Hof Kelsen bakery / café plays to the building's mid-century office/industrial vibe. My experience was mostly, but will need to return. First, intended to treat myself to their Chocolate Babka Pain Perdu I read about, although also interested in their Borscht being a big fan of all types of borschts (red, white and green). [Full disclosure - Grew up with and been a lifelong devotee of echt old school New York City Kosher bakery Chocolate Babkas!] To my disappointment, that Babka item must have been a special and they didn't sell Babka slices. A full Babka cost $24 Canadian, too big and too much to spend on that occasion. Their Borscht, apparently a vegetarian red borscht recipe made in house, only becomes available at 11 AM, and I was too early. Then I turned to my friendly, cheery person behind the counter and ordered both a fresh savory and a fresh sweet pastry, plus a Matcha Oat Latte. As I paid on the terminal, she moved a small black device in my direction and served me my bakery items. Taking what I understood as a pager to my counter seat, I awaited my drink. About 5 minutes later, a sour rude woman came to me shouting in French. That device was not a pager like I've received at other places in Montreal, but a calculator. When I apologized for my misunderstanding, she huffed and puffed as she walked away. The friendly woman was now behind the café prep section, so I walked over to her to collect my Matcha Oat Latte and apologized. She indicated that that happens. When I directed another apology to the unfriendly staff person, she again rudely stated in English that they don't have pagers. While appreciating that some people have "bad hair days," that lady should never be put in front of customers if/when she interacts with customers like that... especially if it was clearly an unintentional inadvertent miscommunication!!! That being said, my attendant's superfriendliness along with my enjoyable items made up for that. Started with my flavorful Feuilleté aux épinards et à la ricotta (a.k.a. Spinach Ricotta Puff) along with my delicious Latte. Then, finished my Amandine au chocolat, a.k.a. Almond and Chocolate Croissant). So, would definitely return on a future trip to Montréal. Would recommend Hof Kelsten, but keep in mid they don't use pagers! read more

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Someone recommended this spot for their chocolate babka, and since it's one of my favorite breads, I had to stop by. We arrived around 1 pm and many items were already sold out, but luckily they still had the smaller babka available. They offer two sizes (large and small) and also serve coffee and lattes. Finding the entrance wasn't the easiest since the bakery's name isn't clearly displayed outside, but you can spot it by the street number; I took a photo of the exterior to help others. As for the service, I didn't find the staff particularly friendly. They seemed more focused on their regulars, and when I asked a couple of questions, the responses felt a bit cold. That said, the babka itself was delicious and definitely worth trying. read more

Hof Kelsten - The exterior - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Merci! Thank you! My husband and I visited Hof Kelsten recently on a visit from the US. Despite arriving close to closing time, and despite the sensitive matter of our origins, we were welcomed so warmly and treated with generous kindness. We thoroughly enjoyed our HEAVENLY croissant and chocolate croissant and left with a truly perfect loaf of bread that kept us smiling for the next days. We will return every chance we get. Next time, we will try the famous babka (and another of those croissants)! A very deep bow of gratitude to the kind young salesperson behind the counter that afternoon and to the gifted baker/chef. read more

Delicious pastries and solid drinks. I got a brownie cookie and need I dare to say it was perfect and "not too sweet". Matcha latte also hit the spot. Our friends got ice coffee and enjoyed the fresh baguette. We enjoyed our little break here from a day of sightseeing in Montreal. This area in general has many great coffee shops and bakery shops. read more

Hof Kelsten - brownie cookie - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

A French-inflected Jewish bakery in Montreal's Jewish quarter, Hof Kelsten is beloved for a reason. Everything we had there was phenomenal, from the croissant to the matzo ball soup to the brisket sandwich on a little brioche bun. read more

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Croissants are way below average. Luckily Au Kouign-Amann was out of croissants (again). read more

