It is actually located behind Lucky and BevMo (not Target). Not in the main plaza but on the backside.

Such a adorable bakery. Walked in roughly around 930 am grabbed a mini sandwich which was refreshing since it wasn't to big and heavy. Prices are reasonable and the amount of selection available made my sweet tooth go wild. Staff was super friendly making me want to come back the next time I pass through Carmel read more

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Cute little coffee shop ! Great desserts , must try ! Loved their raspberry tarts and tiramisu read more

This is literally a hidden gem located right before Big Sur. Best location for a prep for lunch or snacks for the beach. I found this place while staying at a nearby hotel a couple of years back. They were opened early and it was within a quick walking distance. I have been to Paris and the bakeries is something I miss and have never found any bakeries close to the ones in France until I found this place. I had to write a long awaited review because I went this passed weekend and it always surpassed my expectations. I literally take the hour 17 min drive just to eat here but this was Mother's Day weekend so I thought treat myself right?! As soon as you walk in you see all the amazing pasteries, breads, ctroissants, cakes, brownies and baguette sandwiches the thing is to get here early because by noon on the weekend you have a limited selection to choose from. I order the salami Brie baguette sandwich, the fudge brownie, macaroons and a chocolate croissant omg it never disappoints. Let this be the next stop you stop at before a drive through Big Sur you will not be disappointed read more

This has been my go to bakery for years but I have to admit things are just not as good as they used to be. Is it Covid-related? Maybe. First, the size of the pastries, bread, and sandwiches have gotten considerably smaller, though the price has remained the same. Some may not notice but being a regular it's very evident to me. Second, their pastries now tend to be either over baked (croissants, pistachio chocolate pastry, etc) or under baked to the point where they are inedible. I'm disappointed as I've been a regular customer here for years and years. Things are slipping and I hope management is paying attention and can make the necessary changes before they lose their locals base. This has been a local treasure so I hope they can turn it around! read more

Wonderful pastries but come early as much of it gets sold out. Friendly service. Will be back

I got a lemon bichon from this bakery about a month ago and I swear I've thought about it everyday since. They have tons of options if you go early, but you will need to fight the crowds! When I visited a couple of hours before they closed it was a ghost town. They were almost completely sold out of everything. read more

The moody help seems largely to have disappeared, which is an improvement. Bring the baker back from France -- the bread needs help. read more

After reading the reviews and finding myself staying walking distance away, I had to try it and it didn't disappoint. The authenticity here is tough to find these days, and it's reflected in the food. I tried an egg and bacon tartine as well as a lemon pasterie and a cup of coffee (standard drip). The food was phenomenal, while I probably should have sprung for a proper espresso since they have them. Bought two fresh baguettes to go and they were both eaten in a day; absolutely delicious. Staff was courteous and polite as well, so overall an perfect experience. read more

Lafayette Bakery & Cafe - Bacon and egg tartine. - Bakeries Near Me - Carmel, California

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This bakery is absolutely delicious. We bought the raisin croissants, raspberry snail, cinnamon rolls were off the hook. Salami and Swiss sandwich. Just delicious. A must stop. Very clean place with a friendly attendant. read more

The first time I came here I was thrilled with the quality of the pastries and the selection. The service was great and very friendly. The second time I came here it was 1 o'clock in the afternoon and the shelves were almost empty and a lot of the pastries and quiches looked like they been around for a while. The service was distant and not at all receptive to questions or even asking if we needed help. I think I won't be back read more

Ok when we walked in, the place smelled amazing. The staff was friendly although it took a while to be greeted. We got a cinnamon roll, and a brioche stuffed with vanilla pastry cream and raspberries. Both were plain and very bready, if that is even a word. We also got several tiny rolls. Had no idea how expensive they were, def not worth the cost. Would suggest a trip to Layers if you want a treat. read more

Awesome bakery. We have been satisfied with the service and baked goods every time in our only two visits. We were on a short staycation each time. I recommend it to everyone. read more

Yes please. A N Y T I M E I am near Highway 1, I will veer off abruptly for croissant and coffee at this hidden locals secret. Full of kind folk, delicious treats and easy on/off highway access. read more

