Holy Snit! This longstanding Danish bakery freshly bakes "some of the best pastries from a Scandinavian point of view" according to Seattle local Blake P. I ordered a delicious snitter which is a heavenly combination of sugar, butter, and flour. Bring home a Kringle for the whole fam! read more

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Needed to pick up a quick breakfast for 6. Did a Yelp search and found this bakery (didn't want to get doughnuts) nearby. Got a 1/2 mixed Fruit Danishes (they were perfect which they should be since this is there signature item) 2 monster cookies (good), a Russian tea cake (for me - it was the best I've had in a long time) and a ginger shortbread cookie (also excellent). The gal who helped me was super sweet and patient and explained all their items for me and didn't rush me. Seemed like $25 was a little high for all of this but everyone enjoyed! read more

Heavy yet light at the same time! Their potato custard/creme is heavy because they don't skimp out. Every bite has custard fill goodness. Its light because its not overly sweet like most cream/custard out there. Overall, amazing!!! read more

Nielsen's Pastries - Potato - Bakeries Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Lovely pastries. Unfortunately, my experience was tainted when I discovered a piece of blonde hair baked into the pastry....

Favorite bakery in Seattle, no contest. This place has the most amazing pastries! The snitter is probably our favorite, but the savory pastries are really yummy, too. We had a great experience getting their baking kit and breakfast kit delivered a few weeks ago, everything arrived nicely packaged and right on schedule. Can't wait to return! read more

So good! A very cute shop with a good variety of treats. I tried the snitter several weeks ago and keep thinking about it--I'll be back soon! Coffee is also delicious. read more

I was first introduced to a famous Nielsen marzipan cake back in the late 1990s by a friend. Ever since then, my family comes here at least once a year for their delicious cakes or pastries. Then last week they did something very special for me last week. I knew a very sweet neighbor of mine who has lived a great long life full of adventure accepted hospice care a few months ago. Last week her daughter told me sadly that she seems to be coming to at the end of her time here. Most of the older people I know when they come to the end of their life may not eat a bunch, but tend to love the sweets. I thought what wouldn't be better than a delicious marzipan cake?? Her family did not think I had much time so I emailed the owner, Holly, and asked if she had any ready-made cakes available. She did not but after a brief email conversation, she had one ready for me in no time at all! I brought the beautiful cake over to my neighbor and we all shared a slice with her family. It is a very special memory, and my neighbor's family was very grateful. Thank you for all you do and bringing joy to the community. read more

The food here is amazing, but the coffee is horrible. I always get a 12oz iced latte (for the taste, too much milk is disgusting) and not once have they given my drink in a 12oz cup. They take a 16oz and fill it almost all the way with milk and then add the espresso shots. I can't even taste the coffee I'm basically drinking coffee flavored milk. I get 12oz for a reason, and they say they have to use the 16oz cups (even though the 12oz is sitting right next to them) because the 12oz cups stick together.....so maybe find a new brand of cups that don't suck?? Just a thought. read more

I love the Russian tea cakes and the shortbread cookies here. The chocolate shortbread and tithe almond shortbread specifically. I was really looking forward to trying the princess cake, but it was only okay. The marzipan is very sweet, which marzipan usually is. The inside layers were kind of soggy, probably because of the jam, and pretty tasteless. The cake was also a bit crumbly, maybe it had been left out too long? Overall, not a fan of their princess cake. My friend got their chocolate shop oatmeal cookie and their double chocolate cookie. Both ver very bland and hard. I would stick to the Russian tea cakes and shortbread cookies! read more

Delicious coffee cakes and coffee. Super friendly staff. Love that they are around! They change their coffee cake selection every morning.

