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    Forma Bakery

    4.4 (127 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 2:30 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Forma Bakery Photos

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    FORMA BAKERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Forma Bakery

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    Meyer lemon marscapone goodness
    Arturo N.

    I've been coming to Forma Bakery all month for one specific thing: their Meyer lemon laminated pastry with mascarpone. It's honestly been my current obsession. The Meyer lemon adds a bright citrus note that pairs really beautifully with the richness of the mascarpone. Earlier in the month it also had blueberries, which I loved, but the current version no longer includes them and is now more in the style of a morning bun/kouign-amann. At first I was surprised by the change, but it's still really delicious. The laminated layers are buttery and caramelized, and the lemon flavor still shines through in a really nice way with the mascarpone. I stopped in around 10:30am and service was pretty straightforward--very in-and-out. The staff was fine, nothing particularly warm or memorable, but everything moved efficiently. If you like citrus-forward pastries or laminated dough, this one is definitely worth trying.

    Stephen P.

    My partner and I have been on the hunt for a solid bakery, and I think Forma is the new bay area title holder. The staff is friendly and helpful, offering plenty of guidance through an overwhelming assortment of choices. We weren't sure what we were even in the mood for, but loved all four of the picks we ended up with. It's a very busy spot with little seating inside, but there are a few seats on the patio area if you're ok with people filtering through as they come in to pick up their items and leave. The store itself is very cute, and we loved the floor tiles and decorations - such a great vibe. While we didn't get to eat the pastries FRESH fresh, we took them home to share with family and everyone loved them. The flavors were interesting, not too sweet, and balanced. I'd really like to try these earlier in the day when they're fresher as that was my only complaint...but that's hardly the fault of the bakery. Next time we're in the bay, we're definitely stopping by to try at least 4-6 more :D

    Alayna K.

    Incredible laminated pastries!! Long lines but they do move. A must try if you're in the area. The kouign amann with the pluot jam was our absolute favorite (8.5/10) because the layers were super crispy and the jam was on point. It was gone too quickly. The flan croissant was missing a bit of the flakiness but still a unique and delicious pastry! (7.5/10) The drip coffee was also solid. Seating was hard so eat outside if you dont want to wait!

    Nicole Diane M.

    Stopped by Forma Bakery on a Wednesday morning to catch up with my sister, and it was exactly what we were looking for--casual, cozy, and delicious. Parking was easy with metered street and neighborhood spots nearby. The area feels very walkable and safe. Inside is small and intimate, with a beautiful pastry case that immediately grabs your attention (eyes definitely eat first). There's a small bench indoors and a couple of outdoor tables--great if you have a fur baby or want to people-watch. Forma has been gaining buzz for its laminated pastries, especially the flan croissant, which lives up to the hype. We ordered the flan croissant with strawberry, and it was one of my favorite pastries to date--perfectly flaky and lightly custardy. It would probably be even better warmed up. We also ordered a ham croissant which was just as delicious! Service was friendly and fast, making this a great grab-and-go spot or an easy stop to pick up a beautiful loaf of bread for gifting.

    Bianca H.

    I love this bakery!! It can get really crowded in the mornings, and so you know for the most part that is a good sign! They have a lot of pastry options to choose from. I tried a poblano pepper, corn, and cheese croissant. It was so good! The muted spice from the pepper added with a sweetness from the croissant was able to satisfy my morning/lunch time cravings. It is a smaller bakery, so there's only a few tables to sit and enjoy your coffee & pastry if you want to stay and sit. But it's great, you get to people watch, see the dogs, and enjoy your time.

    Passion Fruit Earl Grey Morning Bun, Pistachio Croissant, Vanilla Corn Concha
    Melody L.

