An Eau Claire local raved about this spot and I'm pleased to say that Nostalgic Bean lived up to the hype! I came in on a Sunday morning and there was a little line of people ahead of me but it moved pretty quickly! Interior-wise, there isn't a ton of space for seating but luckily, there are plenty of tables/chairs at The Yard Container Park that's ~40 second walk from the bakery. I got the strawberry passionfruit cruffin, chocolate almond croissant, lavender vanilla shortbread, and a latte with sugar-free caramel. First off, I was very impressed with the variety of flavors that were displayed (i.e. passionfruit, rhubarb, cardamon, kimchi, etc.) All the baked goods I got were fantastic- especially the cruffin. I was initially hesitant to order it because I'm not a fan when the exterior doesn't have that flakey/crunchiness. But I'm glad I tried the one here because the texture was perfect. As for the filling, it was a good balance of sweet and tart. Same thing for the croissant. When I ate the cruffin, I already knew the croissant was about to hit- and it did. Perfectly flakey and had that beautiful crunchy exterior. They definitely didn't skimp on the chocolate/almond filling either! Personally, it was a little too much for me but that's just a me thing Last but not least, the lavender vanilla shortbread was wonderful. You can actually taste the lavender and they added a perfect amount of salt to bring the flavors out! Aside from the delightful pastries, the coffee was lovely and the staff were super friendly. Nostalgic Bean is definitely a Altoona gem! read more

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I'm so excited we got to stop by and try things. The service was very friendly and prompt. I had the everything seasoning and cream cheese croissant which was really flavorful and had great texture. The kids inhaled the homemade blackberry pop tart. Chai latte was delicious, not too sweet, not too spicy and I love the variety of steamers available for kids. They even offered to make them kid temp! Space was cozy and had plenty of tables when we went (10am weekday). read more

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I'm already nostalgic for this place. A new day means a new morning to visit a coffeehouse. Tim actually suggested this place as he mentioned its something he's wanted to try for awhile. We hopped in the car and headed out. I wasn't sure what to expect from The Nostalgic Bean since I was going into this trip without much of a plan besides a few odds and ends. But what a surprise this place is. It's in a cute little building with some sweet snail art on the side. Inside is quaint and cozy. The staff was super friendly while we did some do-si-do with other patrons of the bakery. Inside is small and due to the layout, it can get a bit crowded if they are busy at all. Normally this is a hassle but something about this place makes it fun. I got my usual americano and a corn jalapeno quiche. With how busy it was, the food and coffee didn't take much time to come out and the staff, again, was super friendly and helpful. I wanted a specific t-shirt and while they didn't have it on their merch shelf, the young lady took the time to locate one in their back stock area. Keep your eye peeled for me wearing it in future reviews :). The americano was pretty good, just a bit below the bitter level I like but it made drinking it a breeze. The quiche was really good, too. I don't think I've ever had one before this and I ended up getting it the next day when we came back with Matt. The second time we came back, we had the same level of friendliness and same awesome deliciousness. All their baked goods looked amazing and both Tim and Matt were in love with the place, too. Tim dabbled in their baked goods but I don't remember all that he got. Matt got a coffee and a small thing to eat as well. The Nostalgic Bean has become a staple for us when we visit Eau Claire. I feel like we will hit it up every time we visit Tim because we all just fell in love with the place. Just look at their baked goods online and you'll understand just how sweet this place is. read more

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Cutest & most delicious little cafe in all of the Eau Claire area! I ordered an americano hot and got two baked goods on the side for breakfast: a hash egg bake with cheese & a croissant! Most definitely baked with love. The employees are all friendly & the place was packed!! read more

The Nostalgic Bean - a breakfast sandwich on a piece of paper - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Altoona, Wisconsin

Adorable, cozy, and close to the ice rink. Great croissants, like so great I returned to pick up more for my husband and daughter. The staff were friendly and service was quick. So much more personal and cute than chain coffee. read more

What a beautiful bakery! We could smell the baked goodness from outside and couldn't wait to see the options. There are several types of croissants, cookies, tarts, macarons, quiche and so much more. The service was incredibly friendly. I would absolutely recommend this place if you are in the area. read more

Food was great!! Staff was upbeat. The shop was VERY small, it made me and my partner feel claustrophobic. It's the kind of shop where you grab and go, not very sit and eat friendly. read more

I sought this place out because they were reputed to have the best pastries around, plus my husband needs good coffee to jump start his day. We parked in the small lot behind the old building. Inside we found a cozy environment made cozier by the torrential downpour that started outdoors as we entered. There are so many delicious-looking things that it made it hard to choose what to get! We went for a dulce de leche tart (a special this week), a chocolate croissant, and a knotted cinnamon bun; the latter two are visible in my picture. The tart, unfortunately, wasn't set, and became an ooey gooey mess to eat, though the flavor was great. The pastries were delectable with oodles of layers and a beautiful butter flavor. My husband liked his coffee just fine, too. read more

The Nostalgic Bean - pastry case - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Altoona, Wisconsin

Their pastries are out of this world good as well as their coffee! Service was amazing. The people that work there are very kind and down to earth! Highly recommend the almond croissant! read more

My first time at Nostalgic Bean I had a great experience. I had an issue with my gift card, and the owner went out of their way to help me- a gesture that really stood out and reminds you why supporting locally owned coffee shops is so special compared to big chains. The owner and staff were incredibly kind. The quiche was great and my matcha latte was perfect. I'll definitely be back! read more

The Nostalgic Bean - Crustless quiche, small matcha lattes with almond milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Altoona, Wisconsin

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New hours. They are open on Wednesday's now, and open at 7:30 on Wednesday-Friday and 8 am on the weekend. Perfect! Still great French pastries! The checkout process is a bit simpler now with a single stop. read more

A little difficult to find but well worth it. We had a couple of the quiches and they were both delicious. Highly recommend.

