Fantastic almond croissants. I'm a man of simplicity, and well executed butter croissants do it for me. You will find those here, amongst other artisan treats carefully crafted. read more

This place is open late and has a good area to get work done with plenty of outlets. I never have trouble finding parking close by.

Awesome coffee, awesome munchies and nice open environment to talk about Tolstoy or that guy walking up the street with, wait, what's he wearing?? Mmm...I'm in love with the Turkish Delight here... read more

If "European style" is some sort of code for "looks beautiful, but tastes mediocre, " then this bakery's description of itself is spot-on.. I went in to buy dessert. I wanted a cake, but all of them are mousse filled. To me, that's one step above using marshmallow fluff. Some folks might like it, but it's weird that they all have mousse. Is it a way to hide dry old cake? I don't know, but I'm suspicious. Anyway, onto the things we did try: Baklava - soggy throughout. Not much honey flavor - more like sugar syrup. Not much walnut flavor either. Raspberry cookies - just ok. The raspberry flavor isn't strong enough to overcome some spice they put in the cookie dough. Almond cookies - bland - pretty flavorless. It's all expensive and the help seems pretty bored with the whole affair. They weren't unpleasant, but they weren't particularly pleasant either. For breads and cakes, skip this place and go to Clear Flour Bakery instead. For real gelato, go to Dolce Freddo Gelato in Methuen. Worth the trip. You won't settle for Athan's again. read more

Athan's is heaven for a sweet tooth. I agree with Marilyn T.- everything tasted good, but definitely scored more points in the pretty department than anything else. Lots of choices for baklava, but it was literally soaked in honey which overpowered the other flavors. I still think Sevan Bakery in Watertown has the best baklava EVER. What I did really like about Athan's is that they have a nice variety of desserts, and a cute eat-in area. Something about this place reminded me of that movie Chocolat....though neither the staff nor the clientele were quite as endearing. :o) read more

Great European cafe/bakery. They have really pretty individual cakes that are almost too pretty to eat. The selection is good, but only if you're into creamy or chocolate desserts. It's not too sweet, which is always a plus. The cookies look good in their cases, but I've heard they're a bit dry. The baklava and their gelato are great alternatives to cake. Overall, it's a great place to go. Also a good choice if you're going to a dinner party, cuz the cakes are so pretty, and so is the packaging (tell them it's a gift). My only complaint is that like with all the other places that can't keep up with their growth, they have shrunken their cakes. read more

I am visiting from out of town. The baklava is delightful! You need an employee to pick out pieces. They will weigh the pastries for a final price. I also bought a loaf of European white bread. It had a nice outer crust and soft inside. The flavor has a hint of sourdough which was great. read more

Great sandwiches... The bread really really makes the difference... of course the fresh ingredient also... Nice coffee and a great selection of tea also. Need to try their dessert next time. read more

So, this is what I have to say about this place. I think their coffee is mediocre, their wait staff has NEVER been nice to me, almost borderline quite attitude-y and apparently they get mad, if you move the tables around. I have tried one of their grilled cheese Panini sandwiches and soon found out that I wasn't the only one who disliked her food. Why do I give this place 4 stars you ask? My friends and I are part of an online social networking group and we meet at Athan's every other week. This place is really conveniently located across from the T station and is good for all weathers, well except maybe when you're waiting outside for the T, but you can wait inside and see the T approaching and make a run for it and most probably will catch it. I digress. Even though my food intake experience here hasn't been THAT positive, I do enjoy the atmosphere at this place and the fact that 10-15 of us have come here twice a month for past few months and everyone else seems to enjoy their hot chocolate or baked goods. Maybe I am making the mistake of ordering actual food rather than eat the cookies or gelato this place has to offer. All in all, I recommend this place for people to go and grab a hot beverage and enjoy conversation with your friends. I would recommend this as a casual date place. Unless there's a huge group sitting right behind you and talking and laughing out loud very very very loudly. Yeah, that'll be us. Thanks for reading! read more

I think I have found heaven. And it is Athan's. Going to a party or gathering and not sure if you should bring something? Head to Athan's to pick up some gourmet treats that actually won't put you back too far (I mean, a $10 loaf of dessert-y bread is way better than a $10 bottle of bad wine...not that I have anything against bad wine). You'll look really sophisticated, without overdoing it. Looking for a great date spot? Or a place to lounge over coffee/dessert/gelatto/panini? Look no more! I'm especially fond of the fact that they offer single-sized portions of most of their cakes for a very do-able price. Amazing. I'm getting cavities just thinking about them... read more

