Someone I met at the airport recommended Alta bakery. I tried to go on a Sunday, but there wasn't…read morea long line out the door and down the block. I decided to go the next day, and the line was more manageable and I found street parking nearby. The pastry counter is the first thing you see when you enter. You can also order food and drinks from the counter. There was seating throughout the space which was in a historic building. I got a few goodies to try which included the blue cornmeal cookie, almond financier and an orange blossom tea cake. I also ordered their seasonal coffee which was a honey saffron latte. The cookies, financier and tea cake were all delicious. The latte wasn't overly sweet and was even a bit savory. It grew on me. There were a few sandwiches ordered by other patrons that looked scrumptious. If I hadn't eaten breakfast already, I would've ordered something substantial. Hopefully, I'll return to Monterey again. If so, Alta will be on my list.

The food was good and there are plenty of seats inside and outside, but the customer service is…read morehorrible. I waited over 25 minutes for my takeout order, I would've been waiting longer if I hadn't said anything sooner. The first person I asked tried to wave me off, after I told her I waited for 25 min, she said she would ask in the back. Another few min passed and another customer told me it could be the bag that was sitting on the counter for about 15 min. I had checked the order a few times, but it had another person's receipt in front of the bag so I thought it was another person's order. It ended up being my order, they had placed the receipt behind the bag so only they could see the name. was a very annoying experience especially after waiting in line for so long. Their order system and customer service needs to be improved

I came here around 3:30 and since they close at 4, there's limited selection of items left. I got 2…read moretarts and both were delicious. The crust is flaky and not too hard. The staff was friendly, allowing me time to look at all the baked goods before deciding. The best part is that they give me a loaf of imperfect bread for free. The bakery is not too big with all the baked good counter on the left and at the center of the room is a table with there logo items for sale. There's only a few stools to sit so definitely a to go place. Overall, definitely worth coming back again.

They're known for their breads and pastries and it's cool to be able to watch them at work in the…read morekitchen through the glass walls. Coffee is decent, I enjoyed my miso caramel latte. Barista is in need of customer service skills. Was bluntly told to go wait for my order somewhere else. It's a loud area so I had to ask him to repeat himself. There was no please, there was no improvement in tone, there was no indication of where exactly I was supposed to move to in the tiny shop. A sign on the kitchen door to not block it would be much more effective and helpful.

I had a delicious cherry croissant and clam chowder bread bowl at this cafe. My boyfriend…read morethoroughly enjoyed the free hot coffee they had at this location! The cherry croissant was perfectly buttery and flaky, with the acidity of the cherry adding just the right kick to this breakfast pastry. I was initially hesitant on getting the clam chowder at a bakery and was thinking of getting it at a seafood restaurant on Cannery Row, but the reviews were glowing and the price was reasonable. I'm glad I took a chance on it, because the bowl was chockful with clams, potatoes, celery, and a briny creamy seafood broth base. The ambiance in this bakery is great- there's a beautiful wall mural on the back wall of this bakery and lots of inside seating. Don't miss out on this spot!

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 !

Feels like it's run by college students instead of actual customer service staff…read more 1st time - went Thursday at 10am, busy but fast line, they were out of everything we planned to get ahead of time looking at Yelp reviews, didn't care to offer alternatives, yawning. Second time, we went back Friday 9am for our favorite of the three. No line. Out of inventory. Cashier very dismissive; looking away with annoyance when deciding what to buy instead - despite no one behind us.

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!

We had a great time on our tour of Carmel-by-the-Sea! Kathy was knowledgeable and helpful and we…read morelearned so much and had fun doing it. Highly recommend this company!!

i came in for my first visit and the ambiance was beautifully put together. kylie at the register…read morewas very helpful in helping me pick my drink as i was unfamiliar with the menu and was incredibly friendly and welcoming! my drink was perfect for me.

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.

Their Key lime pie is the best we've ever had! Can't wait to go back and try it again.read more

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.