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

Great Staff! Pastries were baked fresh and tasted amazing!

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

No bashing this place! First off, I've never had bad service coming here. Nor have I ever once felt that the people who work here do not care. Baklava here is absolutely delightful Sure, maybe you think that anything dipped in honey and nuts is probably tasty... but if you compare to other baklavas, this place not only has a totally good selection, but they're just so tasty! All the right finishing touches on these desserts. Absolutely delicious. read more

Wonderful confection shop. Few in this area having more European style delights. They also have Greek pastries! read more

A Great Option for Coffee/Dessert in Brookline Athan's is located at the corner of Beacon St. and Washington St. in Washington Sq. It's easily accessible by car and public transportation. Offering a number of classic Mediterranean desserts, Athan's also has terrific coffee and gelato. Seating is usually not difficult to find because the patrons move in and out of the shop at a good clip. Of course, if you want to stay and chat with friends or read a book, there is plenty of space and you'll be very welcome. The baklavas and other honey-infused treats are fresh, buttery, and delicious. Some of the more American pastries are just ok. The Mediterranean baklavas and cookies are the way to go. For gelatos, you'll find a wide range of delicious flavors. The hazelnut is particularly good. Overall, this a great destination for coffee and dessert! read more

It used to be good place, however it is getting worse and worse every year. Cakes are frozen and defrosted( seems like multiple times) We still were buying fruit cakes pretty often since it was our favorite. Price going up and up, and we have problems with orders. But recently we had REALLY BAD experience with EXTREMLY RUDE treatment. They refused to pack cake in the box that they usually used for the cake. They were extremely rude ( we were Athan's customers for all those years) At the end they CHARGED for the packing. I would not recommend to go there. Very upsetting experience!!! read more

They'd get a full 5 stars from me if it wasn't for the 'tude I get when I order my coffee. They still have my love for having galaktoboureko on the weekends. Yum! read more

Review for sandwich only. I'd been to the one in Brighton last year for breakfast - it was disappointing. Tried this one for the Turkey sandwich. The taste is OK but definitely not worth $8. Also, all the sandwiches are pre-made (i.e. you can't add/remove/change any of the ingredients). When the reheat the sandwich they put it in the microwave first then in the sandwich press. It came out very dry. Two of my other friends who also got sandwiches there agreed they taste OK but not worth the price. Their sandwiches were still cold in the middle. read more

Maybe it's because I have been going to Athan's for so long, and they have allowed me to sit there and study for hours and hours, that I am giving them 5 stars. I easily spent 200 hours there while in grad school.. When you enter this place, you are entering a different culture... it has character. The smell of freshly-baked scones and the coffee smells are in the air, and the big windows bring in lots of light. It's pretty diverse ethnically (for Brookline).. Some people studying but also people coming in to enjoy dessert. Sometimes families with babies. They play music from all over the world, which I like, since I lived abroad a lot. The manager is awesome, she runs the place damn well, and Athan's would not have the same ambience if it were not for her. I would say this place is for those who enjoy cofee and dessert. Not for the fussy. If you want efficient factory lines, go to Starbucks. read more

The pastries are worth the screaming arteries. Specifically: (1) baklava (2) almond mousse (?) (3) chocolate ....anything (4) assorted cookies -- just do an assortment, they're all good! The coffee is decent too. Lighting is bad, so if you need to study, go across the way to Cafe Fixe. If you want some real good Greek baked goods though, this is the place to be! read more

The best part of Athan's is that it's a good place to study or sit and chat for awhile, which isn't exactly a good thing, considering Athan's isn't meant to be a library or cafe. It's supposed to be a bakery. They have a huge selection of sweets, desserts, pastries, and they even have gelato. I went in during lunch, and they did have a small menu of panini's and wraps... and that's where the good ends. Service is average. They weren't rude, but they really didn't seem to care about the customers. There's no sense of friendliness or service, and their pastries aren't good enough for me to endure that lackadaisical service again. Food is edible, but not worth the price. I got the Roasted Vegetable Wrap, and it definitely wasn't worth what I paid. In addition, I got the Rice Pudding, which is plain and too sweet. Nothing special about it. Finally, I got the Bolero, which is their signature dessert. It was pretty good... not too sweet, light and well-made, but it doesn't make up for all the other shortcomings. All in all, I was disappointed and won't go back for seconds. read more

