Arely’s French Bakery Cafe

Arely’s food is consistently superlative, and the staff always friendly. They made our wedding cakes (plural because we had a small wedding and a large party on a different day). We love Sunday brunch as well. Mmmm! Love the Salmon Eggs Benedict! Yum!

This place came highly recommended so we were excited to add another breakfast spot to our list. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype. I had the Arelys scramble with hash browns and husband had the breakfast croissant with house potatoes. Everything was meh. But the item that was most disappointing was the Crème brûlée. French restaurant should have this down. Awful! One bite and there was no way I could have another. Hubby had the cheesecake. Not good. I rarely give bad reviews. I usually say nothing if I can't say something good. But this one, I had to say something. The service was great but they need new chefs.

Ordered a chocolate mousse cake for Lunar New Year and it was delicious! A soft, chocolately cake that isn't overly rich. It was the perfect sweetness and I appreciate the cream instead of frosting. I do wish the cake box was smaller to better fit the small cake. They only had large boxes and it made it difficult to transport. The mixed fruit tart were also tasty!

We ordered their Black Forest breakfast, the omelette with bacon tastes decent and the roast beef panini paired with salad was good too, the size is big!

A pretty cute French bakery which serves breakfast and lunch as well. When we went there on a Thursday morning, the restaurant was packed and needed 15-20 minutes for an indoor seat. It’s so popular. We shared 4 different dishes and we all agreed the sweet dishes are much better than the savory ones. So I recommend the stuffed French toast and fruit crepes.

Atmosphere look good. I had a to go order. Let me tell you hands down the best turkey croissant sandwich. I eat it 2hr after I got my sandwich so just imagine having it on the spot. The croissant is amazing you can taste the butter and you can taste the freshness of all the ingredients. Definitely will go back again. Hope you get tempted by the pics.

I went here on a weekend at evening and was able to find a place to sit without a wait. I liked their coffee. Food tasted good and was filling but the cheese and butter overpowered other flavors. The service was fast. I wouldn't mind going again.

Great service, great food, and a lot of vegetarian options. My wife and I have visited a couple of times, and have had a great experience. The quichés here are amazing. You must try their pastries for desert. We like the cheese danish. We will be coming back, and we highly recommend you check this delicious bakery cafe. You won’t regret it!

This is my go to place for breakfast. I love getting their fruit crepe, it's inexpensive and their fruit is always ripe and delicious. It's usually pretty busy with neighborhood people but it's worth the wait. The bakery though is where Arelys really shines. It is delicious!! Every single thing I have tried has been delicious, decadent, and worth every penny.

*This review is only of the bakery portion of this store, not of the cafe portion. A large establishment in the heart of Clairemont that, while touting itself as a French cafe, lacks some of the finer elements of French patisserie in its offerings. All the baked ideas seemed to scream, "Well, you get the idea...". Come here to sample with no expectations - search elsewhere if you have a higher bar. Cinnamon roll - great balance of sweet and cinnamon, good caramelization on the bottom, flaky layers, well baked. Size is large. May be considered a little too sweet by some. Blueberry cranberry scone - massive when compared to other scones. Dryness present for scones, resembles more of a muffin. Lacks somewhat signature crumble of a scone, which is fine. Light sweetness. Portion is a bit too much, even on an empty stomach. Chocolate croissant - dense and not flaky. Clear air pockets but missing distinct layers. Comes off as a roll, not a croissant. Passionfruit raspberry cake - taste is a bit artificial but cake density is very nice. Size is plentiful - satisfies a vague sweet tooth craving but not specific to the flavor listed. Blueberry lemon cake - see above. Tiramisu - weird topping takes away from the overall soft and coffee texture. Doesn't have as deep a coffee flavor as desired. Missing soaked sponge taste - is just sponge. Overall just a vaguely coffee cake with cream. Opera cake - missing crunch factor (feuilletine of some sort), is essentially a base tuxedo cake. Napoleon - layers were overbaked, but construction is fine.

