Amazing sandwich. Turkey focaccia: 5/5. The warmed rosemary focaccia really makes this sandwich. So good. The people behind the counter today were really nice. read more

Small bakery serving the freshest baked goods! Semifreddie's is a Bay Area staple for quality baked breads. Nice selection and an easy in and out experience. read more

Plenty of street parking available. Staff were friendly! No complaints here. Shop itself is small but there is plenty of baked goods in the display and bread along the walls. I've bought baguettes in the past and they are very solid with a slightly crunchy outside (but not cutting the inside of the mouth) and fluffy interior. I've gotten their regular latte and their almond croissant. The latte is good and reasonably priced. I usually expect the almond croissant to be twice baked and this was more of a regular croissant with the almond filling. It wasn't what I was expected and would be a solid croissant otherwise. It was fluffy and light with many layers. As an almond croissant it was not my personal preference. If I'm in the area I would definitely come back and try some other pastries! read more

Delicious Turkey Focaccia sandwich - the focaccia, pesto mayo, thinly sliced turkey, then toasted - chef's kiss! Wonderful waitstaff and super chill and fun to see all of their freshly baked breads and pastries. Definitely making return trips!! read more

Remember when buying whole loaves, remember to ask them to have them slice it for you before leaving the store. Unfortunately, I forgot when I bought two bloody loaves of bread. I went back a couple of hours later to see if they could slice it for me. The attendant had to check with management on the phone. Unfortunately, they could not honor the request since I was bringing back product. I had bought same day. And once it leaves the store, that's it. Needless to say, I'm pretty angry about it. It'll be a long bloody while before I step foot into this place again. read more

Semifreddi's Bakery - Hot Chocolate with lots and lots of whipped cream and powdered chocolate. - Bakeries Near Me - Kensington, California

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This review is for the tour and I hope to make it to this location soon!! I had the absolute pleasure of going on a tour at Semifreddies, and it was such a special experience! From start to finish, the team made me feel so welcome and gave me a true behind-the-scenes look at what makes this bakery so beloved. Huge kudos to Cary, Sean, and Mike--they were warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about sharing their craft. It was also such an honor to meet TJ, the head baker, who was on his way out after many years of dedication. Hearing about his journey and seeing the heart he poured into the bakery was inspiring. The bread here is everything you could want--local, artisan, fresh, and baked with love. You can really taste the care and tradition behind every loaf. What impressed me just as much as the bread was the people: everyone I met was kind-hearted, down-to-earth, and clearly proud of what they do. Semifreddies isn't just a bakery--it's a community gem. If you haven't tried their bread yet, you're missing out on something truly special. read more

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Nice place love their sandwiches & pastries but the staff members are very unfriendly and makes me feel like they don't want to be there :/

This is my go to for coffee, it's great every time and the baristas are so nice and helpful!

Semifreddis will always hold a nostalgic place in my heart. Back in high school, my best friend and I would walk here during lunch period to get a chai latte and a pastry. It was a tradition for us but since graduating I haven't made an effort to come back. Semifreddi's Bakery has been around the Bay Area for decades. This is their original location where it's homey, locally operated, with a neighborhood vibe to it. But their production line is huge, with a factory in Alameda, and high-quality bread found all throughout the area. They freshly bake and sell various baked goods--from their well-known sourdough, buttery pastries, and different breads. Plus flavorful drinks to pair such as coffees and teas. The bakery is small with lines out the door. It's more of a grab-and-go but a few benches around the area. I'm a huge fan of Semifreddi's baguettes often eating them as a snack as a child. In high school my go-to was their chai lattes and various pastries. I've tried their croissant, chocolate croissant, almond croissant, and morning bun (almond is my favorite)! Their pastries are flaky, chewy, and buttery. Today, I had to get my hands on their Iced Chai Latte with Soy Milk. Their iced drinks come in one size and are affordable. The taste of chai wasn't too strong, the drink was milky, and it was lightly spiced. Are their drinks and pastries the best I've had? No. But, it's good for what it's worth if you're in the area. I say go for their bread, versus the former. If you're in the Albany, Kensington, or El Cerrito area and want to get your hands on baked goods check out Semifreddi's! You can find their breads in grocery stores but if you want drinks or pastries then check out their small bakery. The items are affordable, the service is efficient, and it's always good to support locals. Parking is free throughout the neighborhood. This place will always be special to me. read more

