This is my favorite place to be in all of Allston! Staff: Exceptionally friendly, and genuinely so. The owner is often in the front to walk around and check on patrons. Being there around these happy people always brightens up the day. Food: Since this has come up in previous reviews a lot, it's important to mention that this is NOT a French-style bakery, but rather a- you guessed it- Swiss-style one. This means that the pastries will be a bit more dense, which is most noticeable in their croissants. Their croissants are flaky and delicious without the extra butter flavor of French croissants, which I actually prefer. The pretzel croissants are addictive as are the chocolate wegglis and berliners- actually, everything is good! If you are in the mood for lunch they make scrumptious sandwiches to order. Drink: I love their coffee, hot or cold. They have these flavored milks at the coffee station in Vanilla or Hazelnut- just a small splash turns a regular cup of joe into a decadent treat. Atmosphere: I often work here because the atmosphere is so laid-back. It's a perfect place to get a coffee and something to eat and sit down to work for an hour or so. I love sitting outside in the cheery courtyard during the summer as well. Also, it's one of like 10 places in Boston with its own parking lot which is an automatic 3 stars. There are two bus stops very close by so it's very accessible no matter where you are coming from. I really like this place and highly recommend it to anyone who is in the area or looking for a nice place to work or hang out! read more

Really friendly and generous staff! not bad for baked goods, but I don't really like the taste of baked items made with soy bean oil. Pretzels were pretty good and they aren't offered often in local bakeries. Challah was okay, but I prefer a richer taste. The Berliner was a really light donut and pretty tasty. I would return to try their lunch items. The staff wears plastic gloves for cleanliness. That's great and appropriate, BUT it doesn't work if the staff uses the same gloves to work the register and handles the baked items, which they did. Not just one, but the few I observed. They didn't use a tong nor parchment to handle the baked goods I purchased. I'm not particularly squeamish nor a germaphobe, but that behavior probably isn't great. Esp if a bug is going around. If they clean that up, my rating would improve. read more

I have tried both locations and have found the following to be true at both. Sometimes the pastries are wonderful and fresh, and sometimes it is clear they are from the day before. If you order a berliner you are either going to get the best "jelly donut" you've ever had, or a crunchy hunk of stale dough with some filling. It is usually the latter unfortunately. Service is odd as well. Though never busy when I've been in, the orders are almost always wrong. For example this morning I was the only customer in the place. I order a choco weggli and a twist. When I opened the bag I had a twist and a chocolate berliner, which was extremely stale. I've given them a chance on multiple occasions because I want to like it so much, but I think they've finally proved that they aren't what I hoped they would be. read more

The minimum you can ask from an egg and cheese sandwich is it to be warm. Swiss bakers can not achieve even that standard. Have been there twice, bad coffee, really tasteless breakfast sandwiches and poor service especially given there were as many servers as customers . Never going back. read more

They are good, but overpriced. $8 for a small sized sandwich with barely any meat is not a good investment. It tasted good, but I remember when my buddy used to bring me their sandwiches from the farmer's market in South Boston before they had a retail location. The sandwiches back then were MUCH better, more filled and overall a better value. I believe they were around $6 a piece then. Now at $8 you get much less and pay much more. I understand prices are going up on food, but c'mon son! read more

Now open with a limited menu- everyone go and support a local family business- Cheers!

The pastries are delicious and the coffee and tea superb. I'm not a huge fan of the interior and would have preferred more couches and low tables like the ones they have in the corner instead of the uncomfortable benches in the middle of the room. read more

Good breakfast place for students and whatnot. I had a breakfast quiche which was a little small for $3.50 but had a nice buttery crust and savory filling. The staff seems pretty friendly and is eager to explain any of their more interesting menu items. read more

I wanted to like Swissbakers, I really did. A great addition to a barren neighborhood. But alas, the chocolate raspberry croissant was like a piece of lead with very little chocolate and even less raspberry. Perhaps croissant crust is not meant to be flaky in Switzerland, but this pastry was dense beyond imagination. Nothing what I expected, and not in a good way. The place is bright and airy and comfortable, although it feels a bit like Disneyland, but I can live with that. I'm not sure I'll be running back anytime soon though. And $3.10 for a croissant also seemed a bit steep. If I'm going to indulge in a croissant, I'll go to a bakery that knows how to bake them. read more

I found an expiration date sticker about twice the size of a half dollar on the bottom of my ham and cheese croissant. The manager guy or owner idk what also has this scary fake happiness about him and it's just weird. The foods okay but not worth the price. read more