I saw some amazing pictures online, but sadly that was not the same experience I had. When I went in during the early afternoon on a Friday they had 4 random loafs of bread on display. One pastry case was empty, another looked like it was a closeout sale, and the last one with the baked items looked picked over. Gone is the day when you have to go to a bakery before 9am to get the best items. They should be able to offer a selection of cakes, pastries, and baked items. Some items only last a day, but many others last a couple days. This I learned from experience as a pasty chef. This gives your customer the same great experience all day. At least 4 people came in and left during my visit due to a lack of basics. The eclair I had was delicious. The vanilla flan was not good. It was bland, chewy, and had no flavor. Sadly I think I've had a better experience and better quality at the Safeway bakery. read more

A little hard to find, but once you find this gem you will not regret it! Parking is everywhere in the lot. Of course the freshest foods when it comes to bakery is the morning but we went a hour before closing and everything was buy one get one free which is kind of nice. The almond croissant was amazing even if it was nearly closing! The service was very friendly as well! read more

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I went there for a coffee when I was in town for a golf tournament at Pebble Beach and I will be back for future trips. They take pride in their product and service. The smell of the nice sea breeze and fresh pastries is unique and lovely. Thank you! read more

A wonderful authentic french bakery tasting just like the ones in France! The food was delicious and the employees are all very nice and helpful! read more

Tasty pastries, rude service. Similar experience to Jamie O's where the woman behind the counter basically told me to go read the flavors of the macarons when I asked her at the order counter (she actually walked me over there instead of telling me and said "we write them so you can decide") as I had just perused dozens of other pastries. Mon dieu, how terrible of me to not remember the macaron flavors. She also was annoyed when I ordered a latte and said whole milk when she was asking me for the size. The look she gave me when I said "regular" said it all, so I then said small and tried to get the pain of ordering done as soon as possible. There's no reason AT ALL for service folks to be rude to people who are not being rude to them. It's difficult to make quick choices when you've never been in before, people can't always hear when we're all wearing masks, and the business relies on people wanting to come in and buy things. Why would you make them not want to come back? Would have been 4 stars, maybe more, but you only get 3 from me. read more

Authentic French bakery in the charming Carmel Barnyard Village. French natives and French-trained chefs, Jean Bernard Vial and Pascal Merle, bring fresh artisan breads and hand-crafted French delicacies to Carmel. Assiduous preparation and craftsmanship is evidenced in their beautiful and decadent pastries and breads. I brought my mom in the other day for her birthday to enjoy some pastries and coffee and we both loved everything. I ordered the mouth-watering Fougasse, a flatbread with an oblong shape layered with gruyere, cheddar, ham and bacon crumbles. What a treat! The chocolate mousse is pure decadence with rich chocolate peaks that are infinitely airy, creamy and fluffy. This ultra-luxe dessert is garnished with ribbons of dark chocolate, raspberries and crowned with a baby French macaron. There's a surprise spongy chocolate cake at the bottom for more chocolately indulgence. The almond croissant is very heavenly with a rich French almond cream filling, roasted almond topping and baked to a beautiful golden brown hue. We are looking forward to returning soon to this wonderful bakery with warm customer-oriented service. Discover the alluring flavors and aromas of this old-world bakery in beautiful Carmel. read more

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First, the hours are till 6 pm, not 7 pm as stated on yelp. My friend and I were disappointed to find the shop closed last week thinking they were open till 7. We tried again today and luckily we got there at 5, unfortunately they were running low on baked goods by the end of the day. What we really wanted to try though were the macaroons. We each got vanilla, lemon, and hazelnut; and my friend got a couple baked goods too. All the sweets were good. The macaroons were slightly fatter than ones I've had at other places, with a chewier consistency. The reason I only gave 2 stars is because of the service. We walked in with 2 people already being served ahead of us. When it was my turn I asked the flavors of the macaroons, the girl proceeded to name off the flavors before we could make it back around the counter to where she and the macaroons were. And when I asked what the bigger heart shaped goods were I got a curt, "they're macaroons", the dismay at her remark must've shown on my face because she slightly lightened up and added "raspberry macaroons". I thought her demeanor was a bit rude but I brushed it off and sat down to enjoy my sweets. A couple came in after we sat down and the same server was suddenly cheery with them, greeting them (I didn't get a welcome when I was being served) and telling them about the happy hour special going on now (again, I wasn't told this). I continued to observe her behavior as 2 more customers came in later, to which she was very friendly compared to how she treated my friend and I. I don't know if she was in a rush when serving me (although there were no customers waiting after us) or if she just wanted the day to be over, but it was a very obvious difference in her service with us. It overshadowed our experience and brought down what would've been a 3-4 star experience to 2 stars. read more