Not Returning... From time to time I'd stop by Arely's to order their amazing French butter croissants. Not too many French bakeries nearby so this was always a special treat. They had hands down the best croissant in the neighborhood. Recently I stopped by and noticed the croissants looked like the ones you'd get in a local grocery store. The size and shape was definitely different. Then I ordered one, took a bite and was totally disappointed. Missing was the crisp flakiness that you'd hear with each bite. Also the to-go bag couldn't help but display all that buttery goodness. Instead, what I got was a dry, bready substitute that had no business being in a French cafe. Very disappointed. Waste of money. Will not return!

What could be better than outdoor breakfast at a French cafe in San Diego?!! No pictures, the food was too good and everyone was hungry! Service was friendly and great, accessible parking was easy and plentiful. Everyone got something from the French bakery to go afterwards. Definitely would go back!

Fits our $50 eat out for two budget.... The Salmon Egg Benedict is a disappointment. The salmon tastes like canned salmon, not fresh. But the eggs were perfectly cooked. However, we're giving the whole experience a 3.5 star. Great menu selection maybe we did not order their house specialty. The Banana French Toast is unique as it used banana bread with fresh banana tops and caramel. Also enjoyed their Green Eye coffee. We got Napoleons to go which is hard to find in San Diego; can't wait to try it. Any suggestions on what to try from this place?

The parking lot is big and has ample amount of empty spots. We went to Arelys French Bakery on an early morning and there's lots of people seated for lunch. The interior is dim in the front with crowded cases. The front is crowded with people waiting for pick up orders and waiting in line to check the pastries. They don't have a whole lot of French pastry options, in my opinion. Lots of cakes and cake slices. Those would be too heavy for breakfast. Strangely enough, they had lots of cookies. You have to ask the worker for the price of each since it's not written on the signs (in the case). We looked and saw that the croissant was big. So we asked how much? The price was good, under $3! What a steal. I didn't try this one, but maybe next time. What I tend to go for: I didn't see any almond croissants or pain au chocolat. They had pain aux raisins which they called "Snail." We ordered this. It consisted walnuts, raisins, and a white glaze. We found that there was cinnamon in this and the texture was not flaky and light. It tasted like a cinnamon roll, nothing like pain aux raisins. The white glaze was really sweet and totally unnecessary. This snail pastry had no similarities to the French pastry except for the shape. Overall, it disappointed me. I believe the price was under $6 which was nice considering the prices of pastries now in 2024. I'd give it 3-4 stars. Would I come back? Only if I'm in the area and am in need of an inexpensive pastry. Or later in the day to try the cake options. The cakes were pretty good in price-- $34 for a circle one and it looked like the one we used to get at Champagne Bakery as a kid! They seem to be more popular with the lunch, so that could be something to look into. But for breakfast...out of other choices in San Diego, I wouldn't come back here for pain aux raisins that's for sure!

Delicious pastries and fresh baked goods. Full dine in menu option available. Friendly service. Indoor and outdoor seating. In a strip mall with parking availability.

My friend suggested this French bakery for our lunch meet. I had a veggie omelette with eggplant, which tasted decent but a bit oily. $1.50 extra for egg white, that makes this dish about $18. The dish was served with 3 thin dried up baguette. For a French bakery, the quality of this bread was disappointing. Coffee was nice and strong, but they did not come to refill my drinks. The service could have been more attentive and friendly. They have a nice outdoor seating area facing the parking lot. The indoor has the quiet but lively cafe atmosphere. The noise level was relatively low and it was good for having conversations. This place has a variety of pastries and cakes to eat in or take out. It may be a nice place for just a cup of coffee and a pastry or cake. If you have a sweet tooth, this place can be your heaven!

Let me start by saying that I am actually from France so my standards on how service, food and presentation should be are baked in (no pun intended). Nothing is French about this place except few bottles of French wine and a huge poster of the champs Élysées. Now let's deep dive on the overall experience: 1. Our first waitress was not in the right profession (took our order wrong and then tried to get out of it by saying it was our fault vs acknowledging she did a mistake and correct the mistake?). She then disappeared and another friendlier one took over however way too late as we were on our way out. The food was nothing even close to French food (from presentation to taste). My salade niçoise was not a salade niçoise but rather your typical American tuna salad on a salad (no anchovies, white rice, potatoes, green beans etc.. See a photo of how a niçoise should like (I unfortunately did not take a picture to show you what I am talking about). So in recap, not impressed at all with the food, service and attempts to disguise their typical bakeries into French patisseries.., As we say in France, dommage (too bad) mais c'est la vie (but that is life)!

