Nece&#x27;s GF

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.

Mushroom & leek quiche

A box of baked goods

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Spinach quiche

ALTA Bakery & Cafe

4.2(992 reviews)

1.0 mi

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.

Sandwich station

Chocolate strudel

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Mixed berry strudel

Ad Astra Bread Co

4.2(323 reviews)

1.1 mi

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.

Reuben croissant peekaboo tucked behind the pain suisse -- YUM

Ordering counter on the left

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Sourdough bread

Paris Bakery Cafe

3.9(1.1k reviews)

1.2 mi

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.

Elegant Pastries

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BLT

Captain + Stoker

4.4(985 reviews)

1.2 mi

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.

The ordering counter. Still nostalgic

Iced matcha latte

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Iced Matcha Latte w/ extra matcha shot, oat milk ($7.50) + Shaken Sesame w/ espresso, housemade black sesame syrup, milk ($6.75)

Pavel's Backerei

4.6(809 reviews)

2.6 mi

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!

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Mad Dogs & Englishmen

4.6(822 reviews)

2.2 mi

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

Super cute spot with fun decor…read more No line to order midday on a weekday. Employees weren't the friendliest, unfortunately. We asked what flavors they offered for lattes and they just pointed to the sign on the other side of the counter... Then once our coffees were made, we asked which one is which and we were met with annoyance and additionally were told the wrong drinks so we started drinking the other person's coffee. It was a bummer to feel like a burden and not a welcomed customer. The velvet noir latte was delicious, the vanilla cardamom was just ok.

Ham and cheese

Hot vanilla latte

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Front entrance

Parker-Lusseau Pastries & Cafe

4.7(312 reviews)

0.9 mi

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.

Petit-fours displays

All chocolate

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Latte served on a big bowl.

The Perfect Crumb Bakery

3.9(317 reviews)

2.7 mi

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

I ordered a 6in carrot cake for my boyfriend's birthday. We were on a little trip so I am not from…read morethe area. The staff was so nice and the cake was adorable and omg delicious sooooo good. We had it for a few days lol. He was very happy!!

6in carrot cake

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Cafe Guarani

4.5(283 reviews)

2.3 mi

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!!

OKAY! If you're looking for a quick snack and you have a craving for empanadas -- COME HERE! They…read morehave a sweet little bakery with the yummiest short bread cookies filled with dulce de leche (WOW - super yummy); I had an incredible shredded beef empanada which was served with a tiny cup with a tiny spoon of chimmichurri sauce on the side and WOW, It just hit the SPOT. Bonus that the back patio is super cute, quiet, sunny, and DOG friendly. It's super calming with a little water fountain with water drop sounds. A perfect stop in for a snack on sunny day in Monterey! (Also plenty of street parking)

Front counter

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Secret garden in the back, so peaceful

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Bob B.

1 year ago

Amazing!! A great gluten free option. I came here from out of town and was very impressed!! I got a turkey sandwich and a ham and cheese roll. Having celiac, I don't get to eat out often, so this was a wonderful treat! Very nice staff and presentation. Highly recommend! read more

Mama B.

5 months ago

Daily egg special is delicious. Recommend they begin to have faux meat (protein) - there were only meat options. (Same price w/o meat) Egg part could be bigger, but that's IMHO. Overall, delicious. Worth visiting. Muffins looked outrageous. read more

Rebecca K.

3 years ago

Everything here is so amazing! So great to have a gluten free option that doesn't even taste gluten free. Everything is so yummy!

Rachel S.

3 years ago

This place is a gem. Wish I lived closer but it will always be a spot to visit when I'm I in towN.

A I.

1 year ago

Bread and sandwich and service was wonderful!! Definitely coming back for more goodies!!!

Nece's GF - gluten_free - Updated October 2026

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Happy Girl Kitchen Company

4.1

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Farm to fresh vibes here with delicious daily from scratch SOUP option. I had the ginger sweet…read morepotato which was so nourishing and cozy. Great HEALTHY option!

