Alessi Bakery

⸻ If you’re searching for delicious, high-quality desserts in Tampa, this charming bakery is an absolute must-visit. From elegantly crafted wedding cakes to melt-in-your-mouth cookies, they truly have something for every sweet tooth. I’ve been enjoying their treats since childhood, and no trip back home is complete without indulging in my all-time favorite—Tiramisu. Each bite is a perfect balance of flavor, texture, and nostalgia. While their prices may be slightly higher than other spots, the exceptional quality and warm, attentive customer service make it more than worth it. A true gem in Tampa’s dessert scene!

Alessi Bakery did an amazing job catering our 20-year high school reunion! Huge thanks to Phil for making it all happen. The food was fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented. Top-notch service from one of Tampa’s best local gems. Highly recommend for any event or catering needs!

It is a classic and traditional vibe once you enter. There's an array of sweet treats, almost too many choices on the right as you enter. On the left is where they are making sandwiches and other items. I went for the Cuban. It was the perfect thing I needed for lunch. It was hot and not too filling and filled me up. I also got a black and white cookie as a dessert and as a nod to Seinfeld. Look to the cookie! I did takeout, but there are seats inside and outside (covered too) so you should be able to find a place to sit. If you are in the area you should certainly visit. If you bring little kids, be warned they may want everything.

I’ve been here 4 times. This is my go to bakery. Love the traditional Italian pastries and cold pizza. Their cookies, cupcakes and other pastries are very delicious, but they make the BEST CLASSIC CANNOLIS I have ever tasted; and I’ve tasted a LOT being from an Italian culture up north! Delicious!

Alessi knocked it out of the park with my children’s birthday cakes this year!! My kids birthday’s are about six week apart. I was able to order both cakes at the same time. The cake decor far exceeded my expectations! Thank you Alessi’s bakery team for helping to make their birthday’s memorable!

11/10 experience! Best experience I ever had with a bakery for a custom cake. Communication was extremely friendly and professional. They gave me exactly what I was looking for. Not only was the cake picture perfect, it tasted so delicious. They really nailed it. Highly recommend for any special event.

I cannot wait to come back! What an awesome bakery! As you walk in the door you are greeted with a warm welcome, they have a deli on the left and a bakery full of goodies on the right. We visited strictly the bakery for our visit.. they had such a wide variety it was tough to choose so we got a few different things and every single item was delicious! We would love to come back and try some more goodies and try out their deli! Shout out to Mark for being so nice and helpful, explaining everything and helping us navigate the bakery on our first time visit!

I had a custom cake made for a graduation party and it was wonderfully done. Flavor was great, design was great, and they were super helpful throughout the whole process, giving me recommendations and more! Also amazing prices, will be going back for customs from now on.

We stayed at an Airbnb close by and happily stumbled onto this bakery. We went two times during our stay and were very impressed at the quality of the food purchased. Several of our group bought items and they were all good but the napoleons were outstanding!

Lots of delicious options to choose from sweet treats to savory sandwiches and more! As soon as you walk it, it smells amazing! The customer service is excellent!! We chose sweet treats this time and will be back to try their sandwiches!

I stopped in today for a much needed mid-day break. I grabbed a premade Greek salad and a loaf of blueberry bread. The salad was fresh, I didn't find one piece of weird lettuce, and the cucumbers were nice and crisp. I enjoyed the Greek dressing as well, and I was happy to find multiple Kalamata olives hidden under the romaine. The blueberry bread... was... oh my gosh. I brought the blueberry bread home to my kids. It was heavenly. We were dignified and ate it sliced with a little bit of butter. Deep down I know we would all happily eat it whole like it was a burrito or something. The only thing I would change is if every side had crunchy sugar just like the top does... although I have no idea how you could even do that. So the only improvement I can imagine is fake. The texture the sugar added was so delicious. Thank you for making my day better, :)

Great service and very legit European pastries. A little expensive for what it is but tasty and very quick. We had a napoleon, 2 canollis and some cookies. All fresh and very flavorful. The sugar cookies were bogo today too!! Will be back

Why did it take me so long to try this place? I don't know why, but it was amazing! We had some breakfast sandwiches, bacon egg and cheese on cuban bread, and mojo pork egg sandwich. The bread was pillowy soft and everything was really good. Also stopped by the bakery and had some cake pops, which were really yummy. Food was out quickly, by the time we finished ordering at the bakery and paid. Plenty of seating inside. We will be back for sure!