Cinnamon Danish was awesome!!! Soft and chewy. Although, I have to say, I kind of expected more crunch/crisp like a croissant, so the softness/chewiness threw me off a little. Still really good nonetheless! Really cute place too :) read more

Nielsen's Pastries - Cinnamon danish!! $2.75 - Bakeries Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Hidden neighborhood gem. It is not the most obvious place to find, but once you are inside, amazing smell welcomes you. I find it very adorable to see elderly regulars enjoying their coffee/pastries on weekend. This place was opened in 1965, and their pastries is definitely a top notch. I love their danishes!! Both pecan and sesame danishes are amazing especially paired with their zoka coffee. However, my favorite pastry from this place is apple kringle. Sweet and sticky and just yum! The only unsatisfying experience from this cafe was sandwich. They were okay but not great. I have only tried their egg salad sandwich but i would recommend sticking to pastries since they are amazing at those. read more

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This couple run and friend supported bakery is charming, genuine, and kick ass! I feel comfortable and relaxed every time I stop in, and have tried most all of their pastries and regret none of the inches my waist line has gained. Kringles, Snitters, and Finnish Shortbread cookie for the win! read more

Nielsen's Pastries - Apple Kringle & Olympia drip - Bakeries Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Wonderful service and the pastries are to die for! We loved the danishes and the "potato" from the cold case the best. The cardamom loaf is a must-get too! read more

This place is a bit different than just a coffee shop, or just a bakery/pastry shop. Evaluating them on the one visit I had seems like a troublesome way to write a review - But, here goes. Would I sit and stay and drink 2 or 3 coffees and get some work done here? No, it just doesn't have a quiet atmosphere or comfy chairs to get the job done. I'm not sure if they have wifi internet access either; My quick visit was merely to satisfy an espresso and cookie fix. On the merit of the dessert - I ordered two things (during the week-day happy hour, which was awesome.) I was able to get some russian tea cookies as my 'free pastry' - which were light and not too sweet; I enjoyed them. I also picked up one of the Sarah Bernhardt desserts - sort of a combination of a cookie covered in mousse - all covered in chocolate. Overall, the sweets were decent - I don't think I'll order either of those items again, but they were good in their own right. The espresso was decent - I ordered an amiercano that turned out alright. Nothing blew my mind about it, but it went well with the snack. So, yeah, worth a visit, but I think I'll try what appear to be the more popular pastries next time I go - the Kringle and the Snitter. read more

Nielsen's Pastries - Sarah Bernhardt interior - Bakeries Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A cute pastry shop on a quiet side street just off of busy Mercer, they serve an amazingly creamy and nutty Almond Milk Latte and a flaky authentic Danish pastry! Would come here again for their latte, and to get another chance at the plethora of pastry options available! read more

Holy hidden treasure!!! I love this place. Their coffee choice and their pastries are magical. It's a cute local Danish bakery and I've had the pleasure of going a couple times after discovery and it's been so wonderful everytime! read more

This is a wonderful neighborhood bakery with a great selection of pastries, coffees, teas, and light lunch fare. We made two trips to the bakery during our trip to Seattle. The Snitter is a specialty of the bakery - light flaky pastry with cinnamon and cream. We also tried the cinnamon roll, and a blackberry and cream danish. All excellent. The baristas at Nielsen's are also excellent at making coffee drinks. I had the spicy mocha on the first visit (very tasty and mouth tingling on a foggy morning) and a latte on the second visit (best latte I had the whole trip to Seattle). The shop also serves sandwiches and soups, which smelled very good. The shop endeavors to exemplify the Danish concept of hygge, and it does it well. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and comfy. There are several nice chairs and a sofa to sit on, good books lining the shelves, and nice music in the air. Stop in and buy a Snitter, sip a rich latte and enjoy some local grown "hygge". read more

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I go to this place a lot for their lunch foods - soup, sandwiches, etc. Every soup they've had has been filling and savoury - White Bean Basil, Yellow Split Pea, Pumpkin Wild Rice. Yum! I love good soup. The sandwiches aren't super over the top but they go well with the soups and are tasty. Basic staple sandwiches - Egg Salad, Chicken Salad, etc. The Chipotle Chicken has a little 'kick'. The drip coffee is from the Olympia Roasing Co. and is fabulous, especially with a pastry. The fruit/custard pastry and the shortbread cookies are tasty; I would guess every other baked good is just as flavorful. The atmosphere is welcoming and warm - shelves of books, board games, etc. Every person who has waited on me has been great; happy to be there and happy to wait on me. read more

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Well this place is super close to my home and reading all the i line reviews i went in for a couple of pastries the danish pastry was good the spinach and feta was probably average (may be above average ) does have a old school feel. Would go but try something other than spinach feta and cheese. Staff is courteous read more

