Really enjoyed my avocado toast here. The preserved lemons added a nice sweet citrus touch. Cinnamon roll was delicious. Cold brew here is excellent. The frittata was a little cold in the center - could have used a bit more time in the oven for me. read more

Croissant anyone? Because if you love a soft, buttery croissant... Companion Bakeshop has them! I am giving 5-stars for these beauties. I looked forward to this visit. I had driven by it many times. Usually late in the day after their closing hours. So I was happy to make it in again (after years) and buy a couple of the few remaining croissants. I have had the pleasure of tasting the famous sour dough bread. It is served at several nearby restaurants. It is fabulous! The bakeshop is small but cute. Located on busy Soquel Drive in Aptos. The side yard is nice to sit outside in that wonderful, cool air and nosh on your goodies. I have posted photos of their menus. Breakfast items, cookies, breads, and assorted pastries offered. Vegan and GF. Coffee/tea drinks too. Reviewers mention the less than friendly service. I have to agree. While the items are delicious employees need to step up and at least act like they value their customers. Not a good look. I have memories of better service years ago. The original Companion Bakeshop is on the Santa Cruz Westside! Here's to flaky croissants AND hopefully not flaky customer service.:) Cheers! read more

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Came here for breakfast while staying at the nearby Sea Cliff Inn. Food and coffee: Small selection of baked goods including fresh breads, croissants, pastries. We ordered a raspberry "pop tart" (filled pastry with frosting), plain croissant, and avocado toast. All were very good. Their fresh breakfast sandwiches "weren't available yet" (not sure what that meant) and the avocado toast did take a while to make. Service: Service was a little aloof but fine. Ambiance: Only a few indoor seats, two outdoor tables and kids toys though next to the road. Very modern and new interior. Would recommend trying, be prepared for a short line / wait. read more

Companion Bakeshop - Avocado toast - Bakeries Near Me - Aptos, California

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Decide to pickup something for our hike ! Grab couple item and enjoyed them ! The pain au chocolate croissant was flaky, chewy with a good amount of chocolates and the scone was surprising my fav using buckwheat and blueberries. The only downside was it was a bit on the pricier side but worth a visit ( they do also charge a 3% fee for using a credit card) . Staff were patient and friendly while we were deciding what to get since it was our first visit read more

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Really cute storefront. There's a store to the side, and a great display of pastries. I can see why they draw a crowd. Got here right after opening and took a stroll around. They were in the middle of making sandwiches, which did look appetizing. Got in line at a perfect time because it quickly grew behind me. I always go with the basics... purchased a true French baguette, and a delicious looking chocolate chip cookie. Solid 4 stars for the French baguette. Great crispy crust, nice airy inside, not dense at all. Awesome for dipping in coffee. My only downside is the price. $6 for a French baguette... why? I'm waiting to see if it gives me any super powers. As for the chocolate chip cookie... perfect example of how looks can be deceiving. I know it's all preference, but it was just a basic cookie. No sea salt added for that something extra and no browned butter to be found. Just an ordinary, overly priced cookie. Sadly, does not win a spot for my top 5. Also, the gentleman at the counter was pretty frigid. Maybe a bad morning? Perhaps that's his personality. Who knows, but I wouldn't expect much at the counter as far as hospitality goes. read more

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1 star because they add a 3% fee for using a credit card, and don't mention it anywhere. Food-wise: - 5/5: The morning bun (a sticky bun) is outstanding. Ultra-caramelized goodness. - 4/5: The thumbprint cooking is very respectable. read more

Companion Bakeshop - Date Oat Thumbprint cookie $5 - Bakeries Near Me - Aptos, California

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Wonderful bakery with delicious coffee and excellent service. This place had a line out the door! They were pretty fast and very friendly. The pastries were the best I have had since Bouchon in Yountville. Croissants were buttery and flakey with so many tiny layers! Cute interior with a nice patio with plenty of seating. read more

