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Lafayette Bakery & Cafe

4.2 (666 reviews)
Closed 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

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Entrance at The Barnyard.
Stacy C.

It's been a little over a year since I visited Lafayette Bakery. I happened to pass by it while looking for an antique shop at The Barnyard Shopping Village. I had forgotten that's where it is located. It was about 11:30am on a Sunday morning and there was no line. I expected the shelves to be bare, but they still had lots of items available. I bought a pre-made mini chicken sandwich and a chocolate croissant. Both items were utterly amazing. The mini sandwich was made with the most scrumptious bread and something in the sandwich gave it a delicious little kick that I loved. The chocolate croissant was just plain fantastic. I'm going back to Carmel Valley in late summer and can't wait to get another mini sandwich or two and a croissant.

Custard Chocolate Gaga's
byron i.

I won't sugar coat this I ordered Almond Croissant, Custard Chocolate Gaga, and Chocolate Croissant it wasn't the standard of what baked goods should be. For the price of $16.50 for 3 pastries it was good but not spectacular. The Gaga was disappointing it was thin not enough chocolate no custard , the almond croissant was visually flat like it was smashed, and the chocolate croissant was decent. Overall I've seen an tasted better bake goods elsewhere.

K Q.

Cute little spot. There was a line but it went by quickly. Pastries were delicious. The coffee was okay. Standard siting out self service coffee, which is rarely good. For espresso drinks it appears to be an automatic machine with basic mass market syrup (think syrups sold at Marshall's or World Market). Felt odd to have no prices displayed at all. The items weren't overpriced but I got less than I would have otherwise since I just didn't know how much everything would cost. More gluten free options would have been nice as well.

Candy C.

This place is legit. We came toward the end of the day, so much of the selection was already gone, but what we did get was worth it. Must-tries: * Cheese focaccia with hot honey (warm it up!)--absolutely incredible * Chocolate pistachio cake--pure perfection * Lemon meringue--beautifully balanced, tart and sweet * Passionfruit tart with raspberries--another bright, tangy-sweet standout We found a nice outdoor spot to enjoy everything, which made it even better. Do yourself a favor and go early for the full selection!

Almond milk latte and mini ham and cheese baguette
Daisy S.

Super cute patisserie tucked into a charming little plaza. The bakery itself is adorable, and while dogs aren't allowed inside but they are welcome on the back patio. They have SO many pastries and breakfast treats that it's genuinely hard to choose. I originally went in craving something sweet, but I couldn't resist trying their mini baguette ham and cheese sandwiches since I've never seen a mini one before. Paired it with a latte, and wow, I was immediately transported back to Paris. Simple and absolutely delicious. I honestly wish I had grabbed a few pastries to go because everything looked incredible. Already looking forward to coming back and trying more next time!

Goodies
Hemanth G.

Early chilly morning in Carmel, exploring for some good coffee and bakery bites, came across this packed authentic French Patisserie/bakery in the barnyard shopping strip. Got their popular chocolate swirl, bagged their pistachio/cranberry sourdough loaf for take out. All the items are baked in this bakery unlike few others who buy from wholesale bakeries. Also noticed many getting their fresh sandwiches..was lil too early for me to bag sandwiches. The coffee was meh, had better ones at other places. Definitely a spot to satisfy bakery cravings or sandwiches, just allow few minutes for line which moves fast.

Mini salmon sandwich is the best sandwich
Yena W.

Lafayette is an old school French bakery in The Barnyard Shopping Village that I've been going to for years and I can't believe I am only just writing a review for them in 2026. Please forgive me. Maybe I've been unwittingly gatekeeping. But no more. It is a small pleasure in my life to walk into this sunny warm cozy space that smells of butter and flour, grab a couple mini salmon sandwiches and a mini lemon bichon (a must) (and maybe an extra pastry or two, just to try something different once in a while) to take with me for the day and eat it somewhere picturesque, like at the beach watching all the happy dogs scampering across the blustering sand. The food is light, delicate, and perfectly simple. The people are nice. Grab and go. Go early before things sell out, because they do. There is no other location. It is the only one and to me, it is special.

Large pastries
Mike B.

