Amazing bakery. Been coming for years - best sourdough, struessel and quark cheesecake around!! The staff are fantastic and my experience in the store is always such a good one. Highly recommend! read more

Our family has been regular customers ever since they opened their doors. Their level of service and quality has consistently been five star throughout the years. My absolute favorite are the pretzels. You haven't tried an authentic pretzel until you've tried theirs. read more

I've driven past Artistic Bake Shop a hundred times and it's located only a few blocks from my house in Allendale... Yet somehow I had never stopped in to try any of their baking. Open since 1966, this German/European bakery has staked their claim as a longstanding destination for all sorts of nostalgic treats (I'm looking at you, black forest cake) and will certainly tug on the heartstrings of anyone with Eastern European grandparents, such as myself. Edmonton Journal voted Artistic Bake Shop as the Best Bakery 2021 and I was looking forward to finally finding out what they're all about. Parking was surprisingly easy to find, right on the street out front. Beside the front door you'll see a huge old dough mixer, which I've often noticed while driving by. The iron door handle itself is shaped like a pretzel, a touch that I absolutely loved. Entering the space you are met with a small grocery section to the right (lots of good treasures to be found there) and the bakery counter to the left. There's even a small seating area, should you need to eat your food finds immediately, which I completely understand. I visited shortly after they opened on a Saturday morning so the entire case was at maximum capacity and filled with delicious looking treats. The bakery is simple, classic, and comfortable. The staff working are friendly and happy to answer questions. And the atmosphere is very much one of a mom and pop type of establishment. Loaves of fresh bread line the back wall in rows and there are plenty of imported goodies everywhere that you look. It became apparent pretty quickly that their most famous item are their pretzels (which I quickly spotted stacked up in baskets) but inside the case you are able to feast your eyes upon a wide array of chocolate-covered, fresh-baked, layers-of-strudel, cream-filled confections. I dare you to pick just one item because there are so many! I started with a Pretzel ($1.65), and I mean, you can't beat that price! Coated in coarse salt, this golden brown twist tasted fresh and was soft on the inside while maintaining a crisp outside. I found it better to pop it into the oven at home for a few minutes, just to get back that warm, out-of-the-oven experience. Doing so made the pretzel softer as well, which was nice. A complete classic, this pretzel was made well and tasted exactly like a pretzel should. It's kind of difficult to compete in the pretzel game with Zwick's in town, but I can never fault a good, proper pretzel. If you're a fan of these twisty dough knots, you won't be disappointed. Next I noticed their Florentine ($3.25) style cookies and I felt pretty nostalgic about them for some reason and wanted to try it. Anything half dipped in chocolate can't be wrong. A florentine is actually an Italian cookie made with nuts (often almonds, like in this case) and mixed with sugar melted together with butter and honey. This creates a crisp, sticky, chewy cookie that is quite thin and nicely caramelized. This one was dipped in chocolate which added an extra bit of special enjoyment. I definitely wanted to try something cream-filled because there seemed to be quite a few of these options available, from cream puffs to eclairs. I went for the cream-filled horn, known as a Schaumrolle ($4.75) because it looked the most impressive to me. Cone-shaped pastry creates the horn and inside you'll discover a whole lot of fluffy whipped cream. Plus they've dipped it in chocolate, which feels like a theme at Artistic Bake Shop. Everything is made better with a bit of chocolate! It's science! Liberally coated in icing sugar, the schaumrolle was flaky and challenging to eat without making a mess. However, I didn't mind. Of everything that I tried at Artistic, this one felt the most like something special. The soul of the bake shop was very much captured in a dessert like this. Lastly, I couldn't leave the Spitzbuben ($1.00) cookies behind. There are many versions of these at Artistic Bake Shop; some covered in icing sugar, others using different types of fruit filling. I'm sure that I saw at least five different flavours. A total classic, these feel like Christmas. Known as "jam cookies" the dough is made from an almond meal and various types of jam can be sandwiched inside. Raspberry seems to be pretty typical though. The little "window" on the top that reveals the jam within completes the whole look and adds the magic. Of course the ones that I picked were also dipped in dark chocolate, because obviously. Perfect little cookies that taste like your grandma (or someone's grandma) made them. And you had better believe that they also make a truly epic black forest cake - which is having a major moment right now. Unfortunately, they don't sell it by the slice, however, the next time that I require an entire cake it is going to be that one. I can't wait. Artistic Bake Shop just feels good. They're not doing ultra modern and elevated techniques like some of the other places in the city, bu read more

