For the first time ever, I showed up at the College of San Mateo Farmer's Market and it was closed due to dangerous weather (rain and high winds). My wife and I didn't want to return home empty-handed, so we stopped by Backhaus on the way home. The line was maybe 8 people out the door shortly before 9a, much longer by the time we left. At the front of the line, we ordered a few pastries (morning bun, apple danish, ham & cheese croissant), some bread, a pretzel epic, and a mocha. A few minutes later the coffee was ready, and then our bag of baked goods to go, and then we headed home, about 30 minutes after we arrived. Once we were back, I unpacked the bread (two country loaves and a baguette). The country loaf had some residual warmth, and I cut into it with a bread knife, with the crust splitting and crackling with a satisfying crunch. The inside was tender, and I hurriedly called everyone over to eat some bread. We didn't put anything on it, and it was one of the best things I've eaten in a long time, with the crust and crumb complementing each other perfectly. We snacked on it through the morning, had a few slices with our pasta lunch, and by evening we only had about a quarter of the loaf left. Good thing we have a second one! I also ate 3/4 of the morning bun and 3/4 of the apple danish throughout the day - both also delicious. What a day for baked goods! We didn't go out there today, but there's a nice back patio. As you walk back there you can get a glimpse of where all the magic happens. We've loved everything we've eaten from this lovely bakery! read more

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Great place for a pastry and coffee! I had a cardamom swirl & a Cortado with cardamom syrup. Very friendly service. Everything made fresh in house. Busy establishment. Second level seating. read more

Backhaus - Cardamom swirl and Cortado. Pumpkin bread. - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Likes: speck and egg croissant bowl. The savory hand pie is soooo good especially if you toast it so it's warm inside and crunchy outside. Their bread and croissants are always delicious. (Their croissants ruined me because I went to Paris Baguette for a croissant after having Backhaus's croissant, and PB's were deflated and soggy. I'm not even an expert but the difference was too obvious. Now I only go to Backhaus for a good croissant.) read more

Their everything bagel croissant was quite tasty - a croissant cup the size of a handful absolutely covered with everything seasoning with a cream cheese filling. Great to sit in the sunny back patio to enjoy. read more

Backhaus - Everything bagel croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came here around 1:30pm on a Saturday. They were sold out of all pastries except for a tropical crostock. I decided to go with an Olive Fougasse -- it's kind like a pretzel meets a foccacia. Amazing, salty crust. Amazing olive pockets inside. Love that it's chewy and crusty and salty. Really enjoy this. Would love to come back and try other items. read more

Great stop and treat for your morning coffee. The team was helpful and informative, and they were very patient as we hemmed and hawed on our selection choices. It's a cozy spot, and I really appreciated that they provide diapers in the restroom to parents who may have ran out. I really loved the olive loaf we got. The pretzel epi baguettes were fine, but they didn't have the malt or bite you'd generally expect given the lye bath. We got a couple of croissants: the everything and chocolate. Both were tasty, however, the croissant dough itself wasn't as buttery as I would have liked, so it didn't really satisfy the croissant craving. read more

Absolutely my favorite bakery on the Peninsula. There's almost always a line but it moves fast Highly recommend the + COUNTRY LOAF + CHAUSSON AUX POMMES + PASSION FRUIT KOUIGN AMANN Some of their sweeter offerings are a miss in my book. The pistachio raspberry croissant was much too sweet for my taste. Their holiday buche de noel was also lacking in flavor and the cake was gummy, disappointing for a $70+ cake. Minus the holiday offerings, highly recommended. read more

Backhaus does sell half loafs. $8 for a 1/2 a loaf. (so not half price.) The exposed country loaf bread was able to dry out. The San Mateo location will normally have lines Saturday and Sunday morning, but any other day or time, should not have a line. read more

Solid bakery in downtown San Mateo. I stopped by on a weekday morning, so there was no line, but they were out of a few items I wanted to try. I got a cardamom latte in addition to my pastries/bread and was surprised at how good it was! There's not a ton of seating in front, but there is a small outdoor patio in the back with a few tables. A nice place to sit for a chat, if you can nag a spot. Will definitely be back sometime! read more

