First off I want to start by saying the OWNER was the sweetest lady! Even when I didnt read her sign on her cooler door! My apologies! I came specifically for her rainbow cookies and they did not disappoint! She had perfect layers and the flavor was just like my bakery back home! I will most definitely stop in again when we are out that way! If you are looking for a good Italian bakery you need to stop in! Wish I would have found it sooner! read more

Not a whole lot to go into here but I had a pleasant experience. I did a last minute order over the phone, a couple days prior and there was no issue. I needed a cheesecake for a friend's birthday and they were the cheapest option for those that still had availability. I ordered for pickup and when i got there around lunch time on a Friday, there were a few people inside. It was at that moment I realized there was a deli inside. While this place is like down the street from where I live, I had never actually been inside. Since it was busy, there was a tiny wait but nothing crazy. I told the woman what I needed and she quickly packaged up the cake. The taste was great! Now I will say I'm not used to Italian cheesecake, meaning I'm not used to there not being a crust but that's okay. I enjoyed it but more importantly the birthday girl was satisfied and that's all that matters. I do plan to go back to try other desserts and the deli . read more

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Great everything. But in particular Best rainbow cookies. Have only had desserts here never disappointed

This place is adorable and has lots of delicious-looking options! The service was pretty quick, but we only got cannolis so I can't speak to how it is for sandwiches and other items. The cannoli was filled fresh right there which is really nice! It was pretty good, though I think it needed more chocolate chips! I have had better cannolis but this is probably the best one I've found in Gainesville, so I'll definitely be back to try other items! read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - Cannoli - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Between lunch and dinner, we stopped by Dolce Vita Bakery and Cafe and got some delicious pastries. They have a nice collection of sweet and savory baked goodies, so we got both. Here's the rundown: For the savory: - Spinach Feta Puff - "Savory Rose" - a croissant topped with pesto, tomato, and cheese - Focaccia topped with sun-dried tomatoes, green and black olives, and balsamic For the sweet: - Fruit Tart - Chocolate croissant - Guava and cheese pastry - Cinnamon roll croissant Everything was fresh and delicious. While they were all tasty, my personal favorite of the bunch was the fruit tart. It was a puff pastry topped with custard, berries, mandarin oranges, and sugar. The custard was sweet, but the tart berries and acidic oranges were a wonderful balance. Definitely go check out this great bakery the next time you're in the mood for pastries. read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Very expensive, but not high quality. Easy to spend $50 and walk out with a small bag or box of goods that are about the same quality as WalMart. read more

We drove all the way across Gainesville for this place because they made lobster tails . The lobster tail was equivalent to Mike's pastries in Boston. we also got a cannoli and that was equally as amazing. Not quite like Mike since they use more of a cheese base but just as creamy and delicious. read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Definitely one of the better bakeries in Gainesville. The owner is very friendly. The cookies are awesome. We also ordered the stuffed shells and meatballs. Just like going to an Italian home yet you're bringing at home. Absolutely love the sandwiches for lunch. I'm actually on my way there to get some things for mom. read more

This bakery was full of great breakfast choices. I had the almond croissant which was delicious. We also had a pastry filled with Gruyère and spinach and one with meat and cheese. All were excellent. It's a nice coffee shop with not much seating for the breakfast crowd, but we found a place to sit. I would definitely recommend this shop. read more

This place is amazing! You should definitely try cannolis and lobster tail, I am actually quite surprised that such place exists in Gainesville. read more

Visiting in Gainesville and found this bakery in a little strip mall. Honestly was expecting more of a selection and not really that impressed. Counter service was ok small inside but it was clean! read more

We stopped for pastries and coffee. The food was great, but the lady at the counter was really rude. I saw her sass an old lady for asking too many questions. Then I asked her a question about the cannoli sizes and she said "it's right there on the sign". It was kind of overwhelming. read more

