It seems that folks in Salinas are under a mis-apprehension: The present owners of Peninsula Pastries did not set the Tuesday-Saturday hours; the previous owners did. The hours are posted both on the store window and the door. They always post well in advance when they're going to be closed. August and three weeks after Christmas are the times they close. Both of the owners work 60-hour work weeks, and frequently round the clock for a couple of days before Thanksgiving and Christmas. Do remember to get out of the car and check for the business hours if you ever have a question about the hours. It's a small operation (the owners and two employees), so please give 'em a break. For this kind of product, they deserve to rest once in awhile. Best bakery in the area, for sure. read more

So pleased that I discovered Peninsula Pastries in Salinas! It really is a wonder French bakery! I've been going to Salinas for over 25 years and recently learned about Peninsula Pastries. They have ABSOLUTELY delicious tasting, high quality French pastries! Based upon how delicious the pastries that I tried tasted, I can see why they are so highly rated! I live in San Mateo and needed a special birthday cake for a family gathering in Salinas. The chocolate mousse, raspberry cake was AMAZING!!! It was made with layers of chocolate cake, chocolate mousse and fresh raspberries topped with a layer of chocolate ganache icing with chocolate sprinkles on the sides of the cake. Surprisingly, it wasn't overly sweet or rich. It was really, really delicious! Their individual apricot and blueberry tarts are delicious too, along with their French cheesecake, which has a mousse-like texture, topped with either apricot or raspberry glaze. Their ginger cookie is super delicious and was soft and chewy! It had the perfect balance of spices and was topped with a royal icing that was almost fondant like. EXCELLENT quality French pastries that are delicious tasting! Cloren, the pleasant, helpful and courteous French lady who owns the bakery with her French husband, who makes the wonderful pastries, assisted me and added to the nice experience that Peninsula Pastries provides. I will DEFINITELY go back to Peninsula Pastries when I am in Salinas! read more

Oh...my....gosh. This place is awesome. They have delicious little cookies and slices of cake. One of my favorites is their bread pudding which us might I say very good. I ordered a cake for mothers day (praline cake) and it was a hit! Awesome. Try everything. You wont regret anything. Another delight is the little wedding cake cookies which are little bites of happiness. The staff is really friendly and always greet with a smile. read more

I may or may not have needed a last second birthday cake for the little lady at home as I didn't know she wanted one but then again I am an idiot male sometimes...sooooooo I checked yelp for bakeries and found this place close by. I talked to a very sweet lady on the phone and explained my situation...she was happy to help and worked with me quickly as I needed something, well, REALLY QUICKLY! After the phone call, I was at their establishment within 20 MINUTES and they had a beautiful cheesecake with a lovely, personalized happy birthday message written on it, and didn't charge an arm and a leg! AND it tasted GREAT! They saved my life! Thanks Peninsula Pastries!!!!!!!!!! read more

Prices used to be great, now they're just good since the recent price increase, always satisfied with purchases, but if you are willing to pay more there are a couple places within 15 minutes that are mind blowing. For Salinas I think it's the best in Salinas ;) read more

Love this place, delicious sugar cookies, around Halloween they carry a pumpkin cheesecake, it is to die for. Don't come here if you are on diet. read more

You could search far and wide for a better tasting sugar cookie than Peninsula Pastries has, but to no avail. My friend used to work there, and she would bring me all the burnt stuff from the day, and it still tasted wicked good. Every year I get a chocolate ganache cake for my birthday. And every year I cry at their doors during the month of August when they leave for France. Not really, but seriously, the fruit tarts are fabulous. Everything there is fabulous. read more

The strawberry tarts are absolutely fabulous!!! Cookie crust with fluffy cream. So delicious... A must try. Ok, I'm gonna go get me some right NOW before they're all gone. read more

A very gracious owner indeed! I placed a large order this week for a friend's BD celebration this weekend - cake and many pastries. I arrived at the bakery this morning, IN PALM SPRINGS, only to find out that I had ordered from this bakery, in Salinas. Obviously, I couldn't drive 350 miles to pick up the order from the right bakery. Luckily, the two bakery owners know each other so she called this bakery to let them know about the mix up. The Salinas owner even called me afterward to confirm cancellation of the order. I feel terrible about making them prepare all of the delicious desserts and being unable to pick them up. But the owner was never rude about the mix up and didn't even charge me! If I'm ever in Salinas I will be sure to visit this bakery and give them my business. read more

We got a birthday cake for my daughter's 16th birthday from this bakery. It turned out so good. We got the chocolate truffle cake and it wasn't too sweet it was just right. The staff was friendly and I will be going back there again. read more

This is my favorite bakery in the whole Monterey Bay area. The owners are so nice and cute and always friendly. It is very cheap and they have 50 cent sugar cookies that are absolutely delicious. For parties they have the best cakes and tarts including a huge fruit tart always topped with fresh fruit for $25. They have really good pear and lemon tarts that are also good for parties. Their chocolate items are to die for including their scrumptious chocolate genache cake and their chocolate eclairs are heavenly. You will never be disappointed here! read more

Love their marble loaf, croissants, danishes, and chocolate tartlet/tart (which they will make upon request with notice)! Great bakery.