    I've been wanting to try Forma Bakery for the longest time now, so I'm so glad I finally did! I went at around 10am on a Thursday morning and there were a good amount of people sitting in their small outside area. I waited around 8 minutes to order, and there were still many pastries available. We got the Vanilla Corn Concha, Pistachio Croissant, and Passionfruit Earl Grey Morning Bun! The vanilla corn concha was really good! I loved the light vanilla flavor, crunchy top, and the inside of the concha, which was super soft, kind of like milk bread. The pistachio croissant was good too--a bit too sweet to be my favorite pastry of the bunch, but it had a nice dubai chocolate-esque filling. The passionfruit earl grey morning bun was super unique! It had a distinct and delicious earl grey flavor that paired well with the hint of passionfruit. I haven't had anything like it anywhere else. Overall: FIRE bakery. On my top Bay Area bakeries list for sure!

    Rachel K.

    I'm a sucker for a good pastry, and a fluffy, buttery croissant is up there when it comes to my weaknesses. I love that Forma Bakery has a variety of fresh baked options with different flavor profiles. When we walked in we were greeted warmly and the team member was patient as we decided what to order, they also answered a few of our questions. Honestly, I wanted to buy one of everything, but I ended up getting the passionfruit morning bun with earl grey sugar (Vegan), the flan croissant with strawberry jam, and a brookie. I brought these home and went to share a bite of the brookie with my husband, which turned into him eating over half of it. It was rich and chewy and the perfect cross between a cookie and brownie. The other two items I cut into fourths and shared with some guests after dinner, and while everyone enjoyed both- we unanimously agreed the flan croissant was a true winner. If/when I visit again I'll be looking to pick up more of the flan croissants and brookies, and I'm sure a few more items that catch my eye at the time. It's a small shop, but definitely worth a visit. The pastries are best eaten the day of so that they're fresh and as crispy/fluffy/soft as intended and they may run out of items later in the day so be prepared to visit early or adjust what you order based on availability.

    Pistachio croissant and Olla Latte
    Jelani N.

    Super stuffy and unfriendly energy from the workers. Felt rushed to make my purchase even though there wasn't a line. Pistachio croissant - tasted too hard and crunchy. The pistachio filling was solid. Olla latte - good cinnamon taste, good balanced espresso flavor with two shots

    Ham and cheese croissant
    Deepa P.

    No line on a weekday morning. Outdoor seating. Lovely, well-laminated pastries (sweet and savory). Perfect cookie. Enjoyed the cafe de olla as well.

    Austin Z.

    I could easily say that this bakery really took me by surprise when someone told me that this was "Temescal's favorite pastry spot" -- because indeed, they were right. The long lines, the whiff of aroma of French and Mexican tastes, were all coming together. They are a local business in Oakland, and I'm way more than impressed as to how they were able to bake such delicacies for the Temescal community and beyond -- and be open for the most important occasions, when they least expect it. Upon ordering, I was very intrigued at the pastries they had made -- tres leches crossaints, horchata danish, the name can go on and on without any hesitation. There was much more -- pastries like flan-filled croissants, jam-bright rosquillas, and seasonal savory fruit or veggie versions that feel both familiar and exciting. Honestly, in my opinion, walking into Forma feels like walking into paradise. it feels like Telegraph is like finding a sweet little crossroads where French bakery technique meets vibrant Mexican-inspired flavors. Their coffee selections pair beautifully with the pastry lineup, as the baristas put thoughtful twists like a café de olla latte or Mexican-style mocha. All in all, it brings a little extra warmth to every cup. Next time, if you're chasing a classic buttery croissant or something with a little more creative soul, Forma delivers memorable texture, flavor, and that cozy neighborhood energy that keeps locals lined up early, way before opening time.

    Corn Pudding Pastry
    Andrea Z.