Lafayette Bakery & Cafe - Actual business hours - Bakeries Near Me - Carmel, California

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Rude employees!! They seem to help whoever they want and not who's next in line!!! The employees keep talking about their personal problems and cursing a lot while my child was present.... some older guy didn't even know how to work the register and took forever!!!! The store is very messy and unattended. The fruit tart was very delicious !!! The coffee is trash here, I would recommend walking down to the Carmel valley roasting company for a great cup of REAL coffee read more

Wow! This is an amazing bakery! The bread is nothing like what I have had in the States. I understand the Vial family archive this by importing the flour and butter from France. The pastries are almost too beautiful to eat, but please do! I had lunch with my business partner on Friday, we had the quiche Provincial, it was great, just ask them to warm it. Please give JB and Isabelle a warm Carmel hello, they have worked so hard to open this beautiful place for our community to enjoy! In the Barnyard toward In Shape. read more

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Very cute French style bakery located in the Barnyard. Can get very crowded on weekend mornings and there is limited seating, so be prepared for a wait. Pastries are gorgeous and very tasty, so I highly recommend those. I've also tried a salami baguette sandwich which I would avoid in the future. It was very cold and hard and I overhead the employees say they had just taken them out of the fridge. I will say that prices, though normal for Carmel, are pretty steep, especially for the value. I think the service could be a bit better, it just always feels rushed and cold, unless you're a regular and recognized by employees. read more

Great customer service and great pastries. If you are in Carmel this is definitely a place to visit. I will go back again

Super cute French bakery! And this is legit French! Like french people working the front counters (could be the owners??). The smell walking in is INCREDIBLE. After you smell that you know you're in the right place! I was looking for something a bit more savory, but not necessarily a quiche. I didn't see anything else that would match what I wanted so opted for the almond croissant. I mean, how can you go wrong, right? It was fantastic, as expected! I thought it a little odd when the woman helping me pulled out a box of scattered bags of teas (with different brands) when I asked for the selection. I know pastries and how they're done are the most important here, but since it's a cafe, I would have assumed you'd have a better selection and process for it. read more

Lafayette Bakery & Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Carmel, California

Great little spot! My boyfriend and I visited Lafayette's while we were in town celebrating his birthday. Found this place on Yelp and had to come try their chocolate croissant, raspberry brioche, and cinnamon roll. All were superb! Will definitely be back! read more

Lafayette Bakery & Cafe (LBC) is a great place if you love freshly made baguettes! My dad and i recently visited LBC on a hiking trip to point lobos. Although I had been there before, I hadn't tried their baguettes. If I hadn't tried it, i think that I probably would have given it a 3 star but their baguette and flan patissier have taken it over the top for me. First off when you walk in, it smells like a true parisien boulangerie. Growing up in France, i recall making daily baguette runs for my dad and walking in with my dad really reminded me of this. You can tell they bake bread all day every day!!! Just pure awesomeness. Next they offer something that I had never found in the US. Flan patissier which is probably my favorite "pastry." it's basically baked custard! their flan is very close to authentic! I'd have it everyday if i lived in Carmel! very creamy and smooth, it too reminded me of France. But i think what they really nailed is their French baguette. First off, they aren't all uniformed shape which gives them a little personality of their own. And second, they taste like real french baguettes! nothing like your local safeway but rather your local boulangerie!!! sooo good, the crust is just perfectly crunchy and the white is soft and tender. AMAZEBALLS!!! My dad and i literally devoured ours in a 5 mins and had to buy another one for later! On the downside: Prices are a little pricier. Not too crazy but get ready to pay double for a piece of bread or pastry. Their croissant are just ok. nothing great write about and don't compare to their bread. Their macaron look ok but they are definitely not their specialty. Earlier, i mentioned how their baguette weren't all the same shape and size well same with the macaron however in this case, it does actually matter. Regardless of these small negative, LBC is definitely worth a stop and i know it wont' be my last time there. Bon apetit! read more

