Masse's Pastries

Came in to see their cake selection for a birthday celebration and the owner (I’m pretty sure the man helping me was the owner) was so nice describing each cake he had made for the day. I came earlier in the day so I had all the cakes to choose from, it looks like there’s maybe only one of each cake for each day. They had gluten free options too if that’s relevant to you. I ended up with the passionfruit cake and it was SO GOOD. Perfect amount of tropical fruit and creaminess without being too sweet (the highest of dessert compliments). It was a big hit! Would love to try the guava cheesecake for the next celebration.

Small bakery with friendly and helpful staff. Ordered a caramel, pear and chocolate cake/entremet that was absolutely divine. The cheesecake with almonds and guava was also delicious. Will absolutely be back when I'm in the area.

Masse’s is the most phenomenal pastry shop in the Bay Area. The croissants are simply the best I’ve ever had. We ordered a chocolate croissant, ham and cheese croissant and a guava cheesecake and everything was outstanding. The croissants are so beautifully light, flaky, buttery and fresh like they are flown in fresh daily from Paris (but they’re not. They are lovingly made fresh every day right here). The owners, Paul and Marcia, are so kind and engaging and obviously love what they do. They have a passion for their food and traditions that you don’t see much any more. I can’t wait to get back and try more of their brilliant, traditionally prepared food.

Split the mini tiramisu, a contemporary take on this classic dessert, clean and smooth, light with a hint of sweetness. I haven’t had the cake in 20 years and will be back for it! I added a photo of the other cakes, because the presentation is exquisite, from the gold leaf to the white roses.

a friend just picked up a surprise baggie of sweets from Masse's and just needed to say that the coconut maccarroon is the best i've ever tried. full of real, quality chunks of coconut with some vanilla bean and hint of lemon. everything here tastes like there's some good quality butter used too. wow.

I went in to pick up a pre-ordered cake and the lady of the shop was just incredibly rude. Came in with all smiles just to get greeted with such intense attitude and snarky remarks. I’ve noticed after the fact that there are multiple people who feel the same way in these reviews. The cake was good, sadly.

We love Masse’s! They did a great job with our wedding cake! Marsha and her husband were so flexible and kind, really great to work with! We got a seasonal black currant cake and it was beautiful!

decades later and it's still my go-to for yummy pastries. and Marsha never fails to make me feel like a valued customer.

I love Masse's so it made sense to get our wedding cake here. Called the store to give them some basic details and confirmed everything in a tasting at the store. We got a small one tier chocolate hazelnut cake as my friend is Celiac (pictured). This was so freaking good. and Paul and Marcia were super enthused about our cake toppers and picked the flowers which fit our scheme. The sheet cake for our 100 guests was the ruffle torte. I actually didn't try any that night but I really loved it at our tasting. A friend who typically isn't into desserts told me she typically avoid cakes at weddings but devoured the entire slice at ours. Paul showed up perfectly on time to drop off the cake and sheet cake and it was so pretty when it was revealed. Would recommend for weddings and I'm definitely going back!

We have been going to Masse's for years now as a family for cakes to celebrate graduations, birthdays, and more! We love that they offer full size cakes and minis, which is what we typically opt for so we can try a variety. The owners are very friendly and helpful when deciding what to get. The cakes are more mousse like than your typical cake, that can oftentimes be heavy. Our favorites are the raspberry chocolate, coconut, and passion fruit. At this point we've probably tried all their flavors and you can't go wrong.

So it was one of those day that required cafe lattes, mini cakes and mini tarts. The delicious tarts were an Apple Frangipane and a Fig Frangipane. My minicake was Mango Mirror, a golden sponge cake layered with mango and mango mousse with a mango mirror glaze . My husband's was Ricotta Guava Cheesecake, a delicious Italian style ricotta cheesecake with a hazelnut sable crust with a guava glaze. We ate the Fig Frangipane before I could take a photo, but I managed to snap a shot of the Apple Frangipane and both mini cakes.

