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    Backhaus

    4.4 (900 reviews)
    Closed Closed

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    BACKHAUS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Backhaus

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    Inside
    Arthur T.

    Backhaus has been on my to-visit list for so long! Two of us ordered: croissant $5.50 cold brew $6.75 Cold brew definitely on the pricier side. Coffee was standard and croissant was nice. Came by in the afternoon around 2:30PM after lunch, so not much was left. Staff mentioned to come early in the morning since they usually sell out within a few hours! Street parking / garage parking a few blocks away.

    Espresso with sparkling water
    Felix W.

    I ordered an espresso. They were serving a single origin from ritual and its dailed in well. There was good crema and creamy texture, with fruity undertones complementing mild acidity. 4/5 Would definitely come back if in the area.

    My morning coffee - a 12 oz mocha
    Jeff T.

    Your morning coffee is a ritual, right? A daily routine with sights, sounds, and smells; also aromas and, for drowsy me, awakening if I'm very lucky. Usually my coffee ritual involves a familiar, welcoming place. Today that place was Backhaus, a San Mateo Bakery and Coffee house The staff is friendly, skilled, and blessedly quick given the frequent lines. Backhaus is a local favorite. I suggest one of their "little dude" bites (flaky goodness, a touch of chocolate, and lightly salted) and a mocha (8 or 12 oz) made from (I kid not!) Ritual beans. There's not much inside seating space and it can feel crowded so you're probably going to take your coffee to go. Prices are a touch high but the quality matches and such is the lot for those of us in search of a good pour. You'll find that good pour here.

    Chocolate sourdough
    Laura L.

    I've tried quite a few of their items over the years and all the pastries are quite good. The real standout item for me is the mini chocolate sourdough though. The texture is both soft and chewy with great chocolate flavor. I can eat it alone but it's even better when warmed up. Highly recommend it!

    KOUIGN AMANN, BLACK SESAME & KUMQUAT KOUIGN AMANN, SAUERKRAUT PRETZEL, CHOCOLATE TEA CARE SLICE, SPECK & EGG CROISSANT BOWL
    Rei K.

    In the mornings, there's always a long line, which already tells you how popular this bakery is. It's also incredibly creative--both in flavors and presentation. By late morning, most items are usually sold out. I've visited twice: once around 10 a.m., and another time close to closing, around 3 p.m. When I came at 10 a.m., almost all of the choices were still available, which made it the perfect time to visit. On the other hand, during my late-afternoon visit, there was very little left. Recommendation: The Speck & Egg Croissant Bowl was especially creative and absolutely delicious. The Kouign-amann is a solid, can't-go-wrong choice, and the black sesame version was also excellent. Seating is limited, but they do offer drinks, so it's possible to eat in. The high ceiling makes the space feel open and comfortable, even when it's busy. If you want the full selection, I highly recommend coming earlier in the day. This place is clearly in high demand, and it's easy to see why.

    Everything cream cheese
    Tina L.

    Phenomenal pastries and I love the location because they're also nearby shops. You can check out. I tried the everything cream cheese pastry so it was essentially a puff pastry with everything wiggles seasoning and housemaid cream cheese. It was just delicious and super super crispy.

    Seasonal slipper: Japanese curry
    Tran H.

    It's been a while since I've been back to this location but it was a Friday afternoon and there was still plenty of pastries and bread left to choose. I was looking for a walnut bread but the cashier informed it was a seasonal bread that hasn't returned yet. I opt for their epi bread ($8) which makes for great mini avocado toasties! I also saw a very interesting seasonal slipper bread with flavor, Japanese curry (vegetarian)! It was surprisingly delicious because the base was made with sourdough, but the texture was quite nice and the savory curry was delicious! I hope they carry this item more in the future!

    Pastries
    Dharma M.