Experience here was just meh and weird vibes. Did not like that there was shredded cheese in my turkey croissant, thought that was odd. Was in a hurry to leave this place so didn't ask if they had anything else or cheese alternatives. Only good thing was the hash browns. Won't be back.

This place is delicious. Centrally located in San Diego so parking is very ample. If you come on a weekend it's going to be packed. So pack your patience. Come on a weekday and most likely the wait won't be too long. Inside or outside tables to dine at. We had lovely service. Our waitress knew the menu well and offered great suggestions. Had the Chicken Florentine. Very savory, nice serving and delicious flavor. The honey lavender latte was great. They brew Cafe Moto coffee here! That's great coffee if you didn't know. Cozy place with great smells and delicious drinks. For dessert, gave the coconut mousse cake a try. Definitely a 10/10! Ok! I see you! Wish I would have got another piece to take home for the next day. Two large cases at the front to satisfy your sweet tooth. Cakes and fresh baguettes sold at the front counter. The bathroom was clean so that's a plus. Looking forward to coming back again.

Had a wonderful lunch today at Arely's. A delicious chicken Caesar salad.. our server was outstanding. Pastries looked delicious. It's a cute little place. You can dine either inside or out.

I don't know how I have gone so long without knowing that this gem of a restaurant was in business. I have been getting massages down the way for years but only recently did I find out about Arely's. I have been by to dine in three times in the past five weeks. On my first visit, I came in late on a Saturday morning. It was bustling with people. I was afraid I would have to wait long but I was lucky and I only had to wait five minutes. I was seated at a high top table next to the window so I could watch the people walking by. Saw lots of cute dogs. I was seated, ordered and ate within 30 minutes. I got the grilled chicken panini as I love the combo of chicken, Swiss cheese and mushrooms. It came with a small side salad. It was great! I got a blackberry iced tea and it complemented it nicely. The chicken was flavorful and went very well with melted cheese and sautéed mushrooms. I liked that the restaurant is smaller -- 40 people can fit inside and maybe 15-20 outside. Location is in the middle of residential in the Clairemont Town Square shopping center next to TJMaxx. If you come on the weekend, be prepared to wait as it is extremely popular. If you dine in, you will check in with the hostess stand inside the restaurant. You can marvel and drool over which pastries to take home as there are two huge cases in the front area. By the time your wait is up, maybe you have decided in what to take home. There are so many to choose from, you may end up with a box of goodies. I have tried the Jesuite and almond croissant. Both were solid choices. Out of my three visits, I was served by Gretchen twice and Wendy once. Both women were quick, polite, welcoming and friendly. On my second and third visit, I got the Florentine croissant with home potatoes. The Croissant was fresh, flaky and buttery. It was one of the best I have ever had. The home potatoes were well seasoned and cooked the way I like so they had some bite to them. There was no need for ketchup. Had a huge portion of the scrambled egg with spinach mushroom that the egg was flowing out the side of the croissant. During my third visit, I brought my mom with me. She ordered the Quiche Lorraine which she thought was excellent. Her thoughts - Good sized portion. Good combination of cheese and bacon. Well seasoned. She liked the side salad with raspberry vinaigrette. She also enjoyed the refreshing mimosa with cranberry. Excited to keep exploring the menu.

A pretty cute French bakery which serves breakfast and lunch as well. When we went there on a Thursday morning, the restaurant was packed and needed 15-20 minutes for an indoor seat. It's so popular. We shared 4 different dishes and we all agreed the sweet dishes are much better than the savory ones. So I recommend the stuffed French toast and fruit crepes.

What a cute little bakery! The pastries looks delicious and I've had a few. They have a good menu consisting of omelets, quiches, crepes, sandwiches, paninis, steak, seafood and pastas. Staff is super friendly and helpful if you need recommendations on which pastry to get. They definitely have the support of the locals around here because they've been in business for 20 years! Will be back for sure for some more pastries.

