HUGE fan of this place. their croissants are always so delicious, and their coffee is good too. so…read moremany tasty pastries and they're always fresh beautiful location but not very many seating options

My mom said that this bakery has the best almond croissants in Monterey. Sadly when we went there…read morearound 1pm in the afternoon, they were all sold out of almond croissants. I got a strawberry and rhubarb pastry that was good. They do have some nice outside seating, and I saw folks who looked to be enjoying the weather. They had a lot of staff people working the counter despite it being a small shop, so we were served very quickly. Probably if I had gotten this fabled almond croissant, it would have been five stars! I will have to return earlier in the day.

Had a sausage roll that was so amazing that I had to leave my first review on yelp. Putting braised…read moreapple and caramelized onions in the sausage was a genius decision, whoever thought of this should get a raise! Will definitely be coming back and recommending to my friends!

My local friends shared suggestions on places to visit the next day as I only had a visit to…read moreFisherman's Wharf on the docket. This is one of the mentioned places. First of all, this is a historic bakery in a landmark building in downtown Monterey. As I approached, there was a short line on a Friday around 11 am. After a short wait, I reached the counter and scanned the pastry selection before picking several, asking the kind lady to pack them in two boxes and I brought a couple items back for a friend. After my purchase, I walked to the back area and noticed an outdoor dining area (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=24&select=ykERHL4g-pQklkgNQ0Vrsg) besides the counter area (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=24&select=-ieBhqZ5feBuptEl0S_sNw) and a small dining room inside (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=24&select=TD9doolFBh0oHc9lES_1eQ) (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=24&select=95x2W27l2Ab0PGph3FmdhQ). With meals scheduled for the rest of the day, I didn't start on anything until the next morning with the donut (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=24&select=0MJJ8kT57A1DTm3XZQFJXQ) for breakfast. It was interesting with the colorful topping; I did not ask the flavor but guessing it was raspberry. It was okay as I like my donuts a little less cakey. The next item that I tried was the blondie (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=24&select=XJNQw54ud1nxci3EZF5DXw); I really enjoyed this for dessert a few days later at home. It's been awhile so I really enjoyed this as there was plenty of chocolate pieces to contrast with the dough flavor. Next, I tried the carrot cake cookie (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=96&select=WYgw9_utf096q83PjynR8g) which I enjoyed as it wasn't overly rich. I was only okay with the almond financier (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=48&select=rC2OVgro1o-vIE2rVCNqtg) as the flavors sounded more interesting than they were. I enjoyed the chocolate buckwheat cookie (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=48&select=P6gb3w4hu0CRRQBOPc46jQ) which was very chocolatey. The line was about six deep when I arrived but it moved quickly. The order taker and cashier are efficient. There is coffee and other beverages available as well as meal items and wine and beer after 11 am (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=144&select=6Utt7H0U46KbXamwZoiwrQ). I will return and perhaps have lunch here on another visit. Nice to see more historic places especially for a bakery aptly named.

Outstanding breads and pastries served by friendly staff. I love the window view of the kitchen…read morearea where all the magic happens! Ad Astra offers classes on how to make your own sourdough bread- life changing for me. I had attempted my own sourdough starter for a few months, but could not achieve satisfying results. Since taking the class, I now enjoy amazing results with sourdough bread, galettes, focaccia and pizza crusts. Worth every penny and my time invested in that class taught by Ron, the owner. I love Ad Astra!

Man oh man! As someone from Southern California by way of the Midwest, I really love the sweets…read morehere. The Earl Grey cookie was delicious--light and soft, just as you might expect. I also tried the salmon sandwich. It was a little too heavy in flavor for me, but that's simply personal preference. The bread, however, is always fantastic.

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 !

We came to Captain + Stoker because it had good reviews (more that a 4.0) so I thought it would be…read moregood, no - very disappointing. We got 2 seasonal item menus - snickerdude and leg warmer latte, both literally tasted the same. One was suppose to have a pumpkin flavor- no where to be found. They both looked and tasted the same. We got one of the pressed drinks and it was okay. I spent $30 on 2 coffees that tasted nasty and a pressed juice. Save your time and energy, go somewhere else.

