Elephantine Bakery

Amazing food in a cozy, beautifully decorated bakery. I felt like I was in Europe! Very kind and knowledgeable staff. Highly recommend. A little pricey but worth it. Will make a trip to Portsmouth again just to go back here. Pictured: ricotta lemon danish, flat white (one of the best coffees I've ever had), poached eggs cilbir, tomato ricotta toast. My only critique is there was a ton of oil in the cilbir which was a bit over powering, and the eggs were much smaller than a typical large egg - Will ask them to go light on the oil next time and add an extra egg. Overall great experience.

Elephantine Bakery in Portsmouth is a beautiful little café in a beautiful town. There was a long line when we went, but that’s usually a good sign, and it was definitely worth the wait. The place is clean, the service is good, and the drinks and pastries were really tasty. A super cute spot to check out if you’re in the area.

This place is clearly very popular and well-loved, but I want to share my personal experience. We came on a Sunday around noon and it was super busy. We waited about 15–20 minutes in line, then another 20 minutes after ordering. The coffee was great, and the almond croissant was delicious. But neither my husband nor I liked the bread pudding. I’m giving 4 stars mostly because of the atmosphere. It felt really loud and crowded inside, with staff constantly rushing around. Not the best place to relax and enjoy your coffee.

Lovely experience!!! Great food and coffee. Amazing service. Got the poached eggs with yogurt. The toast was a little too crispy which made it hard to eat. Unique breakfast and super cute area and vibe. We spent 80 for the three of us (all got lattes). Just passing through but definitely would go again.

We went on a Saturday morning around 9am and the line to order was very long (as expected) but the drinks and baked goods came out quickly. The chocolate pistachio croissant and banana pudding are phenomenal! Staff are also very nice and inviting. Bonus that it’s located in a cute alley way! They ran out of the sandwich I wanted to try and it was only an hour after opening so be warned that they might not have what you want unless you’re able to wait a few hours for them to make more. Great place overall and I wish I lived nearby so I could try everything!

I love visiting Elephantine, its lovely. Typically, bring my pooch so I sit outside and its a perfect location with cute bistro seating. Can't get out of there without a coffee & pastry! I love their cardamom & honey latte. Got an almond croissant & a lemon ricotta Danish - they were both scrumptious

If you find yourself in the New Hampshire Seacoast area, you have got to find a way to make it to Elephantine Bakery. The aroma of bread and pastries baking onsite is amazing. You will find an amazing serving staff and talented artisans. We bring everyone who visits us from out of state for an Elephantine Experience. Their pastries are amazing, the toast sourdough is life-changing, and the garlic labneh with poached eggs will 🤯🤯🤯. Espresso drinks are just as good. They are never over-extracted and are always expertly drawn. The only disappointment is that they do not serve matcha. But we quickly got over it. The London Fog was delicious! My wife loves the attention to detail in their floral decor - such whimsy❤️

Felt like what Tatte could've been if it didn't become a chain bakery. Came here for breakfast early Saturday morning. As the highest-rated spot in Portsmouth, I had high expectations, and despite the bad weather, the place was full. We got some of their most popular dishes - Poached egg Cilbir and Tomato Ricotta toast. Poached egg Cilbir - A rich, indulgent take on a classic. The velvety poached eggs melt into the garlicky labneh, while the Aleppo butter adds just the right amount of heat. Spicy, creamy, and perfectly balanced with a touch of acidity (egg lover’s dream breakfast) Tomato ricotta toast - Silky house-made ricotta meets the deep, jammy sweetness of blistered tomatoes. Crispy baked garlic bits made every bite feel like the best parts of a rustic tomato soup—comforting, rich, and unexpectedly unique. Pastries and coffee were fine. Nothing to write home about.

Amazing experience, must visit if you are in area. We drove one and half hour and were very happy with our experience. Food is great, place has nice vibes and staff is friendly and warm. We had croissant, a chocolate drink, coffee, sandwich and one egg dish. Forgot names. Food was yummy. Definitely recommending.