Semifreddi's Bakery - Chai Latte (Soy Milk) - Bakeries Near Me - Kensington, California

Quick Summary: - Favorite bakeries in the Bay Area - They also sell their breads and pastries at some of the grocery stores - Crispy but gentle on teeth kind of crust, even gentler when it's toasted - Serves coffee and sandwiches - Coffee is not sour - No seats inside; a table and chair outside I first saw this bakery name a couple of years ago in a restaurant called Gergorie in Berkeley. I recall waiting for my order and in the kitchen I see bags of bread loafs with the Semifreddi logo. It was a great discovery and since then I became a fan of this bakery. Over the years I bought Semifreddi bread from grocery stores that also sell local ingredients. Although I had thoughts of going to the main bakery store, the chance was hard to align. Finally, when brainstorming with the family on where to eat, this was listed, so off we went. The bakery is situated in a small neighborhood of little shops. Walking there, it felt like a great streets to do a morning stroll down this lane and pick up a loaf or two on the way home. The bakery is cozy small, inside up to 3 guests could stand around, but there is a risk of blocking the view of the bakery shelves. On the busier hour, the line was out of the door. Along with their breads, there were also some pastries and a sandwich menu. For today, we ordered a cafe au lait and a chicken sandwich. Once I ordered the coffee, the staff gestured over to the coffee station, where there were two types of coffee: French roast or decaf. For cafe au lait, we can choose whichever size we wanted, and after filling up to a favorite amount, we took the cup back to the staff to fill it up with the warm frothy milk. Happily, the coffee was piping hot and it wasn't sour. After a few minutes, the sandwich was ready and we ate it outside at one of the provided tables and chairs. The sandwich was cut in half, so it was easy to share with the family. Just as I imagined with the Semifreddi bread, when it's toasted the crust becomes lighter but very crispy. It is very easy to bite into it. It also kept the fillings inside in place and no liquid sauce leaked out either. The texture and how well the bread holds the sandwich together is a great slice of bread. I got the sandwich with the chicken and basil paste, and that was really good! I ate half of the sandwich, so for breakfast it is light (for me), so I also ate their breakfast buns. This was a nice flaky and fluffy bun, another one of my favorite pastries to eat. read more

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Their bread is phenomenal. Their biscotti delicious. Stopped her before going to a show at the Greek theatre. (Mt Joy in August 2025). Very cool little spot and really nice people. read more

Friendly environment with the best sour dough bread! We travel 45 miles to pick up our bread.

Got the toasted grilled chicken sandwich - it was fine, about a 5-10 min wait, liked the use of the panini press to warm up the bread but the chicken pieces were dry and could use more flavor. My friend likes the coffee here. read more

Semifreddi's Bakery - Grilled chicken sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Kensington, California

Great experience with super nice Staff!! They happily served us up and even offered me hot water to add to my cup of their excellent cup of French Roast. Of course the neighborhood feel, the puppy in the line and the lovely fellow customers added to our very positive experience! So great to frequent small local venues!! read more

Semifreddi's Bakery - We ate in our car on this chilly morning! - Bakeries Near Me - Kensington, California

Croissant and morning bun looked great in the display case but ended up being incredibly stale. Staff this morning either conveyed that they wanted to be anywhere else but there or were just unfriendly. Never wanted to leave a place this quickly. read more

Come if you enjoy stale pastries that have been sitting for at least a couple of days. I've tried this place a couple of times, hoping to have a good experience so that I can support a local bakery. Unfortunately, each time I've purchased a pastry from here--first thing in the morning, in fact--I've received a tough, chewy hunk of bread that is clearly at least a day old. I'm not sure where these things are baked, but it's surely not on site. I've tried the almond croissant, the chocolate croissant, and the morning bun on three separate occasions. All three had the consistency of shoe leather. A croissant should be light, flaky, buttery, and layered. These have one thick layer of cardboard-like crust. It tastes like supermarket bread. I won't be back. Maybe this place was good at one point? If it was, it isn't anymore. Its many local competitors are very obviously superior in quality. read more

I've eaten their bread and croutons many times, but this is my first visit to the bakery. The public area in the front is rather small. If you're still COVID paranoid, this isn't a good spot. The people working were very nice and helpful. I asked for the sourest bread they had. I thought it was the rustic sour, but no, they recommended the sourdough batard. Bread was excellent, but still not sour enough for me. Then again, nobody makes sourdough sour enough for me. read more