I ordered online and it was very straightforward! I did have some confusion as I placed it on Monday and it was required to call in to receive the cake on Wednesday, however, Marcia reassured me that I can pay when I pick up the cake on Wednesday. If you're in the same boat, don't worry! You can pay for it when you pick it up if you place it on Monday. Marcia was incredibly sweet and reassuring about my ordering and she took her time in explaining the different offerings that they had and what staff is responsible for what. She also told me to be more assertive which was an invaluable life lesson taken with cake. The other patrons were very kind as well, and made the whole experience of going to Masse's very memorable and very sweet. The cake was for my sister's graduation from SJSU (Go Spartans!) and the display, the writing, the fruit, it was gorgeous. She loved the flavor as well and the cream with the berries. I was very happy that she was happy! I also got a guava and apple tart (pictured below, the guava was eaten so fast that we couldn't get a picture)! The guava tart was rich, and beautiful, and had a perfect balance of sweet and tart. The apples and the butteriness of the apple tart served as was a perfect balance of everything. The total came out to be ~$63 which was incredible for the quality, the taste, and everything. Parking can be tricky as there are very little spaces out in front, but it can work with some walking!

Beautiful and delicious gluten-free European style cakes available that are perfect for celebrating special occasions with loved ones! I'd recommend the pistachio raspberry cake, it's an atypical flavor that works well and is nicely decorated so very presentable for group gatherings. It's a big hit anytime I bring one.

Come on! I rarely enjoy dessert but after many well traveled people with excellent taste insisted I order a cake for my next special occasion, I relented and chose the Mango Mirror. It was delightful and exceeded my expectations. We enjoyed it far more than I had imagined. It was not only beautiful, but the texture, flavor, perfect but not too sweet deliciousness was remarkable and I can't wait to try something else.

Masse's Pastries in North Berkeley's gourmet ghetto is a true gem. Owners Paul and Marcia Masse bring a wealth of culinary expertise to their European-style patisserie, resulting in cakes that are as visually stunning as they are delicious. Their seasonal cakes are a highlight, but their wedding cakes are what truly set them apart, earning them a stellar reputation across the Bay Area. As locals, we frequent Masse's for their fresh pastries and coffee, with favorites like the morning bun and chocolate croissant. For special occasions, their Mango Mirror cake is our top choice. This masterpiece features golden sponge cake layered with mango and mango mousse, finished with a gorgeous mango mirror glaze. It's a crowd-pleaser every time. Beyond their delectable offerings, Masse's is a lively hub in the neighborhood, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely coffee or tea along with a delightful pastry. Masse's Pastries is more than just a bakery; it's a beloved community fixture that consistently delivers exceptional quality and artistry.

This is a review for their customer service. Placed an order online, came by to pick it up, but the owner was rude and yelled me out of the store. Never had I encountered such poor professionalism. Buyer Beware! You are better off burning your money than placing and picking up an online order.

We live about 10 min away from Masse's, we've walked here 3 times for dessert during store hours but they were always closed for no reason, so we thought they must be going out of business. After brunch today we realized that masse's was actually open so we went in for dessert. There were two people in front of us so I stood in line and started browsing through Yelp for review. Then a woman's voice said "put your phone down, chances are we don't have what you're looking at". At first I thought she was confronting someone because how rude she was being, surely you can't talk to a customer who is just waiting in line in such manner! But sure enough she was addressing me! I was a little in shock but told her I was just looking at reviews. She then responded by saying "Stop looking at your screen. I'm here in person so you can just ask me!" At this point my husband who was standing behind me, was ready to walk out. But I was determined to at least try their stuff since we've tried eating here so many times without success. We ordered the pistachio chocolate cake and the pot de crème (about $17 before tip) and sat outside in case the older lady starts yelling at me again. I think she realized how rude she sounded and came out with 5 port infused cherries (a very nice gesture), but honestly the cake was very ordinary for the price, so this unhappy and unsatisfying visit marked our first, and also last patronage.

They seems to be extremely busy. I ordered in advance for future pick up. The lady on the phone was kind of rushing. I understand it's a small family business and I believe their customers would be appreciated with a little better services. The Mont blanc I tried was heavily sweetened. It's made in a rough craftsman. Not like the ordinary delicate French pastry. I expected better with the price I paid. I do not know what's the authentic Mont Blanc tastes like. Just wish they could have put some sponge cake in there and with stronger chestnut flavor, not sugar. It was sugar-loaded whipped cream in the middle. The pastry overall was fresh. Indoor seating is not opened. Take out only. Also, I don't see pricing on the wall or on anything of their display fixture. No menu either.