    Very famous bakery in San Mateo downtown. They started from Farmer's Market and now they have two storefront. Both store are very busy. Today we stopped by the Burlingame one and line pretty long and decided to stop by San Mateo store. Line was long but move quickly. We got litte dudes, almond croissant, and spek and egg. We also get latte. They have plenty of pastries and all made in the shop. Pricewise is reasonable eventhough I think a bit high. I usually get almond , croissant, or ham and cheese croissant.

    menu
    Celina T.

    I love this cafe and the minimalist furnishings! Reminded me so much of the cafes in Europe. We went in late after our workout @ coreyoga, so missed out in trying out their pastries and baked goods. It was sold out by 1 PM, so it must have been really good! Their espresso tonic was delicious and how creative to add an orange peel on top. It was nicely decorated for the holidays too. Not a lot of tables indoors, but there's a lot of outdoor seating in the back patio. Service was quick since we walked in around 1 pm (no line at all).

    Robert W.

    Have been to Burlingame location before. This time a friend brought back some delicious pastries from the San Mateo location. Pastries were fresh and had pretty unique flavors. Particularly appreciate the novelty and different combinations of both sweet and savory options. Will definitely be back when in downtown San Mateo

    Kouign Amann
    Cat N.

    What a wonderful time we had at the new backhaus in San Mateo. We had gone to the Burlingame one and enjoyed it. We didn't even know they had opened one in San Mateo, but we got in line when we saw that there was a long line formed and sure enough it was Backhaus. The guy that works there is really nice as is the barista. It's a really nice looking restaurant on the ambience is cool and they have a lovely backyard seat seating area. The food is outstanding. I'm pretty sure it was the best kouign amann I've ever tasted, including going to the original at B. Patisserie. There's just no reason to go to San Francisco anymore for desserts. The coffee was also exceptional. It's one of the best lattes I've ever had. The coffee was so smooth. They use ritual coffee and it was great. I highly recommend going and I'm really glad that the employees get automatic tips because they deserve it.

    chocolate croissant, morning bun, strawberry scone, kumquat cheesecake swirl
    Jessica H.

    Updating review from the pandemic era (pastries were dry and boxed, now they are fresh and on display). Good coffee and pastries. The flat white was smooth and strong tasting. Good consistency and made with ritual coffee (nice and local). The chocolate croissant had a nice crisp bite on the outside and featured nice layers inside which were soft and airy. The chocolate was dark and rich, very good taste. Not a whole lot of chocolate, but enough to keep the flavors going. Hard to get pastries here unless you come early early as they sell out pretty fast. The availability is not the greatest (especially compared to some other bakeries). Would be nice if they made a bit more. Anyway, at least chocolate croissants seem to last past noon time in what I've observed.

    Pistachio raspberry croissant
    Ce L.

    Came here with my wife cause she was in the mood for breakfast. There was a line out the door but it seemed to be moving decently fast even for a saturday so we were able to get in and order in less than 15 minutes. The workers were friendly and since we ordered for there, we grabbed our baked goods and coffee and sat in the back patio space which is nice and quaint! Great vibes and good coffee in a ceramic mug which is very much what I would expect for the area but it was a great way to take a breather on our road trip north to enjoy a quiet saturday morning! Wife got the pistachio raspberry croissant and I got the chocolate croissant since it would balance with the mocha I got! Both great choices for breakfast!

    Everything Croissant Bowl and Ham and Cheese Croissant

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    The bread smells so nice and tastes good! We tried their country loaf and it was awesome!

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    Page 1 of 23

    Backhaus Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Backhaus

    Anyone know what their hours are 12/26/25?

    We are closed today. Back open tomorrow, 12/27.

    Is this place dog friendly?

    No only service dogs allowed.

    Any gluten free options?

    Unfortunately we currently do not have any products on the menu that are naturally gluten free. As a business using as much flour as we do, we are unable to guarantee zero potential of cross contamination, so we choose not to create gluten free… Read more

    Is there unlimited free wifi?

    Hi. Do the pastries have lard or pork products?

    No butter

    Does your croissant contain eggs?

    The dough itself does not contain any egg, but we apply an egg wash (egg & heavy whipping cream) to the outside prior to baking.

