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    Café Dear Leon

    4.8 (475 reviews)
    ModerateCafes, Bakeries, Desserts
    Closed 6:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Café Dear Leon Photos

    Business Info

    CAFÉ DEAR LEON ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Café Dear Leon

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    Peter P.

    This place still is the best in Baltimore for baked goods/ pastries. There can be a line depending on the time but it's worth it. The staff here are so welcoming and friendly. Plenty of coffee drink options. Inside is small but they have covered seating out side so you can enjoy your treats. Most recent visit I got an almond croissant and it was amazing, definitely one of the best I've ever had. It was crisp and flaky chewy, right amount of sweetness with the perfect balance of almond flavor. This place is a Baltimore must stop, definitely recommend and will be back for sure.

    Iced mocha latte & iced matcha latte w/ vanilla bean syrup
    Rachel N.

    Update: I don't come here as often as I should. Just know that the quality is the same. I haven't seen it falter. Always a good time here. The food is so so so amazing. If you're visiting MD, you MUST stop here. It's worth it.

    Outside
    Wini O.

    Definitely believe the hype! I was so excited to come visit Cafe Dear Leon. I went around 6am and there was no line so I was very excited. I ordered their infamous Crab Dip Bagel and a matcha. The crab dip bagel was everything and more! So good and great quality ingredients. I enjoyed every bite. The matcha had a strong taste and wasn't too sweet at all which is great. They also make their syrups in house. Overall a great cafe to visit if you're in the Baltimore area!

    Drew S.

    Yelp fam! I can't believe I haven't done a review on this Gem. Cafe Dear Leon is like that friend you had growing up who got famous but still checks in and hangs out with you. Even after they went viral they continue to provide a fantastic product, experience, atmosphere & vibe. Pro Tip* If you can find time to go during the week early you can really get in and out quickly. Great service as always. I usually go with an Iced Mocha- which is top tier Crab dip bagel - GOATed Honestly any pastry item from this bakery is great, they don't miss, Steph Curry type stuff. The staff is always nice and prompt. Highly recommend this spot.

    S'mores cookie
    Jazz T.

    So there's not an awning or sign to locate the shop. But there will be a long line. Apparently the line is typically around the corner from what ppl say. But, the line wasn't this time. I got in line at 12:37 and left with my items by 1:08. They do take FOREVER and they only allow 6 ppl in at one time and it's STRICTLY enforced. I ordered the crab dip bagel, banana bread, s'mores cookie and monkey bread... my total was $30. I was wondering why something with crab was so cheap and that's because the little bit of crab that you see at the top of the bagel is all that you get. There was no crab throughout. It was mostly cream cheese and corn. And not much crab flavor. The banana bread lacked that uhmph... like it was missing something... maybe cinnamon or even more banana. The s'mores cookie was basic and too chocolatety for my liking. I ate the marshmallow/biscoff cookie top. Now the monkey bread was ok. Actually it's the best thing that I ordered really. It wasn't traditional in any way, it was croissant-textured, the passion fruit caramel is what steals the show. Definitely the best part. To be honest, I wouldn't go back. The long wait mixed with the bare minimum makes me realize that this was just an overhyped tiktok trend.

    Jody M.

    I'm glad I waited in the line! When I first walked up I didn't know what make of the line out front. Should I wait? Should I leave? I asked the couple in front of me if this was usual and they said yes but it moves quickly. I'm so glad I waited! The coffee and pastries were amazing. I had a seasonal coffee and a crab dip bagel. That bagel was pure heaven. There's no seating inside but there is some outdoor seating on the sidewalk. Friendly and fast service too.

    Thomas N.

    Hands down the best bakery/cafe that I ever tried. Came here from Baltimore and the line wasn't that bad however the service and line moved quick. This location was big and had seating which was nice. The pastries and items they had was PHENOMENAL!

    Kaya E.

    Whenever I'm in Baltimore in the morning/early afternoon I make sure that I head to one place... and that's Cafe Dear Leon. Their crab dip bagels are sooo sooo good. I tried them out for the first time last year and then again a week ago and everything was exactly as I remember it to be. Friendly service, hot and fresh food and not too long of a wait The inside of the cafe is also very well organized with a small retail space filled with merch and plants. They do a great job making the most of the small space, it's a very homey feel. I haven't tried anything else on the menu lol but other items in their case look delicious with sweet and savory options. Highly recommend especially because parking isn't too bad during the day. Support this small, local business.

    Crab dip bagel
    Lauren C.

    Ventured up to Baltimore to hangout for the day coming from DC. Cafe Dear Leon has been on my list for some time now and I was so excited to try. I went on a Wednesday so no line and plenty of goods still in stock. Had to get the crab dip bagel. It really is that good. Never sure nowadays what is hype and what actually tastes good but the bagel was amazing. I was debating getting another crab dip bagel to take home and eat later. It has a generous about of crab in it and they serve it warm. I recommend eating the crab dip bagel soon after you receive your order. Yes, you could place it in the microwave at home but I don't think it's the same experience. I also got a s'mores cookie for dessert. It was very good as well. My total came out to $16 for my two items. The crab dip bagel was $10-$11 and the cookie $4, plus tax. I will be back for sure!!