Food is incredible. A little bit pricey but overall a good pick. I definitely reckoned. Outdoor seating for the ambiance. Service is always pretty quick and easy and I'm always happy after I leave.

I love this place & highly recommend it. But today.... You get 1-star... My omelet is burnt & tastes like shit. My food is cold & rubbery. The potatoes are under cooked. Today they are not busy, so there no excuses. Cook: would you eat this shit? Would you pay $16 for it? Then why are feeding me this?

Came here on a Sunday as we were wanting breakfast but not to make it ourselves. We had checked out the menu online and thought it would be a good spot. We have lived in the area for 12 years and only been here one other time (got pastries-no recollection of how they were). Outside seating was full but we were promptly seated inside. Decor/vibe is Parisian bistro. There is a large photo of the Eiffel tower and the streets of France on the wall. They also have a wine bar/night so there is decor/theme for that as well. Our server came over to get drink orders which we gave (hot cocoa $3.25 and mocha latte $4.50). We were indecisive about food so took longer to decide. Decided on food. Still no drinks. Other tables around us got drinks (people who came in after us). We assume the server forgot to put in the drink order (no big deal, my husband and I were both servers so we know it happens). When asked the server said they would check on the drinks, then came back to blame the staff making drinks for them not being ready. The food. My husband got monkey bread french toast which was the best food by far. The french toast was $9.95. He got a side of sausage (3 links) $3.25. He added cheese to his eggs which was $1.08 Kidlet got the tiny pancakes $8.25 (they made them chocolate chip!) with bacon and added cheese to the eggs $1. Kidlet ate 1 pancake and the bacon. Refused the eggs I got the 2 eggs special with hash browns (they say crispy) and bacon for $11.60. I didn't get cheese on my eggs and am glad I didn't since it is an up charge (and one not noted on the menu or told to us by server). My hash browns were not crispy. They were actually quite soggy/undercooked with only a handful of hash browns "crispy." The eggs were ok and the bacon was thin and greasy. Overall the experience and food just wasn't that good. Even though their prices are reasonable and I know everyone is struggling the up charge for the shredded cheese really annoys me. Cheese is super inexpensive and if they are going to charge they should tell you. Or just add it to the prices.

Very cute bakery that I came across while trying to find a bank. Really enjoyed their pastries and the employees are super friendly. Other people were dining in, but I was able to grab my order and go.

Arely's was hopping this week for a late morning meal! It was my first time dining in, and I'm glad I went. My friend ordered lunch and I had breakfast. My Arely's scramble was very tasty and well prepared. Service was good, our order taken and delivered with care. My friend was offered refills on coffee. The dining room was crowded but not too noisy. We stopped for pastries on the way out. My scone, not pictured, was moist and delicious!

This place quickly became a regular for us. 1. Food is delish, including the French onion soup! 2. Love the mimosa flight. Great flavors. 3. The bakery items are yummy (huge selection), and the prices are really reasonable. I love picking a few things up to take to friends. 4. Parking is easy.

I LOVE THIS PLACE. I would for sure give Arely's 100 stars if I could. It is so good! I always get their fruit crepe it is my favorite food which is kinda surprising lol. They also have many other pastries and French plates. The staff are really nice and when I ask for something they also do it correctly!! The service is on point. The location is also really nice as it is next to some other stores. I always stop by after a long shopping day! I come like every single week!!

This place used to be order at the counter which worked better for them in my opinion. Now there are servers but the service is not good, our server (Vanessa) was definitely inexperienced and not friendly at all. Almost as if she's forced to be there. It's the only "local" breakfast place around other than Denny's so it's usually busy. The food is overpriced, paid $13 for 2 eggs, 2 pcs bacon and old fruit. Orders a croissant which tasted like it had been made 2 days prior. Defiantly a miss for me.

I like Arely s .Adorable atmosphere. Employees were nice. Food was delicious and quick. Nice outdoor seating.. Bakery was clean and attractive . I will come back.

Arelys catered my birthday party. The food was great. We had quiche Lorraine & spinach quiches. I ordered a variety of desserts. Arelys cut the desserts in small sizes for me. Everyone wanted to know who catered it.