$22 lunch combo: Soup of day: lentil curry: light, not…read moreoily, lentil curry forward. Vegetables were almost sweet. Bowl of day: kimchi fried rice: nothing like what inspired it. Mild spice with some Indian flavors. Decent. Sandwich of day: eggplant: excellent. Tons of flavor. Loved the bread.

Lafayette Bakery & Cafe

4.2

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I stopped by Lafayette Bakery on Memorial Day morning and there were only a few people in line. The…read moreselection of pastries and breakfast items made it so hard to choose because everything looked amazing! I ended up getting the ham and bacon quiche and it did not disappoint. It was flaky, light, and had the perfect crunch. I paired it with a vanilla latte with almond milk, and as a barista myself, I have to say the latte was a 10/10. You can tell it was crafted with care. I enjoyed my breakfast in the patio where they had outside seating, it was clean and very spacious! The service was also great! The barista who took my order was super friendly and made sure I got my items once they were ready. I'll definitely be coming back to try one of their sweet pastries next time!

Uniqueness: Their pastries are well done! Wait Time:…read more [x][x][x][x][x] Food Quality: [x][x][x][x][x] Service: [x][x][x][x][x] Setting: [x][x][x][x][ ] Cost: [x][x][x][x][ ] Recommendation? Definitely stick with their pastries as their other savory foods looked alright (perhaps one day I'll try and see how they taste). Yelp told me about this bakery in the older Carmel Plaza here that's not in the main Ocean Ave. The plaza was sadly mostly empty but was still curious to see how this bakery is. The inside was also pretty sparse at the time of my visit and there were a decent amount of pastries still on display and first impression of their sandwich & other savory goods was a bit of a miss by the looks of it. Still I ordered a lime tart, tiramisu, and a guava raspberry tart with no coffee, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how good they all were! Not too overly sweet, and it didn't feel like any other generic tart/tiramisu so I would definitely be curious to try some more. Staff were also friendly and the overall price per pastry was slightly on the pricier side but then again, this is Carmel. Perhaps another plus if anything about this place is you definitely won't have to worry about tourist crowds or long lines! Would I come back here? Maybe I will give their savory food a try next time as well but truth be told regardless, I'll check them out again for more pastries as they did a good job. Worth the visit!

The Perfect Crumb Bakery

3.9

(317 reviews)

Carmel Bakery at Portola Hotel

3.9

(39 reviews)

I come here at least once a weekend, or every other weekend. My 2 year old loves their croissants…read moreand their pretzels, the muffins are good and actually their shortbread cookie is amazing. I usually experience the same barista (baristo?) on weekend mornings, not sure of his name but he is incredibly friendly and really nails customer service. Today, I had an experience with another barista and I was a bit disappointed. First, there was no "how are you," or any pleasantries, just taking the order which yes, is the job, but it's the bare minimum. When she told me the total, I was getting my daughter something and then had to get my phone from my pocket, and the woman just stared at me and tapped the machine, as if I didn't know where or how to pay? I just thought this was very rude. I will admit that I am more sensitive in customer service situations, probably because I used to be in customer service - but I felt that this needed to be shared. I look forward to coming in here with my daughter and I know the experience will always be great (except for today) - and that actually was pretty disappointing. Again, no complaints about the food and I always like my drink, but this was disappointing this morning.

A lot of patrons in line ordered the pastries here. However, what drew me here was not only the…read moreconvenience of being located near our hotel but was also for the pretzels. I am bit of a pretzel addict. It was 10am in the morning, who would order a pretzel? They weren't even laid out yet as they were cooling fresh from the oven. The everything pretzel and the salted pretzel were chosen. I would say... these aren't the traditional German pretzels but they are really good for soft fresh pretzels! I preferred the salted pretzel over the everything. The everything pretzel has a lot of seasonings on top so I can see why it isn't cooked crispy compared to the salted one-- as the topping would burn. Overall the pretzels were good and come in a large hefty size. This bakery seems to be the second location of the original Carmel bakery.