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I'm a picky eater. My mom & aunts & my sister were/are great cooks. Mom made Swedish tea ring & Apricot streusel braid for Christmas. I've found some delicious substitutes. No bakery in Edmonton bakes Christmas stollen as tasty as Artistic Bake Shop (they tell me it's pronounced like "Stolen goods" only the 'S' is "Sh" so "shtolen". I like the one that encloses a log of marzipan but it also comes in a "Plain" version. Makes great Christmas gifts. Lasts forever (well, honestly, no, so I have to buy multiples) I also like the butter sugar cookies they sell - 3 dozen in a plastic clamshell) Would be great to decorate with icing with the little ones. read more

Easy to find via Google Maps but you have to spot it quick and pull over to park in the indented street parking. Sorry not sure how to explain but if you use satellite on Google Maps you should see what I mean! Luckily there were tons of spots open so I parked right in front of the bakery. No one else around at 4:30PM on a Thursday. Inside they have quite the selection of imported goodies/jams/sauces/etc. A well stocked baked goods counter too considering the time of day. Cashier was friendly happy to answer my questions considering there were NO labels on anything - this is going to my new pet peeve as I really can't make a good decision on what to get if I don't know all the options! OR the prices, how will I know if I can sneak another goodie into my cart if I'm above budget! Also I hate asking 'what is this? and this and this and this.....'. Cashier recommended the cheesecake and cream horn but neither appealed to me at the time. Scones looked great too! I ended up with: Opera cake: standard, not amazing not bad. Chocolate banana: I read another Yelp review and had to try! It's delicious! shortbread-like cookie on the bottom, marshmallow layer and a fresh banana all wrapped in your choice of milk or dark chocolate. Held up well even after a 30min drive home! Poppyseed square - good poppyseed taste, like the inside of a poppyseed roll. Not gritty but not a strong flavor - good if you don't want something too sweet. Overall if you are in the area worth checking out for some unique goodies and I recommend the banana one! read more

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Very good German breads. And beautiful cakes. Try their Streusselkuchen, buttery, crunchy, the essence of German baking. The staff are knowledgeable and very friendly. There are also German groceries available that are not easy to find elsewhere. Wonderful place and so popular that it is a good idea to order your favoured things in advance! read more

Their customer policies could improve. The lady that works at the front (I am not sure if she is the owner) is very peculiar about the number of bags of bread you can buy early in the morning. Her rationale is that she does not want to run out of certain products in the morning because then she will not have any left to sell during the day. If you want to buy more than one, you need to pre-order them. I found her attitude very condescending. She could put a sign that clearly reads "Please limit to one", display only one bag at the time for those high-demand items or, simply explain herself in a more polite and professional manner. She needs to understand that not everyone can pre-plan a visit to her bakery (and thus pre-order products). I am a strong supporter of local stores and I hope this bakery does well. I hope this review helps other customers to be aware of one of the store's policies. I also hope the owner improves the way she communicates with other customers. Thankfully, this is not the only European bakery in Edmonton. read more

I'm a German born immigrant and everything they sell tastes just like Oma used to bake. it all tastes like home.