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Honestly if I can leave a negative* I would and I would use the B word to the brunette lady at the register.. she seems to hate All. customers.. I asked politely what kind of salami was in one of the sandwiches.. and she responded with (it's just salami) lol and I just brushed that rude comment off and I said ok can I have the ham and cheese sandwich and I just pointed to a particular one that I wanted and she says with rudest voice ever ( there all the same mam!) I looked at my husband and I said is she seriously talking like that to me? She can't be serious right? So we just walked right out of there!! I feel like when brains and patience and gratuity were handed out to this lady she got shorted.. but she sure wasn't shorted on handed out aggression and rudeness.. She stepped right up to the plate! I would rather walk through the gates of hell and I would rather eat dirt off my shoe then a biscuit from her.. no thank you!! don't ever eat here unless you want to be treated like garbage.. read more

Lemon Bichon- Flakey, buttery, perfect amount of citrus. Ordered a second one immediately after consuming the first. It seems like the best time to get there is a half hour after opening. We got there as soon as they opened and we had no line, but they were still bringing out new pastries so we didn't get the full selection. read more

Lafayette Bakery & Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Carmel, California

I have visited Lafayette Bakery and Cafe twice in the last few months. Both times I visited it was early afternoon after shopping and hoping for a cup of coffee and a sweet treat. On both visits one pastry case was completely empty and one pastry case had two to three items on display that looked like they were day old, dry, cracked frosting and one with pudding inside looked dried out on the edges. My Grandchildren were so disappointed that there were no sweet treats available. We went to a different bakery and had a lovely selection of pastries and great coffee. I"m not sure what's up with Lafayette Bakery and Cafe but I would never go back. Not worth it for day old garbage. read more

Came here with my friend the other day close to closing time and was disappointed with the service. The lady behind the counter wasn't even trying to be pleasant but to other customers she was really nice and informative with their specials & what they serve. She seemed like she doesn't enjoy her job and made me feel like I was a burden for even asking her anything. I'm not one to give low ratings but as a person whose worked in customer service, she definitely needs to be retrained. The macaroons were great and so was their white chocolate "fondant" (the lady said it in a mono tone voice when I asked what it was). read more

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Very French pastries. Everything goes by fast so come early as you can. All of them looks really good. Love the vanilla sponge cake read more

Stopped by on a Saturday morning before heading back home after a couple days in Carmel. My husband and I got the mini veggie sandwich, mini prosciutto sandwich, a chocolate decadence bar (I think that's what it was called) and a lemon raspberry pistachio bar. My husband really liked his prosciutto sandwich and lemon raspberry pistachio bar. My veggie sandwich was OK, not sure if I would get it again (although the bread was really good). Chocolate bar was delicious, super rich and I loved the cookie on the bottom! We also got two mochas which were all right. Service was very friendly and helpful and patrons were following social distancing. They have sooooo many choices and the employees are happy to provide recommendations. Would go back if in the area! read more

Came here at 7:30, array of french pastries are overwhelming, got my quiche and lemon bichon, just the right stuff before we head hiking. This is a small, cozy place but watch out for the tall guy helping on this Saturday morning, quiet arrogant and unapologetic. We also ordered our tea and it was very, very hot, to the point where its not enjoyable, we got bored waiting for it to cool. But our latte was just fine, it taste like the milk was overheated. read more