Hof Kelsten - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

This bakery is simply the best I've ever tried--clean, fresh, and meticulous like the best bakeries should be...AND they have the most delicious sourdough bread you will ever taste. While there are a multitude of great bakeries around Montreal, this one stands out due to their focus on quality over quantity. I LOVE the simplicity of their menu, and I'm wholly sure that everything here is delicious. The cashier recommend the classic sourdough (it contains a bit more rye in it than the others). I have tried the Challah bread previously and it is fantastic and perfectly salted. The outside: perfectly baked with a crispy crust and toasted sesame seeds, the inside: a soft heavenly bread cloud...the Challah is especially delectable if you make French Toast with it! The Mocha is hands down one of the best mochas I've ever had, probably number 1...I really can't think of a better one. I had mine with soy milk; it was creamy, rich in flavor, and had a good kick--taste-wise & energy-wise. The bitterness of the dark chocolate mixes seamlessly with the high quality espresso to create the perfect flavor~~simply amazing! Finally, they have great customer service; the cashier was sweet, friendly & helpful...thank you Sandy for the thorough explanations about the menu items! (if the owner is reading this, she deserves a promotion/raise! :) I'm so lucky to have Hof Kelsten close to my apartment! If you want the best bread and mochas, come visit ASAP! read more

Agree with all the reviews on yelp - Low key place, friendly service, and great coffee. I wished I had read the reviews in more detail in advance and gotten a babka, but I did not. Instead, I tried a croissant, baguette, pain au raisin and almond croissant. The baguette and croissant were so so but the pain au raisin and almond croissant were pretty good. read more

I visited Hof Kelsten last week as part of the Museum of Jewish Montreal's Beyond the Bagel Tour, and I'm so glad it was included on the tour, as it was a newer, modern take on Jewish foods compared to some of the older, more established businesses on the tour. The menu is amazing! It's a bakery/pastry shop and offers cookies, pain au chocolat, danishes, loaves of bread (spelt, 9 grain, rye, etc.), and more. But it also offers matzo ball soup, borscht, and other savory items (some as specials). But what were we there for? Their large chocolate babka, of course. It's meant for 4-5 people and then serve it to you on a cutting board with a bread knife (if you're eating it inside; taking it to go would also be great). It was incredible - the chocolate was deep and rich, and the babka was such an incredible texture. It's large and airy and bright, with a considerable amount of seating. I'd happily return to try more. read more

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Incredible breads and pastries, with excellent coffee. Additional sandwich and soup offerings make this a must visit during stay in Montreal. read more

Fantastic pastries. Went the 1st day we were in Montreal for foodcrawls, and went back the next 3 days too because everything was a hit and they make more daily. Tried about 10 of their croissant dough pastries and all were excellent, brioche one was fine. Coffee was good. read more

The chocolate babkas are heavenly and habit forming! The staff is also pretty cool and the service is great.

I went to the other bakery and found that they close on Saturday, so I did a quick search and found that this bakery also sell babka so we decided to give it a try. They used to have a smaller size for $10 but that was during pandemic now everything back to normal they only sell one size and is $18. It was a big round babka and I was hesitate at first because if it doesn't taste good then I'm stuck. So anyway I had to fly back and I had to get the babka so I just take it home with me. And boy oh boy it was not disappointed, it was even better than the other bakery because the other bakery was sticky this one is not sticky. The chocolate flavor was pungent and it just smells like heaven. If I visit Montreal again I'll definitely get three more. read more

Hof Kelsten - Babka - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Hof Kelsten is another boulangerie that's been on my hit list since I first heard about them. They're nearby Melbourne Cafe. The inside is chic and they play some chill Indie pop music. I messed up and came on a Thursday afternoon (Friday they have challah bread). FYI, you can reserve their speciality breads ahead of time. They have bread, pastries, sandwiches and brunch (only on weekends). Lots of people came in and grabbed baguettes to go. - Bialis ($1.50) - apparently, they only make a handful each day but I was able to snag the last one. Great chewy bagel like texture with some sweet grilled onions. The touch of salt sprinkled on top is fantastic. - Pain au chocolat ($2.75) - flaky in touch and tastes better after your first bite. Man, people are so lucky if they live in this area. So many quality boulangeries within a 5 minute walking radius. read more

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Just delicious. My mouth is watering thinking about the baguettes and beef sandwiches we had.