Alessi is a must-know bakery in Tampa, whether you're looking for lunch or sweets this place has something for you. When it came time to our Wedding, I'm so glad I asked Alessi to sample their cakes. Our almond wedding cake with strawberry filling was so delicious! I plan to order a small version for our anniversary's, I can't get it out of my head.

Omg there is a so much guilt in half of this bakery. Had a breakfast burrito that kept me full to dinner. Took some pastries back to our hotel for a snack. Very comfortable dining area, basic and fills the need. The servers were so friendly and the coffee was off the hook.

Alessi offers a variety of deli options but is well-known for Cuban sandwiches, empanadas, and deviled crabs and has been a neighborhood staple for as long as I can remember. Today's visit brought back memories of me going on trips with my mother for my favorite treat of the gingerbread cookie no matter the occasion, along with the other pastries imaginable from cookies, cakes, pies, and much more to select from. Another favorite is the scachatta which reminds me of pizza, but with a Cuban-Sicilian spin on it and with similar ingredients of sauce and meat but hold the cheese. Yum-yum!! My visit wouldn't be complete without taking home a sweet treat for later. And in honor of the upcoming presidential election were specialty cookies for both candidates and I couldn't resist casting my vote with a cookie.

Paris has the Eiffel Tower... San Francisco has the Golden Gate Bridge... and Tampa has Alessi. Well, maybe that's a little strong-but this 112-year-old (and counting) family bakery is definitely a local landmark... and a tasty one, at that. Started by Italian immigrant, Nicolo Alessi, who sold fresh bread and baked goods... it's been lovingly passed down through four generations. The shop on Cypress Street-just east of MacDill Avenue, where they've been for decades, feels homey and comforting. There are desserts to the front and right side... sandwiches to the left... and their signature scachatta pizza on tables in the center. Hope you're hungry! The level of care and pride is evident in everything they do. From the incredible variety to the exquisitely decorated cakes, the staff clearly loves what they do-and excel at it. There are dozens of cookies and pastries and other baked goods to choose from-each more beautiful than the next. You can customize your order or choose from the grab and go cases-which contain everything from rum cake to flan to wrapped platters of Italian cookies (that, Mom and I can attest-simply melt in your mouth). I hadn't been here in a few years and I was thrilled to see it was still such a cozy, welcome spot. The staff is lively and friendly and you can tell there are scads of regular customers. It was bustling on a Friday morning at 8:30 but they keep it running. There's outdoor dining out front and I'm told there's an indoor room, behind/next to the sandwich side. You don't have to take out-but my order traveled well and is still super fresh, days later. They also offer catering-and I read about a window, where you can watch the cake decorating. Sign me up! I thought the prices were fair but the parking was just a little tight. In just a few months (later in 2024), they're moving just a little bit west on Cypress-a couple of doors down-to the Tampa Letter Carriers building. I'll miss this familiar location-but the other building is bigger (and just steps away). I can't wait to see what they do with it. See you there!

