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    Forma Bakery

    4.4 (118 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 2:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Forma Bakery Photos

    Business Info

    FORMA BAKERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Forma Bakery

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    Stephen P.

    My partner and I have been on the hunt for a solid bakery, and I think Forma is the new bay area title holder. The staff is friendly and helpful, offering plenty of guidance through an overwhelming assortment of choices. We weren't sure what we were even in the mood for, but loved all four of the picks we ended up with. It's a very busy spot with little seating inside, but there are a few seats on the patio area if you're ok with people filtering through as they come in to pick up their items and leave. The store itself is very cute, and we loved the floor tiles and decorations - such a great vibe. While we didn't get to eat the pastries FRESH fresh, we took them home to share with family and everyone loved them. The flavors were interesting, not too sweet, and balanced. I'd really like to try these earlier in the day when they're fresher as that was my only complaint...but that's hardly the fault of the bakery. Next time we're in the bay, we're definitely stopping by to try at least 4-6 more :D

    Alayna K.

    Incredible laminated pastries!! Long lines but they do move. A must try if you're in the area. The kouign amann with the pluot jam was our absolute favorite (8.5/10) because the layers were super crispy and the jam was on point. It was gone too quickly. The flan croissant was missing a bit of the flakiness but still a unique and delicious pastry! (7.5/10) The drip coffee was also solid. Seating was hard so eat outside if you dont want to wait!

    Nicole Diane M.

    Stopped by Forma Bakery on a Wednesday morning to catch up with my sister, and it was exactly what we were looking for--casual, cozy, and delicious. Parking was easy with metered street and neighborhood spots nearby. The area feels very walkable and safe. Inside is small and intimate, with a beautiful pastry case that immediately grabs your attention (eyes definitely eat first). There's a small bench indoors and a couple of outdoor tables--great if you have a fur baby or want to people-watch. Forma has been gaining buzz for its laminated pastries, especially the flan croissant, which lives up to the hype. We ordered the flan croissant with strawberry, and it was one of my favorite pastries to date--perfectly flaky and lightly custardy. It would probably be even better warmed up. We also ordered a ham croissant which was just as delicious! Service was friendly and fast, making this a great grab-and-go spot or an easy stop to pick up a beautiful loaf of bread for gifting.

    Vanilla corn concha, chocolate pistachio croissant, rosquilla w/ jam and almond cream
    Emma N.

    The flan croissant w/ jam was so incredible. It was flaky, and the flan in the middle was so delicious and unique. The jam was so flavorful, and the flan croissant was the best pastry I tried from Forma bakery. The chocolate pistachio croissant was my next favorite, and the pistachio flavor was very good with the chocolate. The vanilla corn concha was good too, especially the crust on top, but it wasn't as interesting as the other pastries. Last would be the rosquilla w/ jam and almond cream because it wasn't as flavorful as the others and just an average pastry.

    Bianca H.

    I love this bakery!! It can get really crowded in the mornings, and so you know for the most part that is a good sign! They have a lot of pastry options to choose from. I tried a poblano pepper, corn, and cheese croissant. It was so good! The muted spice from the pepper added with a sweetness from the croissant was able to satisfy my morning/lunch time cravings. It is a smaller bakery, so there's only a few tables to sit and enjoy your coffee & pastry if you want to stay and sit. But it's great, you get to people watch, see the dogs, and enjoy your time.

    Ham and cheese croissant
    Deepa P.

    No line on a weekday morning. Outdoor seating. Lovely, well-laminated pastries (sweet and savory). Perfect cookie. Enjoyed the cafe de olla as well.

    Austin Z.

    I could easily say that this bakery really took me by surprise when someone told me that this was "Temescal's favorite pastry spot" -- because indeed, they were right. The long lines, the whiff of aroma of French and Mexican tastes, were all coming together. They are a local business in Oakland, and I'm way more than impressed as to how they were able to bake such delicacies for the Temescal community and beyond -- and be open for the most important occasions, when they least expect it. Upon ordering, I was very intrigued at the pastries they had made -- tres leches crossaints, horchata danish, the name can go on and on without any hesitation. There was much more -- pastries like flan-filled croissants, jam-bright rosquillas, and seasonal savory fruit or veggie versions that feel both familiar and exciting. Honestly, in my opinion, walking into Forma feels like walking into paradise. it feels like Telegraph is like finding a sweet little crossroads where French bakery technique meets vibrant Mexican-inspired flavors. Their coffee selections pair beautifully with the pastry lineup, as the baristas put thoughtful twists like a café de olla latte or Mexican-style mocha. All in all, it brings a little extra warmth to every cup. Next time, if you're chasing a classic buttery croissant or something with a little more creative soul, Forma delivers memorable texture, flavor, and that cozy neighborhood energy that keeps locals lined up early, way before opening time.

    Rachel K.

    I'm a sucker for a good pastry, and a fluffy, buttery croissant is up there when it comes to my weaknesses. I love that Forma Bakery has a variety of fresh baked options with different flavor profiles. When we walked in we were greeted warmly and the team member was patient as we decided what to order, they also answered a few of our questions. Honestly, I wanted to buy one of everything, but I ended up getting the passionfruit morning bun with earl grey sugar (Vegan), the flan croissant with strawberry jam, and a brookie. I brought these home and went to share a bite of the brookie with my husband, which turned into him eating over half of it. It was rich and chewy and the perfect cross between a cookie and brownie. The other two items I cut into fourths and shared with some guests after dinner, and while everyone enjoyed both- we unanimously agreed the flan croissant was a true winner. If/when I visit again I'll be looking to pick up more of the flan croissants and brookies, and I'm sure a few more items that catch my eye at the time. It's a small shop, but definitely worth a visit. The pastries are best eaten the day of so that they're fresh and as crispy/fluffy/soft as intended and they may run out of items later in the day so be prepared to visit early or adjust what you order based on availability.