As a midday meet up with a friend this was the perfect place. We walked in and the place was clean and inviting however there was no menu to spot. We were unsure if we were to order at the counter or order in the other room. We finally spotted a menu just sitting on the counter and we read over it. Once we were ready, the people behind the desk took their time to take our order. We ordered and the woman behind the desk was a little odd. She made some uncomfortable/borderline rude comments to my friend and I which made it more awkward. The chocolate croissant however was delicious and warm. Buttery and soft. The coffee was huge and the tasted wonderful. My only complaint was the person who took our order, she made our trip a little uncomfortable and she even was staring at us on a few occasions while we were talking. I would go back but at least now I know what I am walking into for next time. read more

I've stopped in Athans more than once to pick up a pastry or two for a special occasion, but without sampling the cafe menu I felt ill equipped to tackle a full review for them. Well here I sit on the free wi-fi enjoying an amazing panini and iced mocha. To save you the trouble of looking like the stupid tourist I appeared to be, follow this rule: If you want to eat in the cafe, you still order at the pastry counter then walk out back and take a seat. That way you arent the guy wondering around glazed eyes asking everyone where the hell you can get a sandwich. As for recommendations, well its all good so just go by taste. Also, the pastry's make great gifts for birthdays etc. read more

Came here after an excellent dinner down the road. Between 3 people, we got two desserts and two espresso drinks. The staff was very friendly and helpful. There was enough space for our group to get a table, but still plenty of people around eating and drinking. The two desserts we got - Amendoa (yes, I wanted to call it Amendola) and Citron looked beautiful. The Amendoa was half frozen when we got it - if I had a half hour to wait for it to thaw, it probably would have been good, but it was half frozen and sharp and poked on my tongue. The flavors were excellent, but as it warmed up the sponge cake in it felt a little grainy. The Citron was served at the appropriate temperature, but the sponge cake was very grainy, and it barely had any lemon flavor to it. Cappuccino was good, Cafe Ole was good. Neither looked pretty, but I don't drink coffee for looks. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but if I was walking by I would consider stopping by. read more

I wish I could tell you how good the pastry and coffee is but they close at 11pm daily when yelp lists them as open till midnight. Update: I came back the next night to get something and update my review but they were close before 11 this time. The sign clearly says they close at 11. I am done with this place and they deserve the 1 star. read more

After a year of taste testing and sampling my way across the city I can safely say that Athan's has the best croissants in Boston. Buttery, flaky and melt in your mouth delicious. They completely fulfill my Parisian cravings. read more

Decent bakery in a convenient location with lots of meter parking. Come early on the weekends to grab your seat as it does get crowded. Not to worry though, i believe there's only a 2 hour seating limit for cheap-os grabbing a coffee and planning to hog a seat and wifi all day. Clean bathrooms and yummy chocolate ganache! read more

Athans bakery continues to delight and amaze me. There you kind find the most delicious sweet treats, delicate cakes, gorgeous pastries and the kindest staff. Walked in a few minutes ago and was greeted with a huge smile. Our barista lit up the room and made my day. I've always been a regular but after that interaction I will be getting my morning coffee there daily. This is an incredible establishment. Not a single thing about this cafe, eating or otherwise, that I wouldn't recommend. Thanks for the food and spectacular service. read more

Consistently very good baked goods. Consistently large variety of high quality cookies, baklava varieties. Always a small but nice choice of French style pastries. Good coffee and generous seating area. read more

Alright, so apparently I didn't notice how pricey this place was last time. I did this time. It's expensive. But I've realized that it is even more worth it than ever before. Everything here is just delicious. Athan's atmosphere, little bakery area, and the sit down are are all tasteful and well-done. They don't hesitate to give suggestions on what to try which is helpful. Bottom line: I've still got a TON of work to do here. Breakfast, pastries, the mousse desserts, and more. read more

Gelato, delicious. Baked goods, delicious. Sandwiches, wait, they serve sandwiches?! Verifying... also delicious. Athan's is a cozy little place to indulge in some sweets or to catch up with friends... or even possibly that pre-date coffee. During the week, it's easy to plant yourself there for a few hours and not notice, but during the weekend be prepared for the brunch crowd. read more

The perfect respite on a cold winter evening. Hot chocolate and hazlenut chocolate cake...what more can you ask for? read more

Athan's Bakery - Hazlenut deliciousness - Bakeries Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

This rating is based purely on the following: 1) Coffee 2) Chocolate Croissants and 3) Ambiance I haven't had anything else here - but I heartily enjoy the above three items. First time there with my boyfriend, we asked for chocolate croissants and they were straight out of the oven. Hard to find fault there. For a slow Saturday morning and a view of Washington Square - I would highly recommend it. You can almost pretend you're in another country. I'm cheap like that. read more

