Machine Shop

This was a really cute cafe with a good amount of seating and plenty of beverages to choose from…read more There's a little something for everyone, even caffeine averse people like me. They have really intriguing flavor combos you won't find anywhere else, as a lot of their special seasonal flavors are inspired by Chinese floral teas. You won't get that any other modern coffee place, no matter how sophisticated they are. I'd love a location in NYC, but some gems are best where they are. It gives me a reason to come back!

Incredible dessert shop serving craft mousse, cakes, lattes and matcha. I dined in and tried the…read moreearl grey mousse with raspberry ice cream. The textures were incredible, it was light but decadent, soft yet crunchy, a truly perfect dessert. I also tried a berry chocolate cake and it was delicious. The strawberry matcha was good but nothing special. The space inside to eat was on the smaller side, but there was plenty of seating available. Table service menu is $1 more expensive than take out. Worth it for the plating.

1.2 mi•Washington Square West, Society Hill

Polar Bear

Tangerine Cheesescake

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Earl Grey Cyclone & iced tiramisu latte

The Sweet Life Bakeshop

4.8(417 reviews)

I thought I'd written a review about this place before but to my shock I had not…read more I have been coming here since the day they opened, infrequently beacuse I am diabetic but when I want to spoil my body with delicious sugar, honey, this is *IT*. Now I could tell you all about how perfectly tasty everything is. From the classic banana puddings (I prefer the caramel version myself,) to the cookies, to the pineapple upside-down mini cakes. Yes, I could tell you that. But I want to speak to something deeper. I want to speak to belonging and community; and to fairness. As a biracial person with a brown sister, I feel the pull to support black and brown businesses. It's not a secret. And sometimes you do it, and sometimes you privately think "Damn. I wanna be supportive but this place is a mess." Then there's Sweet Life. NOT that. FILLED with good product at a great price, delivered by owners and staff who actually give a damn about being loving and supportive to all different types of people. And did I mention the sweets are POPPIN'? And to that statement of fairness. Today I came in to place an order, and when the price came up, for a moment I thought "Damn. That is a lot higher than I remembered, but I am not about to question them. They set the price and that price is what they deserve." So I paid. But then I noticed there was more in my bag that I'd asked for, and that there had been a miscommunication. When I tell you that this miscommunication was corrected with swiftness *AND* a smile. No shade. No drama. Just an "Ooops, oh well, here's your refund on the balance." I know this seems very basic but we all know it isn't. We have all been in that awkward situation where as a customer we have to point out an error, and the vendor turns it into a Shakespearan tragedy. Not Sweet Life. "Oops. Sorry! Fixed. Love you." So, to recap: Stunningly delicious sweets. Prices fair as hell. Communicative, inclusive staff doing the right thing. You need to take those money dollers and haul your ass over here TODAY. Now...where did I put my insulin pen?

As yall can probably see I am a loyal fan to this place and the fact that they were closed for so…read morelong really broke my heart. BUT I AM SO HAPPY TO REPORT THEY ARE BACK OPEN AND TASTE JUST AS GOOD! Go support this business so they don't have to worry about the doors closing again.

Exterior

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Original Banana Pudding

Beiler's Bakery

4.6(1.7k reviews)

2.0 mi•Market East

Beiler's was an absolute MUST while visiting Philly, and they did not disappoint! Located inside…read moreReading Terminal Market, there are so many insane flavors to choose from that deciding what to order might be the hardest part. I ended up getting a half dozen to enjoy over the weekend. The blueberry fritter may have been my favorite! The donuts are HUGE, fresh, soft, and absolutely loaded with fillings and toppings. These are not your average donuts -- they are next-level. There was a line, but it moved quickly and was 100% worth the wait. EPIC donuts. No notes.