    Corn Pudding Pastry
    Andrea Z.

    Visited on a Thursday morning when they opened at 8:00am, no others in line. Pastry case was filled with a great variety of options both sweet and savory. Drinks: cafe de olla - sweet spiced coffee which was quite tasty, a bit on the sweet side for me but really thought the cinnamon and warm spices complimented the dark roast coffee Food: Passion Fruit Morning Bun - nice mild passion fruit flavor, a little sweet, slightly caramelized, laminated pastry isn't super buttery, solid Corn pudding pastry - flakey laminate pastry cup filled with corn and a mild corn custard with a little bit of cheese, a nice savory option, pastry was crisp and ratio of filling to pastry felt balanced, again lamination was a little less buttery and a bit more dry but good overall. Service was good, super friendly and knowledgeable staff with great recommendations. Overall enjoyed Forma, they have a solid variety of pastries to choose from along with some very unique flavors. Pastries here weren't as buttery and flaky as some other more classically french spots but I think worth a visit to try the unique flavors.

    Pistachio and Chocolate croissant
    Rhea A.

    Met up with a few friends here at 9am because they swore pastries would run out. I haven't heard of this place until recently. It's right on Telegraph so parking is street parking which can be tough depending on time of day. I got the pistachio and chocolate croissant. It's quite dense and heavy, and it is almost cookie like. The flavor was delicious but I personally like my croissants more flakey and not as dense. Overall a good pastry spot but personally not my preference!

    Judy H.

    I really really wanted to like this place but unfortunately it came up a little short for me. I came on a Sunday late morning and there was a line out the door and I was excited. They had plenty of baked goods available so I was really happy to see that. The line moves pretty fast so I didn't have to stand long and it gave me plenty of time to decide what I wanted when I got to the display cases. I ordered: 2 chocolate croissants Earl grey passion fruit morning bun Flan croissant with strawberry jam Kouign amann Nothing I tried really blew me away. I think the earl grey morning bun and the flan croissant were really unique and fun. The lavender really came through in the earl grey but for some reason I didn't really enjoy the passion fruit part of it. The chocolate croissants were disappointing to say the least. I just came back from St. Louis where I discovered a bakery for Nathaniel Reid's with croissants that tasted better than the ones I found in Paris and I was really disappointed in these. They were really bready and dough and not flaky with soft layers like I was hoping. On the upside, the merch is adorable. I bought a tote bag even though I didn't need it and that's the one thing I'd go back for.

    Left: pistachio croissant  Right: chocolate concha
    Wing L.

    My bf and I were walking around the Temescal area and saw a long line forming outside and of course we had to give it a try! The staff were friendly and seemed to know the regulars that pop in. A large display case of their baked goods...all looked so good! And they had unique flavors Flan Croissant - 5/5: hands down best bakery item we tried. It was flakey and buttery and delicious and when you got to the flan, you got such a custardy treat. Wish there was more of the flan but it was still delicious.This would definitely be my go-to again on my next visit Earl Grey Passionfruit Pastry - 4/5: very unique. Wish it had a lil more of the passionfruit filling as it leaned a lil more Earl Grey for me but a very good pastry nonetheless. The sugar was infused with the earl grey so when you are about to take a bite you really smell and taste the earl grey - the flavor does disappear after some time as you continue chewing. Chocolate Concha - 3.5/5: My bf got this one and said it was just ok. Missing the vanilla flavor in the bread. I had a bite and thought it was good, the bread is sweet and there is a hint of chocolate flavor. Pistachio Croissant - 4/5: This was good but very dense. They were very generous with the pistachio filling to the point it was a little much for me as i finished it. It was very flakey even though i didn't finish this til the evening. Cafe de olla - 2/5: My bf got this one and was really excited for it. It was /very/ sweet - a lil too much so. He said it was missing flavor from the spices and felt the sweetness was covering it up. I had a sip and didn't care too much for it. We're definitely coming back to try other things (tres leche coffee, horchata latte)! Can't wait til next time!

    menu
    Sam F.

    Trendy bakery in Oakland with innovative croissants and pastries! I stopped by on a Sunday morning around 10:15am and there was only a short line ahead of me - the wait ended up being maybe 10 minutes max. I was worried because of what I read online that the pastries would sell out early, but I experienced no issues! It was nearly impossible for me to decide what I wanted because everything sounded delicious! I ultimately picked up a chocolate pistachio croissant, flan croissant, and tomato + totomoxtle queso + pepitas croissant. Each item was about $5-$6. My favorite of the 3 was the flan croissant. The filling tasted like crème brûlée and the addition of the jam balanced the strong vanilla flavor of the custard nicely. The tomato croissant was a close second, with the tomatoes tasting super fresh. The chocolate pistachio wasn't my favorite, but wasn't bad either. The dough for all 3 pastries was flaky, buttery, and on par with some of the best pastries I've had in the Bay Area. I'd go back to try the passionfruit and earl grey morning bun, which I heard people raving about while I was in line to order. Street parking was easy :) No tables inside (only a small bench), but lots of tables outside.

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    Ask the Community - Forma Bakery

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    Forma Bakery - bakeries - Updated May 2026

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