Ambiance was nice, counter guy was pushy. Got a variety of items for the office. Love to try new things, but was almost across the board let down by our expensive afternoon smorgasborg: Croissants were dense and disappointing. Got almond, plain and chocolate. Not very tasty. Cookies, which I think were filled with Smuckers jam tasted stale Berliners had to be the yuckiest of the bunch, oily and dry (if you can believe it), bland. Tossed the half-eaten bunch of 'em Pretzels were the most hopeful. they tasted really good, but were maybe overcooked. There were other items whose names I forgot or never knew. I heard no raves about them, so cut my losses and fixed myself a hot chocolate from a store bought package. Well, at least we tried them. read more

Not bad, I do love a Europe themed place... good in a pinch while waiting for the bus. Fare is pretty good a bit pricey. Not really a cafe culture place but if you're an international student who doesn't know the area at all it's decent read more

NOT the neighborhood cafe! This place stinks. Terrible coffee. I actually threw it away on my way out the door. UNDRINKABLE. And I'm not a coffee snob. Dunkin Donuts Starbucks are fine I'm looking for the local non-chain. AND ANOTHER THING! This place is owned by WHOLE FOODS! Their baked goods are so UNSPECTACULAR. I can't wait for them to go out of business so we can get a nice local coffee place with delicious baked goods. BOOOOOoooo I hate this place. OH AND the people who work there are so robotic attentive. It's creepy. read more

Grüezi, What should I say....we are just incredible glad to finally have a place in Boston where we get a real Zopf and decent "Silserli" (brezel rolls)! They are so good, we would also go there if we were back home. And to all the critics regarding the Zopf on the other yelp-page: who for god's sake told you to eat it plain? Take a decent slice, put some butter on it and then some Strawberry, raspberry or whatever you like marmalade (I would recommend "Bonne Mama") and enjoy :-) En Guete! read more

Wow, they are still working out the kinks at this place. Confusing layout, confused counter people, took about two minutes just to get my change for a $20, unclear questions asked repeatedly, usually getting the order incorrect. All for a tuna with lettuce & tomato. How hard is that, really. WIll try back in a few months. If no improvement, lost customer and not exactly positive word of mouth. :( read more

Saw this place advertised on yelp. Decided to give it a try as I have been searching for a good bakery. The place is clean and neat. The staff is 50/50 some people are really nice and others look like they want to go home. Anyhow when you walk inside to your right is the bakery side where you can get pretzels, macaroons, wegglies, croissants, and other goods. To the left there is a place you can get sandwiches, which I have not tried as of yet. The croissants are really good they go for about 2.25 each, all I have seen though are chocolate and cinnamon, I asked for Raspberry as they say they have it on the website but when I asked the guy behind the counter he was a bit snappy saying " we don't do those anymore", too bad. Wish there was more variety with some things. Anyhow I travel to this place now every other week to grab some things and look for the seasonal treats, this month is was a Pumpkin shaped bread with a chocolate in the middle. I really like this bakery a lot even with the small variety of choices. The Macaroons on the other hand they actually have alot of choices to choose from. When you come here make sure its around 10 am, any later and you may be stuck in a long line. 10/10 great bakery. read more

This place is a bit on the expensive side, and somewhat outlandish especially relative to its surroundings. But this peculiarity is part of why this place is so great. I've only come here once, but I plan on coming back for some of their rich gourmet coffee and delightful, sugary baked goods. read more

Was very excited to find out that they were opening close to where I am currently working, especially since I had tried their breads at local Farmer's markets. Came to the opening event a few weeks ago and loved the treats they passed out- including the croissants and cookies. Since then I have been here a few times, a warmly greeted by their employees. I picked up a few berliners and Swiss Sins for my coworkers, who loved them. Also had their pretzel rolls and hazelnut tart cookie, which were delicious. If you love European style breads and pretzels, this is the bakery for you. read more

I usually get great service from Swissbakers but this afternoon it was awful and not customer focused at all. I arrived at 4:40 for a 5:00 close. It did not look like they were making sandwiches so I chose a croissant but the server said "We cannot heat it though since we shut off the ovens." I was OK with that. I asked him out of curiosity how late they make sandwiches and he said 5:00 but we don't like to make them that late. This seems like a very strange answer from an organization who I know is so focused on their guests. I think I might have caught him on a bad day but this was not a positive experience at all. My daughter used to work for them so I know how important taking care of guests is. First bad experience here. read more