Calling all donut and coffee lovers!!!!!!!…read more Hand made. 30 year institution at Reading Terminal!! Best Value: get half a dozen and thank me later. Unless you can pull off a dozen! APPLE FRITTER BLUEBERRY FRITTER WOW!!!!!! Deeeeeeelish!!!! Get. In. To. My. Belly. Glorious. Bring your patience. Line can be long. Your inner fat kid will approve. YOLO. Now carb up and run a marathon haha carbo load. Coffee. Black. Yummmm!! Pro Tip. 2-HOUR DISCOUNTED PARKING With $10 Market Purchase & Merchant Validation $6 - 11th & Arch St. @Hilton Garden Inn Garage $7 - 12th & Filbert St. @Parkway Garage

Cinnamon roll

Maple Bacon

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I don't know what this is but I'd eat ALL of it

Bread Top House

4.2(184 reviews)

I visited Bread Top House during a weekend trip to Philly's Chinatown neighborhood and had the…read moreabsolute best pastries! There's a large selection of treats as well as a coffee menu. I got the egg tart on recommendation as well as a cheese pastry, pandan cake and red bean moon cake and everything was delicious! The cheese pastry had the softest exterior with a warm cheese filling that was savory but light at the same time. The moon cake was very rich and perfect for sharing! The pandan cake and egg tart were perfectly not-too-sweet, which is why I personally tend to gravitate towards Asian baked goods. It's a smaller but very cozy and homey interior with two tables for sitting down to enjoy your coffee and pastries. It's also cash only or Venmo, so keep that in mind if you never carry cash! I look forward to visiting again and trying more items!

Napoleon was 1/10. Tasted stale and the mousse wasn't good. The outside layers weren't crispy…read more Wintermelon mooncake was 4/10. Pretty sweet, and personally I would've liked more shell. The filling was packed to the max. Feels like a mom-and-pop bakery where you tell them what you want and they grab it for you instead of having you walk around with a basket picking everything out. Definitely gives that old-school bakery feel.

Green and Red bean mooncakes

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Red bean mooncake

Matcha Panda Cafe

4.4(276 reviews)

I love matcha at matcha panda - it is the best place in Philly for matcha! My favorite drink is…read morethe mango matcha but they are all good! The cream puffs are great too!

Best matcha in the city! The soft serve and cheesecake are delicious too. I come here at least 3x a…read moremonth with my friends. Definitely recommend!

Roasted Oolong with Matcha Cloud

Matcha ice cream ($7)

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Panda Snack Cup Series w/ Roasted Green Tea Gelato. Fresh Red Bean, Jasmine Tea Jello, Boba pearls, and Crispy flakes

KC's Pastries

3.9(211 reviews)

2.0 mi•Chinatown

I stopped by this hole in the wall, little gem of a bakery, a handful of times to pick up some…read morepastries for snacks. The owners are always there, super friendly, family owned bakery. Their pastries are also top quality! So fluffy and soft, good flavor. Love stopping by here when I get the chance.

This is a small gem in Chinatown. It's one of those 'if you know, you know' kind of spots…read more Unassuming, small in size, and easy to walk past. BUT! this little gem serves such a variety of pastries, it's super easy to get overwhelmed by the choices. My absolute favorite here is this braided bread situation that has raisins, a few coconut flakes, and small spots of pineapple or apricot dashed throughout the braid. It has a buttery coating, and I love it warmed up with a cup of tea or straight out of the packaging. I also love their cream buns (like a huge bun, sliced down the middle and filled to the brim with light fluffy cream). They also serve moon cakes and other things, but I'm a creature of habit and usually get the same braided bread situation I just gushed about. My sons usually get a slice of cake. The service is quick and friendly. There are usually two women who bag your order and take your cash or card.

1.6 mi•Washington Square West

My absolute favorite.

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J'aime French Bakery

4.6(472 reviews)

I'm glad I stopped by here. Came here for a weekend trip. I decided to take a pause on my strict…read moreketo diet for this trip so I wanted to make sure I had some fine pastries in my tummy. Place was nice and bright. Plenty of seating. So many things looked tasty but I got two pain aux raisins, an eclair, a merveilleux, and 4 mini choux pastries (2 for $1). The total came to $24. Pain aux raisin was good but not the best I've ever had. Would have liked them to be slightly thicker and crispier. Plenty of raisins though. Crème pâtissière was fantastic. Eclair was thin and dainty. I got this for my son as a safe bet. I tried a piece and I was so delighted to find it was filled with a chocolate pudding type of filling. The mini choux pastries were an impulse buy. I got enough for everyone in the car ride home to try. Delicious and delicate one bite treat. The merveilleux was a blind buy. Read a review that raved about it so I gave it a try. I didn't even know what to expect. It's crispy meringue covered in cream and crushed speculoos cookies. It's so heavenly! 2/3 of us liked the merveilleux the best and one of us liked the pain aux raisin the best. Come here if you're looking for something really special

I was craving, deeply craving, a Jambon Beurre. And I needed a really good French baguette to pull…read moreit off. This bakery is way too close to a convenient PATCO stop en route to work. I stopped in around 8 AM and their pastries were FRESH. The baguette was still warm to the touch. Swoon. That night, we sliced the baguette open, slathered it generously with European salted butter and slabs of imported ham as well as good quality cheese. It hit the spot. I do take my carbs seriously.

