I was really excited to hear about this bakery in Downtown San Mateo, which I come to visit frequently. The almond croissant is good, but not Arsicault good. The banana walnut chocolate croissant is pretty bomb though. The low rating is because the staff does not know how to count. I was given the incorrect number of pastries. I have yet been to a bakery, where I was given the wrong number or had to check the number of pastries given. My order wasn't even a big order. This is literally your job to give the right amount of pastries. Their system sucks--usually people order pastries first and then show up to pay at the register. Instead, you pay and wait to pick your pastries. That's how errors happen. I had already gone home and had to come back. That was a 25 minute round trip. They also do not pick up their phone. My first and last time there! read more

Super cute place! I love the decor. I got here around 11:15am on a Wednesday and they were still sold out of items! I still wanna try their pistachio croissant, so if you can try to get there at opening, get one I ordered the strawberry cream cheese kouign amann, regular kouign amann, and of course the almond croissant. My favorite out of the three was the almond croissant. Lighter than most almond croissants I've had yet still flakey on the outside Cheers! read more

Backhaus - Strawberry cheesecake kouign amann - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

People were queuing up even before they opened this morning. And now that I've been there, I can see why. The pastries were varied and superb. I tried the everything croissant, and it was really excellent. There was a touch of cream cheese in the center (because of the association with an everything bagel with cream cheese). Nice touch! Also tried the speck (German for bacon) and egg bowl. This wasn't what I thought, it was better! This was a slice of bacon and hard boiled egg in a bowl of croissant, with mustard seeds and a touch of cheese and green onions on top. It was really fantastic. Also tried the coffee, and it was really amazing. Wow. I would go just for the coffee. All that, and friendly, fun service. Wow. This place is a treasure. read more

See all

*PARKING: street parking only and free after 6pm or on Sundays *EXPERIENCE: I got here at 9AM and be prepared to queue in a long line. It moves quickly though, so don't be deterred. I probably waited 15mins tops to get inside. When you get to the front, you can take a look at what's available. Then place your order at the counter and wait for them to call your name to pick up your coffee and pastry. In terms of seating, there's some outdoor tables in front of the bakery but it's quite chilly since the sun doesn't hit. There's also some indoor seating by the counter and upstairs. Lastly, the perfect spot to enjoy your baked goods is the outdoor seating in the back patio! It's super cute and perfect for a sunny day. There's also a couple of umbrellas if you don't want to get toasted. *FOOD: I really wanted to try the speck & egg but someone in front of me literally bought the last one. So I ended up getting a chocolate croissant and a latte. The croissant is pretty buttery and flakey. The latte is solid as well. I would love to come back and try other things! read more

Backhaus - Coffee bar - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Cute coffee shop with a good selection pastries. Good spot to hangout on a slow weekend morning

I love this place! Good coffee, good pastries, good vibes all around. It is a $$ bakery but the goods here blow me away every time. There's almost always a line here but its to gives you time to decide which delectable treat you'd like to enjoy that day. (Tip: I don't think they have a single item that misses, so you should really just try everything!!) read more

See all

I found myself in this neighborhood this Sunday visiting family. I had this place bookmarked and today I remember to stop by. Very nice and busy bakery. Service was prompt but not personable It was busy so the wait was 20+mins I got a sourdough loaf and some pastries. It was good. If I'm visiting family would stop by again but I wouldn't internationally drive there with all of our great options in S.F The place was nicely decorated, open space and cool branding. Overall I would recommend read more

Backhaus - Sweet goodies - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Bread? Pastries? Carbs? Yes, yes, yes! My friend wanted to come here to try the bread and while there was a line and a wait, it was well worth it. It is absolutely carb heaven. The menu does change though, so whatever is on the shelf is what is available despite what it says online. I ended up getting the olive bread, everything bowl and plum/almond crostock. Best decision I made! You can taste the butter in each pastry and it was great lol the olive bread was huge and lasted two of us a few days for breakfast and snacking. Absolutely great with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The everything bowl is basically a everything bagel in croissant form and I wish it was available everywhere! The crostock was a new pastry and it wasn't super sweet, which I appreciate it. Well worth the wait!! read more

See all

Super cute and cozy coffee cafe! Pretty limited drink menu but I got the cardamom latte w/ oat milk and it was delicious and even had some latte art. I think this was a seasonal drink. They make their pastries/bread fresh and their are little windows in the back where you can see the work their magic in the kitchen. Not too many selections during the afternoon so make sure to come in the morning! There is a cute little outdoor back patio with tons of tables in addition to the couple of tables in the front of the shop. A great place to study or just enjoy your coffee when the sun is out. read more