Delicious kringle: a Christmas favorite! They deliver all the way to California. Love the owners

I used to live very close to Nielsen's and I did everything in my power to forget that it was there. I say that as the utmost compliment because if I didn't forget about it for a few weeks at a time I would be stopping in for shortbread, cinnamon rolls, tea cookies, kringles, you name it, on the daily. My pocket book would be lighter, but that's the only thing that would lose weight. All of the pastries are super delicious. They've got plenty of sweets, but also a few tasty savory ones, too. I'm a huge fan of their Russian tea cookies. They have a nice light dusting of the fluffiest sugar on top and are akin to a really good shortbread, but even better. Other favorites are the semi-sweet savory rolls. They're almost croissants, but not quite that flaky, but stuffed with some brie and a little bit of bacon, that equals "yummers" in my book! Never really had anything bad, just some things that I like more than others just because of personal taste. I'm not usually a huge fan of things with too much fruit or custard, but if you're into that stuff, you'll be delighted at the selection. They also have a cold case of tasty treats that I haven't ventured to try yet, but as I mentioned before, I may have to forget about it for a little bit before I race back to try one of everything to confirm just how delicious each and every item is. The staff is super friendly and helpful to tell you what's different about each of the things in the case so when you stand in front of a wall of pure buttery baked goodness you will know which of the items you're going to love most. With their advice they haven't steered me wrong yet! If you order more than one or two, they package it all up in a nice pink box and tie it up for you. I highly recommend you check out this pastry shop as an alternative to some of the other flashier ones around town, especially if you find yourself in lower Queen Anne. read more

The best pastries in town and great prices plus friendly/patient staff. Would recommend literally anything but the cinnamon custard pastry is my fave- if you get a lot of desserts they give you a pink box that makes you feel like you're in a Wes Anderson film. I like this place and u will too read more

I love this place. Everything looked so delicious, it was hard to decide what to get. After eating a peach danish and a cinnamon roll, I went back for more. The coffee was excellent, too. The atmosphere was very low key and inviting. I'll definitely be back! read more

Thank God I do not live in Seattle! During our 4-day visit, we had coffee and danish here every day! Dangerously good. The apple/almond danish with marzapan melted in my mouth. Hubs got a ham and cheese roll every time. So good. read more

A unique Lower Queen Anne institution full of goodies, Nielsen's is one of my go-to's when I'm in the area. Their cream cheese danishes are some of the best I've ever had and trying one of those is must for everyone who stops in. Their full Kringle and Kringle slices are also pretty awesome and they deserve a spot in the top tier along with danishes. After that the other pastries I've tried (cinnamon rolls, coffee cakes) are still really good but not noticeably different than what you will find at any other coffee shop in town. For danishes and always friendly and welcoming service in LQA, look no further than Nielsen's! read more

Nielsen's Pastries - Bakeries Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This place is everything. Over time I've had the Kringle, Snitter, Napoleon Hat, crescent, and some kind of cream filled pastry. What really makes them special is the almond paste particular to Danish treats, giving the sweetness a nuance that isn't present is treats like cupcakes or cake at your neighborhood bake shop. They have decent coffee, service is always great, and it's a comfy place to sit and hang out. They also have perfectly serviceable sandwiches for lunch. read more

This is probably my favorite bakery in Seattle. The potatoes and everything in the cold case is really good. The danish is great, not too sweet. Most places use too much icing. read more