Ok, I haul my ass from Fenway just to eat their plain croissants. I love them. I think about them when I'm at home having an espresso. I need a 12 step program from Athan's croissants. The second I pick up the pastry I know it's going to be a wonderful treat. My fingers sink in and I hear the compensatory snap of the crust and flakes scatter around my plate. The inside is not cakey but fluffy and moist. They have the texture and taste down. I also like their lattes. I took a star off because of the syrup used in the Greek pastries, i.e., the baklava and galaktoboureko. The taste of Greek pastry is enhanced by Greek honey. Where is the Greek honey? The syrup reminds me of simple syrup and it ruins the taste of the pastry itself. Get the honey and you get 5 stars. read more

Very good cake my favorite is the Bolero. The pastry is ok ....

This is officially my highest rating coz this place deserves it! Their Tiramisu is to die for so is their Black Forest....ok so I love the goodies here....hands down a great place for a coffee and indulging your sweet-tooth... It's great if u wanna get your mind off your lousy roommates or spoiling yourself on a lazy Sunday afternoon...I also love their Baklava....and the variety of goodies...always has me undecided.... :):):) Me likey! read more

Had a superb cappuccino and bag of cookies from this place. I'm a big fan of those Greek Kourabiethes cookies. I grew up getting those every Christmastime from a Greek family friend and they're just as good here. The next day we picked up a large fruit tart for my sister's birthday. We've gotten a similar cake at other bakeries for birthdays, but this one was just stellar. Particularly the crust which was soft and buttery shortbread. Thanks Athan's for letting me knock it out of the park with my family! read more

I am in LOVE with their croissants. I have to admit that I am a bit of a croissant snob. It has to have the right balance of a crispy exterior and most fluffy inside. Athan's croissant is a pretty darn good balance of that. It is definitely a very buttery croissant so don't go wiping your fingers on your clothes after stuffing your face with one of these. The fruit tarts are also really great for special occasions or bringing to a dinner party or even for yourself (I won't judge). I can't speak the cookies that fill the bins in the center of the bakery. But the cakes and pastries in the case are all pretty decent. They have free wifi so there are usually a bunch of folks hanging out with their laptops. If you can't find a seat at the Starbucks up the street then this is your second choice. Try the croissant. Trust me. read more

I will not be returning here!!! Two iced lattes tasted like soap or cleaner the first time and when they were remade. Barista had a terrible attitude when asked for a refund and made a big deal about calling the boss to learn how to give money back. Entire process took an hour for two drinks. Truly one of the worst service experiences I have had and the food is not worth the hassle of dealing with them. read more

Well presented food, that's a wee bit too safe and more on the ho-hum side. Not a bakery to rave about but the offerings are competent and safe bets. Maybe I've been spoiled by how hard some of the Bakeries here on the west coast have to vie for attention, so I wasn't all that impressed. But I was satisfied, so I guess that counts for something. read more

Athan's got me through the nastiest winter ever in Brookline alive. If I it weren't for those croissants I had while waiting for the C line at Washington Square during blizzards.... I might not be here to write this review today. The only missing thing is good coffee; I recommend Caffe Fixe across the street! If you put the two together they'd be unstoppable! read more

What a bustling place on mornings and weekends. You have to definitely search/wait for a table if you don't get there early. I really love their offerings and when I lived in Washington Square, I frequented this cozy European-style shop. I would order a big latte, sit down with my book and just relax for part of the morning. ...Except that before I could relax, I would have to stand in the stressful line and order. There's a lot to consider, what kind of coffee, what kind of sandwich, any bakery items? Oh no, the line is getting longer. I can't commit or focus. I'm so rushed. Uh, can i have a coffee? Anything else? Yea, but I can't tell what to get. So yea, I guess, just the coffee for me. Often that was my experience there. Maybe i would give this place 4 stars if I had ever been able to savor the pre-check out moments. read more