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

See all

German + bakery are not known to be a winning pair of words to me. When thinking of pastry, I go French. But ooh la la, Backhaus was a surprise. The kougin amann was a winner! It was a classic pastry (a la nature) with tender layers of pastry dough. Veins of caramelized, buttery sugar wove through the outer crust. Think the top layer of creme brûlée. The cardamom twist was also a surprise. A Pretty pattern of dark cardamom pastry woven with plain flaky pastry. This was light and crisp. Whereas you may think a heavy choice, but no you'd be wrong. The cardamom flavor was light and had a long finish. The pretzel chocolate bite was also airy bordering sweet and not sweet. Generally, these pastries have been a delight. Backhaus wasn't selling any bread on Tuesday when I stopped by. How about ambiance, you ask. The interior is industrial chic. Along the corridor to the back, you can view the open kitchen through the glass walls. At the rear of this shop is a small outdoor patio with trees, colorful tables and chairs where one can devour pastries out of the watchful eyes of the public. Overall, very good to excellent pastry. I will return to investigate the German bread and the assortment of pastries (apple tart, mixed berry tart, plain & chocolate croissant, etc) I didn't get to try another time. read more

See all

Seasonal (lemon + *berry) scone - moist but not too moist, a perfect scone with crispy edges and just the right amount of sweetness from the seasonal fruit. I've had their apple turnovers, galettes and kouign amann. They're good but for me, the scones stick out. read more

The bread here is excellent! I got the Asiago and peppercorn bread was delicious. The texture was perfectly chewy and springy. They don't slice the bread for you in the store though, so you'll have to take it home and slice it yourself. At most they can slice the load in half for you. There was a bit of line to order, but it moves quickly and I got in within 10 minutes. The service was quick, friendly and efficient. read more

Backhaus - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Expect a line? Yes, for good reason. Simply, great baked goods. Everything from Fabulously crusty loaves to the flakiest of croissants. I popped in as I was early for my baking class at Baking Arts, to get something to snack on before class. I happen to love arugula, and saw this flat pile of it with parm and asked "what is that?" A cute young brutha smiled and said "that's the Imuchroom croissant". Humm, I thought to mysellf (as I'm not a mushroom fan, normally). He said it was really good...and it looked so good, I had to try. So, after the 1st bite, I was hooked. So flaky, crunchy, and flavorful. I was shocked at how good this thing was! I think this will be my Go-To baked snack, moving forward! read more

Backhaus - A bitten mushroom galette - sorry, I just couldn't wait. - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

I needed a breakfast-y place to meet two former classmates/tennis teammates/current friends in downtown San Mateo on a Wednesday morning, and Backhaus fit the bill. They have a bit of indoor seating (very aesthetic) with high ceilings and lots of wood, but there's even BETTER seating outside in the back. There's lots of flowers and plants and sun (maybe it was the day we went, but it seemed beautiful so I just have great memories and thoughts of Backhaus.) You can't tell you're in downtown San Mateo! Two friends and I ordered a strawberry cheesecake danish, a ham and cheese croissant, and a mixed Berry crostock, and we nibbled on each other's as well. Everything was very good--the general consensus was that you cannot go wrong with any of their pastries. The outdoor area is dog-friendly, and would be a good place to meet up or do work. read more

See all

Still delicious. Still has a line during peak times, but it really doesn't take too long. Also, it has a super cute patio in the back that's dog friendly (there's an entrance at the back you bring your dog through) The pistachio raspberry croissant & banana chocolate croissant are sooo good but the lemon blueberry scone was THE BEST SCONE I've ever had. I don't know how they got it so crisp on the outside but still soft and moist on the inside (sorry not a fan of dry scones that fall apart as you eat them) Would definitely recommend & return. It's the perfect spot to grab a coffee & pastry in the morning and do some work or just contemplate life read more

Backhaus - Everything croissant and banana chocolate croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Yum. My sister came over with nearly the entire bakery, and it was delicious. The asiago and peppercorn loaf was great. The raspberry pistachio croissant was yummy. My kids devoured the chocolate croissant and sourdough. The speck and egg thing was yum. The passion fruit kougn was excellent as well. I could keep going, but overall-- yum. I'm looking forward to eating in shoppe. read more

