Good confectioneries are so rare, that the benchmark I find myself using is Panara's, the best chain bakery I've experienced. Still, when my path crosses a private bakery, I'm drawn to it as a fruitfly is to an over-ripe banana. So when I saw Athan's while driving through Brookline, I screeched on my brakes, parked the car and with great anticipation, popped in. For a rather good-sized shop, I found the variety of offerings slim. So slim, in fact, that it was all too easy for me to find and make my initial selection in just a few moments. When trying a new bakery, I normally start with an almond pastry - primarily because I love almonds and can't be terribly disappointed, and I can move on (or away) from there without being stung too badly. Thus I bought one of their almond croissants. In a word - weak. The croissant itself was limp and lifeless; not crisp and flaky - and while the filling was ample, it wasn't as rich as it might be. The overall sensation was more of an almond cream donut than of a fine European filo pastry. While I might have hit Athan's on a bad day, given the limited assortment on offer and this lackluster first impression, I'm not likely to return. Back am I to Panera's bear claws while my search continues for the perfect bakery. read more

I am moved to write this review in response to another reviewer. Athan's is terrific to families and children. The young staff is very accommodating to children, and kind to all. They are professional, courteous, and welcoming along with serving a selection of delicious and tempting treats. I love the atmosphere, it's warm and comfie with lots of vibrant diversity. Great place to go - try it yourself. They are a wonderful crew. It is a bakery with a great vibe. Perhaps not the right place to have a business meeting with a baby... I'm not quite sure what the other reviewer is suggesting but Athan's is great for family, colleagues, friendly coffee, snacking, and great for the neighborhood overall! read more

I had some delicious cake here (strawberry and mango ones). If I didn't live too far, I'd definitely come back for more.

Eating my tirimisu right now. The occasion? Don't need one. MMMMMMM. Got my baklavannoiseur Mom some bakclava, she liked it. The shredded wheat -looking one was ehh. Fun place to pick out random sweets for no apparent occasion. I'll be back for the chocolatesssssssss read more

I hate to do this (two star review)... especially since there was an older gentleman (older than most staff) there trying to straighten things out (perhaps a manager or owner?). The atmosphere was nice (although the acoustics contributed to it being a little louder than I would prefer for a cafe/coffee shop), the coffee was good, and the egg & cheese panini just fine, but the service was so poor I can't justify even a three start rating. This was my first visit I did not realize that the menu varies between the two locations (the website had a "cafe menu" listed at the time I checked and it did not specify that this was for the Brighton location only). Perhaps had I checked the website more closely I would have noticed... anyhow, it was handled poorly. A man a number of people ahead of me in line had made a similar mistake and had been told that although they didn't have a full menu, he could order a panini/pressed sandwich. Anyhow, when I arrived at the front of the line and tried to clarify the menu (just to be sure) I was told (in a blase tone) "We don't have a kitchen here." And that was it... the girl did not explain the differences between locations or point me in the direction of the paninis. She just said "We don't have a kitchen here" and kind of looked away... clearly bored. When I asked about paninis she pointed at a menu on the counter. When I was ready to order she did NOT explain the process (order here and go wait by the coffee bar/counter); I had to ask where to pick up my food. Throughout our interaction she was flat, unpleasant, and disinterested. I found her rude... this is not the kind of customer service I expect at a well established cafe/coffee shop. After making my order I went to pick up my food. It took almost 45 minutes to arrive (and this was after the helpful gentleman mentioned above asked me what I was waiting for and spoke to the girls making the paninis/pressed sandwiches); the coffee (just regular coffee) took about 15+ minutes. I was never given a receipt, so no proof of purchase. The group seated next to us waited longer than we did because someone swooped in and took their paninis while they looked on helplessly (easy to do when no one asks you for a receipt and there are no names attached to the orders)! What a poor system... especially on a weekend morning... utter chaos! No one apologized for the length of time or tried to give an explanation. Anyhow, like I said the coffee was good, the panini good. I might go back for a coffee to go if I'm in the neighborhood, but I'm not sure it would be worth the trouble. My opinion is they need better staff, a better system, and not to sell paninis if they can't manage making them in a timely manner. Anyhow, it wasn't all bad... I had good company. We enjoyed chatting despite being starving! :-) read more