Came here on a Saturday at around 10 and of course there was a line. BUT, don't be scared of it, it only took about 15 minutes for us to get to the front of the line. All baked goods were still available so no worry there! Parking is street parking. I parked on the opposite side of the block and just walked down the alley way that splits the block, so don't worry if you can't get parking right on the actual street itself. Ambiance inside is really nice and the staff were really friendly and on top of it! I think we waited a bit more for our coffee and baked goods than we did in line to order. There are two small tables inside, a few tables outside in front, and then more tables in their patio in the back. By the time we got there, all tables inside and out back were taken. The chocolate chip cookie was probably my favorite of the three baked goods I got. I also got a chocolate croissant and ham and cheese croissant. The ham and cheese would've been better if it were heated up but regardless, I was too hungry to wait to get home to microwave it and ate it all! Overall, I definitely recommend coming here and I'll be back for sure! read more

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I need to come back!!! The kouign aman was sooooo good - not overtly sweet, but had a nice buttery taste with a bit of sugary crunch and the flakiness of a croissant. Wanted to go back after to get another one, but 30 min later, they were sold out. Other pastries we tried were good, but no where as good as the kouign aman. The regular croissant was buttery and flakey but not salty and buttery enough to standout. I think I prefer Arsicault's regular croissant to Backhaus. Not a bad croissant by any means, in fact, a lot better than most places. The hot cross bun was just ok - kind of dry, and not too much flavor - this one would not get again; actually we only got this one since our toddler wanted it. The cashier said Backhaus got famous from their bread, and talked us into getting the chocolate sourdough. This was not too sweet despite being very chocolatey. Toddler loved this one and he usually doesn't like things that have a chew, so him wanting more and more of this must say something about this bread. We also got a latte that hubby said was ok, but nothing remarkable. Overall, would go back and try some more pastries. Definitely going to get more kouign aman though. Also, they have a cute patio area to enjoy the pastries. read more

There's typically a line in the mornings on weekends right when they open. I walked by on the way to my workout class, and decided to swing back after I was done with the gym. When I came back around 9am, the line had dispersed and I was in and out with my order in a minute. I have a weakness for almond croissants and having had one recently from Arsicault, I wanted to compare and contrast. I should have known there would be a clear winner given Arsicault landed a spot on Yelp's "Top 100 croissants that'll make you say 'Ohh La La!'" (I also LOVE Nathaniel Reid, which was #2 on the list. Those treats got me through dark times in grad school.) I paid $6.50 for the almond croissant from Backhaus, but IMHO, the croissants are not worthy. Sure, it was flakey and had almond paste filling, but all in all, it just didn't taste as good as Arsicault. Maybe Arsicault just uses a ton more butter? read more

Backhaus has been on my list for FOREVER and I'm so glad I finally got to try it out! I got there around 10am on a Sunday and the line was kind of long to no surprise. Like other reviews, the line does move at a good pace. I waited for a little less than 15 min before my order was taken and then waited another 10 before I received my pastries and drink (drink took longer than the pastries). The crew there is very efficient and they're doing the best they can with all the traffic :) honestly waiting 10 min for my order wasn't bad because the shop itself is so cute. All the pastries and bread looked so good I definitely had to hold back on ordering everything! I ended up getting the Chocolate Raspberry Croissant, Chocolate Chip Cookie, and my husband got the Ham & Cheese Croissant. We also got two mochas with oat milk. Everything was delicious and the dough/bread itself is so good. The number of times my husband and I said "so good" to describe everything was kind of ridiculous haha. The chocolate raspberry croissant was a fun twist to a regular chocolate croissant - kind of like eating a jelly filled donut but fancier because it's a croissant. The cookie - THE COOKIE- Is now one of my favorites! I love the chocolate chip cookies from Little Sky Bakery (found at the SM farmers market) but these are a different kind of delicious from the Little Sky ones! It's crispy on the edges and soft/gooey on the inside especially when you warm it up a bit. They also have a nostalgic feel for me so that adds to how yummy they are. The mocha was different from what I'm used to, but paired really well with the pastries I got and was delicious in itself. A strong dark chocolate / coffee flavor - definitely not something you'd find at Starbucks. I 100% recommend Backhaus and can't wait to return for more pastries! read more

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Great coffee and amazing Chocolate sourdough bread (do yourself a favor and get this!). They also have some seating in a small backyard space which is nice to get some work done or hang out with a few friends. Backhaus is a staple. read more