The Bagel Bakery

3.5

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Me and the fam came here to get some breakfast. We all got bagels. My husband had a jalapeño bagel…read morewith cream cheese (although he said it didn't have quite enough spice for his liking). Our kiddo got a sesame bagel with cream cheese and lox and loved it! I had a sesame bagel with egg, cheddar, crispy bacon (and it was crispy), and avocado. Even toasted it was still soft and fluffy enough. It has to be one of the best (if NOT the greatest) bagels I've ever had in my life. I'm definitely recommending this place. Also, the bottle of water I later got didn't seem to cost an arm and a leg, either. My husband did have and like the French toast coffee. Service seemed quick and they are very nice. They didn't mess anything up and they specifically only put the food items you ask for on the bagels. I've been other places where they put tons of pepper on my sandwiches and it's been impossible for me to eat and enjoy. They have ample seating inside with very soft music and a restroom for their customers. This establishment has drink coolers both behind and outside of the counters and screens up above to see all the items they have to choose from.

I was walking around the area with some friends looking for a place to grab quick lunch at. We…read moreopted for the bagel bakery. I tried their strawberry smoothie with Boba and plain bagel with cream cheese. The food was good, and service was fast. It's a decently size location, with seating available and plenty of food to choose from. My only complaint is that it didn't feel very welcoming. Not sure I'd go back for this reason.

Palermo Bakery

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Fresh, amazing bread at a great price. It's huge in there, but thankfully someone came to help me…read moreout. Cash only!

Not going to lie, the exterior is rough around the edges. Also, you will find signs that point you…read morein the correct direction to the entrance but that still didn't stop me from telling my husband, " this doesn't feel right" and forcing him to walk all the way to what appeared to be the front to try that first. The real entrance is a back door that looks pretty uninviting but trust me, you want to enter it. When you are inside you will be met with racks of freshly baked bread ready to go home with you. If no one is around just holler out and someone will be with you promptly. Palermo's is a commercial bakery that you can find in nearby grocery stores but why not go directly to the source and support local. We picked up a sourdough baguette, a sweet baguette, and a few sandwiches rolls. Overall, my favorite was the sourdough baguette. I can't wait to come back here and order more bread to share. *** cash only ***

Sweet Reba's

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So many tasty treats to choose from! We were in the area for a gathering during car week and I had…read moreheard good things and was excited to try! Service was excellent! So kind and helpful recommending favorites and even had a little sample. Nice display across the front and ordering at the window. A great set up. I especially enjoyed the cinnamon donut muffins, peanut butter chocolate chip cookie, and the oatmeal sandwich cookie.

Was craving something sweet and came by. Ordered the lemon cake and it was stale. Won't be coming…read moreback.

Rise + Roam Bakery and Pizzeria

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Exceptional in every way. You would be hard pressed to find a better bakery than this one. Every…read moreitem tastes like it is home made. The biscuits are huge and flavorful, the oatmeal raisin cookies are par excellence. The same goes for the avocado toast or the salmon slices on toast. Many, many other choices plus great coffee too! Service is fast, even though lines sometimes are out the door. You can eat in, also several tables available to eat out or take it away. Ambience? It is Carmel, what else do you need?

Awesome bakery. Visited two days in a row and was sad I couldn't get a third day in! The seasonal…read moreKouign-amann, peach when I visited, was sensational. The jalapeno cheddar biscuit was solid. The vegan cinnamon donut was amazing. Lastly, the caramel chocolate chip cookie was delicious. Me and this other guy were just talking to someone in line and it happened to be the owner! She was super nice and welcoming. Lots of areas to sit inside, several outside tables too. A couple of blocks off the main drag but well worth the walk. My buddy who lives locally recommended this place. Glad to add this to the list of places to return to.

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I was staying at a cellar and wanted a light breakfast so we found a bagel kitchen a short distance…read morefrom our lodging. How many choices on the menu built from bagels baked right in the shop I ordered the aloha sunshine which included pineapple, sausage, fried eggs, and cheddar cheese. My wife had the Santa Fe, which is based on a corn, avocado, cheese, and fried egg. They were busy but we had our food in a short time - I do appreciate it was all made fresh, for us (and not sitting in a warmer). Service was prompt and friendly. The dining area inside (they also had tables outside) was a little loud but fine for a quick meal.

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