Why why why have I not been to Hof Kelsten before?? How foolish! It's always on the top MTL bakery lists. We were driving up St-Laurent and we're hungry. We passed Hof Kelsten and decided to circle back to finally give this place a try. We ordered the croissant, chocolate croissant, sesame almond croissant, chocolate almond croissant, apple strudel and a brioche. My biggest complaint with bakeries is that there is never enough chocolate filling. I know it's because of costs and I understand but I always wish there was more. Well...I couldn't believe just how generous Hof Kelsten is with their fillings! The chocolate croissant had loads of delicious dark chocolate filling! The sesame almond croissant had a 1/2 inch layer of almond filling and a almond sesame chewy crust layer on top! Same for the chocolate almond croissant. Apple strudel was packed with apples and flavor. I could not be happier. Can't wait for next weekend to go back for more! read more

Hof Kelsten - 11oclock: plain croissant, sesame almond croissant, choco almond croissant, brioche, choco croissant, apple strudel) and signature bread - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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So good to be back. I missed you so much. Just a quick lunch sandwich pop -in for a gravlax and cream cheese on rye and a loaf of bread. Still excellent service and still excellent food. Enjoy! read more

Hof Kelsten - Gravlax sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Loooooove that babka. Such a moist dough, a rich delicious chocolate with a perfect balance of sweetness you can eat more of without ever getting tired of it. You can't beat a babka. If you happen to be invited to a dinner party and you don't drink wine (you drink pepsi!) or think that ring-dings are better than anything you'll find at a bakery, stop, do yourself a favour, put on your gore-tex coat, pass by @hofkelsten and pick up one of their scrumptious mini babka... Or two. Yes, another babka. ( and pretty much anything else they have it's all incredible). read more

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The pastries are incredible here. Highly recommend getting the all dressed croissant. Like an everything bagel but better. Great coffee, good ambiance. Definitely will come back. read more

From out of town, last morning before heading home, looking for croissants after visiting Schwartz..came here on a whim after reading an Eater article and was so happy we did! .unassuming store front, almost missed it. Had a pastry filled with coffee cream? (forgot to take photo of food and name), was delicious, flaky, full of flavor. Croissant, flaky and baguette was airy and light. Soo good, devoured the last bit after getting home, and would definitely go back next time in Montreal. read more

First off, if you foodies are visiting Montreal or are a native of this city, consider taking the "Beyond The Bagel" walking tour: https://www.viator.com/tours/Montreal/Beyond-the-Bagel-Montreal-Jewish-Food-Walking-Tour/d625-14992P1 This Jewish style bakery in the Mile End neighborhood is one of the stops on the tour. You will get to sample rugelach, babka, and bialy to name a few of the old world treats. I missed out on the challah that is only made on Fridays for Shabbat. read more

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My review is only for the croissants and they are great. My favorite was the rhubarb almond.

So we give Hof another chance, purely for convenience. The staff were with less attitude but the two pastries I tried were extremely terrible. One was a "cheesecake" stuffed croissant. The croissant itself was poorly laminated and had the texture of grocery store croissant with layers sticking and rubbery. Maybe it was day old. The tomato tart would have been great if the sweet crumble they added for no reason whatsoever did not clash with the sharp mustard underneath the tomato. It was kinda very much gross. So I guess we won't give them a third chance especially since there are so many better bakeries in town. read more

This is far away, the best place In the area (well with some other places exaequo ;) ) I tried the Chocolate Babka.. INSANE!! Delicious! OMG Yummy!!!! Generous, tasty, tenderness... I admit, I didn't taste a lot of Babka in my life but for sure, this is quite as a perfect experience! My son opened wide his eyes when he tested it too!! I suggest you by the way the sandwich au boeuf effiloché!! oufff.... ;) read more

We got a croissant and a chocolate babka.. life changing. Definitely recommend. The staff were super nice as well!

