Pâtisserie Rotha

Ok after an early morning of fishing near the Albany Beach, I was feeling a little hungry and decided to look up nearby cafe’s/bakeries - Patisserie Rotha came up and it was highly rated - so that was the spot plus it was close by. There was a line out the door - so I was thinking this place has to be good right. I asked a few customers ahead of me if this place was good and they gave it a big thumbs up. When I got in the door man there was not much left (They only bake so much and close when they run out) However, I was lucky there was still a few Croissants and tarts left. YAY!! I purchased a Croissant-tart-chocolate cake (not sure of the name) I just want to say these are one of the best Croissants I had in the Bay Area and they are only 3.75ea that is one of the best deals out there. The tart was also very good both 5 stars. I would give the cake 4 stars but still good. Overall if you are looking for one of the best Croissants in the bay at one of the best prices look no further but get there early before they sell out. This place is highly recommended.

Albany’s best bakery, hands down. Their croissants are incredibly buttery and delicate—setting a new standard for what good croissants should be to me. The almond croissants and brioche are also worth trying. Expect a modest line no matter when you go. On weekend mornings, you need to be diligent and arrive early before they sell out, but I bet it’ll be a great way to start the weekend.

Very good pastries, go early since they sell out! I liked everything I tried except the almond croissant (which I found a bit too flat/undercooked) and the flan (which was rubbery and lacked some flavor). But the seasonal and plain croissants were great as was the Bostock.

I stopped at Pâtisserie Rotha on my way to try another bakery. (Keep in mind, I very seldom have treats). I ordered one croissant. I had in inclination to get another. I’m glad I did. I took one bite… light flaky crust, gentle butter, immense love and care fell on the center of my palette. If there were outside seating, I would have gotten a treat for someone else. This place is too good to keep to oneself. I’ll be back.

I’ve been long wanting to try this French bakery. I made myself a cup of coffee and enjoy my croissant. Oh my gosh! I’ve never ever eaten anything close! It is crispy, flaky, airy, buttery and melts in your mouth. Like a French kiss! Well, I made the mistake of getting two croissants instead of three! Now I need to wait tomorrow to buy another one! Now, the croissant is so high, don’t know if I even dare to eat it elsewhere! Lovely owner and hey, don’t forget to say “bonjour, merci!”

The best advice you'll get from anyone is to SHOW UP EARLY. There is a long line on the sidewalk and they run out of stuff quick. We showed up maybe 1.5-2 hrs before closing, and they had already had a sign that they ran out of croissants - our one goal that morning. We obviously opted for something else since we waited already. The pastries are like food art. They taste great. The facility looks very clean and orderly. I just wanted a French croissant. It's rare these days to find a legit one, comparable to those in Paris. 11/21 update: They were DELICIOUS. It was like being in France again. If you don't care about all the butter that went into it, or you throw out all the rules of ettiquette and lick every bit of croissant flake off your plate, no one will judge you. I ate these so slow, listening to every flaky crunch. Standing in this line is 150% totally worth it.

A small store with no seating, selling handcrafted French pastries. Items appear to be made in small batches, and curated from the owner’s memories. Tasty, rich and best savored with a good coffee.

Really impressive & authentic pastries, the croissants are flaky and buttery, almond croissants delicate and not too sweet, and the egg tart is far superior to others we’ve had in the area. We loved everything we got! The line moves reasonably quickly (weekend around 830am) and the owner was very kind and patient.

I finally got to try croissants from here! I'm on a mission to find the best croissants in the east bay and these are now at the top of my list. Perfectly buttery, not oily, with that sweet sweet crunch. Ugh, so good. I personally did not go to pick them up, but at 8 on a Saturday I was told there was a minimal line (only six people ahead of my parents). Service was quick and they apparently had a good spread left at that point! Can't wait for more!!