GÂTEAU À L'HUILE D'OLIVE

Apple tart in the foreground, but the highlight is the merveilleux!

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La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe

5.0(1 review)

1.9 mi•Market East

New place I was…read morepassing by one day and they were handing out samples, the sample was so delicious that today I decided to give it a try I ordered a Turkey sandwich with goat cheese and other ingredients and it was delicious and also the customer service was outstanding. The lady that was helping me her name was Angelique and she asked me if I had a septa key card and with that card she was able to give me a discount and with that I will definitely be back.

Paris Baguette

4.1(181 reviews)

2.0 mi•Chinatown

Easy to find in Chinatown. They provide a tray, and you walk down several display cases and pick…read morewhich you'd like using provided individual tongs. Choose from an array of pastries, desserts and sandwiches and cold, bottled drinks. I treated myself to a chocolate croissant, which was fat and chocolatey and went straight to my hips without a detour, thank you very much. Continue on to the cash register to pay for your goods. Take a look at your receipt to get the bathroom code. Wifi is available if you are hanging out for a bit.

I ordered a latte, and while I was waiting, six customers were served before me. When I asked the…read morebarista a question, he answered very rudely, without the slightest apology. I hope your team focuses on improving customer service when hiring new staff.

Pastries

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Prince Tea House

4.4(327 reviews)

Nicely decorated tea house inside with a menu full of various beverages and assorted bites…read more Ordering is done only electronically on their site, so you can customize as you wish. The tea itself was hot and tasty. Tried the tropical oolong. A nice pot to share, and you are given a small sugar bowl as well if needed. Good flavor and stayed hot with the burner stand. Cup, saucer, and spoon all showing signs of heavy wear. The food and service was not as nice and far more average than expected. Was deciding between salmon or turkey sandwich, ended up ordering the salmon. However, the Turkey club sandwich was what I got and unfortunately nobody came back to check on us either way. It was still okay not a huge issue, though the sandwich itself was a bit of a letdown. Average quality bread and lunch meat, and the salad was browning. Felt like it's a bit downhill than expected.

Ended up having my baby shower here. It is a gorgeous venue that I highly recommend checking out…read more They blocked off a little corner for us since the guest list wasn't too big. They did a good job of bringing all the teas in a timely fashion. We tried the Rose Lover tea, Matcha Green Tea, and the Prince Passion Fruit Tea. I started by really liking the rose lover tea. It was a milky tea that had a rosy taste to it. After a while; however, I felt like it was too sweet. For our main apps we had twister fries which were pretty basic. We also had the fried shrimp lollipops which were very tasty. The place offered us a collection of tea sandwiches and scones and macarons. Overall, my guests didn't leave hungry. We also ordered a mango Mille crepe cake. It was cutely decorated. They put pieces of mango on top of it. The cake was a bit too sweet for my liking, however.

Lounging area

Hot jasmine tea

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Geisha green tea, Goddess of Mercy oolong

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Celine W.

Elite 23

112

255

3 years ago

I recently visited Machine Shop again and unfortunately, my experience this time was far from satisfactory. Having enjoyed a delicious and perfectly seasoned jammy egg with mushrooms and gouda on a previous visit, I was excited to indulge in this delightful combination once more. However, this time around, I was met with disappointment. To begin with, the most noticeable issue was the preparation of the jammy egg. While on my previous visit, the egg was runny and flawlessly seasoned, this time it was fully cooked and lacked the desired consistency. The top layer of the egg had an unpleasant rubbery texture, making it almost impossible to enjoy. In fact, I found it to be completely inedible. It was disheartening to see such a decline in quality. One possible explanation for this decline could be the noticeably longer line and higher volume of customers during my recent visit. It seems that the increased demand might have impacted the kitchen's ability to maintain their usual standards. The quality of the food suffered as a result, leaving me questioning whether Machine Shop is able to handle such high volumes without compromising on taste and texture. On a positive note, the availability of seating was ample, and I didn't have to wait for a table. The restaurant provides both indoor and outdoor seating options, which is a nice touch. Despite the disappointment with the food, I appreciate that the establishment still offers a comfortable and inviting space to dine. read more

Debs M.