We love this bakery - delicious breads and pastry well worth the stop There is no street parking and lines are long so plan on walking over and being patient. The wait is worth it!

another lovely spot for breakfast! I love that its tucked in this cute alley and giving off some secret-garden vibe lol We came early on a sunday around 8:30am and inside seating was already full! whoa! we did enjoy our outdoor table though and I think I actually preferred it. Service was quick and food came out timely. We got the Egg Simit which I was not able to try but was told was rather delicious *sob* BUT I got their poached egg cilbir and it was sooo good! the flavors were savory but had that nice little kick and smoothness from the yogurt "dip". The sourdough was perfectly toasted and added that nice crunch and texture. Eggs were nicely poached and just blended well with everything. Im glad I got to try something new as I was also just tempted to get a croissant and thats it lol The lattes were delicious as well even without flavor syrups. Wish I could go back to try the egg simit and their croissants though so I could get that "full experience". and oh, the chocolate chip cookie was a nice sweet treat! Soft and chewy. So happy I made it here as this was one of my go-to list visiting Portsmouth! would for sure love to return!

Yum, yum, yum! There chocolate almond croissant is so good. Ample filling, good mix of almond and chocolate.

Love when a place does ricotta toast right!! The sourdough was an incredibly rare treat. a perfectly balanced crunch to chew ratio. Flawless. The traditional cilbir was out of this world. Subtle kick of spice elevated the entire dish. Definitely a must try place!!

I love Elephantine!! It is a super small dining area but that did not stop us from enjoying every minute of our experience. The staff was super friendly and one of them actually went above and beyond the call of duty to accommodate my request. The food was soooooo good and their bread was probably the best bread I have ever put in my mouth. I ordered an olive loaf to take because I was so full after eating and a few hours later ended up eating the whole thing even tho I told myself I was just going to take a bite. I highly recommend if you are looking for breakfast and you are in the area. Hope to make it back out this was and will definitely be stopping by if I do.

Love this bakery -Egg limit: The pistachio beet spread was a huge hit! Loved the flavor with eggs and bagels. I really loved every single bites -pastries: love their layers - it was so flaky and good. -environment: the atmosphere and vibe was cozy and cute. Staff was super friendly. I loved the vibe of the cafe. They serve both brunch/breakfast and pastries with nice drinks so would definitely come again.

Liked it. Definitely liked it. Didn't love it. I'm not yucking anyone's yum in the least; it's just that with such a sky high rating, I was hoping it would be on the same level as or higher than places like Lil's Cafe just over the bridge, or a few favorites further up the Maine coast into Portland. Tried half each of a chocolate croissant, an almond croissant, a raisin croissant, a vanilla scone, and a chocolate chip cookie. All good. None warm and croissants not crisp, even right at opening. The pastries all had more sugar oomph than butter oomph; they were all bakery quality but a closer to sugary supermarket flavor than I like. The chocolate chip cookie reminded me of Entenmann's, only bigger and better. The raisin croissant was dry; the scone wasn't. Cute decor. Friendly people. Very tight seating. Good strong coffee.

Undoubtedly one of the best pastries I've ever had in my life. I'm guessing you can't go wrong with whichever pastry you choose, the consistency of each, I'm sure, is perfect. I had the pistachio chocolate croissant which was a perfect blend of ingredients. Our lattes and espressos were also pretty excellent. I've heard the line is always long, as it was today, but, it moves quickly. The order taker was calm, unruffled, and friendly. Fortunately they have enough staff to keep things moving, clean, and neat. There is indoor seating as well as lovely seating outside.

SO good. All of the pastries and desserts and fresh and delicious. The lattes are also fantastic. They do not have any flavor syrups (Vanilla etc.) but the latte was so good it was not needed. They do not have any gluten free baked goods.

This place was just simply a revelation. We stopped in during a weekend trip for some baked treats to take home, based on all the rave reviews. A regular named Linda starting chatting with me and was simply gushing about their breakfast foods. The small menu, just a handful of dishes, looked good, but I just didn't realize HOW good until this local customer raved about it. Based on her testimonial alone, I decided, ok, we will eat here instead of running out to a diner as planned. GOODNESS am I glad Linda convinced me! First of all, as I was waiting at my table, she came over with a little prepared piece of sourdough with labneh and poached egg on top. "First bite!" she said sweetly as she handed me the first nibble from her own breakfast. Oh my gosh. It was SO epically delicious, I was immediately convinced to order exactly that, rather than the egg sandwich I had been eyeing. That garlic labneh was to die for, and I'll be thinking of it for a long time (writing this as we head back home, which is sadly numerous hours away from this gem!). And yes, we do have a bag full of baked treats to take back with us - couldn't resist! Elephantine is really special, y'all. The cozy atmosphere, the thoughtful and inventive menu items, the quaint alleyway where the bakery is located, the friendly staff - all of these add to how memorable this experience was. If you're visiting Portsmouth, PLEASE go. And if you're a local who gets to go anytime on a whim, I'm so, so, so intensely jealous! Small note in the interest of honesty, they did leave out the lemon ricotta danish I ordered (wasn't charged either), and packed us almond croissants instead of almond-chocolate. The bags were securely stapled, so I couldn't check until I got home, and was slightly bummed since I live so far. But mistakes happen. Still a truly great experience!