What a shame. We used to go here all the time, and we were in the old neighborhood and saw there was a Groupon deal. We know we love the deserts and the coffee drinks, and figured if they expanded their menu to include sandwiches they must be good. How can you mess up a panini? Bad ingredients (perhaps old), and combine flavors that do not necessarily mix. Two bites in we agreed these are bad, and we look up toward the counter and see the same person who made the sandwiches eating take out from another restaurant! If you work in a Cafe and do not eat the food you can get for free, how bad must it be? Please go here for the pastries, but avoid the sandwiches. read more

Stopped in here today to try a few things. Cherry cheesecake gelato is soooo good. Chocolates are good, as are the greek pastries

Excellent scones , strudels and spinach pie. Not visiting Brookline long enough to try everything but where we came from, san gabriel valley near los angeles, this is the best bakery ever. Good pastries are never salty, oily or sickeningly sweet. This is the real thing! read more

Not like it used to be. Purchased 2 Sara Bernhardt pastries a few day ago. Pastries were old. Had the taste of an item sitting in the fridge for a week and picking up other flavors. The top coating was off as well, not as before. Bought pastries since they opened and this was the first time it happened. Hopefully they will keep an eye on when items are put on shelf. read more

so many pastries...so little time. We decided to sample a few bites and all were fabulous. The linzer tart was my favorite, but the panna cotta & coconut & chocolate gelato were a very close second. It was super cozy and the perfect spot for a late night treat. I'm not a coffee drinker myself, but my hard to please boyfriend ordered his triple macchiato espresso with no problems & loved it. I will certainly be back to try more of the deliciousness. read more

I love baklava so how could i not love Athan's. Some of the best around. Yum. Also had a very rich and creamy hot chocolate with soy milk. I love sitting in the cafe side, while the snow is falling outside and just hanging out. Too bad the parking is a pain. read more

Good: -Great space to study or meet up with friends for a quiet conversation. Have never had a problem finding seating. -Assorted little butter cookies are the bomb. They're nice and small, so you can try different varieties. -Baklava Not as good: -The cakes are far too sugary sweet for my taste. It's hard to enjoy the creams and mousses in the cakes when all you can taste is sugar. -They have the type of spanakopita wrapped in thick dough, which don't do it for me like the filo pastry wrapped ones. It's like eating a sponge that sucks the moisture out of your mouth. Personal preference? Worst: -My poor father picked up the wrong sandwich from the bar once (his hearing isn't so swell), and it didn't go over well with the staff member there. The situation could have been handled much more gracefully, and of course I was embarrassed since my parents were visiting from out of town and I had taken them here. Solidly falls into my category of coffee shops in Boston that have food that's just alright, but serve as a good place to linger. Stick with the drinks, small cookies and pastries, and stay a while. Just don't pick up someone else's order by accident. read more

First of all, the dude who works here deserves 5 stars because when he saw that we were toting Phase 10, he said, "I love that game!" and for a split-second, contemplated joining us for a game. Unfortunately, he had to make us the delightful latte and mocha we ordered. First of all, I LOVE that the drinks come in huge oversized mugs. Aside from cracking me up, it makes the experience feel so much more decadent when you can grab your coffee by two hands and feel the warmth. That being said, the drinks themselves were pretty standard. The mocha was a smidge less chocolately than I would have liked, but they were still good and priced well. The ambience gets the thumbs up from me. We played our game right by the floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing me to people watch at the same time (love it!). The music was good for the most part, until they put on some awful, unfitting, showtunes-esque song toward the end of our visit. Another highlight was the grilled cheese + tomato panini, which was (smartly) made of a combo of cheddar and swiss. I do wish the tomatoes were sliced a lot thicker, but the bread was scrumptious and I generally enjoyed it. I'm reserving the last star for after I've tried one of their desserts. They look incredible - particularly the baclava! read more

Athan's is super charming with a European vibe. Enjoyed a coffee date there recently. The pastry was very good, but I am denying that 4th star due to the baristas overwhelmedness at the line of people he had waiting for their bevs. They probably should have been working 2 machines at once. Gotta love a place that has amazing pastry, chocolate, gelato and coffee in one. Truth be told, the bevvies and pastry are equally good at Danish Pastry House in Meffa and I don't have to drive over to Washington Sq. read more

Even if I moved to another part of the city, I would still make my way back to Athans. If you're looking for a place to get away, unwind and forget anything or everything, this is the place. I have never had any food or coffee at Athans I didn't love. Everything is fresh, delicious and memorable. I love Athans because it has the relaxing feeling of Starbucks, etc. excepts its has the sophistication of being unique and not a chain. Here you can take food to go or sit for an hour uninterrupted. It's a great place to study, read and catch up wth good friends. read more