Cake is my favorite food. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Masse's pastries. I've had 3 cakes from here, and every one blew my mind. They're very much not your typical American cake, which I find too plain. They have varying layers of curd, sponge, mousse, ganache, glaze, other textures of sponge too. Much like Asian style cakes, but with Western flavors and flair. I've had their Opera cake, lemon currant cake, and raspberry chocolate cakes, and I'm making my way down the list. If you forget to order in advance, they might have some on hand, which you can call in about.

I highly recommend Masse's Pastries. Marcia and her bakers just created a beautiful 1/2 sheet cake for my husbands big 80th Birthday Whoop-De-Do on 7/27/24. My husband wanted Masse's famous chocolate and raspberry cake. I requested custom decorations. They created a beautiful cake with chocoate waves and a white chocolate Marlin (fish). It was perfect...and absolutely delicious. Thank you very much Marcia, from one of your many fans, Nancy Fredericks

One of my friends surprised me by getting me a box of assorted macarons of different flavors from Masse's while she was in Berkeley. I could at least somewhat taste the different flavors, which I know can be challenging with macarons, but if you just have a sweet tooth in general you will probably enjoy the macarons.

Super nice folks running this incredible bakery in the North Berkeley neighborhood since 1997. They have a full selection of cakes, cookies, cheesecake and tarts. The macarons come in many different flavors and are hard to say no to. What I love about this place is that they emphasize the flavors of each pastry without using too much sugar. If you are in the neighborhood for Saul's Deli or the Cheese Board, drop by for an incredible epicurean experience.

We stopped by because I was craving the little raspberry chocolate cake my spouse got me last Mother's Day and I AM SO STOKED there were some in the case! There was a lovely person whom I'm assuming is the owner taking a phone order and my kiddo asked for the pink macaron (cranberry orange is the flavor). I think this is his first macaron! She was very kind and friendly and it immediately made me feel really comfortable. I never know how folks might react to a tiny person. Spouse got two coconut chocolate macarons and I'm about to dive into this decadent cake that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I don't typically like berries and chocolate together but this is DIFFERENT. It smells divine. It tastes divine. I'm eating it in bed rn so my photo isn't top tier but it's even better than I remember!!!! Chocolate cake foundation. Mousse like berry situation with gel on top and it's got this delightful chocolate ring around it it's DELICIOUSSS! Little guy really enjoyed his macaron after initially being perplexed by the texture . The shop got quite busy by the time we left. Also!! I thought it was SUPER REASONABLE that 4 macarons of this quality and a cake that lives in my head rent free came out to only $13.90

Everything went well with my experience. The order was completed and then some. The cakes not only looked great they tasted deliciously European. As always, I am never disappointed at Massie's.

Small little bakery shop that has been in business for over 25 years. I went there for their well-known guava cake and would give it a 3 star (had higher expectations). The taste of guava was mild, and the layer was thinnly made, making it even harder to taste the guava. I like the cream cheese, which was soft and moist and not overly sweet. On the other hand, I LOVE the chocolate cake. The hazelnut and chocolate mousse were delicious - silky and smooth. You can taste the quality of chocolate used. They did not skim on this. Can't wait to give the others (mango and black curant vanilla) a try.

The cakes, cookies and croissants here are delicious, but unfortunately the older woman behind the counter is so rude, nasty, condescending and passive aggressive, it's not worth it.

§ 1 Check-In I tried their Napoleon and it was probably one of the best l've ever had. It was authentic and clearly made that morning. Perfect! Everything in their case looked excellent.

Easy on line ordering Beautiful Exactly what you see on menu. five star service, ambiance and quality Twenty-five years of special occasion cakes.

Love the couple that runs this bakery. We'll chat here and there and every time I leave I've cracked up and am happy that I get to bring a tasty treat home. I've tried nearly all of their cakes, but I think the best ones they have are the mousse based cakes (mango and guava). When they found out I was buying a cake for my god father's birthday, they wrapped up the box with a huge bow and dropped some candles for me.