3 years ago

This place is terribly disorganized. There's no real signage to let you know what is where and how to order. Maybe that's because there's nothing to order? No real menus anywhere and empty cases. It's 12:30. I walked 50 minutes to get here for nothing. Manage your pars better. If you're open until 2, you should have food to serve until 2. Recommendation: : close down and find a new line of business. You don't know what you're doing read more

Germaine F.

3 years ago

The Machine Shop is an extraordinary bakery that offers unique savory delicacies along with classic breads and pastries. Everything is baked with top of the line ingredients by acclaimed chef Emily Riddell. She has created a cool, cozy environment that has become a favorite destination for locals. Order early because they sell out! read more

Art C.

217

3 years ago

I'm in heaven! So good!!! Had to try this place out. She is considered one of the top chefs in the country. Love it!!!

James B.

Elite 9

165

475

160

6 months ago

Lovely! Can't say a bad thing about this place. What a great place! Just so great. Wow.

Machine Shop - desserts - Updated September 2026

People who viewed Machine Shop also viewed

Isgro Pastries

4.3

(640 reviews)

Delicious cookies, cannolis and chocolate cake! We came in on Sunday afternoon and there wasn't too…read moremuch of a wait. The shop is really nice - large display case of all the goodies. They have great looking fruit tarts as well.

Came here because my friend wanted to try their cannoli. We were intrigued by the other pastries in…read morethe shop so decided to browse a bit before ordering. They have a sign saying everyone has to get a ticket number. It gets confusing when previous people didn't take or we're going out of order because some of us are still deciding or some people are picking up orders instead of buying on the spot. I think it's an Italian bakery thing to sell baked goods by the pound. I don't like how their menu is posted way far back on the wall behind the counter. If I didn't look online beforehand, I wouldn't have an idea of what to do. Well we still didn't. Since we wanted to get a cannoli and some cookies, we asked the staff whether we need to buy a whole pound/box. He said we don't if we just want a few. He didn't say and we didn't ask how exactly we'll be charged. We ended up getting four cookies: pignoli, almond macaron, old fashion italian, chocolate drop For the cannoli, the menu shows different options but I didn't get questions when I just asked for "a cannoli" which is a good thing. We ended up getting the original one with ricotta. We got charged $6 in total for all the items. Honestly we still don't know how their math works because the transaction was rung up as "cannoli $6". They have a surcharge if you pay by card. We paid in cash and it felt fine with the nice round numbers. Also it seemed quite common for people to pay cash at this spot. The cannoli was pretty good. They pipe it fresh on the spot, and you can taste the difference with a crunchy shell. I'm not sure what's authentic in terms of shell thickness and texture, but I personally would like a thinner shell. The filling wasn't too sweet even after the powdered sugar. The cookies were more fun to browse than to eat. All of them were too sweet and had extracts that I didn't like. If I picked my favorite, pignoli and almond macaron are close. Pignoli is sweeter but has nice texture with the pine nuts on the outside. Almond macaroon is strong in almond extract but less sweet and has a slight chew to it.

Seaforest Bakeshop

4.4

(32 reviews)

Seaforest Bakery is such a cute small Korean-inspired bakery in the South Philly area. It's…read morehonestly really exciting seeing more Korean-inspired cafes and bakeries pop up around the city. I tried the gochujang scallion bun along with the banana matcha, and I enjoyed both of them. The flavors felt unique and different from the typical cafe menu you usually see around Philly. I will say it's definitely on the pricier side though, I paid almost $20 just for those two items. However, I still would come back because I did genuinely enjoy what I got and I'm interested in trying more of their pastries and drinks next time. The cafe itself is also much smaller, so I wouldn't really consider it the ideal place to sit and hang out with friends for a long time. It feels more like a quick stop for coffee and pastries, but still a really nice addition to the area.