This place is worth it. Down a cute little alley way with that has tables outside and a few inside. What a peaceful location on a perfect summer day. I ordered online around the time they opened. It said ASAP=30 minutes and they were right on the money. When I walked in the line was long and I wasn't sure if I should wait in it or not, but I did. My order was ready when I got there. We ordered the honey and ricotta toast. I strongly suggest that you order this if you come here. My favorite part was how it wasn't sweet at all. The honey did a perfect job complimenting the ricotta. The interior of the bread was soft and exterior was just enough crunchy. We also had the labneh and granola. It was quite delicious, but I must admit we were rather disappointed by the portion size. It's $13 which could be worth it with the right portions. There were 4 skinny slices of strawberries, a smear of yogurt with a drizzle and some really delicious homemade granola. The taste was great but the size just was a bit sad. We had the salmon lox. I personally thought this was so good. The ratio was perfect of cream cheese to lox and everything else that was in it. When I placed my order, it told me cinnamon rolls were out of stock. Turns out they control it and you can order one at the counter. Which is what I did. So we had a vanilla scone and cinnamon roll. Both were very worth it. We will be back to visit again.

We stopped by on Sunday at about 10:30. We almost didn't try it because other reviewers talked about huge lines and tough parking. We must have lucked out, because I easily found parking about 2 minutes away, and we were able to walk in a grab a table in a very small place. So don't give up. Just check it out. I got the smoked salmon sandwich and a chocolate pistachio croissant. She got the poached egg bowl and an almond chocolate croissant. We both got lattes. Good golly Miss Molly, but those lattes were superb! I loved my sandwich. It wasn't exactly a bagel, as it was softer, a perfect holder for this type of a sandwich. NO hyperbole....perfect. Her egg bowl was unique and really tasty. I liked mine better. She liked hers better. Sounds like perfect ordering to me. lol. We both enjoyed our croissants. The pistachio in mine was very generous, a pleasant surprise. I prefer the pastry part to slightly more flaky and crunchy at the same time, but it wasn't exactly close. I'd rate it very good, just shy of excellent. By the way, the menu is limited with only 4-6 choices and yet it's unique and even fascinating. It's a terrific place near very interesting shops, so once done, it's a pleasant spot to walk off all of that food for a few minute. Highly recommended ,and worth your consideration.

Elephantine bakery is worth the drive, even if you're coming from Boston. I tried the ricotta sourdough toast with honey and sesame-- the flavors balanced each other so well, and the contrasting textures from each of the different components was a delight. Also really enjoyed the Egyptian bread pudding, which was stocked full of pistachios and overall a very comforting dessert perfect which it's still cooler. Service was very friendly and there are a few tables to sit inside.

A must stop when I'm in Portsmouth. There are so many wonderful places to eat in this little city. But I always gravitate to this little gem located in a little alley in downtown Portsmouth. Really beautiful French vennoiserie and other treats with a touch of Middle Eastern flavors. The servers are patient and very nice. This place is as nice or even better than some places in Paris. And the coffee is very good.

One of the best breakfasts I have ever had! It transports you to a European experience by eating outside it the beautiful atmosphere of Portsmouth! 10/10 recommend! I would suggest coming early so you don't have to wait in line.

Wow!!! What a magical place. Super cute and tiny bakery that serves amazing food and coffee. I had the most delicious poached eggs dish and ordered a ham and cheese croissant to go. I will definitely come here every single time I am in this town!!!! 10 stars!!

Poached eggs cilbir was delicious. Completely out of the norm for something I would typically order and it was worth it! The pumpkin scone tasted like fall.