    Can I place preorder in case things run out?

    I saw people picking up orders while I was in line there.

    How do I buy a croissant?

    you can go later in the day for croissants, they make more batches throughout the day, for other pastries like morning bun, galette, etc you have to go before 10AM on a weekday or 9AM on a weekend since they run out quickly.

    Hi! I recently ordered a latte with oat milk. I am just curious which brand of oat milk do you guys use?

    We use Minor Figures oat milk.

    Is the patio in the back open for outdoor dining during COVID?

    No, we are currently not offering any outdoor seating, sorry.

    Can you come in to purchase or is it online only?

    We have extras for walk-up customers, but pastries often sell out early, so it’s best to come in the morning.

    Are any baked goods available on walk-in basis, without online preorder?

    I was told they sold out of the pastries when I stopped by around noon on a Sunday. So get there early if you want to a pastry with your coffee

    How come their website doesn't have descriptions of each bread or pastry? I always want to know more about each pastry, ingredients, flavor, etc, but their in store menus are so minimal.

    It can be hard online to know exactly what's in something. However, in store the servers can tell you what the items are and what's in them. They've helped me pick some good pastries before.

    What days is your olive bread sold?

    Our olive sourdough is available every Wednesday, and we also offer olive fougasse on Saturdays and Sundays.

    Any nut free pastries?

    Yes. Plain croissants, pretzel twists, fruit pastries, etc. But if you have a severe allergy, might need to special request (glove change, etc.). The pastries with nuts are right next to the ones without.

    Is the bakery located inside of a building?

    There is a front entrance. Easy to miss since it is between two stores.

    Any items without dairy?

    Currently all of our breads are dairy free, with the exception of the Asiago & Black Pepper loaf (available Fridays only) and any pretzel products. All of our pastries contain dairy.

    Will they be open New Year's Day? Getting conflicting information online

    No they're closed NYE and Nee Years Day

    Do you sell sourdough without seeds?

    Yes, we currently bake our Country loaf as well as a porridge loaf Wednesday through Sunday, an olive loaf on Wednesdays, Marbled Rye (with caraway) on Thursdays, and Asiago & Black Pepper on Fridays. We also offer a whole wheat loaf with raisins,… Read more

    What time on weekends do the majority of the pastries run out? 1:30 pm I guess is too late!

    I'd say the good pastries (at least my favorite) are gone by 10 AM!

    View All 32 Questions

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    Foreigner

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    I came here for breakfast, and it was great! The location is very nice, and the seats and tables…read moreare stylish and comfortable. I got the smoked salmon Benedict, and enjoyed it immensely. The eggs were perfectly poached, the Hollandaise was tasty (but not overwhelming), and the biscuits they come in were really tasty. I also appreciated the lightly dressed salad that came as a side: the greens were very fresh. I also got the Cuban Cortadito, and I was pumped to have a non-dairy coffee drink. It was very well made: the slight hint of condensed milk was a nice touch. It was a nice sweet drink without being cloyingly sweet. But they have so many tasty coffee drinks that it was hard to choose, so I'll def be back to try more of them!

    My friend and I came here last Saturday at around 11:30am. Despite the rain and wet streets that…read moreday, the restaurant was busy and lively. We ordered our food and drinks first at the register and then they gave us a buzzer, which we took to a table of our choice. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, and fortunately, we were able to find a table inside. I ordered the Foreigner Favorite and an iced Yema Latte. My friend ordered the Veggie Scramble and an iced Euro Latte. We both requested less sweet for our drinks. This turned out good for the Euro Latte but I had to go back and ask them to increase the sweetness for the Yema Latte. The drinks were good, nothing too mind-blowing. The Foreigner Favorite was yummy. I really liked the sausages and poached eggs. I love potatoes, and I wish these were a little bit crispier. Regardless, it was an enjoyable dish overall. It was also very filling, and I ended up taking leftovers home.

    Backhaus - bakeries - Updated May 2026

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