Layout inside is inefficient and fills up fast. Excellent breads, decent coffee, okay on pastries. If you want really good croissants/pastries you go to a patisserie or viennoiserie, not a bakery (e.g., Parker Lusseau/Monterey, Angelica/Sebastopol, B Patisserie/SF vs Acme, Tartine, Semifreddi, et.al.). We have hit all 5 major bakeries/patisseries in the area and Lafayette ranks 2nd in quality/execution. Turkey cheese croissant. The turkey was real turkey breast, not the commercial pressed turkey loaf one gets at delis. But cheese was tasteless, and the croissant just average. There's a faint taste of cultured butter, and the crispness is good. But these are sandwich croissants, not classic Parisian croissants. The first flavor is of salt, and although the interior texture is soft it has only a few flaky layers. It leans towards the brioche side, rather than the fragile, airy Parisian croissant of Parker-Lusseau. Ham-bacon Quiche. Some positives: it's at least an inch larger across than the Parker-Lusseau quiche; custard texture is ideal; cheese is okay and crust has a nice flaky texture. Cons made it a draw: custard is less rich-tasting; bacon makes it too salty. The crust is very, very thin on the bottom. This means it will soften quickly as it sits, losing that delicate texture. Get it warmed. It's second only to the Parker-Lusseau quiches. Chocolate cream puff. Three-bite size, bigger than the bigne at Ca'Momi/Napa. The whipped cream filling was chocolate and a nice heavy cream, but the paté a choux was heavier in texture than Ca'Momi. The chocolate glaze was thicker than it needed to be, but although sweet it wasn't sickeningly so, as some profiteroles/eclairs can be. Apple Custard Danish. A step up from most bakery Danish, although still a level below Parker-Lusseau's apple galette. The pastry dough was too sweet and teetered on the line between "tender" and "mushy". But the custard was good. The apples, sliced thick and chunked, then cooked, weren't oversweetened. It was good, but not exceptional. Cappuccino. Not a great blend but nice and strong. Lafayette Bakery is definitely a bakery, not a patisserie. However, it's a full level above most bakeries trying to be a pastry shop. We would recommend Lafayette as a good value café - not the best, but better than many. But stick to picking up a couple of baguettes or a loaf, or noshing on a warm quiche. That's where their strength lies. read more

If I could give this place more than 5 stars, I would! Pascale, who we think is the owner, is awesome. She was so patient with us as we ordered a whole bunch of things. It all looked so good we couldn't decide and just ordered a whole bunch! When we finished we asked her if we should order anything else and she recommended some chocolate muffin-like things. We sat down to eat an almond croissant, a blueberry tartlet, macarons, and lattes. It was perfect - that almond croissant was pure heaven and as good as anything we have ever had in Paris. The only downside was that we wished we had had room for the quiches too! We are looking forward to the sandwiches and baguette we bought for later eating. Mom says you could do a whole foodie tour just in this place! Carmel is quite the drive from my new digs in Seal Beach, but this is worth it and I will come back! read more

Lafayette Bakery & Cafe - Pastries galore: macarons, tarts, I want it all! - Bakeries Near Me - Carmel, California

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With a gloomy cloud over my head on this trip, my friends brought me here to enjoy fresh, warm pastry. It was the early bird hours on a weekday, and we were greeted with kind smiles and french hellos. Each of us pointed through the glass at all the bread and pastry, and we also grabbed a piece of quiche. THE quiche. I had my dog with me, so we sat outside in the lovely secret garden area. The server even brought out our coffee, and even some water for my dog. So kind! Each piece of pastry was brought out, and the quiche was warmed up. Pure heaven really, each bite of the quiche had a buttery finish, leaving you wanting so much more, it was hard to share! Must indulge in my own slice next time. The pastry didn't disappoint; the sunny side up apricot and the basic sugary dough of the other. Nothing like a full and happy belly! read more

Lafayette Bakery & Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Carmel, California

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I ordered a cup of cappuccino, a sweet baguette & an almond croissant to go, since this small place was so packed with holiday tourists. The line was a bit long, since obviously those three French ladies were so busy to take care of the previous sitting clients' needs. After 5-10 min standing there waiting, one lady told me the croissant (also the last one) was a little bit over-baked, since I was so in the mood of it and willing to buy it anyway, she was so nice that just gave it for free to me :-P this made really my day; I can tell by my experience that they cared about the service/ food quality a lot, great business attitude that earn their reputation. I will drop-by next time for sure on my SR-1 road trip. Highly recommended. read more

Lafayette Bakery & Cafe - Almond croissant! So good!! - Bakeries Near Me - Carmel, California

While waiting for a table from the restaurant "From Scratch" my friend and i decided to try this place to get some snacks since we were really hungry. The place is really cute. They have lots of pastries and sweets. We got the rasberry Lunette and chocolate almond gaga to go (was really yummy except the Lunette was on the sweeter side). We also got the prosciutto & cheese croissant (very cheesy) and a quiche (quite creamy). The staff is nice. There was a gentlemen in front that seems like a repeat customer, the person behind the counter greeted him by first name which is refreshing. Would recommend :) read more

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