J'aime French Bakery

Bakery · Washington Square West

J'aime French Bakery

Bakery · Washington Square West

2

212 S 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

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J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null
J'aime French Bakery by null

Highlights

French bakery offering croissants, pastries, crepes, coffee & sandwiches  

Featured in Eater
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212 S 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Get directions

jaimefrenchbakery.com

$1–10 · Menu

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212 S 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Get directions

+1 215 833 9374
jaimefrenchbakery.com

$1–10 · Menu

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Aug 16, 2025

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@eater

Philly’s Best French Restaurants | Eater Philly

"Bastien Ornano came to Philly from Aix-en-Provence to sell perfect French pastries, first at this Washington Square West bakery and now also in a new Rittenhouse location called J’aime French Cafe. Try the popular lemon tart or a merveilleux, which combines meringue and whipped cream rolled in spéculos cookie crumbs. For a lunchtime delight, J’aime’s simple baguette with ham and butter rivals any elaborate hoagie in town." - Sarah Maiellano

https://philly.eater.com/maps/best-french-restaurants-philadelphia
View Postcard for J'aime French Bakery
@eater

Where to Buy the Best Bread in Philly - Eater Philly

"The story goes that French baker Bastien Ornano moved to Philadelphia for love. Tasting his line of viennoiserie, including his swoon-worthy croissants, confirms this is true. But also swing by (come early) for baguettes and a very popular country loaf. Everything is très Français." - Dayna Evans, Sarah Maiellano

https://philly.eater.com/maps/best-bread-bakeries-philadelphia
View Postcard for J'aime French Bakery

Ariana Lucidonio

Google
French bakery shop that happened to catch my eye while wanting a sweet treat! I’m so happy I stopped in. The chocolate pretzel croissant looked delicious and unique, and it was. It was flaky, butter and sweet. The middle twist had the perfect amount of softness. I definitely want to come back to try their danishes and other pastries!

Rajalaxmi Rajagopalan

Google
Arguably the best French cafe I've been to in the US for a while. The hot chocolate is decadent but not too sweet unlike poor imitations of French hot chocolate. The chocolate croissant pretzel was flaky, light, and had a good amount of chocolate. Blueberry Danish also surprisingly had a complex flavor. The store itself was super cute.

Z

Google
The chocolate pretzel is overrated if you ask me. It’s not bad, it just looks better than it tastes. The hazelnut croissant however, is really good. The coffee is not bad, and the service is pretty good. It’s a cute little bakery with some small French bistro tables by the window and a couple of small booths on the other side. I have to be back to try their crepe though, I heard good things.

Tim A

Google
Visiting Philly is always a challenge because there are so many awesome places to try, and I always want to hit up my favorites. I decided to break away from my favorite donut shop to try this French bakery today based on the photos from other reviews of the chocolate pretzel. It's really a pretzel shaped pain au chocolat with roasted peanuts on top...I would call it Philly French, and it's epic! While in the shop, I couldn't resist getting the blueberry danish as well because of how good it looked, and that was amazing too!

Alan Kirby

Google
This French bakery was just up the street from our AirBnb. It was so good that we came here twice. The croissants were perfection. The croissant sandwiches were solid and the strawberry danishes were so excellent that I would go back to Philly just to have one again. This place is the real deal and we heard French coming out of the kitchen, which I totally loved since I am a language teacher (German). We will definitely be back.

Fareed Naeem

Google
If you are looking for an amazing croissant - look no further. And their chocolate pretzel using their laminated dough is divine! Chef Bastien has really provided Philly a treat.

perle75nyc

Google
Croissant and raspberry danish were great. It was a cozy cafe. A staff was friendly but pretty unprofessional all the time. The food is delicious, but it's a shame that the service lowers customer satisfaction.

Sara Monet

Google
Great pastries and drinks! The food is always fresh, my favorite is the chocolate pretzel. Perfect way to wake up! The owner is always really nice and there is lots of seating. The store is clean and the prices are fair! It's about $10-12 for a drink and snack.
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Larry C.

Yelp
Amazing croissants - light, flaky, buttery - everything you could possibly want. I have not tried the flavored versions (chocolate, hazelnut, and almond) but everyone that I have bought them for raves. Do yourself a favor and try the raisin rolls - sweet, raisin-y, and eggy in all of the best possible ways! Cannot say enough good things.
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Pamela L.