I needed to be in this area for a few meetings, and there seemed to be a constant line. It is just okay-ish food that looks great and is served with an artisanal flair. It is in trendy downtown, which adds to the ambiance. Not worth the price or line, but if you are in that area, it is worth a try. Friendly staff. Parking is difficult, and the bathroom is always occupied. read more

See all

Instagrammable cafe vibe. I love how clean the interior decor looked. There were seating on the second floor as well. There was a very short line but it moved very quickly and gave me just enough time to decide what I wanted to get. I ordered an iced latte and strawberry rhubarb cheesecake kouign amann and got them in a timely manner. It was my first time having a kouign amann pastry and I absolutely loved the layers and the sugar coating. I have been ordering kouign amann from different cafes/bakeries ever since! read more

See all

So there's a bunch of coffee shops, bakeries and brunch places along this street in San Mateo but this one stood out because of the pastries. My friends and I were already on our way to lunch but decided to hop in here after taking a quick peek inside and also at the mid to large sized line forming out the door. The place smelled of fresh bread and croissants and you can see rows of fresh pastries behind the workers ready to be put into the pastry window because turnover is so high. The plum crostock was actually a nice contrast of flavours. The plums were pickled I believe, so they had a nice sweet taste which was balanced out by the salty umami of the pine nuts on top of the flaky pastry. I was also very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the cold brew. No bitter curl at the end of the sip. Just smooth, rich dark chocolatey aftertaste. But then again, a lot of the cold brews in SF have tasted better than the ones back home in Toronto. I'm starting to wonder if a lot of these shops source their beans from the same place LOL. read more

See all

Really good bread and pastries. I don't drink coffee so I can't speak to the coffee. Nice patio in the back with more seating.

Come here for one thing: croissants! They come in many forms here: original, filled w sweet or savory fillings, as a kouign amann original or custard filled, or as a galette. The traditional shaped croissants give you the best experience of the perfect lamination. Yumm! I always say I'm gonna try the bread one day but I always load up w too many croissant goodies to even bother w the breads hah A few of their non-standard options that we tried: ::::raspberry pistachio filled croissant:: delicious n diff but hearty so share w several ppl if u want to try a few things ::::golden beet, goat galette topped w arugula:: woulda been better if I went home n heated it up. Arugula was wilty n sad ::::kougin amann filled w passion fruit custard:::: I loved this soooo much. Will likely get at least one eveyy try time I'm here Parking isn't too bad but it's metered slots right in front. U can call in advance to place ur order for pickup but I kinda love going to see what they have for the day in person. The line is pretty long as they're doing orders outside but it moves pretty quickly and gives you time to figure out what u want. Takes them about 5-10 min to get the order together so pretty reasonable, considering how much goodness you'll get. I'll admit I would've been pissed if I ended up hating it tho. read more

See all

Come early for amazing pastries!!! They open at 7:30 am, and there's usually a long line on the weekends. They make a limited amount of each pastry, and tend to sell out pretty quickly. I came with a friend around 9 am and there were still a good amount of options, but I've also come past 10 am when there are only a few choices left in the case (although there's always plenty of bread of bread if you feel like chomping on a baguette for breakfast!). My friend and I decided to get an assortment of pastries and share. The pistachio raspberry crossaint is amazing! So fluffy. So good. There is a good amount of pistachio and raspberry filling that works surprisingly well together, and the crossaint is flaky and has that perfect crunch with every bite. Definitely try this if you're a pistachio or raspberry fan! The mini chocolate pretzel bite is essentially a mini chocolate croissant with a light dusting of sea salt on top; it had with a good amount of chocolate that contrasted well with the sea salt. I've had their chocolate crossaints before, which, in my opinion, are better because they are more airy and flaky. But it has the same good taste despite being slightly less airy! The morning bun tasted like a cinnamon bun without the glaze, which was perfect because it wasn't overly sweet and the cinnamon sugar added a nice flavor to the denser bun. I would definitely go back to try their other pastries! Good thing I'm a morning person. read more

See all

If you're a croissant lover like me, Backhaus in San Mateo is an absolute must-visit! This delightful bakery has stolen my heart with their almond croissant, which has become my all-time favorite treat. I love their almond croissant because it doesn't have that marzipan flavor, which I find artificial. Instead, it delights with a pure almond taste, a touch of sweetness, and a satisfying crunch.My husband adores their chocolate and ham & cheese croissants. The perfectly flaky texture of their pastries adds to the overall perfection. This bakery is a must-visit for anyone seeking croissant paradise! read more