Although this is a bit out of the way, it's worth travelling to. The staff is very friendly and helpful, the baked goods are delicious, and the place is large and clean. I'm not sure how well it's going to do, since it doesn't get much in the way of foot traffic, as far as I can tell. So it might be worthwhile taking a trip there sooner rather than later. read more

I've only had their baked goods and coffee, so I cant comment on their sandwhiches or other lunch options. The baked goods are great, they have excellent croissants and other treats. They serve George Howell's coffee, which I love. I go there almost every day. If you're looking for something healthier try the Energy Rolls. The staff is very friendly and you'll often be visited by the owner who will ask you if you've enjoyed your experience. This is how a business should be run. read more

The Ham and Cheese croissants are delicious and the good news is that you can refrigerate and reheat the next morning and they still taste great. Will go back again to try more items. The person at the register was very friendly, as well. Great addition to the neighborhood. read more

The food is great. The service is a little slow if you need to wait for something to be heated. We went there Sunday morning when they do brunch for $14.50. Not wanting to pay, I got some pastries and a coffee. I had to wait what seemed like a while for my coffee. Get the Wegley, a small pastry with chocolate chips and make sure they warm it. Super tasty. Also the ham and cheese croissant and veggie quiche was very good. read more

Breakfast sandwich had microwaved eggs and overcooked bacon. Pretzel bread is yummy though and tastes like it was made fresh. Museli was also good but probably because there's whipped cream in it. Service was terrible. Waited 20 minutes for my sandwich - I know because the receipt has a time stamp. Cook was pissy when I asked about it 15 minutes in. Overall, disappointing experience. read more

Go for the sandwiches and bread. The pastries are... meh. Disappointing, really. I guess I've been spoiled by Clear Flour bakery in Allston. The restaurant is designed like an IKEA and feels corporate, doesn't feel family owned at all. It's kind of endearing how all the employees are trained to be super friendly. You might get bombarded like this as you leave: Emp 1: Thanks, have a nice day! Emp 2: Thank you very much! Emp 3: Thank you, have a great one! Emp 4: Goodbye, thank you! Emp 5: Thank you! Have the greatest day EVER! Go for the sandwiches and to feel like a celebrity. read more

Holy shit I like this place. Good European style pastries. I heard they once hosted Dieters dance party here at nights. Food is great and they can also help facilitate access to your Swiss bank account. This is also a neutral site for UN negotiations on North Korea. read more

Awesome place! Very friendly, very Swiss, delicious pastries and good coffee. I went there with a very good friend originally from Thun, and he could attest to the authenticity and quality. Short walk from Harvard Square, Harvard Business School and the Stadium. read more

The best chocolate croissaints this side of Switzerland! You will not be disappointed!

Due to my self-induced food coma, I will try to keep my review simple. Cinnamon sugar Berliner: simple and fluffy, perfect with tea or coffee Pretzel baguette: satisfying, slightly crunchy outer shell with chewiness within, they also have rolls and a berliner version (!) which is next on my list to try out Ham & cheese croissant: delightfully balanced, buttery, and filling Pretzel croissant: similarly good Make your own sandwich with a vast variety of options and unlimited fillings for one standard price (how cool is that?). I love that they offer Bundnerfleisch - which is an air-cured beef similar to prosciutto. All you can eat brunch on Sundays. WHHAAAATT? What a rare option here in the land of stingy food options (but understandably due to limited access to fresh and low-priced resources). There are also playground rocking horse playthings for the kiddos out in the front where the outdoor eating area is. Cute and practical. Overall impression: the taste is clean, fresh, "fluffy", and simply balanced - in no way overwhelming or disappointing. read more

Decent sandwich selection for lunch but nothing to write home about. Desert selection is good but can be hit and miss. Had the strawberry shortcake on multiple occasions but can be soggy and off some times. read more

Stumbled in with my father, my children and granddaughter one Sunday for brunch and fell in love with Swissbakers. I've never encountered such an upbeat, positive and totally customer-friendly staff. They greeted us personally and made sure each one of us got exactly what we wanted. Lots of seating, light and inviting. This is a coffee shop/ bakery/ sandwich & soup place with a vision. Owners Thomas and Helene and their family have re-created a true Swiss-style eaterie with a commitment to local food and green-sustainability. Thumbs up! read more

Welcome addition to the Allston/Brighton area. Great quality pastries. I love the Berliners. Their darker chocolate and fruit fillings are a welcome change from the overly sugary creamy fillings of most other doughnut shops. We also had a roll with chocolate chips, which was wonderful. The food tastes like real bakery pastries rather than mass-produced, sugar laden stuff you find elsewhere. They have a good-sized parking lot for an easy morning stop and friendly staff. This is our go-to place now. read more

