We custom-ordered a cake from OWL Bakery for our wedding and it blew everyone's mind! We ordered a brown butter vanilla cake w/rosemary frosting and lemon curd filling. The decorations were dried apple flowers, fresh herbs, and lemon curd. It was a simple yet stunning cake, and everyone still talks about it! OWL Bakery was easy to work with, and the cake was so flavorful, rich, yet still light & tender. Highly recommend! read more

OWL Bakery - Brown butter vanilla base, lemon curd filling, & rosemary swiss meringue buttercream - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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The pastries are very good and the chocolate croissants are above-average. My biggest issue with Owl is that, since I have been going here for the past two years, the prices keep going up, up, up, and the size of the pastries keep getting smaller and smaller. I had to draw the line when I went in to get (4) chocolate croissants (which were noticeably smaller than the prior visit) and it was close to $40 total plus tip. I know everything is expensive in our current economy, but I feel that's an outrageous price for 4 small Croissants. I know tourists and locals will just stomach that price and move on, but, for me, it's just way too much and I had to stop going. read more

We came to Asheville with the intent of coming to Owl Bakery. They have some interesting pastries and breads. I got a cardomon bun very nice but not strong on cardomon but still very flavorful. We also got a great sourdough loaf. read more

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I saw this place on YouTube a while back and bookmarked it, telling myself I'd try it someday. Well, today was finally the day! Of course we had to get the cardamom bun. It was super soft and delicious. I was expecting a little more cardamom flavor, but honestly I'd still eat one every morning with a cup of coffee. They also had fresh bread, so we grabbed a sourdough loaf to take home. I couldn't wait and had to try a slice as soon as we got back...oh yeah, it's the real deal. I already know it's going to be amazing toasted with a little butter this weekend. read more

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Stellar bakes goods and great coffee. That's gonna mean you're busy all the time and they are. Come early, relax over a walnut streudel and a Macha or cappuccino and realize how lucky you are to li e in Asheville... read more

While the service was good and the space beautiful, the pastry disappointed. Overpriced with very little flavor, the Orange Blossom Poppyseed braid is almost &9 but there's not a hint of orange. Part of the pastry had salt on the outside. Cold brew was nice. read more

OWL Bakery - Orange blossom poppyseed braid - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Great pastries and bread. Especially the fruit and custard pastry. Coffee isn't very good. Parking is a challenge. Additional parking available at Jettie Rae's down the block. read more

Burned $10 loaf of bread. Unedible Very disappointed. Tried to call. Message left. Emailed too read more

OWL Bakery - Burned loaf of seeded bread - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

I don't know what else to say, other than OWL - regardless of location - is simply the best. They deliver perfectly made, naturally leavened breads and pastries. They are refined and exquisite but earthy and inviting - not stuffy and pretentious. I always visit when I am in town and there is always a line of guests. I always buy their porridge bread - it makes the best toast - but all of their breads are wonderful. I love their variety of croissants, cookies, danish and occasionally they have their pasteis de nata. They sell good coffee too. Oh and I love their quiche! read more

OWL Bakery - Porridge bread - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Old World Leavened- OWL Bakery is not just a place for good bread and pastries, they have an amazing selection of of beverages as well. We thoroughly enjoy the dirty chai's, with a double shot. We always pick up a country loaf and what ever the daily bread special is. The staff are friendly and ready to help, even with a larger customer volume. read more

OWL Bakery - Menu and Counter - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Not a coffee drinker but the wife is. She needs it to function fully so we swung by here in the morning before a day of thrifting around town. Was SUPER busy Saturday morning but staff were firing on all cylinders. Grabbed a few sweet things that looked really good. My favorite was the beautiful berry creme tart. Wife enjoyed the cookie & chocolate croissant. All priced reasonably too. Parking is tight but they are quick if you are grab & going. Good pastries cant speak to coffee. read more

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My sweet tooth led me to the Owl Bakery. The pastries were excellent & very well made. I also got an Americano with their house made rose cardamom syrup...Yum! The interior is a cute cozy spot perfect for meeting friends or for doing some remote work/ class work. Parking can be a bit of a challenge in the area but trust me, it'll be worth it! read more

OWL Bakery - Amazing pastries! Cardamom bun, almond croissant citrus danish & ham 'n cheese croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Cardamom buns are the best item to get here! They are soft, fluffy, yet also have a decent denseness. They are a mix between a croissant and a cinnamon roll, and the sweetness is very subtle. If you like bread, this will be your favorite bread item. read more