I love this place. The coffee is strong and smooth. I always get the cold brew which can be hit or miss most places. it's Always perfect here. You have got to try the buckwheat blueberry scones. Nothing quite like them anywhere. Also we have a rule that if we're going to eat bread it has to come from here. Why waste the calories on bad bread. Also the little sandwiches are so good. Our favorite is the pesto goat cheese. The pickled onions it's sometimes really busy but I always manage to find a seat. Can't beat the rich smell of butter in the air. read more

This pastry was a 10/10 had to fight my husband for it. I would eat every day if I could. read more

Companion Bakeshop - Lemon meringue danish - Bakeries Near Me - Aptos, California

This is definitely one of the breakfast spots in Aptos, it was moderately busy in the morning with a nice family vibe Service was great and food was great, the bacon topped quiche with spinach was fantastic and fluffy, stop by if you can! read more

Companion Bakeshop - Bacon egg spinach w/toast - Bakeries Near Me - Aptos, California

I got their Matcha latte with Rose and Cardamom syrup and my husband got an Iced Mocha. Loved the mocha, I regretted not getting a hot one for myself. They are super popular and despite long lines at 9 o'clock in the morning, their service was quick. Really good baked goods as well, their Ham and Gruyere croissant was flaky and fresh and Salami Mozzarella sandwich was very easy to bite into and packed with flavors. It was a beautiful morning and the outside seating made it even better. read more

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Don't ask for your cinnamon roll to be warmed up, it's not allowed bc the frosting falls off. Even with the disclaimer, they wouldn't do it. So dumb. I should have got something else. read more

Companion Bakeshop - Cinnamon roll. - Bakeries Near Me - Aptos, California

Quick efficient service, product is outstanding!! Nothing much more to add! Will come back. read more

Our Saturday morning stop after the farmers market at Cabrillo. The best lattes and breakfast foods. I like the frittatas. It comes with a piece of their great toast and butter. We get a sandwich to go for lunch and an amazing GF brownie for a dinner treat. A fresh loaf of bread for the week and we are set. read more

Missed the chocolate mini baguettes this weekend. Stopped by Saturday and they were unavailable. "Come back Sunday" No delivery Sunday either. Bummed to hit the store at 8am if you aren't baking them. read more

Had a really lovely breakfast here on a Saturday morning. There was a line out the door when we arrived around 10am, but staff were friendly and helpful. Got a bunch of savory items and also enjoyed their very spacious bathroom which was very child/toddler/parent friendly. Plenty of room for a stroller, changing a baby, or helping your kiddo wash hands. read more

Lovely neighborhood bakery with delicious pastries, the galettes, ollalieberry danish, ham and gruyere croissants stood out, our kids loved the chocolate croissants. Guy behind the counter was very patient with our big order. Would definitely return when we are back in the area. read more

The ham and gruyere is the bomb-my husbands favorite. We swing by the shop in Aptos or meet them at the Farmers market at least once a week. There are only 3 ham and cheese croissants worth the time or money. Companion, Gayles and Croissant in Los Gatos. Dont change a thing! read more

The baked goods we tried were great. The wall of bread looked amazing, but since we were only in town for a few days it would have been impossible to enjoy properly, but hope to next time read more

Bakery items are good. Where else can you arrive 15-minutes before closing and are told "No coffee drinks now, machine has already been cleaned" or show up 15-minutes before closing and the closed sign is up. Today, December 24, they were closed at 1:45 P.M. This is the difference between owner operated and non-owner operator. read more

Clean store, friendly staff, good espresso drinks, and average prices. Indoor seating is limited but there's a large outdoor patio that belongs to the shopping center. Easy parking is right there. I didn't try the baked goods but they do look enticing. read more

Located in a nice little Plaza in Aptos. Funny bec i thought they were closed at 3p based on yelp, however, i saw a head move, from where we were parked, which was a good 25 steps at least so we made a dash. The shop was cute! As you can see from the pics, they had other cute items besides baked goods. Very clean. Pleasant service. I would have to come back here again to try other items. We can say, the chocolate cookie was very yummy, then the brownie. The GF blueberry sconce was a hit, too. The banana bread slice was just ok. We also got a whole loaf of GF bread, however it was hard as a rock and wasn't really tasty. I even warmed it a little but didnot really help the texture. Overall, it was a good experience and will def be back! read more