Hubs has brought home sandwiches & bakery items over the years, but I hadn't stopped in on my my own. Fast-forward to January 2024, when I was tasked to find a non-traditional birthday cake to celebrate my dad's 80th & my step-mom's 79th. Alessi was my first thought, and I was not disappointed. Parking on a Friday afternoon was easy as I snagged a spot in front near the steps to the porch. Inside, I found a helpful employee behind the counter who walked me to the grab & go coolers to find the Italian Rum Cake that I wanted. She then walked me to the cashier, where I paid, & went on my way. The store was quite busy but well-staffed with efficient & friendly people. Though I was overwhelmed by the variety of baked goods & deli items available, I focused on my Italian Rum Cake mission. And that cake was incredible!

I grew up with Alessi Bakery so it goes without saying that it is still my go-to for my favorite bakery items. the Bakery cases are full of delicious, colorful amazing treats. Don't forget the scaciatta!! If you don't know what that is, ask when you get there and definitely take some home. I was going to a small dinner party, and I had to provide the desserts. My selections were amazing visually and in flavor! I selected the mini cannolis with powdered sugar and chocolate chips. The filling of the cannolis is absolutely the best there is in Tampa. Assortment of Italian cookies was perfect for us to try several different items. I also grabbed a delicious fresh made Cuban Sandwich for my son. He said it was one of the best he has had! Alessi Bakery is open today! Are you on your way yet?

Always an incredible treat! Celebrating 111 years in business and still serving up amazing food and treats! Just the artistry alone and care put into the creations are obvious. Incredible bakery, great breakfast sandwiches on amazing bread or lunches with the best Cuban sandwich in Florida. Period. There, I said it. Miami in my rear view window. Go here, have the HAND CUT Cuban sandwich and be in heaven.

One of our go-to destinations for delicious cakes and breads is Alessi Bakery. In addition to their bakery items, they also have a cafe where you can purchase sandwiches for lunch. The staff at Alessi Bakery is consistently exceptional. They are respectful of our needs and offer fantastic recommendations based on our requests. Alessi Bakery also specializes in creating custom-made cakes and cupcakes for special events. Our personal favorite is their banana bread, though they also offer other flavors such as zucchini, strawberry, and blueberry, which we absolutely adore. Overall, Alessi Bakery is a fantastic spot for tasty cakes, pastries, and breads.

This place was recommended to me by a nearby store as I was not from Tampa but was looking for a quick bite to eat. The place is a traditional bakery but one side makes fresh sandwiches too. I grabbed a salad and a black n white cookie. Both were delicious and service was friendly and quick! After making my purchase I sat out on the front porch while I ate and enjoyed the great weather. I highly recommend this place!

I am a repeat customer and it has just about everything you need to eat. I have not had a sandwich there yet. But my sweet tooth always brings me here. And the pizza in a box. always friendly and eager to help. I will go back and try the sandwiches.

If you like sweets, this is the place to be! So many choices! The hand carved Cubans are delicious, too!

Large section of bakery goods small and big. Lots of specialty items. Sandwiches are big and always taste great. I drive past it on my way to work and I am always sad they don't open earlier than 8.

This review is specific to Alessi's catering offerings. I couldn't find much information about this before ordering, so I wanted to ensure that I shared our experience. We had a large party and ordered a variety of desserts, mini empanadas, scachatta, and baked ziti. The ziti was delicious and came with the best cuban bread I've ever eaten. Unsurprisingly, the desserts were beautiful and tasty. Everything was arranged pleasantly and decorated with orchids. However, the surprise hit was the empanadas - people were literally hiding them so they could have more later - I was stunned by the number of compliments I heard about them. The staff was very helpful in planning our order and ensured we had serving utensils and condiments. I will certainly be ordering from Alessi for all of our future events!

The pastries were very good. However, it should not be presented as a Italian bakery. It's more Spanish style. But it was great tasted really well. I'd recommend the place.

This review is based on their catering service (though I'm a big fan of the bakery as well). Recently was at a full day meeting with boxed lunches from Alessi's served at lunch. The sandwiches were a generous portion. I had the chicken salad on a very soft baguette. It was very filling and sustained me through the afternoon. Each lunch also came with a cupcake which was a delightful surprise. Mine was vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream. Not overly sweet. My coworkers were going crazy for the chocolate cupcakes too.