Yelp
We always like to hit up a new coffee shop when we visit Philly. We attempted to come here twice and today we were finally able to hit up this spot. It's a limited coffee and tea menu. I asked if they can do latte art for my Mocha Latte. The young girl, Danielle, looked startled at this request. She let out a nervous giggle and replied, I can try. She continued to giggle and I started to giggle. I was eager to see what she can come up with. Decent amount of seating inside. We decided to sit by the stool/bar side area. As Danielle serves me my latte, she apologizes about the latte artwork. The fact that she tried, it made my day. I appreciate her efforts and she didn't act like it was a bother at all. The Mocha latte was perfectly crafted. I enjoyed every sip as did my companions with their drinks. Before visiting this place I noticed that a lot of people ordered their famous Chocolate Pretzel Croissant. I only thought it was okay but one of my companions loved it. As we were getting up to leave, another staff member came by to ask how we enjoyed our drinks. Shows you that they care what they serve. J'aime - means "I like" or "I love" in French. And I am definitely loving this French bakery now, excellent service with amazing drinks and pastries.
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Christopher P.

Yelp
Great little café with pastries and coffee. Sun drenched space. Lovely service. Wonderful way to start your day.
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Matthew B.

Yelp
Kinda like the Goldilocks zone, this place isn't too big or too small, just the right amount of choices - all well executed. Fair pricing IMHO. Friendly staff. Good coffee. What's not to like on a Sunday am?
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Roxanne O.

Yelp
Came here for something sweet after lunch. The employee behind the counter was friendly and kind. We got a berry tart and she offered us two sets of utensils, which was nice. The tart wasn't too sweet, which I really like. It wasn't anything out of this world, but it was a nice treat!
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Rita O.

Yelp
J'aime this place! There is nothing I love more than authentic French pastries. We found this place accidentally as we were walking around Phili. I tried the eclaire, it was stuffed with chocolate crème patisserie (not whipped cream, that would be blasphemous). I loved it. Also I am almost sure the chef is actually French. I know where I am getting coffee and pastries from tomorrow!
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L D.

Yelp
The food is excellent, service is friendly and the ambiance is chill and relaxed. A good place to get your day started; a great place to get away your hectic life. Apple tart would have been better warmed, but the highlight is the merveilleux with its crunchy shell and light and fluffy whipped cream center. Simply delectable!
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Tammy C.

Yelp
Cute and bright coffee shop in center city. They have lots of options for coffee and espresso drinks. They've got options for pastries and croissants as well which seem to be popular. There is a lot of seating inside so I could see myself doing work in there. Vibes are giving bright and modern but I wish it had a cozier feel to it. Vanilla latte I had was pretty decent. Barista was friendly.
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Suzanne A.

Yelp
So happy I walked by this cute little Patisserie! It's in an old building with a few tables out front. The inside is modern and clean. The bakery case is filled with amazing pastries. I bought a slice of lemon pine cake for $1.50! The lemon flavor really brightens the cake. I also bought two chamoux. So light and airy! They also serve sandwiches and crepes. Both looked yummy. I already ate lunch but will def be back for try the sandwiches. As soon as I walked in the person behind the counter said hello and I'll be with you in a minute. So pleasant answering my questions.
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Sharika M.

Yelp
If you're looking for croissants or quiches, check this spot out! Service was friendly! I got the hazelnut croissant which had slivers of hazelnut on top and a crunchy hazelnut spread inside. They have La Colombe drafts on tap. They also sell baguettes which I did not purchase but would in the future! There's a lot of efforts to make the place look parisian! It's a sun-lit cafe!
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Rich B.

Yelp
Nice place, but I was expecting more. The almond croissant was just ok. The earl grey tea was lukewarm & tasted like Philly tap water. I got heartburn after leaving here & have no idea why. Very disappointing.
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Ann T.

Yelp
Stopped into this tiny cute bakery after lunch and had the macchiato and split the chocolate eclair. Have not had an eclair in many years and this was sublime - small and delicate, with a chocolate filling.
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Jessica S.

Yelp
I literally cannot recommend the olive oil cake enough. It was soooooo delicious, moist, a perfect crunch from the topping and poppy seeds...... The croissant pretzel was also p good and i thot the almond croissant was just alright personally.
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Andy G.

Yelp
It looked so nice inside we had to stop in. There was a bit of a line but we had time. Ordering was completely unorganized. They were out of the vegan croissants. We had to repeat my coffee order a few times and they still forgot to make it. Ended up with an apple turnover. It was highly underwhelming. (Apple sauce shoved into a stale piece of pastry.) While they did get my coffee order wrong, the coffee I received was decent. Wouldn't go back again if I was in Philly.
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Soprina G.