This is my goto place for rice puddings. I still get other stuff once a while, but that is just my personal favorite of this shop. It's on my way to work and home, but parking sometimes is a issue. Good place to meet with friends. read more

Cute atmosphere, great baklava, decent deserts, so-so coffee (but I am European snob when it comes to this drink, and firmly believe that you can only find great coffee in Italy or Vienna, so don't listen to me). Their biscotti are pretty good as well but my personal favorite is their fruit tart, however they only make it on Fridays and Saturdays :( read more

I'm conflicted about this place as well. The chairs are nice, the tables fancy stone, the atmosphere of the room feels nice, and the music usually pleasant. However- it's a bit off-putting to go to a place this fancy with your date, and have your cake served to you on plastic, have to hunt around for a utensil (and only find McDonald's plasticware), and your hot drink not in a mug or teacup but a paper cup. C'mon, guys. Let's save the environment, or at least show some class? I second the comments about service being pretty lackluster. For example, ask for a glass of water, and the barista (who is not doing anything else at the moment) will decree with a point of her finger to the pitchers (which look exactly like the kind used by waiters, which is usually a sign it's NOT self-service), instead of volunteering to get it for you. I recently was there with a date and we placed an order for two drinks at the front, and sitting at the bar, spent 20 minutes waiting for our drinks while we chatted. Finally, the guy "notices" us (we're 2/3rds of the bar!) and points to our now-luke-warm drinks and says "oh, I've been calling and calling." What? Anyone who reads passiveaggressivenotes.com would love this place. They seem to have toned it down a bit, but there used to be notes everywhere. They actually have labels on all the bins which say "NOT SELF SERVICE." Because, after all, the general public cannot possibly handle retrieving a cookie with a pair of tongs? No sir, you need professional help. read more

I don't care if it's run by the Soup Nazi himself; the cakes, gelato, baklava and melomakarona cookies are so great that I haven't noticed the service or lack thereof. I only come here for dessert so I can't comment on the meals. If I want coddling, I'll go to a spa. For some of the best refined carbs this side of París, I'll be back to Athan's. read more

i give Athans 5 stars based solely on the fact that they have rose flavored gelato. I'm completely obsessed

Prices are ok Food & drinks is ok The Wi-Fi didn't work so I asked the cashier to fix it and she told me that she can't restart the router because it is Sunday and they are busy- she could say it nicely. read more

Love the croissants and the palmiers! I will drive here on Saturday and Sunday to get fresh croissants for weekend munching. My husband loves the mango cake thingy. I mean REALLY loves it. My go to cake for him on his birthday. read more

It is a pretty decent sized place. There is no table service so you order first then sit down. I expected, from what I had read, that there would be a lot more bakery products to choose from. Daughter had the raspberry croissant and chocolate one, because she couldn't decide on which one. She said they were ok, but has had better. I decided to have the panini breakfast sandwich. It is large, and could have fed 2 small appetite people most definitely. The problem I had with it, was that for being pressed in a panini press, it was coldish.... I am not sure if they just grill the bread and then put the food on it, or how it works, but it wasn't anything like I thought it would be. The flavor was ok, but I would have liked a more "sharp" cheese on it, which would have increased the flavor of the sandwich greatly. We never did tr the baklava, but will try next time I am near there on my next trip. All in all, it is a pretty good place. Nice people, nice atmosphere and the latte I had was really good. Next time I will tell the hotter though. read more

Athan's Bakery - Breakfast panini - Bakeries Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Convenient location and late hours make this a good gathering place. I actually like the almond cookies (12/lb) that are in the jar by the cash register. Honey walnut cookies (8/lb) were only ok. Curious about baklava and truffles too read more