I have tried sweets from Alessi Bakery before that others had gotten, but I had never personally visited the bakery On Valentine's Day, I went to the bakery to get some love themed treats for my husband. They had quite a selection of options to choose from! They had everything from Valentine's cakes, to cupcakes, to cookies, to everything else in between! That place is sweets heaven! I ended up getting him a peanut butter chocolate jumbo cupcake, a gourmet holiday jumbo cupcake, an "I love you" sugar cookie, and a normal size raspberry cupcake for me! Everything was so freaking good! I will definitely be back to get more goodies!!

This place is just dirty. I should have left the minute I walked in as there was garbage on the ground right next to the front door. The employees obviously don't care because there were plenty of people working and only a couple of customers. Food was bland, desserts all had a waxy texture/taste. Definitely won't be back again.

Probably one of the best Cuban sandwiches I have ever had if not the best. I've had a lot of Cubans and I completely STAMP this one. Purchased a variety of bakery items that I have sampled yet but I'm sure they are all delicious. Crab rolls got Stamped and the potato rolls. Whenever I'm in Tampa this will be a must go!! FYI I peeped the Ruben sandwich that someone else ordered and omg I know what I'm getting the next time.

I was in Tampa on Friday, spent over $30 on cupcakes and cannolis, they LOOK beautiful but, nutella cannoli filling had strange taste and definitely did not taste like nutella. The Almond Amaretto was good. The cupcakes, red velvet, blueberry, orange creamsicle were all DRY/STALE/Tasteless. Also had the hand carved cuban, it was good but overpriced Choose wisely

My go to spot for daily coffee. If you are looking for a nice cafe with both inside and outside seating and a local vibe this is your spot. Pay for your coffee first and self serve. Brew is medium blend and taste great . They also offer other custom coffee/espresso drinks. Staff is always very kind and friendly.

Although the date of visit is lost to memory, the taste of the éclair from the Alessi Bakery on the pier in St. Peterburg, Florida, is not. This was a unique experience because my spouse requested a taste of the pastry and this time was the only time my spouse was refused any food. Recall brings the statement, "No, but I'll buy you one." The last time my wife and I were in Florida, we drove from Naples to "St. Pete" for the sole purpose of visiting Alessi's on the pier; to our chagrin (always wanted to use that word), Alessi's had been replaced by a Spanish-style restaurant. We were informed that we could find an Alessi Bakery in Tampa; however, and alas (another word I have been hoping to use someday), we had just enough time to have lunch and make it to the airport for out trip to home. Someday, if I live long enough, I hope to visit the Alessi Bakery in Tampa.

Had Cuban sandwich and tiramisu . Definitely don't recommend. Cuban wasn't toasted nor meat was fresh. Tiramisu it was just a name ... no mascarpone! No whisky! No coco !

Truly amazing bakery. I ordered a custom three-tier birthday cake(chocolate and cheesecake) with chocolate-covered strawberries and personalized cupcakes, and they did such an excellent job. It all tasted fantastic. Melissa was a pleasure to work with throughout the month-long process. I found my bakery.

Sometimes I think I'm not the best person when it comes to rating establishments that specializes in sweets. Only because I don't really have a sweet tooth- you've been warned. We came here while we were in Tampa and had stopped by before we headed back to the airport because my friend wanted to try some key lime pie and I found this establishment on yelp. So this place is pretty big and kind of off the beaten path. It was fairly busy and they had a whole variety of sweets. We actually ordered three items and they were the tiramisu, key lime pie, and cream hole. The key lime pie was way too sweet for me and my friend, but I can definitely see someone who does have a sweet tooth who would like it. The tiramisu was kind of disappointing because it wasn't a true tiramisu, it was very dense and overly sweet - it was more like a normal cake. But it did look beautiful. So the cream hole was probably the best pastry out of the three. I really enjoyed the cream hole because it was light and the cream was as well. If I were to ever stop by this establishment again in Tampa I would just order a bunch of cream holes. Overall it was a good experience, but not great. One of the staff members were kind of rushy even though we were still deciding what to get... Like we're out of town, please give us a minute... The other staff members were nice though.