Great Italian bakery and Deli. I have been twice and it has been delicious each time. I had their turkey club sandwich with avocado and tried a few of their cookies which are so amazing! The service is great and the prices are reasonable. read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - Turkey club sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Small Italian bakery and deli on the north side of town that deserves more local recognition! I've been coming here for two years now and they alway exceed my expectations. Food is FRESH, everything is made from scratch and there's lots of options. Shop has a cold case for premade dinners like lasagna and baked ziti. There's also cake slices, or whole cakes/ desserts available in the cooler for any last minute birthday/ anniversary grabs. read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - Front Pastry case - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Incredible selection of delicious pastries. Decent prices. Service with a smile. The blueberry cream cheese danish is fantastic

This is a SWEET TOOTH DREAM A little place that hand makes all their bread and croissants EVERY morning! Yes, if you're looking for a delicious pain au chocolat in Gainesville, this is your jam. They also make one of my favorite types of cookies: Florentines! They are crunchy and dipped in dark chocolate, a delicate, perfect cookie. They have a great variety, from classic Italian shortbread cookies, Italian wedding cookies, giant chocolate chip cookies with M&Ms or even stuffed with a Reese's! I highly recommend checking this place out!! read more

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Ordered a sandwich and asked to hold the avocado, when it was handed to me I saw the avocado on it. When I said I asked for it to be held the response was "you can take it off or I can, but I'm not going to make you another one" - wow! read more

OK, I finally had the chance to try the original fried Cronut rolled in cinnamon sugar and it was pretty amazing. They are only available on Saturdays and they will only make them on Saturdays if you are coming here specifically for their Cronut. You can (I was told) call them on Saturday and pay and reserve some Cronuts over the phone and pick them up later before they close if you choose, but remember Saturdays are the only day the Fried Cronuts are available. Capeesh? ;) They offer a baked one and filled, but I definitely prefer the fried one. The Cost: A Cronut is $3.49 each at the time of writing this updated review. The actual Cronut is basically a donut-shaped pastry made of croissant dough fried and then dipped in cinnamon sugar while they are still somewhat hot. The final product creates a light, sugary and crispy candy coating around a flakey, buttery, layered and airy treat. The Cronut is not too sweet and provides you with various textures and flavors in every bite. Buttery. Sugary. Cinnamon. Crispy. Tender. Chewy. Flaky....and MESSY so ask for a plate if you're going to enjoy them there. The coffee here is strong. It is self-serve from a thermal coffee carafe and around $2 per cup. I do not know what brand of coffee they use, but the carafe says "Barney's" on it. I can't be sure, but at least they offer it. You can also order various flavored lattes if you prefer espresso drinks. They do offer sandwiches and other savory foods on their menu, but I have yet to try them. They do use Boar's Head meats and cheeses. Overall, the service is decent - NOT great. Like a 2 out of 5 consistently. Perhaps I would be here every week if I lived closer. Unfortunately, the customer service just ISN'T warm. I would expect better from a quaint place like this, but it's usually a reflection of the owner and/or management and how they currently treat their employees. Who knows? Honestly, I wish I could give them a 3.5 out of 5, because there's still some room for improvement regarding the overall customer experience. read more

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I have passed by Dolce Vita on my way home from Possum Creek puppy park countless times, but had never found my way in until now. It is worth taking your puppy to as they have outside seating. If you are with someone else they have premade sandwiches and deserts in the cooler to try. Just send someone in to grab you something. I had the baked cronut with delicious Bavarian cream filling that felt so light and airy on my tongue. I was full from my sandwhich and pickle, but I could not stop eating that cronut. Dolce Vita Bakery is the only place in Florida to try a cronut. You will not regret it. Next time I will try the fried cronut with raspberry filling. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I might skip eating lunch first to make more room for the cronuts. update- They now offer a lunch special of any sandwhich, a side of chips or pasta salad, a drink and a slice of cake for $10. My slice was missing the raspberry cream the rest of my table had. It was still the most moist and chocolately cake I've ever had. read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - I got the cake in the back that was sadly smaller than my boyfriends slice. - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Food is amazing. Got The Tavern and the Club along with some cookies. Tastes so good!! Cute little place with some seating, fast service. Coffee, treats, ice cream, breakfast, lunch -- you name it! read more