Great place. Needed a cake for my dad's birthday and they had a great variety. We picked a chocolate ganache and they quickly frosted on happy birthday dad. The lady working was very nice and took time to explain all the cakes to us. Other goodies looked good too. For sure coming back here. read more

Cloren did the cake for my wedding in September, and I loved it! When we showed up for the cake tasting, she'd prepared about a half dozen cupcakes with different cake and icing combinations. They were all delicious. You know things are going to end up well when you have a hard time deciding what to choose because they're all so good. We chose strawberries and cream for one tier, and raspberry/lemon for the top two. I gave her pictures of what I wanted, and she really worked with me. She called and emailed to make sure she was doing what I had asked, and I really appreciated her attention to detail. Her husband delivered the cake to King City, which is about an hour away. It came on time, they put the cake topper on it, and it looked beautiful! I was very happy with how the cake looked and tasted! read more

Love this place. I've tried just about everything they offer. I highly recommend their mix fruit or strawberry Tarts they are the best I have ever had. Delicious Muffins, cookies, zucchini bread, pumpkin bread, and their cakes are phenomenal. The bread pudding is one of mothers favorites during the holidays. read more

If you like French type pastries this shoppe is the place to go to! Their fruit tarts are very yummy as are their cakes, cookies, eclairs, and breads. All what needs to be said is try a little of each or what catches your attention and you can not go wrong! They will do custom order cakes, but give them a couple days or so time. I just wish they will do napoleons! read more

Love the croissants it's must when I come to Salinas. I also love the Gingersnaps. We've had a few other eateries that our family favs.

Cloren is as sweet as the sugar cookies. hours are weird but thats what makes it that much sweeter when you turn the corner hoping for those blinds to be rolled up & THEY ARE. so count up all the extra coins you have in your middle compartment. its cash only. its luck you found them open. its sweet. its life on pause when you take that first bite. its..time for me to drive over now read more

Our family loves Peninsula Pastries' cakes. They are just the right size and they are so nice and so delicious. We love the truffle cake and the cookies are great, too, especially if you want to decorate them. read more

I love this place! Since I find out about it I buy for special occasions, I love their fruit pudding!!! My husbands loves the almond Croissants! Apple strudel, coffee cake o my God! You have to try them!! Service is exelent too!! Of course it would be nice if they had this place like a french bakery and had our coffee and bread in an elegant environment too!!!... Excellent! read more

I feel this is the best bakery in Salinas hands down. They have the best cheesecake, very creamy and rich and they sell it by the slice as well. There is a wonderful array of breads, cookies, danishes, bread pudding and a great BLT sandwich. One reason I especially like coming here is because they sell snowball cookies just like my mom used to make. Prices are very reasonable but I just wished they accepted debit cards. Go ahead pick some goodies up for the office everyone will love you for it. read more

Nice little shop with friendly people, and some good chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies. About 6 cookies cost about $4 (cash or check only, though). read more

Excellent bakery... Everything is delicious. My family's favorite dessert is the white chocolate and milk chocolate eclairs. They are the best. The next best pastry is the almond croissants soooo good. Basically every dessert and pastry in the shoppe is divine. read more

A client brought in pastries, I caved and tried some. Spectacular! Particularly for this area! Will definitely go here when I'm looking for special occasion pastries. read more

Loved the chocolate eclairs filled with chocolate custard. Fruit tart was amazing as was the chocolate truffle cake. If I lived closer I'd be big as a house. read more

Sugar cookies are super yummy! Prices are reasonable and you should visit early or they will be sold out of a lot of things. Pastries are wonderful. Hours are odd but so worth visiting. read more

LOVE this bakery! I have been going to them for 14 years. The cakes are amazing, their fruit tarts are yummy fresh... and their breads are delicious. They make some of the best bread pudding I have ever had. The owners are sweet and easy to work with on any special requests you may have. My best advise is to go morning/mid morning, before the pastries start selling out. During the holidays they make made to order pies and rolls, we get them every holiday, because they are THAT good. :) read more