Catered in for a party Delivered on time with care Delicious food and desserts Would definitely recommend

Chewing over which bakery in Tampa to visit for a small wedding cake was tiring day in and day out leading up to our flight. And the fear of disappointment of buying a stale, tasteless cake was real. When hubs found out his nephew and his new wife didn't plan on having a wedding cake (¯\_(ツ)_/¯) after dinner, I came across a few that were closed for the Holiday season- but we certainly lucked out on this one on Cypress St in West Tampa. Hubs stepped it up and got them one they would appreciate to celebrate their special day. Aside from the long-standing history here, hubs ordered and paid by phone from NY with ease. And when we came here to pick up the cake, the smell of sweets was all around even with my mask on. Glass shelving with fig bread, cookies and unusual pastry+fruit combinations I've haven't seen at any NYC Italian bakery I've been to. The price is right, service is plentiful from any counter you go up to and the Strawberry Shortcake hubs got for his nephew was very good. The cream seemed like a lot on top- but it was actually good, the cake itself was spongey-soft and strawberries tasted like strawberries. I may not be Italian, but I feel like a neighborhood isn't complete without a family-run spot for fresh-baked bread, cannolis, cakes, zeppoles, paninis, Pignoli cookies and the obligatory rainbow cookies. This one is it.

What a difference 14 years makes. I was an idiot in my first review, without much appreciation for a fabulous bakery, making decadent sweets of an extreme variety and a quality deli providing great food to the natives. I had a heyday my 2nd visit. I still would not get in line for a sandwich but took a fair haul in baked goods, enjoying everythig over several days. Staff was friendly and quick. I enjoyed their scachatta more than any I've had-soft, doughy, flavorful. They have different sized boxes and make it fresh daily. They have lots of holiday themed items. I still wish they had a variety of breads-or at least I was blinded to them if they're there. I got an iced Americano but can't remember if it was cuz they don't have skim/nonfat milk or they don't do iced lattes. Nevertheless, won't be my last visit. You should go soon!

Selection is excellent! Top quality bakery! They had a sandwich counter as well! The cake selection is amazing!

Tampa Tradition Skachatta Devil Crabs Stuffed Potatoes Cuban Sandwiches and Bread lots of sweets

The best cannolis. I was absolutely floored when we walked in and I saw how many baked good options there were. My husband was floored that I had never been here before. I was basically a kid in a candy shop walking around seeing all the options. There's literally rows and rows of pastries. I ended up choosing a classic mini cannoli and a tiramisu mini cannoli (I decided to forgo the coconut cream, peanut butter, and nutella mini cannolis, but maybe next time.) The classis mini cannoli was my favorite. I found it a little over the top having the shell encased in chocolate, like it is with the tiramisu mini cannoli. That's why my preference will also be the classic. I also tried a carrot cake, cheesecake torte. The carrot cake part was delicious, but the cheesecake part wasn't really my jam. Next time I'll stick with just carrot cake. The front parking lot was completely packed, we snagged the last spot, but there was a side parking lot that had spots opened. Also, this is in an almost purely residential part so there is probably tons of parking on the streets. I'm lucky I don't live closer or else I'd be ten pounds heavier.

Depends on what you are looking for. The bakery is excellent but the Cuban sandwiches and stuffed potatoes are nothing to come here for as there are many better options around town. The daily limited special "hand carved Cuban" should really be called the scam carved Cuban as it is absolutely nothing more than marketing getting you to pay a lot more for a thin Cuban sandwich. I remember when years ago they had great sandwiches here, the King Cuban was a favorite of mine, but now they are just thin overpriced basically tourist type things. Maybe I'm just a little bitter because we asked for lettuce and tomato and they didn't put it on there but I've been eating in Tampa for four decades and I don't think that's it.