Patisserie Rotha is no joke. Get here by 9 AM or risk missing out on your favorite flavors. We arrived at around 9:30 and waited in line for a good 10-15 mins and the couple in front of us got the last two almond croissants. BUT that did not deter us. Their chocolate croissant is probably one of the best Ive had since visiting France, and their egg tarts are UH-MAZING. I was honestly shocked the tarts were not sold out first versus the croissants because the textures and flavors were made to perfection. One of the sweetest things about Rotha's was the owners. They thank every single person who buys from them and makes sure you feel appreciated. Although my girlfriend ordered and paid, the owner looked at me and repeated thank you until I noticed he meant me rather than my girlfriend. I know that was really small but very heartfelt, and it meant a lot. Other than that their store is super tiny, it may fit up to 5 people max indoors at a time and the line usually wraps outside. If there is any chance of rain on the forecast, I highly recommend bringing an umbrella. There is no roof or awning to keep you cool or dry depending on the weather.

The pasteis de natas were crunchy and creamy, especially when reheated in the air fryer. These were delicious! The croissant was airy inside with a crisp exterior and not overly buttery. I understand my future BIL got up early to stand in line and secure these pastries. What a treat for us delivered to the South Bay! Pasteis de nata all the way!

Got there around 745 after reading the reviews to come early before they open. The line was already 10 or so deep and they had already opened. Line moved quickly. I was in and out of there in about 15 minutes with my regular croissants, chocolate croissant and chocolate almond pastry. Everything was delicious. Soft, crispy and buttery. Yummy. They were kind and bright and cheery for the morning crowd.

Solid French bakery. No frills ambiance - wait in line, order at counter, and pay. Although there's a line, it goes quickly as their selection is limited. Pastries are quality and they have the classic croissants (original, chocolate, almond) as well as some other lesser known items to explore. All are amazing.

I stopped by on a Friday morning at 7:45 and there was already a line with about 10 customers ahead of me. The line did move pretty quickly. I was really looking forward to try their pasteis de natas but unfortunately they did not have any. I decided to try their far breton...mmm mmmm mmm chef's kiss!! Their croissants were equally as delicious. They were airy, soft and had the perfect crispy exterior.

Authentic French pastries made fresh daily at an adorable little pâtisserie in Berkeley/Albany @patisserierotha 10/10 This is a tiny bakery and only has room enough inside for one or two customers at a time. The crunch on the shell of that buttery soft croissant- uhhh! Get here early and wait in line for all of your classic favorites! We ordered: - pain au chocolat - croissant au beurre - croissant aux amandes - canelé - pastel de nata - meringues à l'orange

Saw this place listed as one of the 5 best places to get a croissant and said I needed to try it out. I was not disappointed! Didn't get a pic of the croissant because it was so good I forgot to take a pic-- flaky, melt in your mouth putter section, chewy goodness in the center. The bostock was bomb too! still don't know what a bostock is but the almonds and orange and all the goodness is a great balance. Will definitely come back. 2 croissants and 2 bostocks was like $16.50

What a wonderful family owned neighborhood find in Albany. It is a takeaway counter service only. Open only 4 days a week for a few short hours and closing by 11am, often selling out before then. I had just read an article in The SF Chronicle featuring Patisserie Rotha as one of the Top Bakeries in the Bay Area... all for a reason! I was in the area early on Saturday and arrived 20 min before their 8 am opening and found a line of 6 others eagerly awaiting the opening and relishing the bakery smells meanding through the morning air. They opened a few minutes early and by the time I walked out with my goodies at 8:05, the line began to weave through the adjacent parking lot with perhaps 20 more eager souls! The flavors and textures of France did not disappoint. The Crossants were flaky, crispy, chewy and light, all at the same time. Delicious! We ordered a variety of items to try and each was perfection: Croissant, Pain au chocolat, Pain au chocolat et aux amandes, Gâteau au Fromage (burnt cheescake), Gâteau Nantais, Meringue à l'orange. My favorite was the Chocolate and Almond Croissant with its dense texture accompanied by a nutty crunch and a wonderful blend of flavors. The Meringue was also a work of art, perfectly flavored with a crunchy exterior and a light and chewy interior. Quick, friendly, and efficient service kept the line moving quickly. PRO TIP: If possible, queue about 20 min early to avoid the longer lines and ensure they don't run out! Although their website does not appear to have an online order interface, an older neighborhood gentleman was able skip the line to pick up a pre-paid order!