I've tried this place twice and haven't been particularly impressed by it. So, on one occasion I got a lovely looking rye loaf that I planned to eat for the entire week. Within two days, the loaf was overcome by beautiful colonies of white bacteria. It was completely destroyed. One might question my bread keeping practices but my roommate's loaf of bread was a mere 5 inches away from mine and was spotless and fresh. That may have been a one-off instance. I'm certain that the loaf I bought was freshly baked the day I bought it. Something just went wrong with it. The other time I got bread from here, it was decent but not even close to how good Empress, Bee Bell or Treestone bakeries. I would prefer to go to them instead. I think I had a bad experience with the bread from here and am a bit soured. I still think that this is a decent bakery but believe there are better options in the vicinity. read more

Artistic Bake Shop - Bakeries Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

A little hidden bakery on gateway! Many would not even notice it driving by. It is a family run German bakery offering bread and sweets. I bought a dozen dinner buns for $5.00. They also make authentic German pretzels which I'll have to return to try! Also a variety of pastries that I want to come back for. Prices seem very reasonable. Returned for the pretzel- good! $1.50 each or you can buy a bag. Apple turnover $2.25, also good! read more

Artistic Bake Shop - Bakeries Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Still a hidden gem after all these years! Love the Bavarian rye, fresh pretzels and pretty Linzer squares (raspberry jam in a nutty cookie dough). We live out of town so we buy and freeze the breads - excellent even when thawed! Well worth the trip! read more

Toast is a major thing in our house because of these guys. Their light rye toasted with butter. Yolo. Even the puppy is like a watch dog at the toaster now. read more

I'm hesitant to write the review 'cause I kinda want to keep the place my little secret. I'm scared that if more people find out about it, then the chances of getting the fresh pretzels drops. As it stands now, you have to get here pretty quick or the pickings start to get slim - and that's the way you want it for a bakery. They may enough fresh items to get through the day so you are sure to get the best they offer. As mentioned, the pretzels are a HUGE draw for me. They are chewy and salty and everything you want a pretzel to be. I have yet to visit and not eat one on the walk between their door and my jeep. My second addiction are their danishes...sooooo good! If you have a day off and are meeting guests for coffee, you might want to swing by here on the way early in the morning and suprise your friends with dessert - you'll be their new hero! read more

When my ethnically German family moved to Edmonton from Toronto when I was a kid, they discovered this bakery as their favorite place to buy bread and other German desserts when my mom didn't have time to make them herself. The bread is amazing and I will say that Aditya R's bread keeping skills must be pretty sketchy. My parents started shopping here in 1988 and still do so today. When I am visiting them in Edmotnon, I look forward to eating the bavarian rye bread from here as well as... hmmm... I don't know the English translation for this so I'll try, the covered appled cake. It's usually a cake served at funerals, but to me, it's better than apple pie. Their poppyseed cake is good and so are the cookies that have the jam in the middle and are shaped like stars. Also, by far the best pretzel buns I've ever had and I think about those often. The plum cake is also awesome in the fall when they have it. What makes this place so authentic is that they close up shop for several weeks every year and tour various places in Germany to see if their baked goods compare and then come back to Canada and work on making sure everything tastes just as good as what they just had. Love and miss this place! read more

I love this bakery and the staff and owners are great! I especially love how accommodating they are when I call ahead to place an order, they have it waiting for me when I arrive. My favorites are the 9 grain bread and the savory buns. I especially appreciate that they do their best to ensure there is a selection of products by not selling all of one type to one person early in the day. This small family owned business is balancing business needs with customer service and I think they are doing a brilliant job! read more

Ordered a dobos torte for my birthday, and was very excited about it, only to be let down. I showed up to pick it up today and it didn't have the traditional sugar caramel hard top- the very thing that makes it a "drum" cake. They told me that I had to specify that I wanted the hard top when ordering, yet no one on the phone told me that was a "specialty" order. I've never even heard of a dobos torte without a hard top before! If you google dobos torte, ALL of them have a caramel hard top. I have been having dobos torte for my entire life, and never once has it not had the caramel top. I already had a terrible birthday week because of very unfortunate events in my life, and this dobos torte was all I was looking forward to. If this German shop wants to make Hungarian cakes, maybe they should learn the actual recipe!!! read more