Over the years, I've been able to learn to avoid the crowds for a better overall experience. Every so often I get lucky with the wait on the weekend, but the weekend crowd is just not for me. Anyway, I am such a fan of their pastries - they've been consistently delicious for the last three years that I've been a customer. I came by with a friend and their young kids a few days ago, and I was pleased that the staff were kind as they had a hard time deciding. I've been into their pistachio raspberry croissant and their cardamom swirl. I hope they will bring back the peach danish (the greatest of all time) which was absent from the menu last summer. Their stone fruit danishes are delightful and are what I've been waiting for. read more

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Backhaus is nestled in downtown San Mateo and is a popular place for grab and go / small group hangouts with breakfast foods and coffee. I went around 9:20am on a Wednesday and there was a line of 5-6 people already, but the line went fast. I was greeted with a beautiful display of various pastries. The pistachio raspberry croissant caught my eye. Hands down, best decision I made on a whim! There are so many pastries out there in the world and I feel like I haven't tried something recently that has wowed me, but this one did!! The combination of the flavors are amazing and the croissant is nice and flaky. It even held up throughout the rest of the day. I will be back one day to try other things (or get the same croissant again)! read more

For those of us that live in San Francisco it's nice to visit Summer. San Mateo has some wonderful shops, and dinning options, but I opted while passing through to just pick up a loaf at Backhaus. I'd like to try some of their pastry though that might require my stopping by earlier if visiting on a weekend. As for the space it's airy, the staff pleasant, and the neighborhood comfortable and relaxed. My bounty contained a wonderfully seeded pan loaf, just a beautifully crafted bread. As for parking it was not bad, and there are inviting restaurants on 3rd if you wish to extend your visit. I intend to come back again! read more

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Came here Friday morning at around 10 am. There was a line out the door but it moved very fast. Backhaus has a wide assortment bread and pastries. I ordered an everything croissant, plum and almond crostock, ham and cheese croissant and the pretzel brat. Both croissants were nice and flaky. The plum and almond crostock was very well balanced (sweet yet tart). The bottom was moist and added extra texture, but I can see how that may be a turn off for some. The pretzel brat was a seasonal offering due to Octoberfest! It was a bit on the pricier side ($10) but you definitely get your moneys worth. Unfortunately, they did not give me the condiment it was supposed to come with. However, I'm not sure if it was butter or mustard. Overall, I really enjoyed Backhaus and would certainly come again. They have limited seating insight, but have ample seating out front and in the back. read more

Came here 2 years ago when they were still new. I remember ordering pastries that came with a tray and my latte served in a real cup. Today came back the second time and sadly the coffee wasnt as robust as I want it to taste and there was enough strawberry filling on the amann. In addition, latte was served in a non stylish paper cup and pastry was placed in a brown bag. $13.50 for both. No thanks, no next time. read more

Backhaus - APRIL 20, 2024 Latte, strawberry amann - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Got here around 9 and it seemed to be the perfect timing to score pastries AND to dodge the rain. The staff was so sweet answering questions and recommending their favorites. They were super quick service and it looks like there seating in the back although we didn't explore it. There are a few seats in the front near the counter though. The pastries were so yummy! We tried the ham and cheese croissant and the speck and egg croissant. Should have gotten a few pics of all the pastries but didn't. The laminations in the croissants were so delicate, flakey and buttery. The ham and cheese had a substantial piece of ham and just the right amount of cheese throughout. M The speck and egg had the most perfect jammy egg that didn't drip and get all over yet, was perfect. I will 100% be back. I also snatched up an Asiago and pepper loaf and words just can't describe how yummy it is! The right amount of Asiago and so peppery-spicy! Great combo! read more

Backhaus - Speck and Egg - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

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The best thing about this place is the backyard patio. I've frequented Backhaus a few times when I visited my mom since she lives in San Mateo, and this place always reminds me of the countless fancy bakeries in San Francisco. I've tried just three things and out of the three, the raspberry pistachio croissant has been the most interesting. If you live in San Mateo, you prolly can't go wrong with any of the pastries but if you are from San Francisco and visiting an elderly parent, I would stick with the raspberry croissant for the most bang for your peninsula buck. read more

When back again to get some pastries for Father's Day. The blonde lady was gone and the current staffs are efficient, fast and friendly. They improved the process of checking out and still had amazing pastries! Although i waited in the line for 20 mins to get my pastry but it's worthy! Hope they will keep it up!! read more