Went here recently on a Saturday morning. Arrived at 9:30 and they were already sold out of a lot of items. Honestly, kind of a bummer. Managed to get a pain au chocolate and some egg tarts. Something about the pain au chocolate was disappointing. Large air bubble, not as many flaky layers. Egg tarts are still delicious and were even good the next day.

Delicious French pastries in this Berkeley/Albany artisanal pastry store. Very elusive as it only opens four days a week for about four hours each day. I finally made it last weekend. The selection is limited, but the quality is definitely worth trying them. The ambience is a small walk-in space with no seating area so this is a purchase and take with you kind of establishment. That was all fine and the pastries are definitely worth a visit.

If you have seen my previous reviews you will know we absolutely love this place! Pre-Covid post Covid and especially during Covid... this family run bakery' sustained us, nourished us, gave us hope for better days; not to mention the amount of stress we shed, knowing it's not likely we are ever going to find a better croissant unless we fly to Paris or something cray cray like that. Well that's what this review is about, soon retiring and expatriating to Portugal, we decided to have a big blow out with our neighbors in our complex. I spoke to owner, Joseph weeks ago while we were sweating notification of our visa process, Does his talented son know how to make Pastel De Nata? "Of course he does! " said Joseph... then said "you must not have ever gotten here real early when he does make them because they go very fast! " "Well in that case," I said, "when our visa is stamped and approved, I will come back and order 24 of them. So last weekend I did just that. Dropped by on Sunday morning to pick up the order. Fortunately it was rather slow with Togo orders piling up on the counter, Joseph and his lovely wife spent a little time chatting. He told me to keep em room temp humidity controlled so I was able to place them on a serving platter ahead of the party that night and keep them in our proofing oven. I think we got things a bit out of sequence, we did a toast to the neighborhood, ) I've owned here 32 splendid years), and am on the HOA; so with dark chocolate edible shot glasses a single marinated cherry and a shot of ginjinha, we toasted! Then I pulled out the pastel de natas which where a huge hit! "I've never had these.. OMG how did you find these they're so good... these taste better that what I had in Portugal... really that bakery across from Sprouts in Albany??? Wow." Were some of the remarks I remember. And I have to say, after standing in line a few time in lisbon and Porto and trying them there, They definitely don't stand up to these! Way to go Monsieur Rotha! So on our second toast with Ginjinha, someone said... "Well now we know how to get Craig back to the Bay Area! He will call us up saying the pastel de natas in Portugal are crap. He has to come back to Albany and to Pâtisserie Rotha, to get his fix!" Felicidades! And Saúde!

We stopped by on Saturday morning around 10am and pretty everything was already sold out except for a few pastries. Once you step inside the store, you're greeted by the irresistible aroma of freshly baked pastries and the warm smiles of the staff. Their selection of pastries is nothing short of heavenly. Each bite of their delicate croissants, decadent cakes, and exquisite tarts is a testament to the mastery of their craft. Whether you're craving something sweet or savory, Patisserie Rotha has something to satisfy every palate. We orders the Boscha with orange cream with almonds and it was delicious making me wanting more. What truly sets Patisserie Rotha apart is the unparalleled quality of their ingredients and the meticulous attention to detail in every creation. Each pastry is a work of art, both visually stunning and incredibly delicious. Whether you're a local resident or just passing through, Patisserie Rotha is a must-visit destination for anyone with a love for exceptional pastries and impeccable service. Treat yourself to a visit - you won't be disappointed!

For my birthday recently, my SO woke up early on a Saturday morning and snuck out in order to drive 40 miles away to Patisserie Rotha and bring home pastries to surprise me. I am a very lucky girl. We tried a plain croissant, a pain au chocolat, a pastel de nata, a canele, a moelleux au chocolat, a chocolate-almond croissant, a far breton, a madeline and a bostock. Everything was exceptional. My favorite item, however, was the canele. It was sheer perfection. Slightly crisp, deeply caramelized crust and a tender, flavorful interior. Heavenly. My SO's favorite was the chocolate almond croissant and it too was wonderful. Whatever your favorite pastry is, chances are high that here will be one of the best versions that you've ever had. The plain croissant is artful in it's delicious simplicity, the citrus flavor in the moist bostock is lovely and delicate, the pastel de nata transported me right back to Lisbon, and the moelleux au chocolat is strong, sweet and rich but not at all heavy... just to name a few. It's a shame that the hours are so limited but I can certainly see why. The early bird gets the goodies in this case. We'll be back.