I bet this spot is hopping in the morning, but on a Saturday night when I stopped by Athan's Bakery with friends, the place was a ghost town. They stay open late, serve up warm beverages, and delicious sweets. College students in the area....if you're reading this...I think you just found your late night study haven. Your welcome. The Bakery is really big, and they have ample seating and an impressive selection of goodies to choose from. As their name implies, they also serve up a lot of Greek pastries, like baklava, which looked heavenly. On the night I went I tried a hazelnut cream cake that was delicious, and the drinks my friends ordered were generously sized and aromatic. It was too bad the steamer wasn't working when we went, because they make a homemade hot chocolate that is apparently amazing. The staff is friendly, the prices are a tad on the expensive side, and the sweet pay off is worth it. read more

Their croissants are flaky, flavorful, and freakin' AMAZING! Athan's Bakery is one of my favorite places to go in the Boston area for a delicious treat. Aside from its great location and beautiful storefront, Athan's has a lot going on for them. When you walk inside, your senses are deluged with baked goods and smells that are all incredibly wonderful. You can order some pastries or desserts to go (I highly recommend the croissants!), or you can take a seat in their quaint cafe and enjoy a cup of coffee. The staff their is friendly, and their prices are fair. Though $2.50 may seem expensive for a croissant, your mind will be changed (and blown) when you inevitably enjoy it. My goal is to become Duke here, so watch out people! The calories mean nothing to me when I'm here and in heaven! read more

Sh*t baklava. The pistachios were burnt. The dough was chewy and stale. This is the first time I've ever not finished a piece of baklava.

Yet again, I'm torn about my rating. I came here on Monday night when Hurricane Sandy was arriving in the Boston area. My boyfriend and I decided to alleviate a little cabin fever and ventured out for a walk in the Washington Square/Coolidge Corner areas. There were about three patrons in the seating area, two people at the counter placing orders, and maybe two workers. Boyfriend and I used my groupon to get three pastries and two medium gelatos. Pastries looked better than they tasted. They're too airy or something for me. Not enough substance. Then again, I thought the gelato was pretty good. The cashier said since she had been working at 3:30 pm, there might have been 10 people. It was about 8:00 pm when we came in. I appreciate them being open and being able to use my groupon, but I felt bad. She had a point. MBTA suspended service at 2 pm that day. There weren't going to be many customers coming in, and it didn't seem fair for workers to come in, especially those who rely on public transportation. Nevertheless, the cashier was very helpful and had a great attitude! read more

Baklava, baklava, baklava! A good variety to choose from. I love the original and the cinnamon ones. If you get the chance please try the baklava cupcakes (preorder these). You won't regret it. The front of the store is a bakery with 1-2 tables for seating; however, further back into the store there is more seating and a little cafe bar. read more

In a self-appointed bakery tour of Boston, Athan's wins for best croissant. What seemed like thousands of thin, flaky brown layers that melted in our mouth. They were fluffy, buttery, light, had a great egg wash sheen and were generally perfect. Also had the breakfast panini, which was fine but not necessarily anything to write home about. Especially liked the mild white cheese on it, which complimented and didn't overwhelm. Mostly disappointed that I could see/hear her use the microwave in it's making. Felt like such a letdown from a place that hand-makes such delicate, amazing pastries. Ah, but that croissant was worth noting above and beyond multiple other Boston bakeries - it was an accomplishment of laminated dough with an incredible amount of folds that had just started to pull apart in baking in the most tempting and mouth-watering way. I seriously feel like I could write an ode to that thing - that's how good it was. I wish my croissants turned out that well. I had a doppio espresso, which was better than I get from most chain shops. Boyfriend didn't comment one way or another on his drip coffee, but did finish a large cup. read more

Love this place. Every time I go inside, I am utterly charmed by it all--the employees, the decor, and the lovely displays of confections, the heavy European influence, etc. I bought a selection of four pastries for my stepdad as a belated Father's Day present, since food is always a safe choice in shopping for him. The pastries are absolutely gorgeous and are almost too perfect to eat, if not for the fact that they are absolutely delectable and would constitute a huge waste if not eaten. The last time I went, the much-hyped gelato machine was busted, so I'm hoping that it gets fixed again soon so that I can make the 15 minute walk from my apartment to try it. read more

Ok. . .I don't blame them for the oriental groc closing. That was a while ago, and they made good use of the space when they expanded into their old area and put in the extra seating and bar. The desserts are really amazing. Almost too amazing. . . but they are really good. I've never had tiramisu here that was the same way twice and I've been coming for *finds calculator* eight years. The decor is wonderful, the staff is usually pretty good, the food is always excellent (though, as a baker I never buy their pre-made pies and desserts because I can do better). The wild honey is/was really wonderful, the baklava is great, and all in all. I love this place!! read more