Athan's is one of the few places on my "go-to" list in my neighborhood. I pretty much drag everyone I know in there, and they all leave impressed and asking when we can go back. Simply put, Athan's is magical: it has all of the dark-wooded and aged charm of an old house or pub. Every shelf is and case is brimming with chocolates, pastries, desserts, cookies, biscuits, and gelato. I swear--their chocolate desserts (especially the Jamaica!!) have mood-altering properties. Nothing can fix a bad day for me like a cafe au lait or a hot chocolate and an Athan's pastry. This places has yet to fail me in any way. My friend and I went after a long photoshoot and walk through the Arboretum and a panini was perfect for the two of us to split (and trust me, that guy eats a lot). I took a guy there on our first date after we had a glass of wine at Dalia's down the street and he was completely enamored of the place. Whenever I have a few extra dollars, I pick up a half-pound bag of the almond cookies to go with coffee. The service I've received has always been somewhere between politely distant and very friendly (which suits me just fine). There are days when I just walk in, order, pay, and sit down with little interaction. But when they are less busy, I often find myself chatting about whatever I'm drawing or working on or something with a person behind the counter. All in all, it's definitely worth a visit (or twenty), especially if you live in the area. read more

My first reaction when thinking about/stepping into Athan's: Sigh. (As in, the contented happy sigh, not a disappointed sigh.) This cafe is just so peaceful and wonderful, and their food stands up to the great atmosphere. I come here quite often to study, read, play scrabble, or have a quiet conversation over coffee and dessert. They always have a great selection of music, and it's very diverse, never obtrusive. Athan's was the first cafe I actually liked here in Boston - and so far I haven't found many that beat it. Their espresso is delicious, and they have a pretty good tea selection, featuring both bag and loose-leaf teas. Their coffee isn't the best - not bold enough for my black and bitter taste, but I've had worse. Their paninis are perfection, as well as their array of cookies and desserts. Oh, so tempting, in their big lit up glass display cases! read more

One of the hidden gems of Brookline. When Finales used to reside in Coolidge Corner where Hops n Scotch is, people in the know would head out to Washington Sq. instead. Very accessible by T on the C line and with plenty of street parking. This bakery specializes in typical French and American pastries and cakes. Prices are more than reasonable. They are large enough to share or you can pig out by yourself. The corner store is essentially two rooms. The first is where you order. It is a bit poorly set up. The room is filled all around with their offerings with the cashier in the back. However, there is no self service. I always see the employees rushing out from behind the counters to say there isn't self service to unknowing new customers. Heck, I was one of them once. The pastries that you'll want to try are in a case to the back right. If you order to go, they have nice boxes to place them in if they are gifts (to others... or yourself!). The second room is the bar and seating. Plain decor. Nothing special with drinks, but they do have Greek coffee. There isn't any table service. You pick up and bus yourself. The room is fairly large but often busy with people studying or reading. WiFi isn't the best. In the past they've done Groupon and the sort. Like most Boston bakeries, you'll be spending money either way. I have never been enticed to get their gelato, baklava, chocolate or other assortments. They tend to be on the pricy side even more so. The vegan and gluten free options are limited and look the least appetizing. Regardless... the pastry cakes are good enough that on them alone, this place merits 5 stars. read more

Athan's Bakery is decent. Their coffee tastes like coffee, as it should. The layout is a bit odd: there are two separate rooms and it is not clear where you order and pick up your beverage. There wasn't any communication from the cashier who rang my order, so I stood around awkwardly and then heard my drink called from the other room. There is a two hour time limit on the weekend, which I don't appreciate as someone who has found herself at a coffee shop for hours. The paintings on the wall are odd. It's okay. read more

Athan's Bakery - Kind of weird. - Bakeries Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Excellent coffee and amazing pastries (LOVE the raspberry croissants). My go-to for dessert if I'm having a dinner party or going somewhere. Delicious cakes. Free wi-fi. We live very close and are frequent visitors :-) read more