The cookies damnit, the COOKIES!!! Do yourself a favor and get them NOW! LAWD Geezus Christ. These cookies are so friggin' delicious! I know that this bakery is known for their bread but... I haven't yet tried their bread. To be honest, I'm lightweight afraid too. Because if their bread tastes as good as their cookies, we about to be havin' some problems up in here! Shayla needs no more addictions. NO MORE. None. Zip. Zilch. Okay fine, I'll keep the cookie addiction... but everything else must go. Oatmeal raisin for the win. I swear it was melting in my mouth like chocolate. Softer than a baby's bottom. Buttery and sweet. One bite made my eyes roll to the back of my head. It was at that point that I knew... I would never be able to resist cookies from Semifreddi's. NEVA eva eva! Don't even get me started on their chocolate chip. Man. These folks are trying to cause ya girl to have a heart attack. All I can say is that these bad boys were fresher than fresh, and absolutely sensational. The softest most delectable cookies! Apparently they have a location in Alameda too, but I'm not even sure where it is. In any event, I would have NO problems coming to this shop in Kensington for more of these addictive cookies! At some point, I DO plan on actually trying some other things here too but um.... yeah. For now, I'll be sticking to those cookies. Puh-lease and thank you! (Wink wink). read more

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I love this bakery. But the change from croutons to crostini isn't working for me .i gotta break it up up and forget adding to salads without having to break up. Know extra work so charge me more. PLEASE read more

Always enjoyable and affordable pastries. Love the Danish and morning bun. Be sure to get a package of biscotti for later.

** The following review reflects my takeout experience DURING the shelter-in-place order currently in effect. ** Everybody knows Semifreddi's breads. Their artisan loaves are in lots of the more upscale corner markets and grocery stores as well as the better sandwich shops throughout the Bay Area. Even though their main bakery and wholesale operation are in Alameda, their one retail shop is right off Colusa Circle in Kensington. It took a pandemic for Jamie W. and me to finally try it because we're both carb averse, except when possible viral mortality is involved. In that case, we made an exception and went up to the front door where they set up an order window to minimize human contact. We shared a $2.45 Butter Croissant to go (photo: https://bit.ly/3cIna8a). We actually just walked a few yards to a tiny plaza where an empty bench was awaiting. We split a large, flaky croissant and devoured it in short order. We'll try to be good and not become regulars, but those Blueberry Cream Cheese Danishes, Apple Turnovers, and Cinnamon Morning Buns looked awfully enticing. We may be in trouble. BAKED GOODS - 4 stars...a buttery, flaky croissant even if it wasn't fresh out of the oven AMBIANCE - n/a...shelter-in-place is a bummer SERVICE - 4 stars...fast and unobtrusive TOTAL - 4 stars...Semifreddi doesn't mean semi-good RELATED - Looking for eats in this part of the East Bay? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18 read more

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Decades ago my oldest daughter wed a Frenchman and I wound up in a wedding in the French countryside. there, and since elsewhere in France, I discovered the bliss of a good baguette -- the crisp crust, the soft interior, the chewiness and slightly nutty flavor. Returning to the US after each visit, I searched in vain for that baguette. It's such a simple combination of ingredient. But although I moved from D.C. to NYC to Boston I could find nothing that measured up. Until, that is, we came to retire in the Bay Area. First I found Equator Coffees's excellent espresso (the Thomas Keller blend. Then I found Semifreddi's sweet baguettes at our local market! Now virtually every day starts with a double espresso and baguette, toasted with butter or marmalade or (yum) with peach jam. And now I can never move away. read more