Yelp
J'aime French Bakery is a gorgeous bakery! As soon as you walk in you're filled with the smell of baked goods and coffee! I was intrigued when I walked by. I picked up the flan and a brown sugar latte. I was impressed with the flan! It's not your typically pudding like flan. It's more similar to a Chinese egg tart. It was sugar and eggy. I'd like to get this again. The latte was disappointing. It tasted really burned and I think they forgot to add the brown sugar. It wasn't anything special. I'd like to come back for the bakery but not for the coffee.
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Clarissa V.

Yelp
Got some pastries for birthday boy. His favorite is a napoleon but this one was not what I expected it to be. No little frosting topping and the Mille feuille wasn't layered or flaky, pretty flattened and just one little layer of pastry cream. It was cute because it was in a heart shaped but he is so picky and wasn't impressed by the taste for being a French bakery or napoleon. Their almond croissant was good but I've got my favorite croissants in the city. Not my fave place to go for the price and style of pastry served. Maybe it was an off day
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Jo L.

Yelp
Napoleon $5.94 was light and flaky when you bite into it. The cream was not too sweet. Could definitely eat that in lots of other pastries. Friendly staff. Clean. Nice place to people watch or read.
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Luna B.

Yelp
This bakery is the best in the city for authentic French bread, delicious, coffee, and espresso, and French pastries that are fresh and delectable. It has a small European cafe vibe and staff is very helpful and friendly. One of the employees recommended I tried a lavender latte. It was amazing. Get there early before they run out of baguettes!
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Stan H.

Yelp
I had a small drip coffee with pistachio syrup and cream (couldn't taste the pistachio) and a King's Galette pastry which had some vanilla and almond inside which I liked. I didn't see any lemon pastries nor quiches, but maybe I missed the quiches and was kind of full at that point anyway. This space was reasonably quiet on a Sunday afternoon. Staff is friendly and helpful.
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Jen J.

Yelp
Beautiful little local French bakeries! Beware that there are two locations in the city so don't agree to meet your colleagues at one and show up at the other I enjoyed a latte and a perfectly crisp croissant. Would definitely be back to try some of their other baked goods given the chance!
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Cheng Z.

Yelp
This is such a very cute bakery. We had the chocolate croissant and the salmon and spinach quiche. They tasted okay. Overall this bakery really does not have that many savory options.
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Olivia P.

Yelp
I was excited to try this bakery! The reviews were high. The staff is incredibly friendly and hardworking. Unfortunately I wouldn't come here for the croissants or baked goods despite it being a French bakery. Latte: 9/10 Great coffee! Incredibly good espresso. My latte wasn't watery at all. Black and white - half cold brew and half draft latte: 9/10 I loved this drink! A perfect combination of the silky smooth latte on draft with the cold brew makes this coffee milky but not too watery. I've never had anything like it! The coffee itself was very good too! Chocolate croissant: 4/10 I couldn't even finish it.... Which made me really sad. It was small and flat. It honestly tasted burnt and wasn't buttery and flakey like I wanted it to be. Lemon pound cake: 2/10 SO dry and incredibly crumbly. Good price but not even worth the $1.50. I also ordered a raisin croissant and sadly didn't realize I was given another chocolate croissant instead. Insanely frustrating when I didn't like the chocolate croissant and also it was meant for someone with a chocolate allergy... Giving this place a high rating because of the coffee. As far as pastries go it would be a 1 or 2.
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Jim P.

Yelp
Very nice service and a cool spot to laze away on your laptop. I did try the chocolate pretzel croissant and it was very good. I need some additional visits to boost into 5 star territory but a nice option in this neighborhood.
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Olga K.

Yelp
I like the cozy and lively atmosphere of this place. Staff is very nice! It is relaxing to be here. One thing I'll say, and in my personal opinion, very important, of someone who is from Europe and been to France few times, please change the size of your drinks. You cannot be a french bakery shop and serve 16oz cappuccino! Small cappuccino must be 8oz, large -- 12. The drink was okay. I liked nice staff and ambiance more ; hence, four stars.
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Jade B.