This pastry shop has been a local favorite in Carmel for good reason. It has been around for about 12 years, and I have been coming here at least once every two weeks for that entire time. There are a lot of great bakeries, pastry shops, and cafés on the Monterey Peninsula, but this one has always stood out to me for its quality, consistency, and charm. They usually have at least 15 different varieties of French pastries, along with mini cakes, bite-size tiramisu, brownie bites, and premade sandwiches. Everything is beautifully presented, and you can tell they care about the details. I also order large amounts for my staff at least once a month, and they absolutely love when I bring these treats in. One of the best things they offer is their fresh focaccia flatbreads on Saturdays. If you're lucky enough to come in around 10 in the morning, you may catch them while they're still warm. They usually make three or sometimes four different varieties, depending on what the chefs decide to create that day. There isn't really a set menu for them, but in true French fashion, they put out whatever they feel inspired to make, and it is always amazing. The only problem is that they usually sell out within an hour, so you have to get there early. I honestly don't understand why they don't sell those focaccia flatbreads throughout the week, but I'm guessing it comes down to quality. They seem like perfectionists, and that is probably part of what makes everything so good. When you get one warm, it is absolutely worth the trip. The pastries are excellent, the quality is consistent, and the shop has become one of those dependable Carmel places that locals truly appreciate. Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of their coffee, but I'll admit I'm a bit of a coffee snob. That doesn't take away from the overall experience at all. After 12 years of coming here regularly, I can confidently say this place is special. It is warm, consistent, high quality, and very much part of the Carmel community. Five stars for sure.

So many options to choose from
Evangelene G.

I was working in the area and needed a quick bite before heading home. I found Lafayette on Yelp and saw it on a few social media reels so thought I'd give it a try. It checked my boxes and now on my list of places to go when I'm in Carmel or on my way to Big Sur. Highlights: Mini-sandwiches: perfect portion if you need something small. There are veggie and meat options. I tried the prosciutto sandwich (yum). There are full sizes to go which are perfect for two on a hike in Big Sur. Pastries: The minis are perfect portions for flavor but I took the full size for breakfast today. Right now we are marveling over the raspberries. I don't know what they do but it guarantees a return trip for me. Coffee: No complaints here! Sitting back with a latte with my sandwich is my version of a good morning. Ambiance/service: very friendly and patient with a first time visitor! I love the patio for sitting back and enjoying my food. Thanks again and I have to get back to my raspberry swirl before it's gone!

Jade C.

I can't gate keep any longer. This is one of the best bakeries I've ever been to. A REQUIREMENT to stop here any time we are in or around the area. Fun fact: my husband and I stopped here before we got engaged at point lobos and when we came back to Monterey for our honeymoon. You can't go wrong with anything here, and they have something for everyone. There's a case for dessert specific items, sandwiches (I recommend the prosciutto, ham & Swiss or caprese, or all three if you do the minis), and a baked item case ( to the right of the cashier). From this case you want to get the Apricot pinwheel and the raspberry brioche. I am not a fan of brioche but they nail it here. We don't come here for the coffee, so I can't really comment on it as the star of the show is definitely the baked goods but a hot tea will run you $3.50 for a medium.

Display of pastries
Olivia P.

Was sadly disappointed with this place. The mini bichon I got had no lemon in it at all. It was a dry empty puff pastry. The mini brioche I got was dry and stale. I also got the raspberry brioche. It was better, but it still felt like there was something missing with the texture of the brioche. It wasn't as airy as I wanted it to be. It also got dry without the topping. The apricot pastry was okay. It was too much pastry, not enough of the good stuff. Maybe three bites of it and the apricots tasted straight out of a can.

Outside front
Sara M.

Fantastic pastries, pies, sandwiches and coffee. Service was also great! Parking is plentiful, inside seating is a bit light but they have a big outside patio out back.

Citrus yuzu croissant
James H.

I saw a long line while making our way to breakfast. But by time came back at 11 am most of the pastries were sold out. But the chocolate croissant was one of the better ones I've had. There was a lot of chocolate, they def don't skimp. The citrus yuzu croissant was different in a good way. Little pockets of yuzu baked in were delightful. Soft interior with crunchy exterior. Outdoor seating available.

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Marion V.

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3 days ago

Highly recommend. Everything is amazingly delicious and so very well made. Don't miss out on the best pastry outside of France!!

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4 months ago

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5 months ago

Tried the almond paste croissant. The butteriest. Pure decadence. At this point, I don't need to think about other patisserie.

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4 months ago

High quality pastries & extremely friendly service. Coffee was good but not remarkable. Very limited seating.

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Ask the Community - Lafayette Bakery & Cafe

Do they make anything gluten-free other than a brownie like gluten-free croissants?

Wondering if they now have any gluten-free pastries, other than the macaroons and brownies if those are pastries 🤷🏻‍♀️?

Are they typically open on Thanksgiving and the day after?