Finally made it to Elephantine and could not be more satisfied. After following their IG for almost a year, I was so excited to get a taste for myself while sitting outside and getting some work done. The lemon ricotta danish had a bright lemon flavor around the pastry, while the filling was okay. The croissant was shiny, crunchy, oh so buttery, with a nice cross section (excuse the slight crushedness from breaking it apart without a knife). This is such a cute little spot in my favorite lil alley in Portsmouth. I can't wait to bring all my friends and visitors here.

Delicious pastries and coffee. We enjoyed it so much we went two days in a row. Can't wait to return!

Elephantine is hands down the best bakery cafe in the NH area and beyond. We do not deserve Elephantine. It is such a privilege to be able to enjoy their yummy food and drinks. The owners have an adorable story which only adds to the experience. It is a tight spot so get there EARLY. Typically packed and out the door on weekends. Everything they have is to die for. They always have an assortment of sweet and savory fresh baked goods, like baguettes and focaccia to brownies and cakes. Their to-order food is so good too. I'm a sucker for the eggs cilbir but really it's all so good. Very brunchy but European style (ie not huge massive portions, just really delicious normal portions). Every time I go I leave with about 5 more things than I initially intended

My wife and I tried walking up for dinner without a rez and couldn't get in -- not surprising! - it's a tight space and very popular. Came back the next morning for coffee and pastries. Everything was tasty, no complaints. Really just wanted to compliment the ~4 young people absolutely BUSTING their a** on a busy morning with a lot of large family groups with many annoying demands (and constant running inside/outside/around corners etc.). I hope they are appreciated/well compensated! :)

After reading so many great reviews on Elephantine Bakery on the way up to Maine I had stop in to check this place out for myself. This quaint,little bakery is located in a small alley off the road with some seating both inside and outside. I purchased a chocolate almond croissant, and a lemon ricotta danish. Both pastries were incredibly delicious. Located only minutes off the highway was well worth the stop.

Really cute spot. Limited indoor and outdoor seating. Their savory breakfast options were awesome, especially the jammy egg with that yogurt sauce and the spices and toasty bread. The almond chocolate croissant was unreal.

Yum!! We had a chocolate almond croissant and an Egg Simit. Both were equally delicious. The Egg Simit was very good even thought I was a messy eater . This was much more an a simple bakery. This is a bakery that simply executes items beautifully. Just had a black coffee. The roast was nice. Seating can be a little tough when they are busy, so understand you may need to take your food to go. The decor is very nice and the staff are excellent. Their prices are also very good. They don't try to gouge you.

I enjoyed the atmosphere and how it is nestled inside an alley. It is quiet and lovely in the morning before the crowd awakes. Ladies working in the bakery are wonderful, food is delicious and fulfilling. Highly recommend for a lazy morning with a good book during breakfast.

Bang bang bang bang this is a hidden gem! The vibe during a cold winter is a chefs kiss. God bro the food was amazing the EGG AND CHEESE AND BREAD. Great just great. Maybe an 11/10

Stopped in for Apertivo at Elephantine and felt like I was in Europe! Every little detail was well thought out and lovely, and the staff couldn't have been more pleasant and accommodating. Highly recommend!

So this place couldn't get any better! Great service, great location, and great ambiance over in Portsmouth! My friends and I were looking for a break from all the great shopping in the town, and we found this bakery and coffeeshop to fulfill our needs--we walked in, and it was such a cute atmosphere! We got cappuccinos (delicious) and a slice of Egyptian bread pudding--and this was soooooo good. It included traditional bread pudding elements (bread, raisins, etc) but also included layers of phyllo dough and nuts (similar to baklava elements!!). So delicious and they heated it up for us before delivering it to our outdoor seats! Definitely will go back when I'm in town next!

We had a lovely breakfast at Elephantine. The cappuccino was pretty good. The salmon simit could have been better with less cream cheese and another slice if salmon. I liked the cukes which added flavor. The star was the sourdough baguettes. They were perfect. It is a wonderful little spot and the staff are awesome.

The best baguette I've ever tasted. They have some wonderful unique breakfast items also that are delicious. Always very busy and the staff is still friendly and patient. Cute little shop tucked away in beautiful Portsmouth.

This place is amazing. So romantically decorated , the kindest staff and incredible food. Coffee was perfect . I will absolutely be back !