    Qinyue H.

    Needless to say, everything I tried was delicious. My personal favorites were the Smoked Salmon on Everything Focaccia (12/10) and the Basque Cheesecake (10/10). The smoked salmon focaccia is incredibly rich and well-balanced. The scallion cream cheese is deep and flavorful, pairing beautifully with the crispy pickled onions, caper berries, and fresh arugula, which add brightness and layered aromas to the sandwich. I truly can't recommend this focaccia enough--and the portion is generous. I ended up sharing half with my friend! The Basque cheesecake is dense and indulgent, bursting with cheesy flavor without being overly sweet. It's the perfect companion to a cup of coffee. The staff were gentle and very attentive to hygiene. They spoke softly when near the food and were warm and enthusiastic at the counter. The space itself feels cozy and inviting. I can't wait to come back and try more items!

    Edrika G.

    I've been wanting to try this bakery for quite some time. I don't know why, but I've been on this bakery kick for the past few months. This place has rave reviews. My partner & I came through on a rainy day, hoping there wouldn't be a long line. It wasn't that long. It helps that they have a heated awning to wait under. It was a bit cool, so that was great. It didn't take us long to get inside. We studied the menu while we waited. I ordered the crab tamago sando. I was initially planning for the smoked salmon, but since that's my go-to, I thought I'd try something different. It tasted like an egg salad sandwich with crab. There was enough crab in the sandwich that I could taste it. I also ordered the Koginut Pumpkin Tart, Toffee cookie, and chocolate chip cookie. OMG, those sweets were delicious. That's my Achilles heel------- sweets. If I return, I'll opt for the Salmon! And of course, more cookies!

    Crab Dip Bagel
    Danika G.

    Cafe Dear Leone is exactly as hyped as everyone says. As you can see in the photos, all the items are pictured, and yes, there is always a line down the block. I was not excited about standing in line at all, but I had to try the crab bagel, so here we are. The wait was about 30 minutes, and it was hot outside, but it was absolutely worth it. Once inside, we had a lot of questions. Even though the staff was clearly focused on moving the line along, they were calm, kind, and genuinely helpful. We didn't linger, but we never felt rushed in a bad way. The space itself is very small, so there is really no room to hang out and enjoy your food there. Since we already survived the line, we figured we might as well order everything that caught our attention. My favorite item ended up being the Tamgo Sando. I would stand in that line every day for that sandwich, or honestly just for the recipe.

    Crème brûlée and a raspberry pistachio doughnut
    Shay N.

    When I say that this was worth every dollar they charged me of the $58 I spent... I would do it all over again with no hesitation. Every last thing was absolutely delicious. The service was wonderful, there was a short line outside because it's a very small shop, but it went very quickly and the environment was very friendly. Iced coffee, and iced tea was delightful, but the food is a star of the show. The focaccia, bacon egg and cheese was so crispy and the egg was so soft and it had just enough flavor to leave you wanting more. My friend really loved the egg salad sandwich that they got, they especially loved the runny egg in it and the flavor was excellent they said. We shared the crème brûlée and the doughnut, both were subtly, sweet and very well done. The flavors were just so well executed. The crème brûlée was dangerous... I could've eaten several more, and this is most definitely going to be one of my stops coming back to Baltimore. If you have a chance, try it.

    Crab tamago sando, vanilla maritozzi

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    Café Dear Leon Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Café Dear Leon

    Do they make a kouign amaan? (French variation on a donut theme)? Can be spectacular!

    Hey I'm not sure sorry! I didn't see that multiple times I went there.

    Are dogs allowed indoors?

    Yes! They allow one dog in at a time

    View All 3 Questions

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    Love the vibrant orange decor.
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    Wonderful floor plan, interior design, music, lighting and overall atmosphere. LOVE!…read more The staff were all so lovely from the moment I walked in. So kind. So helpful. So friendly. So sweet. The food was divine. Truly. The egg sandwich was so good. The croissant was perfectly crunchy buttery and although seemed like too much for me, it was perfect. The eggs were perfectly cooked. The perfect temperature. The cheese was very good, creamy, naturally flavorful not overly so. I guess I just can't praise this place enough. I stayed a while so need up getting a second drink, the Sakura matcha latte which was very tasty too - all round the right amount of matcha-y! Lol! I also ordered the blueberry eclair - not too sweet. Perfect size. Perfect ratio. Not to mention, beautiful. Just perfect. Love this place! Will go back every time I'm in town. Not crazy about the parking situation in the area but whatever, that's the way it is round there and luckily I found a spot easily :) Check this place out. It's truly lovely.

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