This place is special. We're lucky to have a bakery like this in our community. It's reminiscent of the countless cafes & bakeries in Europe. It's a pleasant spot to sit & have some coffee with a pasty or lunch. You can pick up to/go dinners & deli meats & cheeses along with fresh chicken, tuna, & egg salads. It's a sweet spot. Pun well intended. read more

Everything we had was awesome! Pastries and sandwiches were excellent. Small and quaint store. read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - Ham and Cheeae Croissant - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

First time here, great chocolate chunk cookies. Eclair, cronut were delicious. Pastry of cherry and apple was flaky and good. Ordered pumpkin pie for today, great flavor and the crust was so good. Everything is made from scratch and it tastes like it. Owner Rose was a delight to meet. Just wish I'd been here sooner. Lunchtime has boars head meats. She offers Italian dinners to go also. Will be back soon. read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Good pastries but horrible customer service! Found better places to support. The wife told me my order would be ready then the husband told me they never made my order. Super frustrating read more

I have been wanting to try this bakery out for quite some time. Unfortunately, every time I try to go it's closed. They make fresh pastries every morning and there is a large variety to choose from. I have tried the almond pastry and the chocolate croissant. Both were absolutely delicious. I wish they were a little bigger because both times I found myself wanting more. The cost for each pastry was about $4. A little pricey but worth it. I would go early right when they open because it seems like they get busy since they are only open for a limited number of hours. read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Dolce Vita is my go to when I want a GOOD sandwich. I always get the Chipotle Chicken Sandwich. The reason why I give 4 stars is because they run out of supplies quickly. Which if you look at it differently, they are so good, they can't keep the good items on the menu, everybody wants it! They were out of my regular today, so I tried The Club. It was about $12 for the sandwich, chips and a drink. The sandwich was good, but I prefer the Chipotle Chicken sandwich. The avocado slices were a big too large for the sandwich, but overall the sandwich had the right amount of turkey, bacon, lettuce and tomato. As for the pastries, they are to die for!!!! Everything they have to offer: the cheesecake, cakes, macaroons, muffins, eclairs, cookies......... They are so rich and sweet that you just can't eat one bite, or even one. I like to grab some treats for birthdays, special occasions and events from here. They do have a lot of seating available inside as they have two different rooms for seating and have about 6 tables available for outside seating. read more

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These people are very rude. I will not return for that reason alone but also we got two sandwiches and a coffee and it was $29! The sandwiches sucked, and not seasoned AT All? Real bummer I always eat at local restaurants but I can't return to this one. read more

This is a small family owned business and hidden gem. I've lived in Gainesville for quite some time and just tried this place for the first time a couple months ago. The staff is so kind I ft very comfortable talking with the women that work there. Now, my coworkers and I crave this place at least once a week because they are so delicious. My favorite sandwich is the Cuban! They also have AMAZING pastries. If I could I'd buy them all. read more

This Gainesville Florida bakery is superb. Each time I visit my mother we purchase our festive cakes from Rose. They go beyond the call of duty each time, whether using a sugar photograph of my mother that I bring from New York or adding hand-picked fresh flowers. The cake is delicious. Thank you! read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - Dolce Vita in Gainesville Florida - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Not the best. Not sure why there are so many 5 star reviews, but the food is mediocre at best and the prices are high for what you get. Desserts were dry, flavorless, or gave the impression they were from box mixes. All in all not worth it. read more

NOT ADA COMPLIANT!!! Today I was surprised to be BARRED ENTRY to the Gainesville local establishment Dolce Vita Bakery Café due to my seeing eye dog, Fyshstyx. I have never had issues in Gainesville with my seeing-eye dog entering any local establishment, from places as banal as Publix, post offices, and other restaurants (fastfood to gourmet) to institutions as formal and manicured as the Harn Museum of Art, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, the Phillips Center of the Performing Arts, Smather's Library West, and the University of Florida Auditorium. The owner (or potentially worker) of Dolce Vita had no basis to bar my entry, especially since 1) I AM ALLOWED BY LAW, 2) Fyshstyx was behaving perfectly, and 3) I explained the Americans with Disabilities Act laws under Title II and III that disallow a prohibition of necessary, trained, mobility assistance service animals from publicly accessible places of business (see more info on these laws below). The owner still would not let me enter their store. I have filed a complaint with our local City of Gainesville Office of Equity & Inclusion and the Florida Division of Blind Services. I don't know if any Gainesvillians frequent these establishments, but know that they ardently wish to flout ADA regulations and disallow entry to the handicapped even when presented with the Federal legal codes. Dolce Vita Bakery Café, please follow the link below to familiarize yourself with the Federal Laws pertaining to the proper, handicapped-friendly running of your businesses. https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm read more