2.5 rounded up…read more Whimsy decor with cute knicknacks around Line can be long they move VERY slowly. Cashier was cold (or I guess it's Philly so what can I expect, but the cute decor didn't line up with the vibe so I got cognitive dissonance) Music too loud and not in a coherent vibe so one second you'll have hiphop the next it's ballad. 3 seats inside Signs are very hard to read because they are arranged in a weird way and not lined up, you kinda have to stare at them for a while (is this intentional? Who knows) Food wise: it's fun, creative, and overpriced. for a place without seats, charging $5 for 1 cookie and $10 for 1 roll seemed high to me. Their signature fun drink (matcha banana milk) was forgettable (too banana-y, matcha was muted). It was fun for a one time thing but I probably will not bring visitors here nor coming back

Aroma Bakery

4.7

(13 reviews)

The prettiest pastries in town! And so delicious as well. Everything we have tried so far has been…read morenothing short of amazing. We got the Rose Strawberry, Lavender Berry and Pistachio Eclair to go. Anything rose and I have to have it - same with lavender and pistachio but there is just something about roses. These pastries tasted exactly as advertised! I am so surprised this place hasn't blown up yet. Instead there are overhyped bakeries that charge twice as much and deliver much inferior pastries.

I came here after seeing an instagram story about the cute dessert that they make. It occupies the…read morelocation where Oui used to be. Small cafe with some seatings. The dessert is so inviting and beautiful, looks like real fruit I picked mango, orange, and raspberry. My favorite is mango. It has good amount of real mango puree. All of them are mousse based and not too sweet. Definitely worth to check out if you're in Old city area.

Little Susie's Coffee & Pie

4.3

(51 reviews)

I'd take a picture bust as soon as I bit into it I finished it before thinking. The cute little…read morepocket sized pastry is as delicious as it gets. With REAL fruit. The pastry puff and glaze was perfect bite and melted in your mouth after that first crunch into it. The blueberries were a bit runny because it was so juicy and plump. I slurped up the juice running down my hand and ate it all up before I thought oh yeah a picture. Well thank you to the coworker who brought them in for group and had leftovers to share. Now I want to try the cherry one but I guess I have to share

Woke up with the sun and arrived close to their early opening hours which sets them apart from the…read moretypical 8am . Very friendly person working at the window order station. Fresh fruit and not canned fruit was promised. Will find out tomorrow when we enjoy in Atlanta!

Second Daughter Baking

4.5

(24 reviews)

BEST BLT I'VE EVER HAD…read more Visited at 9:40 AM on a Saturday and there was a long line but it moved fast. BLTs started at 10, so our timing was actually perfect. The BLT is seasonal, but I'd return to try the breakfast sandwich, which is usually what they have instead. Brown butter chocolate chip jawn was also great. Definitely want to try more pastries next time too. But yeah, the BLT is incredible.

Vibes: earthy, friendly, artisan; small lounge-Ryle seating with small tables available…read more Tasting notes: - Maple-glazed doughnut: fantastically pillowy with a uniform, fragrant glaze - Nutella babka bun: deeply dark chocolatey with a hint of nuttiness; dough is fluffy, thick with filling - Breakfast sandwich with egg and cheese: foccacia is airy, herby and salty; scrambled egg is just cheesy enough to feel indulgent; generous portion for one person Other thoughts: - One party taken at a time with friendly service to answer all your questions - Breakfast sandwich was brought out after about 15 minutes - Weekend line can be long, we waited about 15 minutes on a Saturday morning Impression: One of the top bakeries in Philadelphia! Cannot wait to come back!

Darnel’s Cakes

4.4

(16 reviews)

They make the perfect breakfast sandwich -- three cheese blend, well-seasoned egg, choice of meat…read more(I had turkey sausage), with a house sauce on a hot, flakey, fluffy biscuit. No notes. Absolutely perfect. Please be aware that this place is hard to find. It has a Spring Garden address, but it's actually in the lobby of an office building that you get to from N. 3rd Street. Also, all of the parking spaces in the lot seem to be numbered/reserved, so park wisely.