Handcrafted drinks, quality pastries, freshly baked bread, and homemade sandwiches are the order of the day at Semifreddi's Bakery. Located on a small roundabout street in the tony town of Kensington, California, Semifreddi's Bakery has been baking up a storm since 1984. Started by married spouses, and one of their siblings who originated in nearby Berkeley, but brought their love of all things baked goods to a tiny storefront on Colusa Avenue, where they still reside, but have moved their huge baking operations to a warehouse in Alameda, California, which enables them to serve wholesale orders from stores such as Costco, where they can give bread lovers around the region their own samples of quality baked goods. I have come to Semifreddi's Bakery for many years now looking for my next great sandwich and to get my cookie fixation satisfied, although it has been a while since I last came. But upon a recent visit to Semifreddi's Bakery, I had such a wonderful experience that I knew that a second more immediate visit was in order. I came on an early Saturday morning and parking along Colusa Avenue was plentiful but not immediate so after a minor walk, I was already at their front door ready to enter as their small storefront doesn't really accommodate larger crowds. Although I had arrived early on a weekend morning, I had arrived late enough in the day to potentially order one of their signature sandwiches. Currently the sandwich menu at Semifreddi's Bakery only has about four sandwiches two which were muffulettas, one with chicken and one with veggies and two turkey sandwiches, with one served on a baguette and one on focaccia. When I asked their barista/ cashier if this is all they served he did say that at this moment in time due to certain issues this was all they were able to provide. Hopefully the day in which more protein filled sandwiches with a variety of breads is on the way soon! One of my fondest memories of the breads at Semifreddi's Bakery is of their focaccia topped with sauce and veggies, which almost made it a pizza-like meal, but alas currently all they have is their rosemary focaccia bread which is sold by the loaf but really didn't appeal to me as I had to get my sweet tooth satiated. Semifreddi's Bakery is also well known for their Morning Buns, of which they have two kinds one with just sugar and one with Cinnamon, I've had them before and they are amazing with just the right amount of sweetness. But on this day I decided to order their Chocolate Croissant, along with two of their cookies, their Ginger Cookie and their Snickerdoodle, in addition to a beverage, a small Mocha which I received with whole milk topped with whipped cream. All of the pastries they sell at Semifreddi's Bakery are sold for $2.80, with the sole exception of their Almond Croissant which is sold at $3.10, which in this day in age is truly remarkable. All told, my total bill was less than 12 dollars before tip, which was very affordable considering I received three sweets and a coffee drink, in other words the perfect breakfast. It didn't take long for my drink to be carefully handcrafted by their barista and presented in due time. As I sipped on my drink as I headed back to my car I knew I was drinking something special as it was equal parts coffee, milk and chocolate. Talk about the perfect drink! Upon my return home, I dove into my pastries and although my Chocolate Croissant was a decent pastry, my cookies were the real star as they were the perfectly baked sweets. In fact, as I type this I am feasting on my Ginger Cookie and honestly it is the best I have ever had so rich and plentiful of flavor without going overboard on the sweetness level. It's no doubt because Semifreddi's Bakery searches the world for the finest ingredients for their baked goods, such as fennel from India, poppy seeds from Australia and the Netherlands, cinnamon from Indonesia, vanilla from Madagascar, and even flour milled in nearby Oakland (as it should be)! I can't wait to return to Semifreddi's Bakery to get my baked goods cravings satisfied, especially my cookie fix, especially when paired with their amazingly crafted coffee drinks. They had an abundance of bread products for sale at Semifreddi's Bakery and they donate the leftovers to food banks which is very considerate of them. Here's to the continued success of Semifreddi's Bakery as they are providing locals with some of the best bread products in the area, may you bring us even more of our favorite baked creations for another four decades! read more

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The challah and biscotti. Were better than I even remembered. That's saying a lot. Nice staff.

This is the place for the best morning bun. I'm obsessed. Thanks to my neighbor, she told me where to find them. I usually pick up a box (contains 4) from Whole Foods. But now, I can get it straight from the source. Trust me. Every bite melts in your mouth. It's heavenly delicious. I noticed people walked up and placed their order curve side pick-up. No store traffic following Covid guidelines. There's a couple of seating outside as well. Next time I'll try their sandwiches & coffee. Only street parking. Staff are very friendly. read more

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Semifreddi's bakery in Kensington has the most wonderful morning buns!! Their coffee choices are also excellent along with their sandwiches and homemade soups. The best garlic croutons and cookies. I sent a friend who lives in NYC their biscotti and he said it was the best he's ever had. Lots of almonds. The bakery is in my neighborhood so I've been going there for years and am grateful to have such an easy source for excellent bread and all the rest. The ease and feel of the neighborhood hasn't been gentrified so the vibe is local and neighborly. There is also a lovely flower shop next door and there's outdoor space near with benches to hang out as well as the table and chairs in front. read more

Great people, solid choices on items (limited as they are a small show) and reasonable prices.