I usually only write bad reviews for bad food but I am appalled at Marcia's customer service and lack of professionalism. I don't doubt she can appear sweet. But she basically called to vent at me for a messed up order when in reality their archaic and odd ordering system makes it very easy for misorders to occur. There's no walk in to buy, no online payment, and a very poor confirmation system. The business side of things desperately needs to be handled by someone else or else they'll slowly lose their business. Before I go further, I will note that I have seamlessly bought cakes from here on two separate occasions before this. The man(likely the baker) is nice and quick with cake handoff. Cakes are great. However, this time, I felt very mistreated. Here's my story: I placed a cake order Monday night for Thursday morning pickup, and they are closed on Tuesdays. I never received my confirmation for pick up and they mention waiting 3 hours after submitting an order for the confirmation. I waited and eventually called on Wednesday to check in and place my credit card info in, but they never picked up. The website said they were on vacation recently so I thought.... maybe they were still on vacation? You'd imagine they would call back or not even bake the cake until I have done so. I get a call Thursday morning about the pick up but I no longer needed the cake because I never got a confirmation and panicked bought cake elsewhere. The man said he already made the cake and I felt very bad but could not afford to buy it. I could hear him regurgitating Maricas irritated quips about how she FOR SURE sent the email and for me to check my spam. The man and I decided to just call it at that. He quickly hangs up on me after I apologized. Marcia calls me back to essentially to vent. She tells me how I ordered very late and how she WORKED ON HER DAY OFF to send me my confirmation email. As politely as I could, I told her I checked all three of my inboxes but couldn't find it. She talked over me, repeating how the email says it was delivered. I tried to talk louder saying I do not see the email and was trying to ask what email she even sent it to. But she interrupts me again to say how she will resend the confirmation for me to see. As if that will change anything/solve the issue (I'm sure someone with their customer in mind would try to get the actual email). I tried to apologize--maybe I, a busy student, should have dedicated my entire afternoon to calling them to confirm my order--but she just kept talking over me and repeating herself. I told her I called them and they didn't pick up, she answered with "well, you NEED to call us if you have any issues" (?!?!) After wasting my time ranting and completely ignoring anything I said, she gave a satisfied "good bye" and hung up. Yet here I am, still waiting on that resend of her confirmation email.... I unfortunately will not be ordering from this place ever again. I know the man probably doesn't deserve this and I like supporting mom and pops shops/local businesses but I do NOT want to support a business that calls (after I have canceled an order) specifically to express their annoyance because I did so. I know this is not an ideal situation for them, but there are things they can easily do to prevent these mishaps from arising such as actually selling cakes to pick up when you walk in instead of doing it this way. Or even simply allowing for online payment. And then they will probably not be so mad at one cake cancellation. This ordering system is highly inconvenient and they really ought to implement a "bake after payment/confirmation" system.

These folks are serious bakers of fun confections! The guava cheesecake, pumpkin pie, chocolate pecan tart, lemon soufflé cake-lette: it's all grand. North Berkeley is a bit of a trek for me, but any of Masse's offerings are so satisfying the trip is definitely worth it. Great, friendly service - but efficient; don't hold things up when it's crowded. Take-away only.

Masse has the best cakes in the East Bay, probably even the whole Bay Area. There is no question. I love that they are European style and not too sweet. I aim to buy all special occasion cakes from here. For my birthday, my brother bought me a chocolate hazelnut cake and I literally finished half the cake myself in 1 day. SO GOOD. Right now they have some really tasty looking items for Lunar New Year...I may need an excuse to visit in the next week...

Can't believe I never written a review on this place. have been coming here for the past 10 years and haven't found any other pastry shop that tops this place in the east bay. Love their macarons, cakes snd pies. If you like something lighter and less sweet, would recommend their mango mousse and passionfruit white chocolate. For something on a richer side, their opera cake and tiramisu are great options.

After probably 40 years of coming to shop here (and ordering cakes and tortes for all special occasions) I've decided to call Marcia and Paul's extraordinary culinary gift to Berkeley my "fine pastry museum"! I stood in the Shop yesterday afternoon in awe, marveling at all the exceptional items they have created together and buying about 1/3 of what I lusted over. Such a lovely collection and stellar experience eating them! So grateful to you

Love this pastry shop! I've gotten their mini cakes and macarons in the past, and the quality of their pastries surpass the expectations that one would have while stumbling upon this place. I appreciate that their pastries are not too sweet, and the presentation is A+. We recently came back (during our NorCal trip) and tried their pear tart, and it was so delicious that it disappeared very quickly. Wish there would be one in SoCal so I can frequent it often :')

Desserts as beautiful as they are delicious. A few years ago for a mile stone birthday I had the most beautiful cake from Masse's and it was also very delicious. Today I decided to treat myself to this colorful festive looking pomegranate mousse with cake surrounded by white chocolate. Very delicious. I definitely go back every time.