Came here to get a last minute birthday cake for a girl we didnt even know in a city that I've never been to before. Despite picking this place randomly, the employee was super nice in helping us find a cake and telling us how to prepare it for the party. We ended up with a nice, cute tiramisu cake for ~20 dollars that made everyone at the party happy. Too bad I'll never see this girl again but the memories of the cake will last forever. read more

I like their gelato, I like the ambience of the place, some of their cakes are quite good, but some are just ok. I'd like to give it 3.5 stars, but since I can't I rounded up to 4. A lot of the positive I feel for the place is I like the service they provide. The Boston area simply, to my taste, doesn't have enough cafes like this, giving one someplace to go after dinner to just hang out with a dessert. I think/hope they are expanding this Washington Sq. location, because they only have a couple small tables.. The location in Brighton Center is much larger, so improves on the limited capacity of the Brookline location. And the Brighton store has a food menu, just fyi. read more

I live across from Athan's and have found that I live there many weekends. Since remodeling, the place is just huge, with really nice seating and atmosphere. It is packed at almost all times with folks doing work, reading, or hanging out. I particularly like their teas. The real reason to go to Athan's is for the fantastic desserts, though, so try the Panna Cotta, gelato, Napoleon, or my fave, the baklava. I always try to go a bit early before meeting a friend, just to walk around and check things out - it is a beautiful bakery that does transport one to Europe. I could stare at the fruit tarts and be mesmerized for hours. Some of the pastries, though, are just too sweet. read more

Best cappucino I've had in the States, hands down. Athan's is an excellent place to meet with a friend for a coffee and delicious treat. Their cappucino, as I said, is to die for. Fresh espresso beans and great foam, YUM. I also had a chocolate croissant, which combined just enough chocolate with perfectly bakes flakiness to be exactly the thing to hit the spot. It also seems like a good place to purchase gifts. Their chocolates, pastrie and desserts seem to be popular and would work well as a gift around holidays, birthdays or anytime. read more

Athan's is pretty amazing. Let's face facts here. Their regular hot coffee with cream and sugar far surpasses any Starbucks or Duncan Donuts coffee. Moving on the the gelato: Unreal. During the summer I frequent Athan's for the Chocolate and Hazelnut 2 scoop. I am sure it NOT exactly like gelato straight out of Italy.. but is damn good! Eclairs... mmm... eclairs. You get it. read more

A great place to bring guests and friends who are in need of a coffee/tea break and a little Greek pastry action. The vanilla chai tea is wonderful and the Greek pastries with filo are good (although a far cry from the tastes of yia-yia's kitchen.) The Melomakarona (the honey/walnut cookies) I've found to be a little too dry. I can honestly say I've never been disappointed with their gelato. And unfortunately, their beautiful colorful desserts in the glass case near the register are no where near as good as they look.(Just tonight I tried a piece of the CItron cake and a friend had the heart-shaped Sara cake...sad to say, the cake components of our dessert were dried out. This resulted in what we both agreed was a gritty texture in our mouths. Yuck!) Moral of the story: stick with their filo based desserts, gelato, and teas! Finally, I will say that I have no clue how people come to work/study here. Almost without fail it is always packed and not only do I begin feeling bad for keeping others from a table by staying so long in my attempt to get work done, but sometimes the chatter gets so loud I can't come anywhere near being able to focus. If you find these kinds of things don't bother you then you might find it an okay study place. (I've had much more luck with the study environment at their Brighton location ...but I admit that the atmosphere isn't quite as charming and feels a little too much like an European Ikea. Not that it's bad, it's just not my idea of cozy.) read more

The coffee and pastries are above average, and the seating area is well kept and enjoyable. However, the service is pretty awful. They're usually grumpy and sour pussed, and it's so universal amongst all the staff that I'm inclined to think that the management must be terrible? The odds that everyone Athan's has hired over the past few years has been clinically depressed is way too low. Go for the coffee and food (it's preferable to the next door Starbucks), but don't expect any friendliness. read more