While running errands in the area I found myself hungry and in need of a quick lunch. That's when I remembered that I wasn't far from Hof Kelsten and that a friend had highly recommended it to me. It's easy to walk by this bakery and miss it because it doesn't have any large sign out front that easily identifies it. However, you might know you're nearby when you start smelling the tempting aromas of freshly baked bread. Start following those scents and you will find it. The bakery is fairly large inside and seating didn't seem to be an issue when I was there. The place itself is rather bare and simplistic. If you're planning on grabbing a quick bite they have sandwiches and a small brunch menu on weekends. I ordered a gravlax sandwich. It was a little small given the price but it was tasty and the bread was so soft and chewy and very fresh. I did enjoy it quite a bit. Alas despite the high quality of the sandwich it was no match for the chocolate babka pain perdu which was simply divine. Just writing this review has me yearning for another slice of it. It too was so soft, chewy and very chocolatey. Most importantly all the food here was fresh as fresh can be. The prices were okay and if memory serves me I paid about $14. Like I said the sandwich could have been bigger given the price but the pain perdu was just right. The quality was definitely there though and I will most certainly be back to try the other items on their menu. read more

Hof Kelsten - Pain perdu chocolate babka - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Hello, Very bad. I have arrived at 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, 2019 Why? 1) Almost nothing to buy. 2) Not helpful. 3) Very dirty everywhere. 4) The stuff was laughing instead of helping when I was asking question bout the menu and names of dishes to buy. Not recommending at all. read more

(Based on online order only) WOW. Truly a stellar bakery. The breads were hearty and dense with crisp crusts and they stayed fresh and scrumptious for a few days after delivery. The challah was especially delicious. Their pastries were divine -- the chocolate babka is hands down the best I've ever had in Montreal, same with the pain aux raisins. Fuller meals (chili, curry, etc.) were also well-spiced and filling without being heavy, with portions perfect for two people. My very kind and generous relative who put in the order said the online ordering was easy. I was also very pleased that they didn't use excessive plastic packaging in the delivery (more paper bags than plastic containers). I certainly am looking forward to visiting in person for more goodness. read more

Walked in to this retro-modern looking bakery with the purpose of just buying ONE Chocolate Babka to bring back home to NJ, ended up buying two....as well as: two croissants, three bialys, four strawberry-walnut rugelach, a baguette, two coffees, two egg sandwiches and a hot chocolate. EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS. The wonderful bespectacled saleswoman who helped us was super awesome, patient and helpful. Can't wait to return to Montreal just to stop here first! read more

Hof Kelsten - Amazing! The Strawberry-Walnut Rugelach will make you rethink rugelach altogether. Everything we had was outstanding! - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Hof Kelsten is owned by Jeffrey Finkelstein, who is known in Montreal as the 'bread guy.' He supplies all the top restaurants with his various bread, and his creds include working at Toque!, French laundry, Per Se, and El Bulli. His menu is strictly chef-driven, and offers items such as challah, ciabatta, baugettes, croissants, and also hot/cold beverages. The hubs and I came here to try out some of their croissants - a regular croissant, a croissant sesame and amande, and a poppy seeded croissant with cheese - the croissants were all pretty okay, but I liked the croissant with the poppy seed and the cheese, as it had a nice little goat-cheese-esque hint to it with plenty of poppyseeds. These were also pretty good when warmed in the microwave the next day for a quick morning snack! I also saw a colorful special drink beverage, so I tried the Arnie P (can't pass up on an Arnold Palmer!) - this was super refreshing, a slight tartness, and yummy - I highly recommend! The staff here are super friendly, and there are plenty of seats - the place is more modern and open, and I was surprised, as I thought it would be more of a hole-in-the-wall, industrial bakery place! Lots of patrons coming in to get breads to go. +run by Jeffrey Finkelstein, the 'bread guy' +fresh croissants +Arnie P drink :D +friendly staff +cash on Canadian debit only! read more

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The babka are heaven ! it's like drug ! you have to try. Coffee amazing, the brisket sandwich is heaven so is the chopped liver one too. Really a place to go again, again and again. Really a nice addition the area. read more