Little hole in the wall place, with delicious pastries and breakfast. We got the egg white and spinach croissant and a cream cheese strawberry pastry, and it was just delicious. Will definitely come back read more

This cafe styled bakery is authentic. The made from scratch delicacies inside will hook you after the first visit. Not advisable if you are dieting, only happy foodie eaters here. The cronuts, breakfast croissant, fruit pastries, custom cakes, Italian cookies, and lunch specials are my favorites. The dinner to-go options such as chicken parmigiana are a no-brainer. Breakfast lunch and dinner plus dessert ready to go in one stop. It's family owned ran and the quality reflects that. If they had a barista serving fresh espresso and a bartender serving cocktails I would never go anywhere else. My daughters Winnie the Pooh themed lemon-flavored Hunny Pot designed to perfection birthday cakes are still talked about a year later (they are hoping for this cake again). Better go put in my order! read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - Pooh themed hunny pot, lemon-flavored most amazing cake! It was fought over. - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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my mom and I used to go here all the time when I was a kid and I just recently started going again. being Italian, it's nice to have an Italian bakery nearby. I really love the way the coffee tastes and i especially love the sfogliatelle/lobster tail. i crave them and there's not many other places to get one in gainesville. i hope this place stays open for a long time read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - sfogliatelle, iced coffee - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Happened to be on this side of town and decided to try the famous Gainesville "cronut" along with a couple of sandwiches. Upon walking in, atmosphere was quite cozy for what you might call a hole-in-the-wall eatery, but looked immaculately clean and tidy. The cronut was made previously and was pulled from a fridge. It was generously layered with vanilla and chocolate creme; it reminded me of a delicious cream puff or eclair filling. The nice lady (I'm guessing the owner) informed me they make freshly-fried cronuts on Saturday, so I've marked that on my calendar. They were out of their London Broil sandwich fixins, so got the Tavern on a croissant along with a Market Special on 15-grain bread with chicken salad. Both were made to order, fresh, and delicious. I'm not usually one for ham sandwiches, but the Tavern was surprisingly tasty; surely the use of quality Boar's Head meats had something to do with that. The chicken salad of the Market Special was fresh and delicious. Black Forest cake slice that comes with the sandwich special was delicious; my only regret is not grabbing a coffee on my way out to enjoy with it. Will definitely be back! read more