Oh Pavels! How dear you guys are to my heart…read more If you are in pacific grove on a Saturday do yourself a favor and wake up early and head down to pavels. Open one day a week...sold out by noon. Truly deserving of all its praise. If you want to do Pavel's right, get the berry danish. Yes you can get the cream cheese berry but if you want the true fall in love experience, get the berry danish. Trust me. The sheepherders bread is to die for. I always get a few loaves. Slice it up and put them in the freezer for my avocado toast in the morning. The salami sandwich is also a must. Never have I ever had a sesame seed baguette be so soft. Other than that, you really can't go wrong here... it's a sweet community of people that lineup in the morning. Locals and travelers that have found this hidden gem. Anybody with a negative review about them being open only one day we're having a line in the morning needs to learn how to enjoy the simple things in life. Pavels is an experience. A true joy to get to enjoy. BRING CASH THEY ARE CASH ONLY:)

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!

Bike & coffee review!!…read more Let's start with the coffee. By far the best I had my whole trip to Carmel/Monterey. Absolute perfection. We actually all got drinks from their seasonal menu. Highly recommend using the pistachio milk! Presentation was gorgeous and service was SO good. Friendliest people fr. The space is so clean and so trendy, welcoming, and smells amazing. Don't forget a pup cup for your pup! DO THE BIKE RENTALS! Absolute highlight of our trip. BUT the team at this location recommended we actually rent from their Monterey location based on what we wanted to experience (literally biking on the coast / 17 mile drive route- hello!!!). They were also able to recommend what bikes we should book, etc. Only thing that wasn't cute was the prices on the flyer at the bike shop are inaccurate. Said $50 all day ride from Monterey but in fact it was $75. They said the flyer was out of date. Regardless, Mad Dog is so fab

Saw this place ranked among Yelp's Top 50 Best Coffee Shops in America and knew I had to try it!…read more This review is strictly for the coffee shop! The coffee shop is located at the front, with bike rentals in the back. The store itself is super cute and extremely dog-friendly, which is always a huge plus. Parking: No designated parking lot, so you'll have to find street parking. It was pretty difficult on a Sunday, but honestly, that's nothing out of the ordinary for downtown Carmel. We got 3 drinks from their seasonal menu, and unfortunately, they were all just okay. Strawberry Fields -- $8.50 The matcha was decent, and I appreciated that they used strawberry purée. However, it wasn't memorable enough for me to order again. Vanilla Cardamom Latte -- $7.50 The cardamom was SUPER strong, and I felt like it overpowered everything else. The description mentioned rich espresso and creamy vanilla, but both were definitely lacking. Velvet Noir -- $7.50 This tasted as described: dark chocolate and cherry espresso. It was not overwhelmingly sweet. Service deserves a shoutout! Despite my mixed feelings about the drinks, the service was AMAZING! The cashier was super friendly and even made a special pup treat for my dog, which I genuinely appreciated. My dog absolutely loved it! As an avid coffee drinker, I'm not sure I'd personally consider this one of the "best coffee shops" based on the drinks alone. I was hoping for stronger espresso flavors, especially given the recognition and price point. That said, the customer service and dog-friendly atmosphere were fantastic! I didn't get a chance to rent a bike this time, but I'd definitely stop by again on my next visit to Carmel. Maybe I'll have better luck with a different drink next time!

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.

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.

Came in with two small toddlers. We got breakfast and coffees. They don't have high chairs, but…read moreonce we inquired about them, the owner mentioned she should invest in them. So hopefully soon! The biscuit sandwich was perfect and burrito looked so yummy. The coffee was very good as well. Hope to return soon, as I'm a local! We came here because the wait was long at other restaurants and it seemed calmer with the babies. Glad we could support a new small business

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.

We love this place. Whenever we're in the area we try to stop by. The pastry is top tier and made…read morewith love. Highly recommend. The service is always with a smile. The vibe is cozy and welcoming and we were able to find parking right out front. If you're in the Monterey area, drive up the street and hit this place up. You won't regret it.

Caught a pre aquarium bite here beforehand and it was perfection…read more Delicious empanadas and easily THE freshest chimichirri in California. Lovely pastries and bonus - Yerba mate lattes!!