I dare you to go into Athan's Bakery and not treat yourself. Whether its the elaborate fruit pie or the simplest cookie, there is pride in every pastery in this authentically European shoppe. read more

oh my. i think everyone in the area already knows that athan's desserts and pastries are magical. but i recently also discovered their panini menu, and i am a HUGE huge fan of panini (particularly http://www.yelp.com/biz/il-bambino-astoria#hrid:FQSczU21kDRq_m26kYXJzw). i never have trouble finding a table or seat here, and their no wifi thing actually works out well for me when i'm trying to do some work since i'm always distracted by yelp anyway. i've witnessed many a dates here too, so i guess that also means that it's probably a super cute place to impress a date for dessert and coffee, if you're into that kinda thing. read more

It takes exceptional things to motivate me to eat ice cream in the dead of a cruel Boston winter. Athan's baklava gelato is such a thing.

great place to pick up pretty cakes and baklava if you're looking to impress your host. the good: baklava, gelato, cakes, RICE PUDDING the bad: cookies. i'm just not a fan of these. they're open late too (10pm on weeknights and 11pm on fri and sat) and are also open on certain holidays (3pm on turkey day) so it's a convenient place to pick up a holiday dessert on your way over to dinner. read more

I wish there were more places like this! When I arrived at 3pm for a late lunch, it was still a little busy. I ordered the Brie panini (because the Roasted Eggplant one was sold out! must be delicious) and it definitely met with my satisfaction. Great presentation despite a lack of cheese (I like it when it practically melts onto the plate, but that's just me!). I didn't pick up anything else (my mistake), but if you're in the mood for something sweet and classy, perhaps how quality desserts should be, then Athan's looks to be the place. The adjoining dining area reminds me of the kitchens back home in California; Tuscan-inspired, spacious and bright with sunlight. If I had brought my book, I could have easily spent the entire day there! read more

This place is great! Everything I've tried here has been delicious. I could eat a Bolero pretty much everyday but don't because I can't afford a new wardrobe right now, instead I've made it my go-to desert to take to parties. Always a hit and most importantly I get to have some. read more

Went for brunch on Saturday. The place reminded me of a cafe in a museum- sterile and misuse of space. It had an overly techy vibe for the area- tons of laptops. Two of us got the omlette with greek sausage....it had tons of sausage and not much egg. I was impressed with the oatmeal-nutty and not overly sweet. Do not get the baklava gelato........it's basically bad ice cream with pieces of filo dough-huge let down. I left hungry, but for a place to do some work and eat a pastry or six, it fits the bill. read more

The Tiramisu here is so good!! My bff always gets my birthday cake here every year =) LOVE HER. I love coming in here to pick up dessert. Their cakes are all really good. Try them ALL! read more

Love their desserts and cookies. I've had them make my wedding cake that was so delicious my guests were talking long after the wedding was over. Their other location in Brighton is good for actual food, but the service is not good there, they take forever to cook simple things like eggs and don't really check on you to make sure you are happy with everything. But this Brookline location is great for desserts. read more

I've never had a bad experience here, the staff has always been really patient and helpful when I can't make a decision. Love that they stay open later! read more

very good pastries. The chocolate ones are very rich but soo good. It's a very cute bakery/cafe place to go and hang out and chill.

The tiramisu is to die for and the hand-made chocolates are decadent and delicious. Universally-agreed-upon excellence.

Came here with a Groupon. Fantastic Napoleon. Craving some more as I write this review. SO. NUMS. Also indulged in some baklava and some assorted pastries (a few of which were a little too rich for my liking). Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of their pastries at the front counter (I can't attest to anything on their cafe menu though). Would definitely return, probably to take home a tray of their super delicious NAPOLEON yum. read more

This place has the best little cakes and espresso. Always a great little treat. The cakes are beautiful, delicious, rich in flavor. Just a delight. read more