I've stopped here a number of times and my experiences have been mostly mediocre. Service is OK, but food is quite meh. They have a wide selection of pastries and one would have hoped that a French cafe would have good croissants, but no :(. While they look good, I'd rather have Costco croissants. They would be freshener and more enjoyable

This French bakery is a hidden gem! I rarely venture to this part of San Diego and was so glad I did! The food was amazing, the prices were very reasonable, the portions were huge, the service was excellent, and there were plenty of free parking! A large cappuccino was only $4.25. If you don't want whole milk and prefer almond or oat milk, it only costs $0.50 to substitute. Want an extra shot of espresso? Well, it's only $1.50 more. I ordered the spinach quiche that came with a side salad for only $6.50. I was pleasantly surprised to find a huge slice (1/4 of a 9" pie) was delivered to our table. It was very light and fluffy. Soooooooo delicious! My daughter had the fresh fruit crepes for $8.60. It was also a very generous portion that came with lots of fresh blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries. My guy ordered the Jesuite pastry for $4.25. Again, it was a large sized pastry. We loved the food and really enjoyed our Christmas Eve brunch. Definitely recommend this place!

I love this bakery! I always dig in so quick I forget to take pictures because it just looks so good. I've dined for breakfast and the quiche is great. Portion is perfect! The fruit tarts and pastries are incredible. This is my favorite spot for a little weekend breakfast treat!

I came on a Tuesday just before noon and was greeted very pleasantly by two ladies behind the counter. They were so cheerful and sweet and answered all of my questions. They even recommended me a restaurant down the street that sells great baklava! I purchased a slice of carrot cake and an almond croissant. My total was just shy of 10 dollars (including a tip). The croissant wasn't the flakiest in the world and had a very sweet almond filling. There wasn't any almond extract flavor, so if that is what you are looking for when enjoying an almond croissant, I wouldn't recommend this one. As I made my way through the croissant, I noticed that the bottom was soggy. The mouth feel wasn't the most pleasant. I've seen rave reviews of their croissants on their Yelp page so I'm sure this is not an everyday occurrence. However, it did ruin the croissant for me. I never thought I'd ever say this but the carrot cake had wayyyy too much frosting on it! It was 60% frosting and 40% cake which is not my perfect ratio. The cream cheese frosting wasn't cheesy at all and the cake was on the drier side. I was a little disappointed by it, but I'm not surprised because it is a French bakery and carrot cake isn't very French. I guess I would recommend sticking to the French desserts if you're looking to try this place out. Overall, the service was wonderful but the pastries that I got fell short. I would be inclined to come back to try out their French desserts just to give them another shot (because they were so nice!).

Upgrades have occurred here, newer menu, beer, wine (a bit pricey), and an excellent variety on the menu of food and salads. Amazing fresh bakery items, almond croissants and the best!

Went with a large group for dinner and was so disappointed. This is definitely NOT a French restaurant with a French bakery. Ordered chicken marsala which came with two small chicken tenders in a brown type sauce. The chicken was dry. Other restaurants that serve chicken marsala typically cut a chicken breast horizontally and then pound the slice to tenderize it. This was not the case at this restaurant. My other guest ordered Rib Eye steak and it seemed every two bites had to be spit back out because of the gristle of the beef. It seems they bought a very low grade of beef. So maybe this place is good for breakfast and lunch and desserts only, but don't come here for dinner.

They've done it again!! Ordered a custom birthday cake from Arelys and boy did they deliver. Raspberry and lemon flavor and I told the guy taking my order, I trust you guys, make it pretty. The cake was a hit and oh so very scrumptious.

Wow wow wow! I don't know how I've lived in Clairemont for nearly 2 years and passed this little shop up so many times, but at the recommendation of friends, my fiance and I decided to give it a try for a Sunday morning breakfast. I had no idea what to expect, but once we arrived I was very impressed. While it sits in a regular shopping center and doesn't look like much from the outside, once you step foot inside it feels as if you are transported to legitimate French bistro in Europe. From the furniture, to the decor, to the mural on the back wall, it all really does this cafe justice. As if that wasn't enough, our meals were spectacular! I opted for the chiliquiles with red sauce and my fiance went with the Monkey French Toast with a side of bacon. We both raved about how flavorful our food was and had enough leftover for a second meal later. I also had an iced chai tea latte and it was the perfect amount of sweetness without being overpowering. There is also an abundance of pastries that can be ordered at the counter and I definitely plan to come back to try those along with lunch!