One of the best bakeries in the bay. Limited hours and it sells out quickly. Traditional French pastries - no trends here - no gimmicks. Possibly one of the best bakeries in the bay. High quality no nonsense. And unusual that it appears the baker also works the front of the house. If you want something done right you have to do it yourself. Limited hours and open only mostly weekends. Check hours and days open before you go. Items sell out quickly so I do not recommend going toward the end of the day. High quality - very pure taste in the croissants. I noticed the baker doesn't follow the newer trend of dark croissants. Everybody does that - I have recent memory of what baked goods look like at Fournee and this is very different. Street parking and I didn't notice any meters. Its a quick transaction and not too far from the highway if your driving through.

The first time I tried coming here I arrived around 30 minutes before closing and they were all sold out. Lesson learned, this next time I arrived at around 9am on a Thursday, and they still had plenty of items available. I've been really craving a good croissant after trying the infamous Arsicault ones, and this spot popped up when I did a search. I got a plain croissant which was very reasonably priced at $3.75 though it was slightly smaller than the more expensive ones you typically see. As I was holding it, I could feel the exterior starting to flake and break, signaling to me that this was definitely a quality croissant. One bite, it was super crispy, flakey, yet soft and buttery in the middle! A very very good croissant. I would say though, that I still prefer the ones at Arsicault but these are definitely up there. I also wish their hours were a little more accommodating!

Came back to this place again because last time we were here they were almost sold out on everything. So this weekend I woke up at six to get ready for going back to this place again. Arrived around 8:15, and I saw the canale I've been craving for eventually. Service is really nice this time, I asked them to cut the canale open cus I want to eat it right away. Wow! It tastes just pure amazing! I almost finished two instantly. All the other pastries are good too, my husband likes the croissants a lot, he had three different kinds of croissants right when we got back to the car. I would recommend you to come early since they have a really small kitchen, but when you get the pastries you want it's Definitely worth the wait.

TOP NOTCH Phenomenal bakery with super authentic pastries and baked goods. Quite unassuming store on the outside, no seating available. Very efficient bakery storefront. Do not miss out on Pastel de Natas, Croissants, kouign-amann, and canele. They aren't super affordable, but they are definitely the most delicious, so if you have time at the end of the week, definitely try to stop by early when they open so you wont be left with just the last bakery items left, they definitely run out close to closing time!

Yum. How did I miss this gem? Incredibly tasty pastries. Extraordinary flavor. Have to go back.

Due to the long lines and the limited open hours, this place almost became another "white whale.". You know you're near Berkeley when you're in line at a French bakery, and someone asks, " is anything here gluten-free?" I had to recheck the sign to ensure I was in the right place. We obtained a couple of croissants and some other baked goodness but missed the star piece, which we were told sold out in the first 15 min... WHAT?? Until I have that ultimate 15 min sell-out piece, my search will not be complete. TODAY WAS THE DAY! I arrived early enough to get the special item, and it was everything I hoped it would be. There were two people in front of me, so imagine my panic when someone right before ordered eight, leaving three. I was lucky the woman in front of me didn't want the special item, leaving the remaining three for me, but I only purchased two because I didn't want to be that guy. BB

Mmmmmmm...Is it such a bad thing to eat 2 croissants if they are 2 different types? I'm going to say no. Not when they are sooooo delicious. Many bakeries make croissants that are fine, but Pâtisserie Rotha makes the ones that are perfectly and gently crisp on the outside and buttery soft inside. On my last visit (running out in my pajamas to get there early) I picked up butter, apricot and almond croissants. I'll keep coming back even if there's a chance I'll show up to a sold out shop at 10am! They clearly don't need my review but Rotha deserves every one of these 5 stars and more. Only note I could give would be to be open more days and hours. But I suppose more means bigger and maybe less control over quality. So forget it. Stay exactly the same!