NH residents consider yourself blessed to have this gem in your midst. I don't say this lightly but the poached egg cilibir is the best breakfast dish I've had in my 47 years walking this earth. The feta and honey danish was close to perfect. On top of that the staff is beyond warm, friendly and hospitable. Next time we come up to ME Elephantine will be a must visit stop. I am completely blown away. So wish DC had an Elephantine. I love love love this place!!!

Delicious hole in the wall, incredible flaky pastries. Wish I had more time in the city to try again, but it was the perfect grab and go breakfast.

What a beautiful breakfast. The poached eggs with garlic cream cheesy goodness with a little spice was delicious! Cappuccino was delicious as well.

A++++ There are very few pastry shops in the Maine/NH area that are making pastries to the level of Elephantine! Their plain croissants and pain du chocolat are flaky and airy with a perfect crisp on the outside. The pistachio (wknds only) and almond/chocolate croissants are a bit heavier but filled and topped with the most delicious nuts and chocolate. The cinnamon rolls at Easter were absolutely crazy good. The cream cheese frosting really did it for me. Finally- the vanilla scone. Never have I had a scone that was so memorable. It is tender with a very slight crisp on the outside and only a bit sweet. This is what a scone should taste like! Service is literally amazing. The place gets packed but they do a great job keeping things moving and doing it all with a smile. I couldn't recommend Elephantine more!

Too slow to be enjoyable. Pastries and breads are pretty good. But not worth the long wait and frustratingly slow service.

Such delicious pastries and food, and so unique! I absolutely love the Egyptian bread pudding, which is made out of croissants and pistachios, served warm and just wow, I would come back solely for that. The simit sandwiches are also amazing, almost like bagels but better. The inside is super cozy and the service was faster than I expected!

Best bakery in New England! Got a cappuccino, honey feta pastry, and chocolate pistachio croissant. You'll end up back in line (like me) if it's your first time!

The cardamom-orange palmier was delicious! Flaky, just the right amount of sugar and spice...a delightful treat!

It's always a good sign when you see a long line in a local bakery in the morning. I had just arrived to Portsmouth and was looking for area bakeries/cafes. I joined the the line and was glad to see they hadn't run out of their day's selection of croissants. I ordered the chocolate croissant and it was perfectly sweet and flaky. Wish they were in MA so I could try more things.

Elephantine opens its doors too late for its mismanaged service. Another storefront with 6-7 staff standing on top of each other without a clue as to the fact that people aren't there to visit them but to get their pastries and move on with their day. Arguably the Best of Portsmouth Boulanger (a town with low standards for such things). Come on Elephantine- poor service every time?? Why??

Excellent coffee. Granola and yogurt bowls were on point (my daughter loved them). Friendly employees and super clean bathroom.

When we visited Portsmouth NH we popped in to this bakery and what a fabulous find it was. The bear claw was very good but the poached eggs and salmon sandwich was not it of this world. The salmon was super fresh and the poppyseed bread it was on was soft and flavorful. The poached eggs had a sauce that was delicious and came with bread to soak up the sauce. Added benefit was: 1) the tables are in a really cute alley 2) the owner stopped by and was very friendly and loved talking to him about the history of the place. We will be back!!

Really cute cafe - limited seating though! This is a more intimate cafe. There were about 4-5 tables of 2 inside and 3 tables of 2 outside. There are pastries, coffee, and some brunch items offered. We thought the pastries were decent but the orange blossom waffle really blew us away. We were warned it would take about 20 minutes but it was worth the wait! Lightly scented orange blossom cream topped with pistachios, rose petals, and the cutest elephant butter pat and a side of maple syrup. The butter was cold so it wasn't great for spreading, but everything was delicious together. Many people also ordered the shashuka so I'll definitely order that as well next time.

A tasty bakery in the heart of Portsmouth. Line was long during the summer, but the food made it worth it - especially the poached eggs. Coffee was decent, but the food was way more memorable

The Egyptian Bread Pudding is a warm soft delicious yet light pastry. If you want just a little sweetness this is it! Made in house and warmed to your liking.

Delicious crusty chewy savory slightly sweet toast and a latte. Perfect start to a long walk day! Super cute jewel of a find.

So cute and food was amazing and great quality service was amazing also the effort that was put in to make the bathrooms fun is great!