OWL Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

OWL BAKERY IS A REAL HOOT | after visiting the first location in West Asheville during COVID, we stopped at the North Asheville for a coffee and pastry. The parking here is awful - it shares a lot with a rehab center and parking is super limited. Pastries are fantastic - from a classic chocolate or almond croissant to a savory strudel or gougere... always very flaky and buttery. The coffee menu is limited but has everything you could need. I love their orange blossom cappuccino! Get in early to make sure you get to choose from their full display. OWL bakery is definitely my go-to baked good stop in Asheville, either location! read more

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Great fresh breads on a daily rotating special. They make their own coffee syrups and croissants and other pastries. read more

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The pastries are amazing! Literally the BEST. Nice vibe. Would be even cooler if it was dog friendly. read more

OWL Bakery - The fresh blueberry croissant was flaky, flavorful and absolutely delicious! - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Hole in the wall little bakery with delicious coffee. The real kicker was the homemade pastries that made our mouth water just looking at them through the glass. We did not get any as we had just ate breakfast but wish we did! Will definitely be going back for more! read more

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The staff was friendly and helpful. Order at counter and pick up at next counter. All pastry and breads look delicious, hard to choose. I don't think you can go wrong with any decision. read more

So yummy! We stopped here before heading back to the airport after our time at the Omni Grove Park Inn, HIGHLY recommend that hotel!

I've been hearing a lot of good things about this bakery. I wish that I was in the need of a loaf of bread because it seems to be that this is their specialty and all of it looked amazing. I did get a danish which is not my favorite sweet, but it was actually the best one I've ever had in my entire life. I was actually shocked at the flavor. I went the 11th hour so there wasn't very much to choose from. I actually wanted to put a picture in but too late. I ate it all. read more

May have been one of my top five favorite croissants ever! Highly recommend the onion and cheddar croissant. My earl grey tea was loose leafed and lovely. I am happy to report a class act petit déjeuner! Merci!! read more

OWL Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

I really liked this place. My wife and I religiously used to buy the Sesame Spelt bread here when it was only available on Tuesdays I think. Then they expanded it to three days a week, so I thought maybe the rest of the world must have discovered the unique nutty flavor of spelt flour. Then, one day recently, I went in to buy four loaves of Sesame Spelt, so I could freeze some loves for later, and it was gone. It had been replaced by "Sesame Loaf". I was told by a staff member that they had reduced the number of different doughs and had consolidated Sesame Spelt into basically Sesame Whole Wheat; aka Sesame Loaf. I tried one loaf. So disappointing. It's now just whole wheat with sesame seeds on it. If I wanted a whole wheat bread, I could go to Whole foods and save about half the cost. I went to Owl because it's a boutique small bakery. Unfortunately, Owl has decided to take a page out of the corporate bakery handbook and dumb down their offerings to simplify their mix. I worked in the corporate world for my whole career. I certainly understand how simplification can help profits, but when you give up one of your biggest advantages over your competitors (i.e. being a boutique bakery), I think you cut off your nose to spite your face. I went back in there today to see if there was any chance of Sesame Spelt coming back and the staffer told me "no, not as far as I know". I told her to put a big sign in the window saying "Sesame Spelt is back" if it ever comes back, because I won't be going in there anymore to buy my four or five loaves a month and other impulse buys like guava tarts and baguettes. read more

I don't know why I slept on this place for so long. You walk in and the smell just draws you in more. We got a coffee walnut pastry, an almond rose croissant, and a ...I think it was called a morning bun for the kiddo. That almond rose croissant is AMAZING yall. I was not ready! The lady at the front suggested it when I looked lost haha. Eager to come back and try more out :) read more

OWL Bakery - Pastries! - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Arrived on Saturday morning, place was very busy. Stood in line only to find out that there was a very limited selection and the baked items were by my standards expensive. I bought the 4 items pictured and it was $26. All items were very good, however NOT $26 good. read more

OWL Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

10/10 recommend. The cardamom bun was phenomenal. It's so cute. Service is excellent. Can't wait to go back! read more

OWL Bakery - Sweet danish and cardamom bun - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Always excellent service, amazing selection, and a fun ambiance. I get the porridge loaf or the flax raisin loaf every week. I won't buy bread anywhere else, they have ruined me!!! Incredible ingredients and pricing that support livable wages for staff keeps me coming back. Fantastic business model I feel good supporting. read more

A second location for the bakery that established itself in West Asheville, this provides a welcome option for those wanting to stay closer to the city. It has an indoor seating area and a delectable looking spread. My jasmine tea latte delivered both sweet and bitter notes, and a savory strudel a wide mix of flavors. I split a bit of another sweet pastry. Had I a use for it, I certainly would have taken a loaf of bread as well. The pastries are both hearty and beautiful, and for anyone looking for such a bakery within walking distance of downtown, now you have one. read more