Pick the incorrect answer to the following: A Potato is: A) a leafy vegetable that ... B) bears no close relationship with the sweet potato... C) yet the English routinely confused the two plants till the 16th century and ... D) formed Society for Prevention of Unwholesome Diet (SPUD) opposing E) the Bavarian cream filled puff pastry with a marzipan shell dusted with cocoa. The correct, or rather incorrect, answer is: D The SPUD's rumored acronymic origin in 19th century England to keep the unhealthy potato out of Britain, is false. It might as well have been intended to keep this amazing Danish pastry (Option E) out of Seattle. I would like to think that the calorie meter exploded when put to the test, and as Garfield once responded with "it's called the calorie" to Jon Arbuckle's lament that there wasn't a metric for taste, this is one of those rare occasions when the fat cats are on to something. My conspiracy theory is that the Danes have always wanted to destroy the English language. Why else would they name a pastry as "Snitter"? A Snitter (stop snickering) as I learned is a cinnamon roll that has been sliced open, flattened out, and baked with a stripe of custard. Such was its popularity, given a magazine review, that on a recent trip, despite my daily visits, I was only able to sample it once. But, then how does one explain the 'Sarah Bernhardt' ("the most famous actress the world has ever known"): chocolate mousse topped meringue cakes or the 'Napolean Hats': almond filled pastries with three cornered hats. Clearly, the Danes either thumb their nose at or laud a variety of European characters and events. A review of history provided perspective. As legend goes, in 1850s Danish bakers went on strike and in their place bakers were brought in from Austria who introduced their own techniques, such as rolling butter between layers of dough before shaping and baking. Resulting in the creation of new pastries such as the Kringle, a pretzel like pastry of layers of flaky, buttery crust filled with almond paste and dusted with sugar or iced. Seattle is indeed fortunate to have a bakery like Nielsen's that serves all these traditional pastries, along with excellent espresso drinks made from Zoka Coffee. A visit to Nielsen's would prove that "Coffee with Danish" doesn't necessarily translate into a stale pot of truck stop brew sitting next to a thick, greasy, jelly-laden pastry. Review dedication: Ron M http://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=6DC0wklyCCirKpglOOCyow for his review that brought Nielsen to my attention, and his unfailing greetings to RoTD winners across the country, all these years. Salud! Note: For aspiring contestants of "Are you smarter than a Fifth Grader?" the leafy vegetable (Option A) refers to leaves of the plant. read more

This place is delicious and the owners are SOOO friendly. We love spending time in here. Always plenty of great options to try something new (although I always get the potato pastry bc it's so delicious and unique) and there's always a very happy vibe every time we go. They have a lot of long time customers that continue coming here and you can just feel it's a very nice atmosphere. Plenty of good books to read if you don't bring anything to do. Free passworded wifi. Lunch as well as desserts. Good seating. Great place to chill for a few hours, or take it to go. read more

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Have you heard about Nielsen's? If you haven't, I'm here to enlighten you (and your tastebuds). You can thank me later. It's a simple little shop, cute and spacious, charming in its own way. Lots of natural light and people watching for those who want to hang for a bit. I'm surprised I've never noticed this place before. It's not hidden, but not flat out flashy either. I heard about Nielsen's because they were featured on "Unique Sweets" (I'm a Food Network junkie). Once I saw this episode I HAD HAD HAD to have this sweet thang called the, "potato". At first I thought I'd go next time I was in the neighborhood. Then there was this gnawing whisper in the back of my mind, "potato, potato, potato" that wouldn't quit. I finally gave up and gave in, and headed to Nielsen's. I excitedly ordered one potato and left. Oh snap! ONE?! I should have ordered the last four in the case and preordered the next 10!! Love at first noms. Seriously. It only takes one bite before twothreefour and done! I tried a few of their other goodies, but this was by far my favorite. If you decide to pig out make sure you keep your leftover treats (this word doesn't exist in my vocabulary) refrigerated or you'll be sorry. Staff is helpful and sweet. read more

If there is one thing that brings me back to this place it is their potato. It's a Bavarian cream filled treat with a marzipan outer shell dusted with cocoa powder. This caloric bomb is definitely my Kryptonite! I don't make it to the bakery as often as I used to which is funny because I live on QA. I know they have been on QA for years now, but I really loved their old Downtown Seattle location off of 3rd & Union. For those that remember, they were located just a few doors down from The Squire Shop. read more

You know, since I started the whole mid-life, reduced carb be healthy so I can grow old enough enjoy a bankrupt social security and medicare system, I hadn't been here in a long while. So, I had yet again a wonderful peach-cream cheese pastry this past weekend and was reminded of the decadence of the Danish... my only sadness is the lack of cherry for my Cherry Danish fetish. Still, the crisp flaky taste of a real Danish can be had here and nowhere else in the Queen Anne experience. read more