There's a reason people line up for places. It's because it's good! Patisserie Rotha definitely has quite the local following despite its small storefront. It's only open Thursday- Sunday and frequently sells out if you don't get there early. First time I went they had the basic selection of croissants, pain au chocolat, kouign aman, as well as bostock, far breton, and other classic French pastries. Quite a surprise for how authentic everything is. Second time I went on the weekend and oh boy that's where the goodies are. They have great pastel de nata! Flaky pastry and lovely egg custard. It was perfect. I also go a canale and those were divine too. But the best thing there was the almond chocolate croissant. It was amazing and I'll have to get more another time. Their staff are quick with orders and super nice. Lovely place and what more could you want for a cute little French bakery?

Came here on a Sunday morning around 9am and the wait was pretty quick, maybe about 5 minutes. The display of pastries looked amazing, and I appreciated that there were some pastries you don't normally see outside of France, and there were descriptions of all of them. I ordered: -Apricot croissant - this was delicious and possibly the best croissant I've had! -Canele - this is one of my favorite pastries and this one was delicious! -Pastry with prunes - this was surprisingly great (if you like prunes)! -Financies - I love financiers but this one was a miss for me (oddly salty and too moist) -Pasteis de nata - delicious! Overall, would absolutely come back and this place was absolutely delicious!

Best pastries this side of Paris! I could enjoy these pastries morning noon and night!

I just got back from a trip to France, and none of the croissants I had there were as good as the croissant I just tasted from Rotha. It's the perfect amount of chewiness, crispiness, lightness, and butter. The only croissant I can compare it to is Arsicault in San Francisco. They're both elite tier and I'd need to try them side by side to tell you which is better. Definitely a gem of a bakery for croissants.

One of the most delicious croissants I've ever had in my life! It's kind of sucks that they only open like 3:00 or 4 days a week, and only in the morning, but I think if you're in the area and willing to wake up early, it's worth it. Especially if you eat it right away cuz it tastes so butterly and good. You can also really enjoy the desserts as well like the Almond croissant or canals. You have more section if you come first thing in the morning, but they pretty much have a good amount of croissants throughout the opening hours. I don't know why I didn't come here as often when I went to school back in berkeley. Parking is kind of hard since you have to do it on the street. Other than that if you have anything to do in the area, there are some grocery stores and you can also visit the Berkeley campus.

OMG!!! BEST French pastry spot I've been to in FOREVER!!! The line can be long so get there early!

The croissants are the best!!!! you've never really had a croissant until you have come here, unless you've been in France. The plain croissant you can never go wrong. The chocolate was excellent and the almond as well. I also also liked the lemon poundcake and the chocolate dessert in the cup (I cannot remember the name)

I can't believe I've only heard of this exclusive bakery just recently. Passionate pastry chef who opens a bakery for 3 hours from thurs-sun. Dedicated customers lined up before it opens. Goodies sellout before close. Where have I been?! I was drawn to this bakery when I discovered the kouign aman buttery goodness. Turns out only a select few does this delicate pastry well and this place popped up. Browsing the other yelper pictures definitely reminded my trip to Paris, eating everything and anything France made with butter. The cute display also helps because we do eat with our eyes. I finally woke up early enough one Sunday and arrived 15 min before it opened. Uhh turns out at least 20 other people were already there. The wait wasn't too bad. If you drove by this main street, you would never know this bakery existed. I must have driven by this area and never noticed it until that day where there was a string of humans lined up near a residential space. The bakery is located across the street from Sprouts but there isn't much near this bakery as people do reside in the area. Only a couple of customers are allowed in. There is not much space for you to loiter. You enter, fascinate at the glory wonderful pasty, pick your jewels, pay, leave and eat away. My loot included bostock, portuguese egg tart, original croissant almond croissant and almond cake. I have to say they were all amaZING. Flakey, buttery and hearty. I was quite impressed with the egg tart as it was somewhat close the the ones made at Belem. Very crispy flakey crust and eggy center. If anyone wants a taste of France without flying, I'd say give this bakery a visit.