Always heard great things about Semifreddi's and never realized how close I was to the bakery until a few months ago. Finally decided to try it out and it did not disappoint! I decided to buy a loaf of sourdough, a couple rolls for some sammies at home, an original morningbun and a Chai Iced Latte. First off the recommendation for the morning bun was spot on, it was fluffy but not dry and was very tasty. It was paired perfectly with an excellently brewed Chai Iced Latte. I have tried many Chai Iced Lattes and for being a place known fkmor their baked goods, I very much loved their coffee and will be back for more. The bread was fresh and tasty and I'm excited to have discovered this place within walking distance. read more

Came here twice for pastries and coffee, but each time, the croissants were stale! I was surprised because it's a bakery and I would expect it to be fresh. Semifreddi's has good bread, but I wouldn't recommend their pastries. read more

Great to have a local bakery in the neighborhood. I love the pastries, but not crazy about the $10 sandwiches. I don't mind paying $10 dollars for a sandwich if it's a $10 dollar sandwich. BB read more

Love the morning buns, and the best tasting sweet baguette. I highly recommend this bakery.

Still a favorite. My go-to is the morning bun, always better from here straight from the store. I wish the Danish would come back. I recommend the biscotti for later, perfect with morning coffee. read more

Pretty decent espresso. Baked goods are ok, but not as good as Acme. Staff can be hit and miss--sometimes friendly sometimes useless.

Fresh bread! Who can resist? I can't. I am a fan of Semifreddi's baguettes, olive bread, cinnamon twist and morning buns. I get my Semifreddi's at the supermarkets and always wanted to visit the only bakery store located in Kensington. I heard that this store, which was where Semifreddi's started, sells all the varieties of breads and pastries that it bakes. I was in the area with my walking group and we made the point to stop by. The store is small with a counter display case full of pastries, such as croissants, turnovers, Danishes, morning buns, muffins and scones. On the displays shelves, they have all their loaves of breads, croutons and biscotti. The store also sells coffee and tea and sandwiches. Their menu lists special sandwiches, custom ones where you create your own and vegetarian options as well. It's mainly a takeout place, but there are two little tables out front. Service was efficient and friendly. You can taste the quality of Semifreddi's artisan bakery products from their use of the finest ingredients. All the bread and pastries it sells here and at the supermarkets are delivered fresh on a daily basis. You can tell baking is their passion. A local business at its finest. I live in Alameda and we're happy to have Semifreddi's headquarters and bakery plant in our City. I wish that they decide to open a shop like this in Alameda. I would be in heaven! read more

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I wasn't aware that there was a Semifreddi's bakery close to work until one of my co-workers brought some morning buns to work on a Friday. Since I do intermittent fasting during the week I couldn't have morning buns that day. So on a Saturday, I drove to Semifreddi's and got some pastries- cinnamon morning bun, original morning bun (recommended that morning), a sweet baguette and a pecan roll. Everything was so fresh and so good, I ate 75% of the pastries, because I am savage on the weekend after depriving myself of yummy goodness through the week. During shelter in place, Semifreddi's had a line outside and sold their pastries from the door. Pictures of their pastries are posted on the window, you order, and receive your pastries for the day! Awesome find! read more

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4 stars for the olive bread. 3.5 stars for the cookies. 2 stars for the sandwiches. The other reviewers are right that the sandwiches here are overpriced. For about $10, we got a small, pre packed cold sandwich that tasted average at best. It tasted like a pre packed cold sandwich that I could pick up from a school or hospital cafeteria. I would skip the sandwiches for sure next time. The cookies are decent. Nothing really wowed us. Comparable to cookies that we could get at places around the area. The olive bread loaf was good. The olive flavor stood out in a good way and the bread has a good texture. I will explore the other fresh bread options and skip the sandwiches and cookies next time. read more

Semifreddi's Bakery - Olive bread cross section - Bakeries Near Me - Kensington, California

I basically just come here for the sweet batard to eat with olive oil or make into garlic bread. Delicious both ways. The focaccia is also fantastic, makes for quick and easy sandwiches. I'd pass on the pastries but just about any loaf of bread is guaranteed to be good. read more

I had stopped going here because my favorite morning buns weren't fresh, but I have been back and my goodness! They are back to the freshness that I knew. The staff were busy and friendly. Recommend feeding your fix for fresh baked bread and Pastries. read more

Love the pastries that our church (Gracepoint) ordered from them for our morning breakfast before our service. Oh, the chocolate croissant is amazing - perfect in butter, chocolate and crispness. read more

Delicious sandwiches, but make sure to come early enough for the hot version. Don't forget the bread for later