Artistic Bake Shop has been around for 45 years and going strong. Originally started by 2 brothers from Germany,it's still owned by the same family since its inception. It's especially well-known for its rye bread, they make at least 4 varieties. Of the rye bread varieties, Sovital and light rye are quite popular (I asked the lady at the counter). I usually get the multigrain (also popular) and the light rye, which you can get slices or unsliced. And their bavarian-style pretzels are unbeatable. Did I mention their cream puffs, strudel, danishes, shortbread cookies & cakes? Pastry fans will happily indulge. Seasonal pies like apple and pumpkin are also very reasonably priced ($5 or $6). In fact, all of their fresh, in-store made bread & pastries are very good value & won't make your wallet weep. Most bread is between $4-$5 for a decent sized loaf. Tip: it's open at 7:30am, and sometimes they sell out early. By noon, the selection is limited, but you might stiil find some loaves on the shelf. They close at 3pm on Saturdays. I believe you can also call-in the day before to reserve pies to pick up the next day. If you speak German, you will be at ease speaking it here. Do you like I love this bake shop! It's a 10 minute cycle from my home, so I visit it regularly. Parking is ample along the side streets. Next to IBON Antiques. Website: http://artisticbakeshop.com read more

Artistic Bake Shop - Store front facing Calgary Trail. - Bakeries Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

I have shopped at Artistic Bake shop for a while now. Some times, when you are familiar with a business you can tend to get "used" to products or performance that are above and beyond. That's the case with this place. I was first exposed to their fresh-baked pretzels, and have enjoyed them warm with mustard when I feel like a treat. We often get cakes or some of their very creative cookies and other baked goods - but I've become used to the amazing products. It's only when I try another place that I'm reminded of how lucky I am to work near these guys. Last night, we presented a good friend with one of their specialties - the 7 Layer cake! It's covered with a layer of chocolate over a covering of marzipan - and the cake has 7 layers of different delicious ingredients. I have forgotten to do a quick review of this place for some time now - and wanted to rectify it. In a world of technology and social media, it's nice to walk into a small quaint bake shop that still does things the way they always have - by hand and fresh. read more

This is a decent bakery, and I do recommend you give it a shot! I tried quite a few different baked items and treats. Honestly my favourite item was the chocolate dipped banana. It had a soft wafer base of some sort, not sure what, but it was delicious. I have one issue with this place. The girl serving me lacked any passion or enthusiasm. I tried asking questions, and got very non-descriptive answers. For example... I pointed to bananas and asked "ohhh are those chocolate dipped bananas". Instead of the single word response I got, she probably could've elaborated on what else was underneath the chocolate and have enthusiasm for how great they are. I even asked what's popular... "Oh that depends...". Girl, just make some suggestions. The place just lacked that heart I enjoy at so many local places. I'll give it another try though. read more

As this bakery is very close to me I shop here frequently. I appreciate that the breads are made fresh daily. I think I have developed an addiction to the pretzels... especially if you accompany them with good English mustard. I appreciate that the leftover bits do mold within a few days of not using them. I have bought rye bread from Safeway or other mass market grocery stores and it makes me wonder how much preservatives are in them that after a month in the refrigerator they still look like the day they were bought. If you appreciate fine artisan breads and specialty items this is the bakery to shop. read more

This bakery is a gem! The pastries and breads are absolutely delicious, and the service I received was amazing. The lady that helped me was extremely friendly and took the time to explain all of the items available. I purchased a dozen little cookies, which were lightweight with a tasty jam in the center of most. I tried the poppyseed Danish which had a soft lemon glaze on top. I also purchased green onion buns which will be perfect for dinner tonight!! This quaint bakery is truly amazing! read more

Artistic Bake Shop - Cookies, $7 for a dozen - Bakeries Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Nice place with a little dry food area, breads,pastries . No eating area. They make good bread and pretzels but you better get there early in the day if you want to guarantee getting what you want. read more

I ordered a cake for a wedding function and was very disappointed with the final product. It looked marvelous but was very dry. Paid a lot of money and could have paid a lot less for a much better product elsewhere. read more

I love this bakery! Made birthday cakes but what my son is addicted to is their cheese twists! Everything including their Cinnabon with raisins is excellent! read more