See all

Croissant heaven! I lined up right at opening time (7:30am) on a Sunday to get my pick of goodies. From my Yelp research, I knew I wanted to try their pistachio raspberry croissant. When the staff member helping me told me her favorite was the everything croissant filled with cream cheese, I knew I had to get one. Both were delicious, but the savory everything croissant had the edge for me. Flakey, buttery layers with a shatteringly crisp exterior and tender interior with just the right amount of cream cheese. The pistachio raspberry croissant reminded me of baklava, with the pistachio flavor dominating. I picked up a chocolate croissant for a friend who proclaimed it was rich with the taste of butter and chocolate. Friendly and knowledgable staff. I loved seeing so many women in charge, from cashiers to bakers, and a woman who I assumed was the manager or owner: clearly passionate about her craft and products. Prices for croissants were around $5, and worth every penny! Parking meters lined the street, and happened to be free on Sunday. I'll return for more buttery goodness! read more

See all

Best bakery in San Mateo hands down! It's Backhaus NOT Bakehouse to honor the initial German inspiration to have a bakery for the community. I became a fan when they started out at local farmers market just at a stand. I celebrate how far they have come along since the humble beginnings to grow into this brick and mortar bakery in downtown San Mateo. It's a lovely story of a bakery loved by their community and what comes out of their oven continues to be delectable! Their sourdough and olive loaves are my favorites! Try sliced avocados on them - the best avocado toasts ever! Chocolate croissant is one of the best and believe me, I've tried many bakeries croissants including one rated the best in the country by Bon Appetite's annual ranking. Backhaus is as good or in some respect better considering the size and pricing. Backhaus is definitely a happy place for the community! Take a bite into any of their pastries or breads and we can't help but to smile from ear to ear. I'm getting hungry just writing about them ! I guess I will be in their breadline tomorrow morning! read more

Backhaus - Backhaus assortment- Yum! Savory &Sweet !! - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Short Story: A high quality pastry place in San Mateo! Long Story: I've been coming here for the past 3 years and it's been great. There's always a line and the items sell out quickly. I've gotten their whole wheat loaf, croissant, kouign amann, and more! The place has awesome coffee too. I think it you can't drive all the way to SF to Tartine, Craftsman and Wolves, or b. Patisserie then this place is a good compromise. Verdict: I'm definitely going back. read more

The owner/head baker Anne Moser reached out the day after I posted my review and apologized. She said that employees should always promptly fix or replace incorrect drinks, and that she would address the issue immediately and issue a refund. She obviously understands her industry and the importance of customer service. I appreciate her professionalism and the apology. It's very unfair that a couple rotten employees should negatively affect her business, and I'm sympathetic to that. The restaurant's baked goods are special, so I'm confident they will continue to have long lines, and I'm happy for their success. read more

Came back to Backhaus, at an earlier hour this time! I came around 8:45 on a Saturday and ended up waiting in about a half-hour line. Parking at the nearby public parking lot was free until 9, so maybe next time I'll come when the bakery opens at 7:30 and avoid the $1 parking LOL. This time, I got to try the passionfruit kouign amann, regular kouign amann, mixed berry coffee cake, strawberry scone, and epi baguette. Just like the first time, everything was super delicious. The passionfruit kouign amann had a candied lemon peel on top and was my favorite by far. The scone and coffee cakes were the cashier's recommendations (along with the passionfruit kouign amann), so thank you to her! They were dense but so delicious. Will be back to try more, for sure! read more

Backhaus - Kouign Amann, Passionfruit Kouign Amann, Strawberry Scone, Apple Turnover, Mixed Berry Coffee Cake - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great coffee shop!! They use ritual coffee which is amazing. You can also get bread by the loaf or even half a loaf; all of the bread is so, so good!! read more

Best breakfast pastry I have ever had. It's a rare thing for me to say that the price is indeed worth it and the line to get into this place is well-deserving. My only regret is not being able to eat everything they had. Also cute (but limited) outdoor seating! Gave a nice backyard chill vibe. read more

Backhaus - Speck and egg croissant bowl - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

Really unique pastries with great flavors. one of my go to places whenever I visit San Mateo. The only criticism I have they don't have an oven to reheat the pastry. For such a high standard establishment they should figure that out. read more