I have had lots of different items from this bakery over the years- their fruit tarts are awesome! Their cakes are amazing. My absolute favorite item there is their iced sugar cookies- oh my gosh those are DELIGHTFUL! I keep coming back again and again. I hope they have some tomorrow morning as a matter of fact- just writing this review is making me want a cookie! read more

I searched all over Monterey and Salinas for a bakery that would not only make my wedding cake look beautiful but, also taste delicious and my Mom recommended Peninsula Pastries. On a visit back home, I sampled the almond croissant, cookies cake and I was hooked. Peninsula Pastries is the BEST bakery in Salinas! I couldn't have been happier with my wedding cake. If you are planning your wedding, I highly recommend that you try Peninsula Pastries. The icing on the cake was that Cloren was a pleasure to work with. read more

I'm sitting in front of this pastry shop right now. I placed an order on Tuesday for a Saturday morning pickup after being at work overnight. It was for my wife's birthday. I m there cash in hand, and they say the cake is not ready. Basically something about being too hot and chocolate. Not sure what that means, im only a doctor and not a baker. I ask why didn't you call me, you took my number. I reiterated that my cake was to be ready at 8am so I could pick it up and head home which is an hour away. Nothing but a stare and sorry. Bechler in Monterey would never do that in Monterey. I'm glad we had him do our wedding cake instead of this place. Definitely don't know how to treat people and lack common courtesy. I guess their pastries are delicious, but poor customer service will never let me come back there and I'll have to share my experience with the rest of the hospital staff. read more

The chocolate croissants and the berry and cheese danish are to die for. Everything is so good! Such great service, especially from the young Hispanic girl. 5 star dessert and service. I go there at least 3 times a month and it never disappoints! read more

I haven't been there in the longest! But at least twice a week last year, me and my father would go here, since it was nearby. I tried literally everythinggggg they have to offer, and I give every single thing there 5 stars! The turnovers are to DIE for, the fun-shaped sugar cookies are sooo incredibly tasty, and you got your choice of HUGE 1 dollar chocolate chip, peanut butter, macademia, and way more varieties of cookies - when I say huge, I would say almost the size of your face. Then there's cakes, breads, eclaires - literally everything you can think of that is pastry! Always savory, never a dissapointment. And to top it off, such friendly owners that work there :) What's NOT to love about this place!? GO THERE NOW, you will not regret it, I promise. :D read more

Affordable cakes and deliciousness. Nine years ago I stumbled upon this place when searching for a bakery for my wedding cake. Unfortunately, the owner takes vacation during the time I had my wedding, so no Peninsula Pastries Wedding cake for us. Anyway, in December, they saved my daughter's party as another bakery royally screwed us by not having the cake I ordered ready when I went to pick it up. For less than the other bakery had quoted me, i had a delicious lemon, raspberry, almond cake and 2 dozen star cookies. They were delicious! I've just ordered my son's birthday cake from them and am salivating in anticipation. Come to think of it, I'm gonna dash over there for a croissant right now! read more

They have delicious pastries. Love thier wedding cookies and sugar cookies. They have the best praline cake and delicious chocolate truffle cake. read more

This place is a poor excuse for a bakery. I will say they have beautifully displayed pastries, however, most of them are NOT for sale. Don't ever rely on Peninsula Bakery for your holiday treats. They will take your "preorder" at Thanksgiving, but NOT Christmas, unless you want to wait in line at 7:00 am on Christmas Eve.(Who has time for that?) This is a bizarre business model. This is why we and many other locals go to Monterey for our bakery needs. read more

Love love love! If you really want a full size cake or cheesecake place an order in advance they go fast!

The first time I tasted their cake it was about 3days old, and it was one of the BEST i've ever tasted! Sounds weird I know but a co-worker of mine brought leftover b-day cake on monday naturally I assumed she had bought it the day before as the cake was still moist and delicious. Surprise, surprise when she said she had bought it on friday after work. You have to try! read more

my previous review said the staff were nice, but not anymore. They are very rude now, I'm not sure if they want me to buy their pastries or not. I don't feel like buying their food anymore. read more

I love this place! Definitely super high quality! But not a fan of cash only and having to get there by 8am just for an Almond Crescent. With their prices and cash only I would think they can afford to make a little extra of their most popular items. Customer service is good but not great. Definitely go early bring cash and try it for yourself! read more

Great bakery! I have had many of there bread loafs, olallieberry is the best in my opinion! I love buying local, this place is a gem!