Someone I met at the airport recommended Alta bakery. I tried to go on a Sunday, but there wasn't…read morea long line out the door and down the block. I decided to go the next day, and the line was more manageable and I found street parking nearby. The pastry counter is the first thing you see when you enter. You can also order food and drinks from the counter. There was seating throughout the space which was in a historic building. I got a few goodies to try which included the blue cornmeal cookie, almond financier and an orange blossom tea cake. I also ordered their seasonal coffee which was a honey saffron latte. The cookies, financier and tea cake were all delicious. The latte wasn't overly sweet and was even a bit savory. It grew on me. There were a few sandwiches ordered by other patrons that looked scrumptious. If I hadn't eaten breakfast already, I would've ordered something substantial. Hopefully, I'll return to Monterey again. If so, Alta will be on my list.

I visited on a Saturday around 11 a.m. The line wasn't too long, and we waited about 30 minutes…read more The ambiance made the café feel fresh and inviting--until we received our food. My 7- and 9-year-old didn't like the croissant sandwich because it had spicy mustard and sweet pickles. Unfortunately, they had run out of the other sandwiches, so our only other option was the spinach wrap, which I ordered but found bland and lacking flavor. We may have missed their more popular dishes because they stop serving them at 11 a.m. The tables inside also weren't clean. I chose this café because it was highly recommended on TikTok, but I probably wouldn't return. Cappuccino: 9/10 Fancy dessert: 8.5/10

Got here on a Sunday morning at 8:30am and there was a line out the door. Didn't take more than 20…read moreminutes to walk away with our coffee and pastries though. Lots of different merch to look at while waiting for order- coffee beans, olive oil, delicious looking bagged cookie, biscotti, hot dog buns and kitschy toys. Pros- service was friendly , helpful and patient! Pastries were top notch. We've been hitting bakeries all over Carmel and Monterey and liked these the best. The cream bun and earl grey bun were our favorites with the cardamom bun and chocolate croissant a close second and third. The dough on all these had great layers which has been missing in a lot of the pastries we've had while bakery hopping. The sun-dried tomato and cheese scone was the best savory scone I've ever had. Coffee- I got a latte with half serving of the miso caramel bc I was worried it would be too sweet (I'm a flat white gal). It tasted perfect and went well with the sweet pastries. My family got iced lattes with the miso caramel and the tonka vanilla. They liked them but thought they were light on flavor. If fancy lad coffee is your priority then probably not the place for you lol. Cons- parking is of course challenging but same for every business around there. Seating is very limited so prob have to plan on to-go if there's a crowd. Nice that they have a few outdoor tables. We couldn't find seating for three so we dipped and crashed at a table outside a restaurant that wasn't open.

Pros: - the line moves very quickly, but can get very busy!…read more- the breakfast sandwich is just absolutely ridiculous - other pastries and breads to purchase - coffee was amazing - open window so you can see the things being made, which was so great for my toddler to see Room for improvement: - some standard breakfast items would be nice as it's not very kid friendly with all the unique, specialty foods (great for adults tho!) - customer service has room for improvement, the people aren't friendly and even the people behind the glass making food look miserable Tips: - get there early to avoid heavy lines - look at the menu and the pastries before hand as the workers assisting don't really take the time to explain anything and kind of rush you through the line - parking can be tough because it's on the main street - no modifications can be made to the food Overall: very cool, casual spot in the main part of Monterey. Excellent food and pastries and drinks! Very hip

I don't come here enough. This place is so delicious and the staff is phenomenal! Today I came in…read moreand ordered a bacon/egg croissant and a white mocha. I probably asked too many questions, but they were so sweet and kind and answered everything I asked with a smile. Unfortunately, the wrong customer had taken my drink, and they had to make me another one. I totally didn't mind waiting though. Thank you for being here and hiring excellent staff and always being so tasty. I need to come more often for sure! 10/10 recommend.

