruit Cheesecake... and honestly I've tried pretty much all the pastries and no complaints on any one of them. The baklava, chocolates and cookies are also really good, especially the cookies- they are super hearty, I'd say they are fancy cookies with a touch of homemade warmth. Additionally, their croissants and savory pies are really delicious as well. I especially love the spanish puff pastry pie. I have not yet had a chance to sit down and enjoy their cafe menu--I shall update my review once I get a chance to try. read more

This place is open late and has a good area to get work done with plenty of outlets. I never have trouble finding parking close by.

This is exactly what I have been looking for in terms of a quiet, but not dead, place to study while drinking some great coffee and eating some super tasty food! The people who work here are super friendly, and I can't wait to go back and spend hours reading at one of the many tables! The bread is great, and the loaves are a great size for those individuals who want to buy fresh bread but do not want an insanely huge loaf that will go bad before you can finish it. The spanikopita is not in its traditional form as it comes in a much thicker, more bready and less flaky dough, but it is still delicious in its own right and has a great tang to it. read more

Great place! The location is accessible by train and there's street parking. It is located on the corner of the street. It has amazing pastries. I got the Napolean. It was so delicious! It was nice and flaky. The cream wasn't overwhelmingly sweet. It was in the display case so I thought it was be ultra soft but it wasn't. The cream tasted like whipped cream and it was cold enough that it had an ice cream feel to it. I would order this again. The pastry part of the store is really small with two high tables and chairs. You order your pastries and food on that side. The other side of the store was the cafe part where you pick up your non-pastry food like coffee and utensils. There is a fair amount of tables on that side. I would definitely come again to try their other pastries and chocolates. read more

I've been here practically three times a week, for the last three months. Loved the coffee, pastries, gelato, and of course, Shazaaming their eclectic music collection (which I know now includes Buddha Bar V). Had I written this review two days ago when I was last here, I would've given Athans four stars. What was missing then that isn't any more? Free internet! That's right. This info is hot off the press! So all you Brookliners and wannabe-Brookliners grab your laptop, iPod, magazine, whatever and head to Athans today. read more

Charming - definitely the European cafe feel. Relaxed, chill, and nice feel. The good news, the chocolate raspberry mouse dessert was to absolutely die for. The bad news, the Prosciutto & Mozzarella sandwich was all out nasty. We took one bite and threw it away. read more

Athan's is one of those love/hate places for me. I spend an inordinate amount of time here ... given how much it annoys me. First the good: 1) Amazing croissants - plain, almond, and chocolate. If you go early in the morning, when they are fresh outta the oven, be prepared for a buttery-based religious experience. 2) Delicious chocolates and desserts - I especially love the Figo. Now the bad: 1) The sandwiches/wraps/salads are obviously pre-made and re-heated. The result is soggy cold things and dried out hot things. 2) The service is terrible. Now, I'm somewhat sympathetic. Athan's seems to attract all the crazies in the neighborhood, which I'm sure isn't fun to deal with on any kind of regular basis. But, that being said, the service is really TERRIBLE! Makes me wonder if I am being punked ... Still, if you stick to the baked goods, and prepare yourself for the attitude, there are much less yummy ways to spend an afternoon. read more

I am visiting from out of town. The baklava is delightful! You need an employee to pick out pieces. They will weigh the pastries for a final price. I also bought a loaf of European white bread. It had a nice outer crust and soft inside. The flavor has a hint of sourdough which was great. read more