I really like this place. They have some great pastries and run out of most items within the first hour of opening. This place would easily be a 5 star if they smiled a bit. T it's probably because they're up so early making pastries and don't have many staff. Still a hidden gem and my favorite bakery in Gainesville. read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Consider a trip to Dolce Vita akin to the classic phrase "like a kid in a candy store", only with the most decadent baked goods imaginable. My sweet tooth is about as big as they come, and even if you choose to visit under the guise of "getting breakfast" or "getting lunch" you need to find a way for these goods to get in your tummy pronto. The Space Necessary to my well being, Dolce Vita is tucked a fair way north on 34th just where it starts to bend east. The store is quaint within a pretty large outlet-type building but the bright green logo makes it a cinch to find. Stroll through the door and immediately find yourself next to a fridge of deliciousness, with a large case of more deliciousness in front of you. As others mention, there are a few tables around that can accommodate a couple grabbing lunch of a post-meal treat, but don't bank on them being available unless you arrive at a slow time. The bathroom is also kept notably clean. The Service With treats as sweet as these, you better believe the owner is a drop of sunshine. I distinctly remember my very first trip here because I was overloaded with the choices and she offered to sample a couple of her goodies with a big grin. With the size of the place, the shopping process is what you think: find what you want, approach the counter, and collect your bounty. The Goods Where to begin, where to begin! The offerings range from small, sweet bites to rich, decadent indulgences you'll need an excuse to buy. From-scratch macaroons, cakes, danishes, cookies, pastries, and more. This doesn't even cover the more tame breakfast pastries that I imagine are an experience in themselves, nor the quality Boar's Head sandos you can snag if you want a tasty lunch. If you're honest with yourself, though, you know you came here for the good stuff. A fresh, original-style cronut still escapes me because she makes them early in the morning so they're gone quick. I'll set an alarm soon enough and have this one under my belt (and an added notch to my belt as well) I'll list out everything I've tried and remark on what I recall her having: - Lobster Tail (A): Flaky, buttery pastry with a creamy, smooth filling. - Lace Cookies (B+): Tiny, chewy cookies coated in white or chocolate icing. I've brought these to pot lucks and they're an affordable hit! - Bread Pudding (B+): Sampled this and, as much as I find the dessert typically average, this one was moist, dense, and packed with flavor - Truffle Cookies (A-): You read that right...a cookie carefully baked with a silky, rich chocolate filling. - Cherry Danish (B+): I'm a sucker for cherries in a cheese-cream dessert and this one didn't let me down - Iced & Filled Cronut (A+): Take a cronut, add icing to the top, cut in half to add chocolate filling, eat with glee Final Thoughts There are some really solid bakeries in town that all produce tasty goods, but most spots choose to lean more toward bread or pasta. Dolce Vita is the only place in town I am aware of that focuses on the sweeter side of life, and even though they're far away I make a point to go semi-regularly. Do yourself a favor and come here at least once to treat yourself...but maybe come with a full tummy so you don't go overboard. read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - Key Lime Tart - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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I absolutely love this little cafe! It is so good that it is dangerous! They have sandwiches for lunch, pre-made dinners and...... so many desserts! I can't even begin to pick a favorite. The cronuts- have one, or two. Preferably the cream sandwich cronut. Also, try the lobster tails, bear claws, eclairs, and the croissants. Actually, just get one of everything. Seriously. Go there. Go there now. You will not regret it. But be prepared to want to try it all!!!!!! read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - Yummy pastries! - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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This bakery is small and tucked away in a strip mall that's seen better days and now is the home to a hair salon, a business services outfit (people to do your payroll and what-not) and a hodge-podge of other small offices and retail shops. It's easy to miss and not exactly easy to find, but worth locating. The quality of the baked goods is impressive and the owner, who is Serbian, has a high understanding of Eastern European and Italian traditional baking that comes out in her products. She's also very outgoing, friendly, and eager to explain what she has for sale. The actual baked goods expectedly rotate somewhat so you're best to just go in and see what she has baked on a given day. Beyond baked goods--cheesecakes, cronuts, pastries and such--they also do salads and sandwiches and I got the impression they'd like to move into this area even more and to perhaps even carry some imported European groceries at some point. Everything I've had from here is very fresh and quite tasty. read more

I found out about this place because of their cronuts and was happy to say that they lived up to the hype! I tried the fried cronuts, which were hot, fresh, and covered in cinnamon sugar. The cronut wasn't too greasy, was light and flaky, and made me want to buy another one! It reminded of a lighter and flakier version of Auntie Anne's cinnamon sugar pretzels! In addition to their fried cronuts, they also have baked cronuts (which I did not try but look good too if you like icing). These are available right at the entrance in the fridge. Their selection of pastries also includes cookies (Reese's, Oreo, chocolate chip, and more), which tasted soft and fresh. They also have fruit tarts, which weren't too sweet and had a great variety of fruits! I also had something along the lines of a breakfast pie/pastry that seemed to be a special that day, and was happy I tried it! The pastry was soft and flaky and the ham & cheese filling wasn't over powering or too salty. It was a great breakfast option if you're looking for something less hearty. The space is small, not surprising for a pastry shop. There is seating both inside and outside. Both times I went, it wasn't that busy and seating was readily available. If you enjoy sweet breakfast spots, this local bakery is definitely for you! read more

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe - Fried cronut! - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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