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Cute place with lots of yummy options, including for vegans. I love, love their vegan coffee cake! read more

Companion Bakeshop - Bakeries Near Me - Aptos, California

I wanted to love this bakeshop, as I am a firm believer in the magic of local bakeries. Friends recommended Companion, and I've had their baked goods. However, our visit to the bakery crushed those good feelings. Service was terrible, except for one employee who was trying, in spite of the apathetic attitude of his co-workers. They operated as if the customers were the least-relevant part of their job. They should have stood back and let him provide excellent assistance to their customers. One employee was just leaning on the counter, staring into space and ignoring us. What a disappointment. Great baked goods cannot make up for an awful customer experience, based on the other reviews, the owner needs to tighten things up and do some mystery shopping. We gave up and did not purchase. read more

Stopped in the morning before a beach walk with a dog ordered a cranberry almond tea cake. It's excellent big huge almonds, big huge cranberries unlike anyone I've ever had before. Also ordered an 8 ounce maple latte. Two shots of espresso made to perfection. Service was great you can see by the picturethe time she took to make my drink it's gorgeous ambience is OK. They have this big door at the front. I'm sure it's great in the summer but freezing in the winter. read more

Companion Bakeshop - Maple - Bakeries Near Me - Aptos, California

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We had a great experience at Companion Bakeshop in Aptos! Everyone was very friendly, the shop was super charming and the food & drink was superb. I had fantastic avocado toast and an unsweetened "Golden Milk" with tumeric and black pepper. So creamy! We also had a soft, moist, fluffy lemon berry scone and a devine lemon black tea shortbread cookie. They have great local gifts for sale here too, including fancy caramels, kitchen goods, mugs, water bottles and T-shirts. read more

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Consistently rude staff who act like taking your order is a burden. Today was the final straw--my latte had a sour, chemical taste, possibly from spoiled milk. I ended up tossing it. Between the off drink and the attitude, I'm done. I won't be returning. read more

I dropped my kids off at a summer camp and accidentally found this gem. The smell of fresh sourdough. sight of the bannetons and delicious assortment of baked goods would even the amateur pastry/sourdough geek fall in love with this place. Moreover, the staff were super friendly and engaging. We chatted about leaven, shaping and proofing times. True artisans of break baking! The food was really good and reasonably priced. We had the almond croissant, veggie quiche, chocolate croissant and Mondays only lemon-poppy seed bear claw. Washed down with a hot chocolate and iced americano. Truly delightful! I love supporting local vendors and I will always make a point to support these bakery. The world does not need more Paneras. The world needs more local bakers supporting their community. Thanks!!! read more

Companion Bakeshop - Almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Aptos, California

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While I like their plain croissants, I do believe the recipe has change since they the opened the Aptos location. Regardless, I truly believe they hire people with the sole intention of being rude. Companion bakery and customer service are antonyms at the Aptos location. I have been in line multiple times in which the people behind the counter are talking amongst themselves and ignoring the long line of customers. Maybe the job description requires rude and insolent service. Regardless, they flip that tip machine around so fast.. too bad their service does not warrant a tip. read more

Great food and coffee. I stopped by while visiting. Definitely better than the big chains. And the bakery was also really great. read more

This new Companion is less than 10 miles south on Hwy 1 from their original Westside Santa Cruz location which I have been a big fan of since early 2015 when I first discovered them. Locals know this to be a go-to spot for amazing loaves, baked goods and coffee, and savvy out-of-towners know this is the place to stop in to get their wonderful carb and caffeine fix before heading out to explore the coast or as a great pit stop along their road trip up/down the coast! Companion is your source for daily fresh-baked assortments of bread, pastries, and favorites like avocado toast, almond butter & honey toast, frittatas, and pies. They offer some gluten-free and vegetarian options as well, plus seasonal specials and "day old" loaves/baguettes for a reduced price. My personal fave is their GF Blueberry Buckwheat Scone! Now that we've been in a few times since they opened a couple of months ago (Nov 2018), I can say the vibe is just like their original bakery/cafe: inviting, friendly, bright, cozy yet lively, and the aroma of fresh-baked bread hovers around the shop like a warm hug... :) The best possible pairing to all things baked goods is coffee, and it's so great that they've partnered up with local roasters Cat & Cloud Coffee since they popped up as well in 2016. We've never been disappointed with our lattes/cappuccinos with almond milk, and today I gave the Cardamom Ginger Latte a try, and it was perfectly smooth, subtly sweet, with a slight ginger/cardamom kick! Everything they do is definitely done with love and perfection! read more