Very very rude owner. She is over the top with the way she talks to customers and I really don't understand what her trip in life is. This is a customer service industry and she just cannot get away with being such a horrible condescending human. There are many bakeries out there that serve equally good cakes, so there is no excuse for anyone to put up this terrible attitude. I am a woman of color, and I stopped going there after she dressed me down in front of her other customers for a simple question that I asked regarding one of her products. I would not even do one star if I had the option. I still feel humiliated when I think of that day.

LOVE Masse's for all occasions. They make diverse and flavorful cakes for anyone's tastebuds. The cakes are also BEAUTIFUL as you can see from all the photos on Yelp. The owners are also extremely helpful, kind, and experts at what they do. If you're in Berkeley or in the Bay Area and in need of a great bakery, go to Masse's! They do custom cakes or you can purchase pre-made cakes in their shop. Highly recommend!!

It's my hubby's bday and tried their cakes for the first time. I am looking for a cake thats not fruity one, to share with my kids. I spoke with these very accomodating lady and I believe shes the owner. She offered the Tiramisu and I tried the mini cake hazelnut chocolate and both of them are sooooooo good. I am definitely coming back for more!!!!! Certified sweet tooth... I will try the raspberry pistachios and guava cheesecake next time...

I bought this cake for my birthday. It is with raspberry and pomegranate. It is delicious and glorious.

I have been to Masse's many times and am shocked by the quality of their pastries -- the fruit they use, the depth of flavour, the presentation -- every time!! I have also ordered a custom birthday cake from them and had a great experience. They do whatever flavour they pick so well!

My first time coming to Masse's and I was looking for a small cheesecake for my mother's birthday! The staff was super friendly and informative - there's wasn't labeling on the small cakes and the staff went through each of them patiently with me. I ended up with the Tiramisu (3/5), Guava Cheesecake (4/5), and Mango Mousse (4/5). I thought the tiramisu was a little muted in the coffee-flavor, but if you like a more light cake, this would be good. The guava cheesecake and mango mousse - I would definitely recommend. The mango mousse tasted really fresh and cheesecake was creamy and hints of sweet, tart fruit from the guava layer - however, I wish the crust was more crumbly (it was a little soft). The total was $22 for the 3 small cakes (about $7 per small cake), which is a pretty decent price, in my opinion. I would definitely come back to try the other flavored cakes!

We got this cake for our friend for her birthday and she LOVED it. This was the first time trying this bakery and wow!! I don't know how they managed to make this cake so rich but light at the same time. There is a hazelnut sponge cake at the bottom with a chocolate and hazelnut mousse on top. The sponge adds great texture to the cloudy mousse. The whole cake is wrapped in chocolate with hazelnuts and there are these beautifully hand made tempered chocolate flowers on top for decoration as well as a cute heart. They can also add a plaque for whatever you want to write on there as well. The whole cake just came out perfectly and it might sound heavy and too sweet but it's definitely not! Overall the service was really great and the staff were super friendly and helpful. Will visit again for any other birthday needs!

Masse's is the best place to buy cakes in the East Bay - there's no competition. I've been buying cakes from them for 15 years, and I've never had a Masse's cake that wasn't amazing. The shop itself is charming and the owners are great. It's odd how many Californians have decided to take the owners occasionally brusque comments personally- they are people too and their tiredness has to do with you. Get over yourself.

I got an opera cake for my boyfriend's birthday this week. Holy moly it was delicious! The ordering process was easy, order online and call to confirm. The staff was friendly and it only took about 5 minutes to confirm and pay. Back to the cake.. the layers were even and beautiful. Amazing flavors of the almond sponge and the coffee with the dark chocolate! The cake itself was beautiful. My boyfriend was over the moon and couldn't stop raving about it. Thank you for your amazing work. I will FOR SURE be back... to try ALLLL of the things!

Amazing flavors and textures! And great variety. One of the best pastry shops in the area.