I really love this place. It's usually crowded on weekends, though, and sometimes had to wait to get a table if I wanted to drink my coffee there. The chocolates here are delicious and come as individually gold foil wrapped nuggets of delicious combinations. Sold by the pound, and sometimes they have "gift sets" already made up! The cookies here are also tasty and make a nice gift. Their gelato is amazzziiinnng, though I rarely see people get it! I also really like the chewy sesame/nut candy (I keep forgetting what they're called!) which tends to be overlooked since they're on the cake display and people get distracted by the cute little cakes. I've also tried pretty much all of the mini-cakes they have. I think my favorite is the figo. Most of the cakes are delicious, but I feel like anything with white chocolate has an odd chalky chemical after-taste (not sure why?), so I tend to avoid those. The service here is slowwwwww. Nothing is self service, even the things you would expect, so they walk with you around and individually scoop everything up for you. It's a pretty inefficient system, so a line can build up pretty quickly, especially if someone in front of you has a pretty large order. It's also frustrating when the person directly in front of you orders all 4 of the cake that you wanted to get and you suddenly have to order something else! read more

The owner is rude. My mom wanted an espresso so I recommended this place. We sat down and I had brought my energy drink in with me. We sat down at a 3 person table since the place was fairly empty. We had no problems until the owner came, told us to move to a smaller table, and that I couldn't have an outside drink. Nice way to treat a someone who recommended the place! I won't bring anyone here again. read more

Sweet little bakery off Washington Street. Have come here twice and tried their various assortment of pastries. Nice place to sit, chat and catch up. Would be a bit too loud for me to come here and get some work done. The pastries are decent. Nothing extraordinary, but will do in fulfilling a sweet craving. read more

Truly the worst baklava I've ever tasted. Dry, salty, way too much cinnamon. Didn't taste anything else, but other baked goods looked bland and unappealing. read more

I'm addicted to their croissants! Regular coffee is really good as well. Basically a pit of temptation for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Damn good hot chocolate and gelato. Probably the closest thing to a European Cafe you'll find in the Boston Area. Even their little cakes are creative, I just wish they weren't half frozen every time they were served to me. read more

Sweet fairies have landed. I used to have gelatos summer evenings when used to live next door. It has been expanded with more seating and all - the delivery guy is as sweet as sugar syrup. read more

Terrific sweets. Great atmosphere for a post-movie or post-dinner desert. Nice pastries and gelato, great atmosphere. They added a cafe room to the bakery area which serves sandwiches, which they don't make on site so there isn't other types of meals. read more

This is a good place for some light dessert, breakfast, or studying. The chocolate croissant, the chocolate biscuits, and the orange-flavored biscuits are amazing. The plain pistachio biscuits tend to be on the dry side but otherwise decent. read more

Stopped by Athan's Bakery the other night to grab some baklava to go. We got a couple of bird nests and finger rolls and decided to grab a slice of the amendoa cake with vanilla mouse, sponge cake, and almonds. I loved that damn cake. It was a perfect ending to an interesting night. It wasn't super busy and the staff were able to spend a few minutes with us explaining the different types of baklava available. This was helpful since there's no other information about the varieties and nuts in each type of baklava. There were also huge selections of cookies and other cakes, and gelato. I find Athan's Bakery to be a perfect little bakery with delectable delights. read more

Went their with my wing(wo)man Mary W. Mainly just kinda looked around. Everything definitely LOOKED out of this world. Smelled great, cute quiet atmosphere with a coffee bar area on the side of the bakery. We did however, get a couple of small gelato's on our way out. And Man, lemme tell ya. FREAKIN AMAZING. I had strawberry, Mary had "Rose", which amazingly enough, had a very "floral" taste and even had some edible rose pedals in it. Super super great tasting. So, I definitely plan to go back..after smoking a bag o pot...then I'm walking up there and getting my munch on. read more

Had a great cup of coffee with my daughter here! The service seemed a bit disorganized and they were out of all their sandwiches. Good enough for a coffee break and a little chat. It is strange though that it is packed and people aren't really eating ot drinking anything. They are just working on their lap tops. read more