Yelp
In town visiting family and decided to stop by this bakery today since their menu online states they have canellé one of my favorite pastries. I came in and saw there weren't any but that's okay. Decided to sit a bit to have large latte and try a mushroom quiche. The gentleman at the counter asked if it were for here and I said yes. The quiche was decent and the latte was decent. The bakery is pretty and bright inside. I grabbed my latte that was in a to go cup and quiche from the counter. It wasn't busy inside so was easy to grab a seat. What bothered me is seeing people coming in afterwards actually having their coffee brought out to them in an actual cup and their food served to their table. He evened served tables after it became busy. I didn't receive the same service which was disappointing as I was planning to get some pastries to go for my family. Unsure if I'll try again.
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Jo L.

Yelp
FOOD J'aime is a lovely French bakery located in Washington Square West. They offer a wide range of pastries from apple tarts, croissants (plain, chocolate, and almond), various breads, and more. Their coffee selection is also quite extensive, making it a wonderful place to study. I ordered a chocolate croissant and and enjoyed it. I wouldn't say it amazed me as it was standard. AMBIANCE There are a good number of two-person tables inside the establishment with charging outlets. A lot of people were studying inside, and it isn't too loud inside. PARKING Street parking is available in a limited capacity.
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Anna S.

Yelp
I ordered the "Chocolate pretzel" and this blow my mind! It is the most delicious pretzel (croissant) I've ever had! I also loved how they added chocolate and nuts in-between the pretzel layers to make it a copious and bountiful pastry!! I also ordered the cappuccino to enjoy with my pastry but it was okay, but I give 5 starts because of their pastries! Overall first impression on this place was bright and clean; the seating area could be limited if you visit during the busy afternoon tea time or weekend, but it could be a good alternative WFH place other than your home! They recently opened another store near Rittenhouse Square, so I will definitely check that place soon!
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Christina Y.

Yelp
Upon entering the cafe, I was in love with how beautiful the interior was. The staff were friendly and recommended I try the lemon tartlett which is what I ended up ordering, yum! Luckily, the cafe wasn't too busy during the time I stopped by so there was enough seating inside. This place is a nice treat if you are looking for some higher quality pastries and coffee drinks while visiting the Philly area.
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Shaun J.

Yelp
Solid paste tied and coffee. Go support them, seems like the construction site there is hurting their business.
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Alekhya P.

Yelp
The bakery is very nice, lots of French pastry options. I tried the hazelnut croissant and it was nothing like I've tasted before. Tasted much more natural than Nutella in a croissant. The topping on top added a nice crunch.
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Linna S.

Yelp
A good coffee place , very frenchy-ish. Try out their pastries , the chocolate pretzel croissant, choco almond croissant, philadelphia eclair and heart napoleon. Nice flaky crunchy croissant and had the oat latte. Overall a good coffee and cute hang out place.
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Victoriya H.

Yelp
It's hard to write a review based on my one experience with a bakery. Ordered Buche de Noel desert for Christmas as Metropolitan bakery was sold out. Was really excited to order it and the owner was really nice. Cake was creamy and tasty but I was so underwhelmed with how unimpressively decorated the cake was ( my family was too). 6 measly cranberries which didn't even look like real sugared cranberries, no greenery etc. I've seen unprofessional cakes decorated better. When it's ordered for a holiday table it's especially disappointing. We got some croissants as well. They were pretty good but not as good as in the French bakery near me ( La Baguette Magique). I would be hesitant to order the cake for occasion again . Please ignore repeated review
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Jenny W.

Yelp
kinda disappointed that they were closes monday when I found about this place, but it was worth it to stop by today! everything looks delicious and you'll be drooling at the sweets inside the display stands. I had an almond croissant, Neapolitan, hot chocolate and these little dough balls (i forgot the name) and they were all amazing. the hot chocolate was very chocolatey not like anything you would get in other cafes. The croissant and neapolitan was flaky and wasnt too sweet. I wanted to try other things too but couldn't decide and it was hard to leave without trying the rest. the staff there (Tina) is also sweet and nice. Its a cafe atmosphere so a little loud and somewhat on the quiet side. I will be back to try the rest especially the pretzel croissant

Nicole J.

Yelp
Friendly staff and excellent food and coffee. Highly recommend for a stop in coffee and snack. Their salmon quiche was wonderful.
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Mari T.

Yelp
This time I sat in the cafe with one of my friends for her bday. It was very cozy. The service was good. We enjoyed our time there. The pastries were fresh.
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Elena K.