    Visited on a Thursday morning when they opened at 8:00am, no others in line. Pastry case was filled with a great variety of options both sweet and savory. Drinks: cafe de olla - sweet spiced coffee which was quite tasty, a bit on the sweet side for me but really thought the cinnamon and warm spices complimented the dark roast coffee Food: Passion Fruit Morning Bun - nice mild passion fruit flavor, a little sweet, slightly caramelized, laminated pastry isn't super buttery, solid Corn pudding pastry - flakey laminate pastry cup filled with corn and a mild corn custard with a little bit of cheese, a nice savory option, pastry was crisp and ratio of filling to pastry felt balanced, again lamination was a little less buttery and a bit more dry but good overall. Service was good, super friendly and knowledgeable staff with great recommendations. Overall enjoyed Forma, they have a solid variety of pastries to choose from along with some very unique flavors. Pastries here weren't as buttery and flaky as some other more classically french spots but I think worth a visit to try the unique flavors.

    Pistachio and Chocolate croissant
    Rhea A.

    Met up with a few friends here at 9am because they swore pastries would run out. I haven't heard of this place until recently. It's right on Telegraph so parking is street parking which can be tough depending on time of day. I got the pistachio and chocolate croissant. It's quite dense and heavy, and it is almost cookie like. The flavor was delicious but I personally like my croissants more flakey and not as dense. Overall a good pastry spot but personally not my preference!

    Judy H.

    I really really wanted to like this place but unfortunately it came up a little short for me. I came on a Sunday late morning and there was a line out the door and I was excited. They had plenty of baked goods available so I was really happy to see that. The line moves pretty fast so I didn't have to stand long and it gave me plenty of time to decide what I wanted when I got to the display cases. I ordered: 2 chocolate croissants Earl grey passion fruit morning bun Flan croissant with strawberry jam Kouign amann Nothing I tried really blew me away. I think the earl grey morning bun and the flan croissant were really unique and fun. The lavender really came through in the earl grey but for some reason I didn't really enjoy the passion fruit part of it. The chocolate croissants were disappointing to say the least. I just came back from St. Louis where I discovered a bakery for Nathaniel Reid's with croissants that tasted better than the ones I found in Paris and I was really disappointed in these. They were really bready and dough and not flaky with soft layers like I was hoping. On the upside, the merch is adorable. I bought a tote bag even though I didn't need it and that's the one thing I'd go back for.

    Left: pistachio croissant  Right: chocolate concha

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    2 years ago

    Delicious croissants! Fast service and amazing choice of pastries! Looking forward to returning soon.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Perfection! The artistry in every pastry is to die for. They also have the plain croissant for the purists. The bread is the best!

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    2 years ago

    Spectacular pastries and coffee. Great prices and such great variety, including many vegan options! Maybe best in the bay??

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    2 years ago

    Oh, my goodness, just had the chocolate almond croissant. It's the bomb!! I will definitely go back for more!

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    Page 4 of 4

    Ask the Community - Forma Bakery

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    If I was purely reviewing the kind and wonderful staff and possibly coffee and tea, then 5 stars…read more But I ate a selection of pastries and chai, so I have to grade on that. I loved the ambiance, it felt we was in another country. The place was packed I have no idea where everyone parked haha. Very hard to find parking. The Adeni Chai I had was wonderful and I would get again. The lemon pastries I had were good & I would possibly get again. Both cheese pastries & meat pocket I didnt care for so much. I undetstand they are an acquired taste but me being Middle Eastern we have our own versions and I think that's why I didn't like as much. I would definitely go back and try more sweet pastries. They had a large selection I couldn't try them all haha. I would love to try more tea and coffee options as well. Go and try out several different pastries and discover what you like. It's cheaper than buying an airplane ticket to try another countries culture and delights. They also have outside seating which is especially nice on a beautiful day. Pro tip: take an Uber if you can. Parking is hard to get.

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    Menu as of April 2026
    Menu as of April 2026
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    My friend got me some desserts for my birthday. Pistachio…read morericotta cake was too sweet for my palate but it is as soft as you would imagine. Almost reminds me of the texture of tres leches. Biscotti brookie was a large portion and also very sweet but a good texture.

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    Forma Bakery - bakeries - Updated June 2026

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