Wow! Just wow! If you haven't been to this place stop reading and go now! NOW! This place is amazing! Homemade flakey, buttery croissants! What else do you need! For being in Altoona this is a hidden little gem! The atmosphere is really friendly as well as a welcome feeling. Out of everything to chose from and trust me you have quite a bit to pick from, I got two croissants. One with chocolate filled and the other had ham and cheese. When I tell you that first bit was amazing so flaky and sweet buttery flavor and then you hit the chocolate and wow! The ham and cheese croissant was hands down mind blowing! The cup of coffee I got with all this amazing food was something straight out of grandma's kitchen! 10/10 I will be going back! read more

The Nostalgic Bean - Ham and cheese croissants. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Altoona, Wisconsin

Cute place! The ham and bachemel croissant was TO DIE FOR and the coffee and service were great too! I haven't even tried our other items yet to be sure this place is a gem! I'll likely have to make a trip hundreds of miles away home this way atleast one more time in this lifetime just for another crossaints. Until then.. thanks for the memories! read more

The only thing better than the coffee and pastries was the staff!! So friendly!! A warm and inviting atmosphere.

The bakery that we purchased was so delicious. The coffee was of high quality as well. The place was super busy.

This place is wonderful. The coffee is excellent- a notch above any chains, and the pastries are amazing. Service is excellent and friendly and ambiance is light and airy. The outside patio is a great touch. read more

Simply amazing!!!! We purchased croissants (chocolate and almond) that were crisp on the outside and soft, flakey, buttery goodness on the inside. The most delicious I've ever had. We also got macaroons (lemon and mint) that were perfection! Fluffy and almost cake-like inside with great flavor (unlike other places where macaroons are hollow or fall apart in a crumby mess). Seriously worth the drive for us! read more

The croissant here was soooo good. The ladies were so nice as well. Loved it! Will definitely go back.

Dang. This place is awesome! We had a chocolate croissant, ham and cheese croissant, morning bun and 2 different quiches. Everything was super delicious. I scarfed everything down before I took pics. read more

The Nostalgic Bean - Morning bums and croissants - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Altoona, Wisconsin

Amazing desserts that are carefully made. A beautiful space with beautiful products and the variety of macarons is awesome. Coffee is so so.

Omg! THE BEST COFFEE made with love.... I can tell. And the baked goods.... more love there too! My favorite Coffeeshop in the area. Very nice Barista Man. Cozy decor. Mugs and shirts and coffee for gifts for that coffee lover in your world. read more

Their pastries are totally amazing! I love that they have tons of choices to choose from and they are different, not the same as everyone else's. You'll want to try everything. But they rotate their pastries and it keeps you coming back for more. The specialty coffees are delicious as well. Service was extremely friendly and their coffee shop is so charming. I'm glad I don't live too far away. read more

Absolutely the best baked goods I've had since being in France! Always service with a smile.

Croissants are nice. Coffee beans makes a nice latte here. Great care in making their food and it shows . One of the best croissants I have ever had . Comparable to European bakeries this is right up there!! read more

My new favorite place! They make the best dirty chai in the Chippewa Valley. They have scrumptious croissants, macarons, fruit tarts, and so much more. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. The staff is friendly, helpful, and make you feel like the most important person there. I Love this place! read more

The Nostalgic Bean - Dirty Chai, croissant, macaron. Yum! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Altoona, Wisconsin

Our group had a turtle mocha, a mint mocha, a chocolate croissant, & some sort of coconut raspberry bar. Everything was fantastic! Will definitely stop back when in town again. read more

Never disappoints! Friendly staff and the coffee is delicious! Ordered a special dark chocolate orange cheesecake during the Holidays and it was our favorite meal! read more

Wonderful treasure in downtown Altoona,WI!! You are really missing out if you don't visit this gem. If you love French pastry and much more, treat yourself REAL soon.... you deserve it. read more

Went to the Nostalgic Bean for the first time. Excellent!!! Great French bakery items and wonderful friendly staff. The Baker is so nice! Beautiful building! You need to go there to believe how amazing their food products are read more

Y U M! Stopped in because a friend said they had good bakery items. That was a complete understatement. We had 5 different things to share and every single one was 'put the fork down' GOOD! I will be back often! read more

I've tried most, if not all of the coffee shops in the area and I have to say this is the best turtle mocha I've ever had. And their bakery, truly the best in town. read more

This place is fantastic. The pastries are authentic French pastries and are truly amazing. Just a plain croissant and you'll never crave a donut again. As far as beverages, I've only tried the French press coffee and it was good enough that I haven't tried anything else on the menu. We have been there several times and consider this a very special treat that is well worth the splurge. read more