Aleppo Sweets
Bakery · Fox Point ·
Savory dishes, handcrafted baklava, mint tea, and Arabic coffee
Savory dishes, handcrafted baklava, mint tea, and Arabic coffee
"A confectioner specializing in exquisite Syrian-style baklava and other Middle Eastern pastries, praised as a must-visit for lovers of regional sweets." - Regan Stephens
"Youssef Akhtarini learned to bake as a teenager growing up in Aleppo, Syria. After fleeing the war-torn city and moving to Providence, Akhtarini opened Aleppo Sweets in 2019 with help from his wife, Reem. At this bakery and cafe, you’ll find nearly a dozen different varieties of light and crunchy Syrian-style baklava, from a version with whole pistachios wrapped in purses of phyllo dough to one that is rolled ladyfinger-style with crushed nuts. Don’t overlook the savory side of the menu, which includes mezze like smoky baba ghanoush and za’atar-dusted labneh, chicken and lamb kebabs, and red lentil soup. The cafe employs several other Syrian refugees who have made new homes in Providence." - Jenna Pelletier
"Youssef Akhtarini learned to bake as a teenager growing up in Aleppo, Syria. After fleeing the war-torn city and moving to Providence, Akhtarini opened Aleppo Sweets in 2019 with help from his wife, Reem. At this bakery-cafe you’ll find nearly a dozen different varieties of light and crunchy Syrian-style baklava, from a version with whole pistachios wrapped in purses of phyllo dough to one that is rolled ladyfinger-style with crushed nuts. Don’t overlook the savory side of the menu, which includes meze like smoky baba ghanoush and za’atar-dusted labneh, chicken and lamb kebabs, and red lentil soup. The cafe employs several other Syrian refugees who have made new homes in Providence." - Jenna Pelletier
"I wished we could have lingered at Aleppo Sweets — such a gorgeous little cafe founded by baker Youssef Akhtarini — but the few pieces of baklava we grabbed to go were transformative: one bite and I wanted to get back there ASAP and eat so much more. The shop ships its baklava (try the variety tray for a sampling of four types), and I encourage you to order some right away." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal
"The East Coast is full of fudge, but where else will you find eight-plus varieties of baklava (all available for contactless curbside pickup)? Despite this bakery’s name, these Syrian pastries go easy on the sugar, relying on citrus and spices for maximum flavor. Read more about its founderYoussef Akhtariniright here!" - ByAmanda Shapiro