Alessi's is always great for lunch. Their hand cut Cuban Sandwich is the best Cuban in Tampa. They always are very friendly and the owner always makes time to talk to us. We always get a couple of cannolis for the trip home ....delicious.

Duuuuuuuuuuuude the DEVILED CRAB IS OUTFUCKINGSTANDING. My god, I never didn't know I needed something sooooo much. Fan of seafood? Not a fan of seafood? Doesn't matter, try it. Life. Changing.

Go. Hey and sandwich. Get some sweets. You'll be happy you did. Oh yea. That HAM!

I've been dying to find a good Italian bakery. For whatever reason, Tampa has a slim selection of real authentic bakeries. I'm not talking about a strip mall, I'm talking real bakery. This place is it. Not only do they have Italian cookies, they have everything else under the sun including a deli. They have cream puffs, eclairs, cannolis, cinnemon buns, cakes, cupcakes, platters, the list goes on. My husband ordered a Breakfast Burrito and it was delicious. They have breakfast and lunch, with a spin on classic Cuban foods like deviled crab. They also have a specialty Sicilian pizza in ready to go boxes. I've got to say, their food is delicious. I have had their eclairs in the past and they never miss. I'll definitely be returning.

Best baked goods and subs in the area Service is quick and coffee is hot I will return

The best bakery in Tampa. They have such a wide variety of cakes, cookies, and breads. Everything I have ever gotten has been very good. They also have a deli and sandwich shop where you can get a Cuban or roast pork sandwich. The staff is very friendly. I love to come in and get a pastry or sandwich and chat with the ladies in the bakery.

Awesome Cuban sandwich (but bring your appetite - it's large). I had them bake a birthday cake for my wife's birthday and she loved it - much better than another well known South Tampa bakery. Friendly service. Highly recommend.

Love this place!, the Sicilian pizza is the BEST! It had that old neighborhood bakery feel to it. I always grab an expresso on my way out. The people are so friendly and always get you what you need!

Ordered a simple sub. Got everything except what I asked for, then was argued with that it wasn't what was ordered. :/ weird experience

I ordered my son's 21st birthday cake from Alessi for 23 December with pick up on the 22nd. Everything went very smoothly with the ordering process and the pick up process. Excellent customer service! I ordered a vanilla cake with cannoli filling and paid extra for fancy decorations that matched the party theme. They did a great job with my vision. When I was there for pick up I grabbed a few extra treats for his birthday the next day. I don't know if it was because we ate the items the following day or if they were stale to begin with but the pineapple upside down cake was awful and actually had a medicinal taste. My son and I both took a bite and immediately spit it out. I was surprised because that's not the quality I've ever received or expect from Alessi. But the custom birthday cake was amazing so I am going to let that be the shining star of this review!

They have a great selection of delicious goodies as well as lunch options. We had the pressed Cuban which was delicious although pressed a little to long leaving it a little burnt on the one side. Still yummy! I love reading the history and we enjoyed a Chocolate Cherry cupcake. We were helped by a very friendly staff member!

This review is just based on the sfingi I got on St Joseph's Day. The cannoli cream was delicious! The pastry itself was very hard and dry. My guess from being refrigerated. They had so many wonderful looking sweets in the cases! I definitely will be back to try other things! They also make sandwiches (which I haven't tried yet). This visit was a mission for these pastries only that I have missed so much since leaving NY!!! The bakery is huge, with so many options and decorated with cases upon cases of cookies (so many cookies) cupcakes, cannolis, cakes and more! The girls behind the counter were friendly and fast.

Black and white cookies as good as NYC. Sandwiches delicious. I love their apple turnovers and zucchini bread, blueberry bread all delicious