Hof has a little something I can't quite put my finger on that makes you feel happy to be there. The bread here is to DIE for! You MUST try a ricotta + poppy seed twisty bread thingy (yes, it's an order). The coffee is good too and so are the pastries. read more

Hof Kelsten - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Hof Kelsten is my temple. This is the best bakery in Montreal, hands down, no competition. My friends and I have a weekly ritual of going to Hof and getting a whole chocolate babka and the whole thing is always devoured in a matter of minutes (...there are only 3 of us). No matter what you get here is incredible. The croissants are OUT OF THIS WORLD like maybe better than what you can get in FRANCE. Their brunch is also really good - hello CHALLAH FRENCH TOAST. This bakery is the perfect combination of Jewish comfort food and incredible breads and pastries. Hof kelsten is the ultimate treat and if you choose anything else you are a fool! read more

Hof Kelsten - Cross-section of babka HEAVEN - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

It's Sunday morning. Wake up, put pants on, and make your way to Hof. Guaranteed to be the best decision you'll make all day. I'm a regular at the Guillaume bakery a few blocks up, which is known for their French style breads. Hof, on the other hand, specializes more in Jewish style baked goods. Both are equally fantastic, just depends on your mood. But seriously, everything here is wonderful. Disclaimer I've never tried the in-house brunch (and have heard mixed reviews), but have had my weight in breads, cookies, babka, strudels, you name it. And oh my, this place is good. They also serve up a mad latte here. So grab some raisin bread and bialys and start the day right. Note: it's pricey, but yes it's worth every penny. read more

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I really enjoyed the rugelach here, but the service left much to be desired. I came here because I wanted to try the challah bread, but I didn't realize they only served it on Fridays. I asked the staff just to confirm, because the menu was in French, and she was unfriendly and a bit standoffish when I asked her for recommendations Still, would probably come back to try the bread, but I just wish the service was friendlier read more

Hof Kelsten - Strawberry rugelach - 3.75 (including tax) - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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I've been looking forward to try this place for brunch for a while as I had heard good things about it. To be fair, my rating should be 3,5. What I liked most and deserves 4 stars was the food. I ordered the pain doré brunch plate. The pain doré itself ranks in the best pain dores I have tried. The fact that it's made out of homemade thick slices of bread and pure maple syrup makes it just excellent. It also comes with a side of back bacon tasty as they season it. Also had a side of Kale which was fresh and generous. What made me note it down to a 3.5 star is the setting which is very basic and the fact that you don't have a sit down service. I enjoy cozy and we'll thought out decors and although the small plants are cute, the setting lacks a bit of warmth and comfort especially since you don't get table service as this means a lot of people getting up to get their plates from the counter. The good news is that both decor and table service can be added and updated to go with the deliciousness of their pastries and brunch plates. Overall, I enjoyed my brunch very much as it was tasty but might take my brunch to go next time. read more

Hof Kelsten - Pain doré with back bacon and maple syrup - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Love the Food, great service, they even changed the bread to French Baguettes, lovely atmosphere, strongly recomend the Brunch menu and of course, the apple cake!!! read more

Hof Kelsten - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Literally the best croissant I've ever had in my life. The tomato/cheese croissant is totally out of this world amazing. The raisin/nut croissant is a close 2nd. Words do no justice, this place is a must try for yourself kinda place. The staff is also very friendly and welcoming! read more

Hof Kelsten - Must have! - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Excellent croissant! Bare essentials decor . Busy in a Sunday morning. We will go back for the brunch !! read more

This is the true meaning of New Jewish Cuisine. Taking traditional recipes and stepping them up to the 21st century without trying to invent the wheel. The Matzo ball soup is incredible, it is very different than the ones at regular delis- they smoke the bones prior to cooking it, giving a very rich flavour. The chopped liver is smooth and manages to be light. The baked goods are remarkable and if you are lucky enough to get there on Friday- Get the Challah! The chef, Jeffrey Finkelstein went back to his roots after working at prominent kitchens around the world. His love to his nana's food became a joy to the food community in Montreal. read more

Hof Kelsten - Bakeries Near Me - Montreal, Quebec