Food was terrific. The onion soup was delicious. The cheese cake may have been the best I have ever had. Cost was reasonable for the quality

It's a French restaurant that has mixed of Mexican food and French. I ordered French onion soup which was salty and no flavor and grill chicken panini was so blend taste and greasy. I went to many French restaurant but this restaurant is far from French flavor. It was more like a Mexican restaurant that has French ambiance and menu.

Came here for lunch and couldn't recommend it enough. The service was great (s/o to Brandon) and the food was delicious! Nice patio space and good ambiance. We were too full from the food but will have to save room next time to try the deserts!

Stumbled upon this place we never knew was here. Great place for brunch /lunch The staff were friendly service sa fast. We ordered the French onion soup my favorite of all time. We also had the arely's chicken sandwich very delicious. The French toast was just alright. They can do better. I didn't enjoy the latte tasted like water that is why they only got the 4 stars Ambiance is nice cozy and reminds me of little cafes I have been to in Paris. Next time I will try their famous croissants and cakes. I read up on it and had great reviews. Definitely a place I will want to visit again

This was our second time visiting this place. We were visiting family in San Diego and wanted a nice sit-down spot. This time, we dined outdoors, which was a great change of pace. The wait staff was pleasant and patient. Even the other patrons were friendly. The service was quick and courteous. We enjoyed everything we had there. We recommend the French toast (brioche OR croissant style) even the kids' meals are abundant. We also had the protein meal plate, but it can be made as a sandwich if asked. Also, save room for dessert!!

We came here because of Synergy Gift Card. Love the food, love the selection, love the price and love the service. Gift card or not, we will be back. Came back for dinner and still loved it, although our waiter today was less attentive this time.

YUMMY !! Im not much of a sweets person, but was craving cake! The server recommended the opera cake and it was a party in my mouth:3 i cant wait to come back to try all the other cakes!!

Loved this place! It is very cute, food is wonderful, sooo many pastries and great coffee, big menu and everything sounds amazing!, cant wait to go back!

Gretchen provides amazing service! Great food. Good Service. Nice atmosphere. Freshly made pastries. Our favorite breakfast place!

Love this place,fruit tart,chocolate cake,almond butter croissant everything is delicious.just 4 stars because they need to improve customer service and a little cleaning up.

Usually really great. Got a deal for $5 off of $20 for my B day, so I got 3 Palmiers. They were all burnt to a crisp. I got a cookie that was pretty good and a cinnamon twist that was a little crunchy but good as well.

My wife and I had planned on just having some pastry and coffee but decided to have breakfast. We both had omelette that we delicious and very filling. But that's not why a am writing this post, our waitress Gretchen L was so awesome and happy with a welcome smile and great manner if you know what I mean. She was soooooo nice and made our breakfast even better. Thank you Gretchen

Love me some breakfast! Service was amazing, food was very well presented and delicious. The bakery on your way out was expansive. Best quiche ever, fluffy eggs and the crust in unmatched! My friends mom about fell over with joy with the lemon bar. .

Best spot in San Diego! Been coming here for almost 8 years now and it never fails! The staff is amazing super friendly and kind! Family friendly, they have amazing kid friendly. I always get the something different and quality is 100 %. Definitely worth it, I always bring my out of town family and friends here, reasonable prices delicious food! Everything is chefs kiss here from breakfast to dinner!

This place is amazing Food is great, coffee really good The staff and owner are amazing Our go to place for breakfast twice a month usually

The service is alright. Most staff are friendly but not very attentive. The food is also ok, nothing spectacular. We have tried the French Toast and the breakfast sandwich. They are not bad but if since it is a bakery shop, you would expect their croissant to be really good. They are just alright. Their tip structure is a bit strange . The suggestive tip will be 18, 25, 30 and 35 as options. How about 20?