This used to be my favorite bakery in Monterey. Their almond croissant was amazing, and they were…read morethe only place around that made a simple ham and cheese sandwich that reminded me of the ones I had in Paris. Something has definitely changed. I don't know if it's new ownership or a change in management, but this visit was incredibly disappointing. I paid $14.95 for a ham and cheese sandwich that had just two slices of ham, two slices of cheese, and what tasted like day old bread. It was dry, underwhelming, and nowhere near the quality I remembered. It's disappointing to see a place I loved go downhill. I really hope they can get back to what made them so special. Very simple but high quality ingredients.

This cold brew will hit you in the chin like a randy johnson fastball . Strongest i ever did have…read more It literally cured a hangover. Also , friendly, personable staff. Wish they had a few more food options . Will definitely be back !

the coffee is very expensive for a very small amount. i also found my drink to be very watery and…read morenot super flavorful (i got an iced mocha). the staff are super nice though if you're in Monterey there's definitely better coffee shops in the area.

Cash only! Traditional establishment with large pastries…read more - Muffin : was a blueberry flavor that day, very soda bread scone tasting. Enjoyed the crumb top and plentiful berries! Very moist - Berry danish : the pastry itself was a little chewy for my taste, but overall not bad!

Pavel's is a Pacific Grove institution! Be prepared to wait in a long line right when they open--it…read moremoves fast, but the crowd confirms how fantastic their European-style pastries are. The four of us grabbed croissants and sandwiches, and the quality was superb: flaky, rich, and clearly made with care. The dedication to artistry is evident in every bite. The only real snag is the payment: Pavel's is strictly cash only. While the baked goods are four-star excellent, the need to remember physical currency keeps it from a full five. Come prepared with cash, and you won't be disappointed by the treats!

i came in for my first visit and the ambiance was beautifully put together. kylie at the register…read morewas very helpful in helping me pick my drink as i was unfamiliar with the menu and was incredibly friendly and welcoming! my drink was perfect for me.

So much fun. The guys show you how the bike works before you take off…read more They offer a bunch off add-ons that you can purchase. Helmet does come with the rental. There is a 3 hr limit but in that time we were able to see a lot

Delightful cafe, with delicious pastries, cute tables outside and friendly, helpful staff!…read more We got here a bit later around 11 am so we definitely missed some of the popular items like the ham and cheese croissant. I will try to come earlier and see if they have it next time! I was in the mood for savory not having eaten breakfast yet so the quiche was calling me. This was my first time here and many people ahead of me in line were ordering them. Truthfully I'm not really a quiche person but this one looked divine. Maybe because instead of a slice of quiche it was my own little quiche. It was so savory, flavorful with the perfect balance of goat cheese and tomato! (I got the goat cheese & tomato flavor obv). They also heated it up for me! It was delicious and the crust so flaky. I also got an almond croissant because I love me some almond filling. This too was delicious! It was really cool to try their style of almond croissant which is a flatter style--flaky and moist and crisp. My hubby got the apricot pastry and it was also so good! I am ready to visit here again the next time I'm in Monterey! Hopefully I can snag a table outside this time because it's such a cute outdoor space to eat after getting your pastries.

Been here many times ... Actually EVERYTIME we are I. Monterey!…read more But ... Disappointed this time AND many other times because there were no mention of when they are closed. Just remember, call ahead and follow Instagram Here are their hours for Jan Why? You guessed it, this place is sooooo good that they can afford to NOT WORK and still do well. A must visit when in Monterey.

Their Key lime pie is the best we've ever had! Can't wait to go back and try it again.read more

Tried the breakfast burrito, breakfast sandwich, Blueberry Coffee Cake, and lemon poppy muffin…read more Delicious and sweet chai latte. Highly recommend this bakery for made-to-order food and delicious treats. it took a while for our food to arrive, but it was made with high quality ingredients and care, so it was worth the wait. They have seating for maybe 8 tables, and it's a little cramped with a small town vibe. We were content to eat in but this is definitely a good take-out spot as well.