After seeing this lovely shop driving by for a year I finally stopped in. I got some a cannoli, cream puff, cheese bread, and a loaf of dark rye. I could hardly wait for my hubby to arrive home so we could share the delicious treats I had got. I honestly can't figure how I was born and raised in this city mere minutes from this bakery and have never even heard of them! I felt the cost was fair and the baking was simply to die for! The cheddar bread was so cheesy that when toasted it was nearly stretchy and pure heaven... the cream puffs were so light and decadent and the cannoli is out of this world... I will defiantly be trying the yummy looking pretzels next time as they were simply flying out the basket when I was there... if you like good baking defiantly check this bakery out... I am sure you will not be disappointed! read more

I ordered what I thought was a cake, which I was very excited for and it turns out I got a loaf. I suppose I will take that one as I screwed up when I ordered it. It was not specified when I ordered it what time I had to be there to pick it up and almost didn't get it before they closed. I pre-ordered it like a week before I needed it, it was very dry and was not fresh.I will not go back again. read more

If it wasn't for the awful customer service, I would probably go back to this bakery because the bread is good (although I've had better at other small bakeries in Edmonton). Here is my experience: made a spontaneous stop on a Saturday morning while visiting the city a few weeks ago, saw 2 loafs of cinnamon bread on the shelves, asked for both (one for me and one for my relative who I was going to visit that weekend). The clerk told me that I could only have one. Why? Because they baked only 2 loafs and selling 1 per customer so that 2 customers can enjoy it. Whaaat? How ridiculous is that? Will not go back!!! read more

I shop at Artistic Bake Shop from time to time; it never turns out to be a planned visit, so my shopping there happens if I happen to be in the neighbourhood. And so, I happened to be in the neighbourhood today, at 8:30 am. I asked for 2 dozen pretzels, but was told I can only get 18 (!). Note that there were 2 overfilled baskets of pretzels on their counter. I asked why I could not have 2 dozens. The young clerk told me that it was too early in the morning to sell that many, and not fair to customers who may come in later. I asked where was this policy posted. The other clerk responded that they have it posted in 3 places in the store (yet, I kept looking around and did not see any big signs). She said that I would have to order ahead of time if I wanted to buy that many pretzels. I told her that i made my decision at 6 am today. She was rude and ignorant and told me that if I wanted to buy pretzels it would have to be less than 2 dozens. Where on earth do bakeries tell you that???!!! If I go to the Italian bakery and want to buy 10 baguettes, they are happy to have my business. If I go to the Polish bakery, the owner himself asks me if he should pack 3 dozen of their delicious Polish buns, and that he would like to see me there more often. But, if I go to the German bakery, they tell me that it is too early to sell me 2 dozen pretzels although they have plenty of them. RUDE!!! RIDICULOUS!!! ABSURD!!! As if this was not enough, my husband called them when I told him what happened. He spoke to the point and expressed his dissatisfaction in a polite, yet assertive manner. Whoever he spoke to (he asked for the manager) told him that it was the policy and asked him to change the tone of his voice. (?!) He said he was dissatisfied and did to call to praise her, and asked her to explain what tone of voice she wanted to hear. AND.... she hanged up! Is that supposed to be an example of customer service???!!! I will not shop there ever again. Their bread is not bad, but they are not the only European bakery in Edmonton. If I have to deal with their ridiculously stupid policy, then I am going to spend my money at other bakeries. Luckily for me there are other places with delicious breads that will/are happy to have my business. Beware, maybe they'll post a new sign that says "1 bread per customer". read more

The pretzels seemed a little bit stale when I had them, but the cookies were yummy! I also tried the cannoli which wasn't very tasty- it didn't have a crunch and the filling was not as creamy or tasty as I would have liked. I would go back though- there were more things I wanted to try. The baked goods were well priced! read more

I tried 4 different baked goods (pretzels, cookies, cheese sticks and cinnamon buns) and they are all DELICIOUS. What a diamond in the rough! read more

I love their raisin bread - I think theirs are best in the city! I go now at least once a week to buy a loaf of white bread (theirs are my daughter's favorite). They sell traditional German bakings such as pretzels, and There is a little space besides the bakery where you can buy some European groceries. They are quite busy on weekends, so I recommend that you go early if you plan to go buy on a weekend. read more

I have had cakes in US and Canada, and even if they look good, all you taste is the loaded up sugar. This is the first time I tasted a birthday cake that tasted good and looked okay. The decorations were about a 80% but the taste was awesome. read more