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I already reviewed this place before. See below. I went again today and found it just as wonderful if not better than the first time! However, Tuesday mornings can be inordinately busy so best to postpone your visit for a little later than first thing in the morning, or to another day. But do not miss going. I. read more

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The good: lovely staff, very friendly. The not-so-good: bakery items were overbaked: palmiers not delicate; they were burnt to a crisp; baguette: dry & tasteless; strudel: odd flavor, not a fruit one, it was coffee & walnut & frankly tasted terrible. Ham & cheese croissant: poor quality ham ruined it for me. The place is always packed & I wish them well. But I've had better bread & pastry from Publix. read more

OWL Bakery - Sad & dry palmier, both sides photographed. - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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We stopped for coffee and sweets one day. The price was $8 more for the same order we had at the City Bakery down the street. The taste did not meet the other shop either. Coffee was bland, atmosphere nothing like down the street and sweets were not as good either. I would recommend saving your money for the City Bakery steps away. read more

This was our last stop prior to driving home. We got the cardamom bun and almond rose croissant to go. The flavors were unique and delicious but little bit on the pricey side (almost $14 for both). Parking was a bit hard to access - we ended up parking at another closed restaurant's lot next door and had one person sit in the car while the other hopped out to purchase. The bakery was super small - not a lot of seating available and they were all currently taken at that time. We will definitely be back to try more of their pastries next time. read more

Delicious pastries and bread just like their other location. Parking is tough in this busy area. I had to park 10 mi walk away in residential area :) Luckily it was a nice day. read more

I would enjoy these baked goods in any city- this is a must visit in Asheville! Despite the line, everyone was so kind and helpful- the place had a nice welcoming vibe, whether you're staying in or taking the food to go. I highly recommend their rosemary molasses syrup latte, but even just an Americano is delicious. Over my several visits I have tried their coffee walnut strudel, apple franzipane strudel, cardamom bun, chocolate croissant, and their pear cream cheese danish, and have enjoyed every single one. read more

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OWL (Old World Levain) Bakery recently opened their second location in North Asheville. They serve European-style leavened bread and pastries as well as coffee and tea. Along with their wide selection of bakery items, they specialize in sourdough bread, which I just learned levain means a sourdough starter was used. Their basic recipe is Country Hearth and available daily along with Rye, Baguettes, and Squirrel (a very healthy wheatless bread). Each day of the week also includes two specialty loaves that can be purchased. In addition to traditional coffee and espresso drinks, they have a couple signature drinks, as well some unique house-made syrups, such as rosemary molasses and rose cardamom. Their coffee beans come from Methodical Coffee in Greenville, SC. While I haven't visited their West Asheville location, which has been around since 2016, I'd read their cardamom buns were one of their longest running and most popular items, so that's what I decided to go with. It's a glazed and knotted pastry with pearl sugar on top. When you bite into it you can see the layers that make up this bun, which makes it crunchy and soft at the same time. Some that come here might be disappointed that their pastries aren't sugary sweet, but for me, they're the perfect sweetness. While this location was hopping on Saturday morning, service was still quick. As I enjoyed my pastry, I saw lots of people leaving with boxes to go, so I see that as a sign their treats are being enjoyed by many. I do wish there was more seating. There are only 5 cafe tables, and on Saturday that just wasn't enough. If they could add a few barstools to the bar, that would help. You can also find them at the North Asheville Tailgate Market on Saturdays mornings on the UNCA campus. read more

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A little pricey, but good vibes, delicious pastries, and toasty drinks. Tough parking, so walk if you can.

The food is incredible. It's as good as Paris. I highly recommend the Caramel Apple Danish and the Cranberry Tart. The coffee is also amazing. The employee's are really nice and the restaurant is really pretty too. Highly recommend. read more

For early risers only. They'll be sold out of most things by noon or one. Some items' flavors don't have a strong enough taste for me though. Inventive baking. read more

The best croissants and bread in AVL- hands down! Friendly service and a welcoming and cozy environment for a mid morning snack!! read more

OWL Bakery - I got the last Ham & Gruyère Croissant! Whew! - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

This bread is a REVELATION. how are there only three reviews? Did they only open for business yesterday? They ran out of "squirrel" bread but she secretly gave me a taste. Yum!!!! This place knows how to turn rudimentary ingredients into baked magic. I can't believe I have to come all the way from the NYC suburbs to get this feeling again. But I will. read more

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A sweet little bakery with drinks and pastries. $6.50 for a ham and cheese croissant but it was very good. Bought a baguette to go. Would recommend. read more

OWL Bakery - Baguette - Bakeries Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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