Got the mango mirror mousse which was alright, a bit pricy for what it is. Not sure if anything else is good, but for me, it's hard to give bakeries or pastry shops super high ratings when most of them are pretty standard and not that impressive overall.

Small raspberry cake: Contains mousse, cake and, fruit. The raspberries in the center helped lend a brightness at first taste. But soon tired after the second and third bite. The lingering taste is sugar. The cake portion is pretty basic in flavor and texture. Small mango cake: The mousse itself was immediately full of mango flavor, but also gets tiring. Doesn't feel light and airy like mousse ought to be. The syrup on top was too sweet I couldn't finish it. Small floorless chocolate cake: Subtle hints of almond flavor. A pleasing nutty texture. But it has less rich chocolate and more sweet milky chocolate flavor.

I wish I could have taken photos of the cakes I bought- they were a HUGE hit at the party I took them too. So much so that someone knew they were from Masse's. I have found my new favorite bakery in the Bay Area. The service was also incredible. For not having a lot of staff, they were really helpful. I'm on the hunt for the best tiramisu cake and so far this place is it.

The old lady there was very rude ! I had to answer my phone and she started yelling at me ! She could have said it to me nicely.... but the old guy who helped me was really nice . The cake is good though.

If you're in need of a cake (for any reason at all), Masse's is the place to get it! Absolutely impeccably excellent and creative cakes. Always mind blowing my phenomenal. The textures are perfection, the flavors are divine. Just do yourself a favor already and treat yo' self with a Masse cake! (They make itty bitty personal-sized cakes and regular-sized cakes!)

The cakes are decadent and delicious but you pay for it! Don't get me wrong the cake is worth $60. I got the summer strawberry cake for my moms 70th birthday party and it was filled with delicious buttercream and fresh strawberries. I will definitely go back for the next big celebration. The process for ordering is a little old school (I put an online order than call to give your card number to pay, but it's a small bakery so they do what they can. Still worth it.

A wonderfully great bakery. I've tried everything they make and it's all good. Get there early for the best selection or order in advance.

When asking a simple question, while deciding if I should place an order, the response I received from the owner was delivered in an arrogant and dismissive manner. I will never patronize Masse's. Even though my previous experiences were positive. The treatment I received from the proprietor was uncalled for, unacceptable and unprofessional. It is a shame Katrina Rozelle has closed her College Ave store. I will travel to Alamo for those deliciously beautiful desserts. And treated with respect and excitement.

Amazing bakery amazing service!!! We ordered the cake via the website. Call in before pick up, and pay with card There were 3 cakes we really wanted and had a hard time deciding on which to buy. I was told "mango" is the most popular. Mango happened to be one of the 3 we wanted , so, that made the choice easy. Plus my daughter loves mangoes and it was her birthday. So, the cake was BEAUTIFUL, decorated with fruits and a purée and glaze "omg" such a great cake!The texture of the cake is very light and then I had a very delicious decadent mango mousse in chunks of fresh sweet mango. I had previously ordered just "Happy Birthday" forgetting to actually put my daughters name on it???? And Mrs. Masse asked me about that right before she gave me the cake. She was extremely kind and offered to go add her name to the cake. The signature "happy birthday " is a White chocolate ribbon with milk chocolate writing, so it's edible! I had asked Mrs. Masse where the baker received his training? Apparently he used to work for the Ritz. So, yah, say no more! My birthday is in September and highly look forward to coming back! As, a matter fact. I think I've found our new cake place. I also spoke to another customer who just raved about this place. She said her favorite is the chocolate raspberry and passion fruit and chocolate. So looks like we've got some cakes to taste. I'm very grateful. Being a single mom and not working, these cakes are very reasonable and affordable for what you get.

The cakes at Masse's are simply divine. No other bakeries in the area can rival the originality and beauty of their cakes, the lightness packed with unique flavor while balancing sweetness (not too sweet). The pomegranate and passionfruit cakes live rent free in my head. Took 2 stars off because the woman owner is very rude. Wonder if it's only toward people of color as most of the reviews who had the same experience aren't white.

I bought two desserts for Thanksgiving: a pumpkin pie and the guava cheesecake. Our guests were so impressed with both the flavor and appearance of these. I ordered ahead of time online and the pickup was very organized and fast. The woman in charge was so nice and easy to talk to. This will be my bakery from now on.