I usually go here once a week and often bring my 5year old twins . After today I will never go back ! Although their products are good the manager is incredibly unprofessional . There was a mixup with my order and I asked to change it to get what I wanted . In the end I had to pay 250 more - fine . But when I gave my debit card I was told I had to spend at least five dollRs to use . I said why when I've already spent 28.50 and it's your mistake . I don't understand why she didn't refund whole bill and recharge .She got upset raised her voice said it was misunder standing not mistake then said very rudely just take it it's free then . When I called and asked for manager it was her she would barely let me talk . I told her that behavoir was unprofessional and she said I was unprofessional for calling it a mistake. I wanted to know is why didn't she refund whole order then recharge instead of acting that way . I said we come there once a week she then started loudly telling me that I was always rude and the my kids were disrespectful and not well behaved !!!!!My kids were not even with me. I said fine I'll call back and talk to owners - she said well they're my parents ! We are always so happy to go to bakery we purposely go at nonbusy times if with kids- kids get excited but they just turned 5 and not little jerks . I will never go back to this place again . This is how they treat long time loyal customers . Very very uncool . Previous to this the service has always been excellent but I'm not going somewhere where they act this unprofessional and insulting one's children is just too much- totally uncalled for and extremely unprofessional - I could understand if they were actually bad but we go get our treat sit and eat it and leave- and come back regularly . We will be spending our money elsewhere from now on . read more

The baking is good. It is because of the terrible and RUDE service that I will not go back. When I have compared notes with others it is the same story. After experiencing their rudeness, hearing about the experience of others and seeing how they treat other customers I cannot patronize a place like this even if they know how to bake. read more

This bakery is a hidden secret. It's a great local small business - the kind that keep disappearing for big box stores. The lady there is friendly, and the selection is great and it looks inviting inside. I mostly buy the chocolate-covered banana (with whipped cream and graham wafer inside the chocolate covering). read more

I was a loyal customer for the past 2 years, spending about $100/month, getting to work late once a week because I waited for them to open after dropping my kid at school, raving to colleagues and friends about how great their breads and pretzels were, but I will never go back after the treatment I received last week. As in other reviews posted here, the woman serving me was unfriendly and even lectured me on how I should behave (though the opposite would have been more in order). She even called me a 'bad customer' because I - kindly - suggested they tell new employees to not put bread directly into plastic and apparently I did not greet her with enthusiasm when I came in (although she hadn't greeted me either and rather pushed the door in my face after unlocking it). I'll spare the rest of the details here - I'd rather not relive them - but these people have a lot to learn about customer service. If you do go in there, don't dare provide feedback that is anything but positive - it will not be taken kindly. read more

Ordered 18 of their pretzels for a work function...YUM! These were a hit! I am excited to try the other baked goods as well. The shop was cute and the staff is so friendly! I will definitely be back. read more

The baking is first class and we have been shopping here for many years. We had a wake up call recently when we had placed an order, the bread was already on the counter but not paid for yet and we were rudely told not to touch it. All staff have been very friendly at all times in the past except for one young lady. We were told she and her husband were the new owners. After some words were exchanged, we were told to perhaps find a new bakery. We will still go because of the quality of the baked goods but we will refuse to be served by this rude person. read more

Artistic Bake Shop is a lovely place run by friendly German proprietors. Their pretzels are as simple as they are delicious. Recommended.

This might just be the rudest bake shop I've ever been to. I thought bakeries were supposed to be happy, pleasant places and I only went because I was told by a reliable source that they made some delicious bread. To be honest I doesn't matter how good it is, it's not worth it if it is served with a side of obnoxious. The girl behind the counter seemed to think she was doing me a favor by working there. I'm not a huge fan of being scowled at because someone has to stop doing nothing and perhaps lift a finger. If you find yourself in this shop, don't forget to curtsy, say please and thank you and don't make eye contact with the girl serving you because in fact, you're serving her. This place is a hidden secret that should remain hidden. In a city as culturally diverse as Edmonton there is bound to be another bakery just around the corner-minus the distasteful attitude. read more