Cozy place located in the lobby of 4444. I tried the breakfast sandwich on a biscuit with scrambled…read moreegg and Thai shallot aioli. It was absolutely delicious and probably the best breakfast sandwich I've had in Philly. The biscuits are fresh, made daily, crisp and flaky. The egg wasn't too oily and the cheese was a nice blend. It paired perfectly with the aioli. Service was helpful and friendly. I'll be back to try the cakes and other baked goods.

The Bakeshop on Twentieth

4.5

(472 reviews)

Cute, quaint bake shop that offered all the sweet treats I needed after a recent lunch. I opted for…read morethe Jewish apple cake (that I later realized had just been made and was still warm). A deliciously husky slice was prepared for me and I devoured it. My husband asked for a recommendation and was directed to the blackberry almond turnover. Almondy, flaky goodness. Baked goods, coffee, outdoor seating. Perfection.

I lived on Rittenhouse Square for a year, and that's when I discovered The Bakeshop, it was a 5…read moreminute walk. I was pleasantly surprised to find such a wonderful bakery so close by. I tried many pastries, but my favorite is still the chocolate babka bun. When I went to The Bakeshop recently, it was in the afternoon and they had sold out of the chocolate babka buns, so I got an orange babka bun with chocolate chips, hoping it would suffice. It didn't, but I'll come back to that. I got a few more items, a double chocolate banana muffin, a peanut butter chocolate scone, and a slice of apple cake. I felt I couldn't write a review without including the chocolate babka bun, so I went back two days later (9 a.m.) and picked one up - while I was there, I got a sticky bun with nuts (which had also sold out) and a plain croissant. Now, I have all these pastries! Let's start with chocolate babka bun, it's easily in the top 5 of my all time favorite pastries. I'm a babka fanatic of sorts - I usually always have a babka in my cupboard and/or freezer. I like them all - from a classic like Russ and Daughters (NYC) which is like a loaf of bread with a little chocolate. Or, the Nutella ganache filled babka at Bread's, which is more like a pastry. The Bakeshop's chocolate babka is somewhere in between - the chocolate glaze and sweet crunch of the bun's exterior, compliments a light and fluffy interior that has chocolate swirls running through it. It truly is an amazing bun! When I first went, as I mentioned above, I got the Orange glazed babka with chocolate chips. This babka was VERY different (as you'll see in the pictures) than the chocolate babka. It was more like a challah with a little orange glaze and a few chocolate chips. The glaze on top was very scarce and there was no swirl inside - just challah bun. Luckily, I like challah, and this bun was a sweeter version, with a hint of orange. I was looking at the scones (which you'll also see in the pictures) and they all looked good - The Bakeshop has some very creative flavors! I was deciding between the Chunky Monkey and the Peanut Butter Chocolate scones, and went with the PBC. It was very tasty, chocolaty with little peanut crunches throughout. I saw an Apple Cake there, and immediately knew what it was, as my mother made the BEST apple cake. I got a slice, knowing the Bakeshop had a high hurdle to meet. Unfortunately, it failed coming close. While the cake itself tasted good, it was way too dense, to the point of being soggy in places. Apple cakes are very moist, that's what makes them so special, but, they're still 'cakes'. I got the Double Chocolate Banana muffin - mostly chocolate with a hint of banana. This is a very dense muffin....very, very chocolaty! I like chocolate, but this was probably a little more than I expected. It was very flavorful and I liked it, but would try something else in the future. The Sticky Bun!! I'm also a sticky bun fanatic - they looked so good on my return visit, I had to get one, and I'm so glad I did! There is always a balance between the amount of dough and 'frosting and swirl' - you don't want too much of either. This bun was balanced perfectly and the cinnamon sugar glaze and swirl throughout was so luscious! It's a must try. Last, but definitely not least, was the plain croissant. After such an assortment above of sweet and decadent pastries, I wanted to see how their croissant was. Sometimes 'less is more', I wanted a plain classic pastry and this croissant was exactly what you would expect from a great bakery. Light, flaky, buttery, and delicious. Well, this was quite a line up of goodies! The Bakeshop is undoubtedly one of the best bakeries in Philadelphia. When (not if) you go, the chocolate babka bun is a MUST, but requires a pickup before 10 or 11 at the latest!

A La Mousse

4.4

(876 reviews)