It's been a few years since I've checked, but wondering if they now offer gluten-free pastries, other than a brownie?

Do they serve any gluten-free pastries?

We have a few, we have macarons ( the flavors vary but lately we have lime, raspberry, chocolate or pistachio), we also have brownies.

Do you bake any gluten-free pastries, scones , or muffins?

Last I went there, they had no gluten free baked goods. Check out Nece's, they make all gf baked goods.

Are they open on thanksgiving morning?

Does Lafayette Bakery make wedding cakes?

We do, but only french style which means sheetcake, mini pastries, macarons and croquembouche.

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La Bicyclette

La Bicyclette

4.1
(2.7k reviews)
1.2 mi
$$$

Really good food, service and ambiance…read more Really got to mention how good the food is. I also can't forget to mention how amazing the service is. Also not gonna lie the Ambiance is really nice

This is one of those places that reminds you why people plan entire trips around food…read more We started with the stone fruit salad, which was incredibly fresh and well balanced. The peaches were ripe without being overly sweet, the salty cheese offset the fruit perfectly, and the pine nuts added a great bit of texture. The biggest surprise was the gnocchi. I normally avoid gnocchi because I find it too heavy, but our waitress convinced me to try it and I'm so glad she did. It wasn't made with potatoes, so it was much lighter than expected, and the creamy, cheesy sauce was perfect for dipping the bread into. We also shared a half Margherita and half Salumi pizza. The crust was thin and European-style, with fresh ingredients and plenty of cheese. The Margherita was light and flavorful, while the Salumi had great depth from the salami, red onion, and house-made chili oil. We were told the peppers are roasted in the pizza oven, which gave the oil an amazing smoky flavor. Our waitress was incredible. Even in a full restaurant, she made my family feel special. She seemed genuinely excited about the food, the restaurant, and her job, and that enthusiasm made the experience even better. The atmosphere was also so charming. The room we sat in had little building facades that created an almost optical illusion, making it feel like we were dining on a street in France. It's easy to see why La Bicyclette is included in the Michelin Guide. I'll absolutely be coming back anytime I'm in Carmel.

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Cute seating, delicious pasta!
Cute seating, delicious pasta!
Oysters du Jour
Oysters du Jour
Celebratory Profiterole

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Casanova

Casanova

3.8
(2k reviews)
1.3 mi
$$$

100/10! PSA: make…read morereservations ! Especially if you're coming to Carmel for a visit :) it does get quite busy during weekends. From the outside it looks like a small house but you walk in and it feels like you're in Europe. I literally dream about the cannelloni! Beautifully made and hits the spot every time I'm in town. It's a must get !! There's so much on the menu and everything is cooked to perfection. Definitely a spot to try when you're in the area!

I've been coming here the same time every year for the past 3 years, the dinner before my Monterey…read moreHalf Marathon. It's always been such a treat to myself. For Father's Day, I decided to take my husband for the 1st time for Father's Day. I asked for a spicy margarita and the waiter said, "The kitchen has not peppers." I asked, "If instead of the sides that come with my steak, could I just get a naked simple salad... just a bunch of leaves?" He said, "They do not do substitutions." I told him that they've done it before. I told him I was just there last November. I asked the waitress. She said she'd ask the chef. When she came back, she said it's one of their normal salads that are premade and if that was ok. I said, "yes. Thank you." There was no charge. The waitress made me feel like she wanted to help and actually did. Our waiter last night said that if I want a salad, I'd have to order salad for the regular salad price. Then, he said they found peppers in the kitchen and could make my margarita spicy. Admittedly, initially, I was shocked the kitchen didn't have any peppers, a Michelin Guide restaurant. This waiter was terrible and acted like he did not want to help. I ordered brocollini instead bc it was cheaper than having to order an additional salad. The waiter apologized and asked if I read the no substitution rule on the menu... Really? The waiter said we have never done substitutions before. This surprised me bc they did for me last November. My toddler is sitting next to me. I don't have the luxury or want to read an entire menu. He said the chef would come out to talk to me. I was find with that in fact wanted that to happen. The chef never came out to talk to us. I will never come back to this restaurant. I'm sad bc I run the Monterey Half every year and this was a treat to myself. But never again. Sad to want to share a nice place to my husband for Father's Day and to have a terrible waiter and experience in what was supposed be magical as every time I've been here before.

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Part of the indoor seating
Part of the indoor seating
Cannelloni
Cannelloni
Linguini

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Linguini

Lafayette Bakery & Cafe - bakeries - Updated July 2026

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