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

I came to this place because of a Groupon. It was very hard to find parking, there is no parking for this place, I ended up the street and walked a block or so. It definitely is a cute building and the interior design and decor was very cute. As you walk in it is all of their pastries from that day and it's just a slew of all different types of sweets and breads and such. I ended up getting a raspberry chocolate thing, it was very good, a little grainy in taste and I'm also not a huge chocolate fan (yes I know you think I'm crazy now) and this was one of the least chocolate-y items they had. I then ordered a soy latte and a chicken ceasar salad. The latte was good and the salad was too, but I think for the price of 8 or 9 bucks they could have thrown some bread on the side or something, it didn't take long for her to throw some lettuce in the round metal tin and then hand it to me. Pretty big open space, I was able to sit at a larger table even though they ask you not too and was able to connect to their internet and do some work. As I was leaving, I used the restroom and the first thing I said when I walked in was "Am I going to get murdered in here?" Only because the light to the dark ominous red room was very dim. I don't think I would come back for enjoyment and personal decision, but it was a nice experience and I think you should try it! read more

The boy and I decided to have a early birthday celebration for him yesterday, since the next few weeks are going to be so crazy (mother in-law is coming, and other things). We started off with a nice lunch at Jacob Wirth's and he had his typical German birthday meal, Sausages, Sauerkrat, German Potato Salad and Beer. We decided to then stop in our old neighborhood, Brookline and pay a visit to his favorite bakery; Athans. Athans, is a European style bakery that focuses mostly on Greek pastries. They have the most amazing Bakalava Bar where you can choose from many styles and create your own. He selected one of the pre-done samplers. They also have a biscuit (cookie) bar where you can select from many types of cookies, they also have the most amazing Gelatto selection, plus coffees and other beverages to accompany your selection. Their pastry selection is also wonderful and includes; caramel mousse, cheesecakes, black forest cake, fruit tartlets, tiramasus and much more. I selected my favorite the Napoleon which is layers of golden carmelized puff pastry filled with mousseline cream. Athan's staff is always very friendly, and willing to help you make a dessert selection. The environment is gorgeously decorated and they have plenty of seating plus free wifi. I wish I would have been brave enough to take a picture of thier gorgeous interiors, including the amazing chandlier in the middle of the bakery. Thier bakalva is dripping with honey, but not soggy or heavy. The puff pastry of the baklava is golden, crisp and delicious. They have many kinds including ones with nuts and ones without. My Napoleon was delicious, the pastry was flaky and pure perfection and the mousseline cream was sweet but not overly sweet. Again...pure perfection. This is why we go back again and again. Check out Athan's Bakery if you are ever in Brookline. They also have a new location in Brighton and do wedding cakes and catering. read more

Athan's is a nice setting to meet up with a small group a friends. Good coffee. Fair desserts. I'm a fan of richer pasty creams that are almost custard-like, and athan's pastry cream has a consistency closer to whipped cream. The mediterranean desserts are great - buttery with just the right amount of sweetness. The galactoboureko is yummy and I am glad they brought it back. Gelato selection is interesting (includes some off-the-beaten path flavors like fig, etc) but on a busy day they seem slow to replenish the case with a fresh supply so the pickings are slim. If you order a tea and need a hot water refill, be prepared to pay for another tea (no hot water refills). read more

Don't overlook the display of "biscuits" in the middle of the bakery. Those cookies are buttery, tender and a perfect companion to a hot drink. The service is good and the atmosphere is nice. They have a large selection of pastries and if you are craving baklava in any shape or form, this is the place to go. read more

I Love this place my favorites are: Napolian Jamican Citrus Drinks menu need to be updated. read more

I love the cream pastries, and it's a nice place to get special occasion cakes. The seating is a great addition, and the only bad thing I'd have to say is that their sandwiches leave something to be desired. Otherwise, delicious! read more

What they said was chocolate cake with chocolate mousse was actually yellow cake with chocolate ganache. Cake was crumbly and not moist. Won't be returning. read more