The only negative I have about Pâtisserie Rotha is that it wasn't open when I was living in Berkeley. I came here on the recommendation of a friend. He advised that I should arrive early. And so I waited until Thursday and arrived around 7:15a, just before the shop opened. I was third in line. I could immediately smell the pastries, but when the shop officially opened its doors I got a whiff of heaven. The croissant au buerre was elite, but the Kouign-Amann was the best pastry I have ever eaten in my entire life. This is now an instant staple for whenever I visit the bay area.

I really should give this place a one star review so no more people go there, but I just can't. I recently arrived home from a Paris trip. I was craving a good croissant. Last week I went to Juniper in SF because I read they recently won an award for their croissants...don't bother. Rotha has WONDERFUL croissants...flakiest of crust with rich buttery, pull apart center...so yum. The plain chocolate croissant was tasty but didn't have enough filling, for me. The chocolate croissant with almonds and the almond croissant were so satisfying. The apricot croissant (glazed) was OK...a great crispy crust...more filling than the plain chocolate croissant but not amazing. The little cake-bostock-was SO good. It opened at 7:30am but when I got there at 7:20am they were already serving customers. There were 4 other customers waiting in line. This is a very small bakery and they will close early if they sell out so make sure you don't wait.

Amazing croissants and koign Amman, best pastries in the Bay Area. Really nothing to say except everything is great and show up early before they sell out.

Guys when I tell you I can't wait to see this place open some days I am able to make it and some I am working but I love this place alot and the owner and his team is the best customer service people I ever met in a long time they make you feel so warm and welcome and they take so much joy and pride in what tbey do. Thank You

Prior to trying patisserie Otha my top spots for croissants were Tartine and Arsicault. Lemme tell you, this spot is right up there with the bakery heavy hitters of the Bay Area. I recommend the kouign amann and the plain butter croissant. If you had to pick just one and consider yourself a croissant connoisseur, go with the classic croissant, there HELLA LAYERS to this masterpiece. Crisp to softened less ratio is unbeatable. TIP: Come early!!!! There is always a line unless you an early azz bird then you won't have to wait. They sell out pretty fast.

One bite of their regular croissant and I was immediately transported back to France. Flaky, buttery, crunchy and doughy, yet light. just amazing. Worth getting up early. Arrive at 10am and they're most likely sold out. I literally daydream about the croissants here .

They are very authentic. The plain croissant was my favorite! Tip: They sell out early, so go when they open. Otherwise, you can order a next day pick-up (in-person)

We loved these pastries. We were living with our friends in El Cerrito and they picked up a box full of goodies from Rotha. Plain croissant, chocolate croissant, almond croissant, bostock, gateau au fromage etc Everything was delicious. I simply adore almond croissants and theirs was really good. Would love to visit the store and try more from their pastries :)

The croissant aux abricots was sooo worth standing in line for! Super dinky small outfit next to Hertz rental place, with nary a parking space along street available. And still the boxes keep getting held with smiling customers! And the queue keeps a steady 6-10 people in the mornings!

We ordered a crossiant and an apricot crossiant. I almost skipped out on the crossiant because it looked pale and unappealing, but with all bakeries, I knew I had to at least try their classic. I'm so glad I did because the crossiant was so buttery and moist. It was so delicious that I was tempted to get back in that long line. The apricot crossiant was alright - it had a sweet top and dried apricots inside. The apricots were so dark, I almost forgot I got apricots. I'll be frequenting here for my crossiant fix going forward.

Likes: Butter, Chocolate, Almond & Chocolate Almond Croissants. Warm buttery flaky goodness! The chocolate used was delicious and creamy! Great customer service! Dislikes: Canele and Apricot Croissant. Both had an awful chemical-like chalky aftertaste. The Canele's shell was hard to chew and bitter. Apricot one had 2 apricot pits inside the croissant which tasted so weird. My opinion is unpopular as most of you guys here on Yelp loved it. While I did love the taste of most of their croissants however I don't think it's worth getting up so damn early in the morning every time for it. The line is very long and they run out of everything within the 1st hour or 2 of opening. At least this bakery is now off my bookmarked or bucket list for me to move on and try another bakery. I prefer Acme bread a lot more. It's only a mile away from here and it is worth sacrificing your early mornings to wait in line for...and that is saying a lot for someone like me who is not a morning person.

