Continental Bakery

Everything I’ve ever had was incredibly fresh and all of the retail workers I’ve interacted with as well as all the cafe and kitchen workers have been very friendly and helpful. There’s nothing like an amazing warm baguette or loaf of Challah. My recommendation is the Queenie- have it heated for a few seconds. It’s super soft and buttery and the perfect mix of a croissant style bread with sweet and savory breakfast. One item not always listed is a house made hot chocolate. Just ask for it. The strawberry matcha with their homemade strawberry mixture is delightfully refreshing. I would also recommend trying anything that is an item that might be seasonal such as the squash galette. The conecuh sausage and cheese scone, warm apple cider donut, any coffee drink with the house made toasted pecan syrup or house made chai, southwestern corn tarte, sesame noodles, and Brunswick stew are also wins in my book. (Honorable mention is the warm brown butter bourbon pecan bread pudding with vanilla gelato served in the cafe or a piping hot pizza straight from the oven)

I was really excited to try this bakery. Unfortunately, the pot de creme was made with coffee, and I didn't think to ask so I wasn't able to eat it. The palette was delicious! The sandwich was pretty basic and I didn't realize it wouldn't come with sauces. The sandwich bread was good though. I bought some other things too. The pies look fantastic! I would probably come here again, but only for specific items. The pricing was pretty fair. The person who served me seemed fairly impatient. Never having been there before, I wasn't sure how to order everything. The shop isn't very newcomer friendly All you could see was what they had on display even though they had drinks and sandwiches They had three parts of a menu that was in very small font and if you didn't know they had something you didn't know we were there 20 minutes and just happened to overhear they had sandwiches And had to ask for the sandwich menu because it wasn't on display They have a website but it also wasn't on display so if you don't know you wouldn't know unless you just happened to look but even that it didn't have a list of drinks or the sandwiches and it looked to have been a couple of years out of date because they prices were wrong A third of their baked goods were shortbread cookies You also couldn't see prices for the bread

Oh wow, what a spectacular Bakery in the gorgeous Old English District. Sit on the sidewalk or take a gorgeous walk with your bakery treat and coffee/tea. Shortbread cookies, artist breads, cakes, pies, and a wide assortment of freshly baked treats. You can get a sandwich as well and also get refrigerated artisan soups to go. This is such a wonderful bakery!

After reading all the negative reviews on this place, I was hesitant on visiting but SO glad we did!!! People are miserable and always looking for something to complain about. The coffee and pastries were absolutely delicious. And the vibe in there is perfect. Could the staff have been nicer? Sure? I guess? But we all can. The man that helped us was very kind and for me personally, I don’t expect Disney World service when I’m ordering a croissant and a latte. But maybe that’s just me. Give people grace. Prices were reasonable too! Overall great experience.

Stumbled upon Continental Bakery after leaving the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Located in a very cool little shopping district that is very dog friendly. Had to wait for 20 minutes as people were shuffling in and out to get their drinks and croissants. I would have left but I was told this place was very good so I waited. Inside is a small and eclectic area to look at the goodies, give your order, and pay. My croissant was very good and did remind me of the ones I had in Paris with many variants available. My shortbread cookie was cutely decorated but overpriced for what I got (just give me the shortbread with a smattering of icing for taste). Worth the stop in if you are in the area.

I’ve been a loyal customer of Continental Bakery for years—long enough to remember when stepping inside felt like entering a small corner of Europe. I even worked there at one point, so I’ve always had a special appreciation for the care that goes into their breads and pastries. Some of my favorite moments as a parent have been taking my son there for a croissant, sharing something warm and homemade together. But over time, the experience has changed. Sometimes I’m helped immediately, and other times I find myself waiting in a line for 20 minutes just for someone to hand me a single croissant. The bakery feels like it’s become more Americanized and complicated than it needs to be, and that shift has taken away one of its greatest strengths: the ability for busy people to quickly grab something fresh without hassle. When you’re paying a premium price and facing a long wait, the balance just isn’t there. A bit more organization—something as simple as a small grab-and-go section for pastries—could make a world of difference. But the business seems successful enough that losing a customer here or there probably doesn’t pressure them to make changes. As much as I’ve loved this place, the long waits and increased complexity have made it hard to keep coming back. So I’ll be looking for a new bakery where my son and I can enjoy the same quality without sacrificing our time. I’ll always appreciate what Continental Bakery once was to me, but it’s about time to find somewhere that fits our lives a little better now.

The chocolate cake was extremely dry and crumbly. I was super disappointed and I hear so much good things about this bakery. I even let it thaw out and it was still super dry. I personally like very moist cake, so was not a fan, especially for $40, pretty disappointing.

First time to try it. I had a blueberry bagel and it was very fresh. Only plain or olive cream cheese. I had an old fashion cinnamon roll, not my favorite but didn't taste bad; just not 4 me. I also got 2 pecan sandies and 2 more crescent shaped cookies, kind of like a wedding cookie. Both of those were really good.