Yelp
Lovely! I love pastry shops in France! It is hard to find delicate pasties here. Ordered these through Uber Eats to serve on a private jet. Beautiful pastries that will please all! Each delicate pastry was as delicious as the next. Amazing flakey layers of delight! The cream filled items were a favorite, however, honestly everything was a favorite. If you can pick up a variety of the $6 pastries you won't be disappointed. If choosing only one, the light fluffy cream filled selections are extra special. I ordered one of just about everything on their "pastry" menu. Thank you so much for offering such a wide selection of beautiful French pastries.

William R.

Yelp
Easily the best triple espresso I've ever had. My daughter had the iced americano and loved it.
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Dana K.

Yelp
I've been back to J'aime a few times since my initial review and have been equally impressed each time. The iced tea is always fabulous and of course the pastries are to die for. I always get some choquettes to pop rapid-fire into my mouth. I did want to update my review and say that my girlfriend and I came here in cosplay on our way to a con, and the staff was so nice and complimented us! They didn't have to do that, but it made us really happy, and this is the sort of reason I'll keep on coming back.
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Magnolia M.

Yelp
Still just perfect! Great coffee and lattes. Try any of the bakery goods, you won't be disappointed! The fruit tart is on point and the orange zest olive oil cake is pure heaven.
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Alexander P.

Yelp
Cute French café with an assortment of pastries. My mother was visiting town and begged me to go each time we passed. Glad to have obliged as the GF flourless chocolate cake was delicious. It couldn't be closer to Jefferson hospital and would be a great spot to pop in for a coffee.
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Joseph S.

Yelp
I was walking down 12th St. and happened upon J'aime Bakery - I'd never been there before. I went in, and, since it was a French bakery, was going to have one of the croissants. However, one pastry caught my attention - the chocolate pretzel. It's a croissant, shaped like a pretzel, with a smooth chocolate ganache running through it, and small baked almonds sprinkled on top. I bought one, left the store and began walking and eating the pastry. The light, buttery croissant, the velvety texture of the ganache and crunchy almond, stopped me in my tracks a few blocks away. I turned around.........and walked back for another (which I ate today) You don't find pastry gems like this one very often...I'll be back soon!
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Marah C.

Yelp
Service was quick. People were nice! Chocolate croissant was good. Good atmosphere for quick breakfast/work/studying

Davin T.

Yelp
I had to dodge some construction but once inside the service was wonderful and the mocha was tasty
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Jon D.

Yelp
#1 French Philly Bakery This Gem is no longer Hidden! Been coming here for 3.3yrs and I can't refer it enough. From the baked goods to the strong n smooth espressos, they make you feel like a Frenchy. Thank you for being my local good morning vibes.
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Ami M.

Yelp
I love this place !!! I came with my daughter and her friend on Saturday and the girls loved the chocolate croissant and the Nutella crepe. I had both the chouquette and the olive oil cake . What can I tell you ... the chouquette with hazelnut fluffy cream was absolutely amazing. The olive oil cake was light and delicious. I highly recommend this place.
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Hannah A.

Yelp
J'aime French Bakery has a very cute aesthetic as well as tasty treats. I tried their apple tart and it was delicious. The apple slices were perfectly sliced so as to be soft and chewy, and not hard. The tart had the perfect amount of sweetness and the pastry was nicely flaky. The interior of the bakery was beautiful with a light and airy ambiance. There was lots of seating to sit down and enjoy a treat or drink, or to do work. A very calm vibe about the place. On a Friday afternoon, there was no wait. A lovely bakery to check out!
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Moon M.

Yelp
Brilliant French pastries and excellent coffee! The modern, bright, cozy atmosphere offers a great place to work on your laptop. One of my favorite cafes in Philly. So glad it survived the quarantine. I only wish they would stay open later. Olive Oil Cake: 5/5 Almond Croissant: 5/5 Caramel Crepe: 4/5 French Jam Crepe: 3/5
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Charles L.

Yelp
Excellent French bakery. I stopped in here during the morning for a quick breakfast, and had a latte and an almond croissant. It was delicious. This is a classic French bakery, and the croissants are delicious, with a flaky crust and a moist tender buttery inside.

Trish S.

Yelp
Was really down in the dumps this morning but a cafe au lait and croissant fixed me the best coffee and pastry in the city plus always an excellent staff Merci
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Annie C.

Yelp
This is a cute place in Center City to get pastries. The café is super cute and you get a discount for checking in on yelp or leave a yelp review.I find their croissants less browned/ and not quite flaky compared to some other city places, but they're still very good. They also have the chocolate pretzel like pastries which are unique.