My first time here. It is amazing bakery ! I came for the Seeded Rye bread but left w Pretzel bread. Also a pecan danish. My wife says the danish was delicious. The seeded Rye is dense & also tasty n oh so healthy. read more

yummy pastries! the everything bowl was delicious. Came here on a Thursday morning at 10am and most of the pastries are already sold out. If you want more options, come earlier! read more

love love love backhaus pastries, bread & coffee! but highly recommend avoiding the sauerkraut pastry unless you're a big sauerkraut fan. wish we ordered an extra morning bun instead read more

Made a quick stop/exit while on the way to SFO. arrived at 7:40 and there was a line at the door. It moved quickly as most people had it to-go. They served chocolate sourdough $8.00 on weekends only and boy, it was good. I can easily chow down the whole thing. Bought a few pastries and three coffees. They have a back patio seating area. Love how there were leaves foliage ... cozy. While sitting I heard some rattling sound ... looked around and saw a bait box like thing on the ground ... (I might be wrong), right next to me. I moved away and within the next 5 mins I got my text to head to SFO. Latte was good and the barista made it extra hot for me. Berry Coffee cake was sooooo good. It's a great place to hang out! Would love to visit the Burlingame location since they serve brunch there. read more

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Amazing bread! Friendly staff. I only wish that the lines were shorter and moved faster!

I went around 1pm om Friday & all the pastries were pretty much done except for these everything croissants w/ cream cheese & boy am I glad I snagged one because they were delicious!! After having it I wished I would've bought the rest. The croissants paired perfectly with my vanilla latte & I enjoyed it all as I walked around the park a few blocks away. They do have a small patio in the back that is dog friendly so extra stars for that, I'll be back again, earlier this time as I can't imagine what other goodies they have. read more

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Love backhaus! If you're fortunate enough to make it before they sell out of the pistachio raspberry croissant -- DO IT. Grab 2 while you're at it. If not, their almond croissant is divine! Line moves fast, great customer service, and they always welcome and greet all the fur babies! read more

Whenever I'm in downtown San Mateo, I'll make a point to stop by Backhaus to grab a few pastries to go as a snack at home. I have relatives/friends from around the Bay Area who do the same when they come visit us in San Mateo. Some favorites: + Any croissant! Ham and cheese, everything seasoning, almond, and chocolate are my favorites. The croissants are always so flaky. + Mushroom galette: good to share with two people. Love the savory combo of mushroom, parmesan, and fresh arugula on top. + Fig and bacon pastry: yummy mix of sweet and savory. I think this may be a summer seasonal item. If you come on a weekend, it's best to arrive by 10 or 11am at the latest to get your pick of all their options. Otherwise they start to run out of items by late morning. Don't be daunted by the line out the door! It moves at a reasonable pace. I haven't eaten in their outdoor back patio yet but may do that when the weather warms up. read more

Backhaus - Thanksgiving 2022 menu - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I went at 7am on sat. and there were already a line formed (about 4 people infront of us). Pastries were great though. read more

Backhaus - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Obsessed with the "little dudes" or mini chocolate croissants from here. They're so cute and tasty! I picked them up for my mom but ordered an extra to enjoy for myself. They have a great flakey salt on top and are the perfect companion for a good coffee. Not pictured here is my lovely iced americano which was great. The espresso was very fresh and had a good balanced flavor. Service here is very efficient, but be warned, backhaus is well-loved so you can expect a short line on any given weekday morning and a longer line on the weekends, so plan accordingly if you're coming to pick up bread/pastries! If you want to sit and enjoy your pastries here, they also have a cute little back patio area. It's not super big but most people just do pickup so on a given week day there's usually space to sit throughout the morning. Love backhaus! It's my go-to every time I come back to the Bay!! read more

Backhaus - "Little dudes" mini chocolate croissants - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Highly recommend going to this cafe/bakery if you're in the area! It gave off Amsterdam/stockholm vibes and it was so warm and cozy! I ordered a cappuccino and I loved how oat milk could be replaced without a charge. I got a chocolate sourdough and it was amazing.. I usually don't finish a whole loaf of bread but I almost did. We sat outside to enjoy the fresh crisp air of December and it was just such a nice environment. I wish there were more indoor seats as it has rained the day before so it was quite wet outside. We arrived at 11:30 and there weren't many pastries left! I recommend to go early especially on weekends and I'll definitely be coming back for more! read more