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Yummy! The banana bread and carrot coconut are to die for. Definitely coming back for more. My only complaint is that the barista gal should smile a little. read more

Love the pastry & coffee (delicious, elegant, lovely). Hate the service (slow, indifferent, spotty hours at times). read more

I wanted to find a great bakery near by and I can't be more happy. This place sales all kinds of delicious bread, coffee, breakfast, teas, cakes, pies, you name it! This is the kind of bakery that has great bake goods. You don't rush anything and you enjoy your morning with a great cup of coffee freshly made by this wonderful human being barista. All looked so appetizing that I asked the nice guy at the register to recommend me wherever because all looked ridiculously awesome. I ordered 2 almond croissants, an almond latte, 1 cherry lemon scone and a fluffy bread. They also have chocolate baguettes that I hope I can order in my next visit. I will definitely come back and if you do, expect a line out of the door. The waiting for me was 10 to 15 minutes, totally worth it. read more

Companion Bakeshop - Almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Aptos, California

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The older man in front of me winked and rolled his eyes. A line of 6 waited in the quiet, empty shop. A barista was calmly cleaning a counter, oblivious to us. The last person in the line sighed and went back to their car and drove away. We watched as the barista finished cleaning the counter and then started on a quest looking for an object. Presently, another barista or employee came walking out of another room ignoring the line completely and joined the quest for the mysterious object. The second to last person in line rolled their eyes and walked away to their car and drove away. The rest of us were in it to win it. Many minutes passed or what felt like a short eternity. The newcomer employee turned to us and said hello. The man in front of me ordered bread and she left to slice it. The other barista was continuing the strange quest for the unknown item. She frantically ran to the back where the bread slicer was to have a discussion. They returned with the sliced bread. The man paid and walked away. Wahoo, I'm Next! Except. The secret quest ramped up ... now there was frantic searching for whatever item was missing. Out of nowhere, a lone customer approached the bar with a lighter reached across and grabbed a Pellegrino that none of us had seen and popped open. The lid with his lighter and cheerfully announced that it was open and he was fine. Ahh, the quest was for a bottle opener. I had stood in line for close to 9 minutes just to order. Now we wait... for an 8 oz cappuccino. I bet I could come back tomorrow and it would just be ready read more

Delicious bread choices and I was really craving a croissant and I was not disappointed at all! It was extremely flaky and had so much flavor. I can't wait to come back to this local bakery! read more

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I really liked the molasses cookies, and my sandwich was also tasty. A nice place! The interior dining area is comfy with pillows that can be moved around for seating read more

The bread coming out of Companion is perfection. Everyone in our family has favorites but all of it is fantastic. It's great for sandwiches, toast, and just straight out of the loaf. Especially with cheese or peanut butter or charcuterie. Other baked goods are also delicious- croissants and cookies and pies. The bread is best in the Northern California area. read more

Food and lattes are always amazing but the staff seem utterly miserable. Not very friendly and seem more interested in talking to each other. read more

This is my favorite coffee and bakeshop in town. We stopped in one sunny Sunday morning after enjoying a staycation in the area. The space is clean and bright and the staff was warm and welcoming. They seemed happy to work there which is always a great sign! We ordered matcha lattes and shared an apple frangepan pastry. All were fresh, delicious, and cost about $15. I left happy that we chose to go local instead of the usual chain coffee shop. If you try this place, you won't be disappointed. read more