This was on the "you cannot leave the bay area without going here" list. And after this experience it absolutely earned that title and is number one on the list for every visit I make to the bay area. Yes, you need to get up early and get in line. But it moves quickly and it's worth it. Everything is good. Like everything. We got a variety of items and there was nothing that wasn't good. Just buy one of everything. Trust me it will bring extreme joy to your life. It doesn't matter how much butter or sugar is in here your life isn't complete unless even enjoyed a pastry from this place. It could bring peace to the world.

One of the best crossaint I've had , just as good as Fournee and Arsicault . I came at 9:15 on Friday and they only have the butter crossaint left :(

I ordered several different things (plain/chocolate croissant, canele, pastel de nata), but my favorite by far was the pain au chocolate & almond. The caramelization and toasty-ness...omg. Like a flattened croissant, caramelized and crispy on the outside, chewy/soft on the inside, and still warm! Will definitely go back just for this, and not just one, ALL of them.

I was lured here by the Kouign Amann, which many say has surpassed B Patisserie in SF as the best in the Bay Area. I took a photo so you can see the comparison. Rotha's is more in the Breton tradition with fewer laminations. It's really good but I still prefer the exploding crunchiness of B's. Not that Rotha can't do laminated pastries when they want to.... the croissant is a solid specimen. But having sampled the Portuguese egg tart (aka dan tat, in Chinese bakeries) and bostock I realize they are after something different, a smaller, denser, almost jewel-box expression. There's likely to be a line, but it moves quickly. Also, pro tip if you live or work in the area. You can stop by near closing time when there's no line, and pre-order pastries for pickup on a future day. You'll still have to wait in line to get them but at least you know they won't sell out.

This place is an absolute gem! Make sure to go as early as opening time to get the baked goods before they run out. There is usually a line out the door but it moves rather fast. If you're worried about parking, I usually park near Sprouts across the street. As soon as you walk in, you are welcomed by the warm aroma of freshly baked pastries. I swear that every time I look at the display case, I end up blacking out and ordering more than I intended. My favorites include the chocolate-almond croissant, original croissant, and canele: 1. Chocolate-almond croissant: Flatter than the original croissant which lends itself to a wonderfully crispy texture. Each bite was a perfect balance of sweetness from the chocolate, nuttiness, and butteriness. 2. Butter croissant: Golden, buttery, flaky, great rise. When you sink your teeth into the croissant, you get a great combination of the pillowy soft interior and crispy exterior. 3. Canele: Small but mighty. The rich, moist, and custardy center is encased by a crispy, dark caramelized shell. Makes for a delicious little treat!

I tried almond croissant (bostocks) it was amazing! I recommend everyone to preorder on the phone since it will be sold before 10am!!!

I'm embarrassed to admit that I watched the show- "Emily in Paris" about an American girl living and working in Paris. It made me have strong desires to eat my way through the Patisseries of Paris! I arrivedPâtisserie Rotha (Albany, East Bay)@743am. There were already 6 people in line. One person at a time inside the cozy shop, starting at 8am and I was out by 813am with my box of goodies. At that moment,over 20 people were waiting in line! Loved everything except the Brioche Nature, very plain. The Pastel de Nata was by far my favorite. All of you Chinese& Portuguese egg tart fans will be blown away! Believe the hype, the pastries here are AMAZING!!! Reasonable prices for the high quality pastries. Staff practicing safety measures and wearing masks. Street parking easy.

Croissants like you enjoy in Paris. Be patient though. There's a long line. One of my favorites.

I stopped in today (Thursday) around 10:30am and they only had plain croissants and chocolate croissants remaining. However, it is still worth it as I got both. They really know how to make a good croissant! So many flaky, crispy and wonderful airy layers! I added a photo with the chocolate croissant cut in half and you can see what I mean. Two thumbs up! Highly recommended bakery. I just wish they were open more hours.