Backhaus - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Amazing pastries and great variety each time! I came here a couple times, both on Saturday, and the line was out the door many doors down. Whether I arrived at 8 am or 10:30 am did not make a difference in how long I was in line. It's about 30 minutes before I order and about 15 minutes to get my items. The drinks tend to take longer as they have more people working through the bread line. I recommend arriving earlier in the morning because when I got there at 10:30 am, about half the items were sold out for the day. There's a nice outdoor area in the back if you want to sit down and enjoy your goods for a bit. It's quieter than the seating in the front and where folks wait for their orders. I love their chocolate mini sourdough round. It's so moist inside. Normally, I like eating chocolate in small doses (e.g. a couple bites) but there's something about this bread that makes me want to continue digging into it. I also enjoyed the pretzel stick with cheese, such a fun design! My husband particularly enjoyed the everything croissant bowl and the seasonal scone. We got a variety of sweet and savory croissants as well and they were all good. Highly recommend! read more

Stumbled during Covid years and this review is long overdue. Been a regular mostly weekends for dose or morning donut or croissants or yummy "everything cheese filled" bowl Don't miss if ever in the hood and in mood for some German bakery goodies. Don't let long line hesitate as it moves pretty quick! A nice cute little backyard for sitting and enjoying these goodies. read more

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Backhaus is definitely a must have for me when I'm in the San Mateo area. Parking can get a little tricky since it is in downtown but there are garages you can park in. The location is small but there is seating in the back (a backyard vibe). I highly recommend their mocha, cardamom latte, and croissants. Everything is always delicious! Highly recommend read more

Backhaus - Cardamom latte - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

A gem in San Mateo! As an avid fan of coffee shop and bakeries, this one is a one stop wonder for both. On the weekends this place is packed and basically standing room only unless you use their outdoor seating or can find space on the benches against the wall. Pistachio Raspberry Croissant - perfection. So flaky and perfectly well balanced. This combination of pistachio and raspberry go wonderful with your morning coffee. Almond Croissant - a classic, I loved just how flaky these are. They are a bit messy because of it but I don't mind. read more

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Saturday, 9am and line is out the door. It took about just 10-15 min though. They were out of speck & egg, so I got the mini chocolate sourdough. Really chewy soft on the inside with a heart crunchy crust! Loved it. Back patio looked peaceful and sunny, but it was all full, so I took my bread to-go. read more

Backhaus - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I'm a little disappointed because I took a long time searching for a good place with a great hot chocolate. This place is not worth the amount of money I spent because the hot chocolate wasn't even hot. There was no steam. It was mostly cold and I don't know why. They assumed that I was going to take my hot chocolate to go. I wanted to enjoy it just like everybody else there sitting down. The guy who made my hot chocolate didn't seem very personable and I felt like I was being stereotyped because of my outfit. I would never come back to this place again. . It's unfortunate that they really don't know how to make drinks. I ordered two cinnamon chocolate squirrels and one that look like a little petite croissant muffin right next to it and I enjoyed it, but I really wanted to dip the cinnamon chocolate swirl croissant into a nice hot chocolate and that didn't happen read more

I came at 9:30am on a Sunday, and there is definitely a line you'll have to wait atleast 15 minutes. They also run out of certain items, I'd try to go early to see what the full selection is. There is Not a lot bakeries in San Mateo, but this is bakery comes highly recommended.. and I'm pretty impressed. The croissants here are flakey, flavorful and tasty. Raspberry pistachio croissant: I don't like raspberry because the fruit is pretty tart, so I was hesitant about ordering a pistachio raspberry croissant. I have no regrets getting this croissant and it 100% did not disappoint. The layers in these croissant is just chefs kiss. The raspberry doesn't overwhelm at all, and the pistachio add great texture. I really have no complaints about this croissant, I would highly recommend you get this. Almond croissant: this was good, but I'm not sure if this was the best almond croissant I've ever had. The almond croissant at Aristcault in SF is still the best in my opinion, but this place is a runner up. It's good, but the raspberry pistachio croissant trumps the almond croissant, still would get just to try though. I also got the original kouign-amann which was ok in my opinion. The bread is good, I'm just not a fan of the hard layer of sugar and butter. read more

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