See all

This bakery was a great stop during my trip recommended by A YT vlogger 'outdoorcheflife' in one of their episodes. There was a line out the door (good sign) that went by pretty quickly. I didn't take any pics of what I got unfortunately. Almond croissant, mixed berry coffee cake were both good, among others I forgot the names of. Friendly staff did not rush customers. They have a cute backyard sitting area with lots of sunlight, but better for smaller groups imo. read more

See all

Stopped by in the morning to grab coffee and pastries. Unfortunately the seating area outside was closed again. Pistachio Raspberry Croissant - I've had a pistachio raspberry croissant at another bakery and this one is close in competition. I love how the pistachio filling here has bigger pistachio pieces and it's not completely pistachio paste. It's also not overwhelmingly sweet. Morning bun - sweeter than other morning buns I've had but it's soft and fluffy. Mocha - an okay mocha. It wasn't too sweet which was nice. read more

See all

Best croissant I have ever had, hands down. Super soft, fluffy, and flaky. It was still warm when I got it. Tons of fresh bread, I got the seeded rye and I swear it's 4lbs. Really good flavor and you can tell it's quality bread. A handful of pastry options and types of fresh bread. They had an Asiago black peppercorn bread that looked almost fake with how good it looked. Friend got a cappuccino and liked it, I wasn't super impressed with it though it wasn't bad at all. The line moved quickly. read more

See all

I have to say that making the trip from Hayward, I was skeptical about whether or not they would have what I wanted when I got there. I had emailed the day before, hoping I would be able to order but they are no longer doing online orders unless they are over $100. Okay not sure why they wouldn't but I guess it isn't worth their while. All I know is, it's a long drive to come over and possibly not get what I like! I love bakeries, and all the things that bakeries have! But I especially love kouign amans and morning buns...and I found both here! And although there was quite the line when we arrived, it moved rather quickly. There is a really nice area in back where you can have coffee and eat your treats...was kind of crowded, tables weren't clean, we cleaned our own to be able to sit there. In any event, am glad I came over...and took the chance. I brought the pastries home as we went to lunch right after having coffee. Initially the morning bun was like a hockey puck but heated up in the microwave and it was amazing...along with the kouign aman. Will have one in the morning with my coffee!!!! read more

Backhaus - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

After moving from the city down to the Peninsula, one thing I missed were the amazing artisanal bakeries scattered around SF (ex. Tartine, Neighbor Bakehouse, The Mill). So, when Backhaus opened a brick and mortar close by my house I was so excited to try the baked goods and they didn't disappoint! The shop is cute with a nice patio on the back to have coffee, meet a friend. My go-to favorites at Backhaus are their Country Loaf and the chocolate pretzel bites. I will say that the country loaf is nowhere near as good as Tartine's from a texture and flavor standpoint but it satisfies the craving when I don't want to make the trek all the way up to the city. Pro-Tip: I usually try to pre-order so I don't have to wait in line because it can get long/things may sell out, especially on the weekends. read more

I went on a Saturday morning at around 10am and I was able to get the pastries I wanted. The kouign amann was alright. Nothing too special about it. One good thing is that there is seating in the back. It is rare to get indoor seating. There is also one large bench outside. Overall, the line moved quickly and I would go back and try other pastries and maybe a drink. read more

Backhaus is the best! There is always a line but it moves quickly. I have only gone on weekdays, but I can imagine the line being wild on the weekend. As for seating, there are a handful of tables in the front and a patio in the back with more seating. You cannot go wrong with what you pick, EVERYTHING is good. Stand outs favs are croissants and chocolate chip cookies. I'm usually a creature of habit, but I get something different every time because I want to try it all! read more

First off, don't fret over the long line, it goes by quick! I probably waited 10 minutes from the line out the door. Backhaus has an interesting assortment of pastries, both savory and sweet! We tried the raspberry pistachio croissant which is our favorite amongst the 3. The lemon blueberry scone won't choke you out, it's not dry like most scones out there. The blueberry drizzle was a really nice touch to enhance the blueberry flavors. The lemon was nice and not overwhelming. I should have ordered a few more to go! I also got a iced coffee with oat milk. I was quite surprised how smooth and balanced the coffee was. It was almost naturally sweet, no sugar needed! Coffee here is very well made. Thanks Backhaus for starting my morning on a right note! read more

Backhaus - Raspberry Pistachio Croissant and Lemon Blueberry Scone - Bakeries Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Line is typically out the door for this place. The chocolate sourdough is unique and tasty - sweet. There's also a cute outdoor patio to sit outside. Would come back. read more