I used Swissbakers to cater a weekend conference at the NERD Center, and couldn't have been more pleased. The food was delicious and presented well. The staff was extremely professional: helpful every step of the way, punctual, accommodating and so, so friendly. They set everything up (major bonus) and were just generally fantastic (and Tobey was an absolute delight). If I could give them 6 stars, I would. read more

I loved it here! I actually came at a time that the Phantom Gourmet was visiting, but I'm sure that service is friendly all day round. The staff immediately greeted me when I first came in, and the staff over the counter were very quick with preparing the food. So at first I was confused by the menu, not really understanding how the sandwich building process worked. But someone by the name of Alex, I believe, clearly explained everything I had to know. I think I contemplated for a good ten minutes before actually placing my order... I mean, there were just A LOT of options to choose from, which could be a downside? Thank goodness they were so patient with me! The iced coffee was OK, could have been better. I loved my sandwich a lot - very fresh and delicious. The bread wasn't old-tasting either, which is a great sign. All of the pastries looked so delicious that it was very difficult to choose, but I ended up getting the chocolate-drizzled croissant. Prices are reasonable (take advantage of building your sandwich with much stuff inside!!!), although I think the pastries may be slightly overpriced? I haven't tried the soup yet but it looks and smells great. The interior for sitting is nicely spaced, although counter and ordering areas are a wee bit cramped. I would love to come back if I could - I've been craving it so much lately! read more

I have been a regular at the Dewey Sq farmers market for years. I'm totally bummed they decided to raise their prices to what I consider unreasonable levels. $3.10 for a chocolate croissant? Am I crazy for thinking that's a bit much? Don't get me wrong, the quality of their pastries and food is very good. But, it seems they've become enamored by their own growth & success and they're trying to squeeze every nickle of profit available. Boo! read more

I'm not one to give an unmerited poor review, but I had a horrible experience at Swissbakers in Allston. I ordered a birthday cake for my boyfriend a week in advance over the phone. The woman on the phone was very pleasant and we agreed I'd pick up my cake at 5:30 PM next Tuesday, and that the cake would say "Happy Birthday John." I arrived at Swissbakers as planned a week later to pick up the cake. I got a few confused looks, and was asked multiple times what my name was. I waited around for 15 minutes as they "looked for the cake." I was then told that they weren't sure where the cake was, but they were going to look further upstairs. I waited for another 10 minutes. Finally the man who was looking for the cake came back downstairs, only to tell me that they did in fact have my order slip, but they had no cake. The cake never got made. They "weren't sure how it happened." They then told me they had a pre-made chocolate cake I could take for free. I had ordered a strawberry shortcake, but I was in a time-crunch so I agreed. I asked if they could at the very least write "Happy Birthday John" on it. The man I was dealing with was not a baker, but he said he'd try his best. After another 10 minutes of waiting I finally was given the cake in a bag. They asked me to write down my email address so they could send me an apology and a gift card. I got in my car and realized the cake only said "Happy Birthday"--not "Happy Birthday John" as I had requested. So basically, the cake looked like it was a generic birthday cake I picked up at a grocery store. Upon giving the cake to my boyfriend, I had to explain why it looked so terrible. To make matters worse, the cake was extremely dry and tasted like it had been sitting around for a week. On top of all that, it has been a week since the incident and I still have not received the apology or the gift card they mentioned. I will not be returning to Swissbakers. read more

The atmosphere was super generic, the pastry I got was fine and the cafe creme was unmemorable and bland. The outdoor seating was nice though and it was very helpful that they had a huge parking lot since I brought my baby with me! read more

Wonderful croissants, good coffee, great and friendly service (particularly in the mornings). It's about 5 minutes from HBS and a short walk from Harvard square. Ample parking considering the area and also has a nice outdoor area. read more

Great baked goods, and great sandwiches. The other food is low quality, unfortunately--soup that tastes like it came out of a can, cold brunch foods, greaseball spinach croissants, old-tasting coffee (and in small portions, too!)... So stick with the baked goods and sandwiches and you should be good to go. As others have noted, the prices are high-ish for Allston ($3.50 for a pretzel, $8 for a large sandwich, etc.). read more

Tried this place out after hearing how good their bread was from a customer at my job. The layout of the place is confusing and made ordering difficult but the quality of the food made up for it in a big way. Amazing pretzel rolls for sandwiches and their sweets are just as good. Fairly inexpensive for the quality provided. Only downside for me are there hours. Stay open later so I can buy more stuff from you! read more