Varallo Brothers Bakery

While in South Philly, I made a point to stop at Varallo Brothers Bakery, the sibling bakery to one of my favorite restaurants, Pesto. I had been told their pastries were exceptional, and the moment I walked in, that promise felt real. The space immediately transported me back to the Italian bakeries of Boston’s North End, the kind that make you feel like a kid again just by standing at the counter. The cookie case alone was impressive. Everything looked carefully made and thoughtfully displayed. I asked for what I grew up calling macaroons, the soft, chewy almond cookies. Karen knew exactly what I meant. While they differed slightly in texture and flavor from what I remember, which makes sense given family traditions and regional differences, they delivered that same sense of nostalgia and joy. I plan to return and explore the cookies more intentionally next time. My primary reason for stopping in was the lobster tails. Basil and Honey began during a search for the best lobster tail, so expectations tend to run high. Unfortunately, these did not quite land for me. The shells were soft and likely not fresh, which happens, and I would want to try one straight from a freshly made batch before forming a final opinion. The ricotta filled lobster tail was new to me. While interesting, I would personally choose a cannoli over that version. Varallo Brothers offers multiple styles of lobster tails. I ordered a variety, and in doing so, I may have missed what I believe is their vanilla cream option. That said, Crema Diplomatica continues to stand out as the best tasting filling overall. Its balance, richness, and texture consistently deliver the most satisfying bite, and it remains my personal benchmark when judging lobster tails. None of this takes away from the experience as a whole. Everything I tried was well made. The service was excellent, the bakery was clean, and the space felt warm and welcoming. A very positive first visit. Now back to the cannoli. Coming from the North End, where cannoli are taken seriously, the bar is high. The classic ricotta filled cannoli here was excellent. The filling was smooth, rich, and well balanced. A genuinely strong cannoli. I also tried a chocolate dipped version with a mixed cream filling, which did not quite work for me, but the traditional ricotta version absolutely delivered. In the end, the standout for me was the cookies. I will be back, without question, and next time it will be for a deeper cookie dive, a ricotta pie, and fresh bread before the holidays.

The service was outstanding. The VARALLO special cannoli delicious. VARALLO's bakery cases were loaded with wonderful cakes and pies. Gelato was MMMgood.

This bakery makes the absolute BEST Italian Cream Cake I've ever had. Everything we've had from here is amazing. I'm so thankful that we found Varallo Bros. Bakery in Philly instead of having to drive to NY.

The fresh loaf of bread I purchased would prove delicious. Beneath the gleaming counter, a variety of cookies and other sweets beckoned. Since resistance was futile, I enjoyed an espresso and sfogliatelle before leaving with the bread.

My go to when I have people visiting from out of town. The staff couldn’t be friendlier and a seemingly endless amount of treats to try. Best affogato in the city in my opinion. If they have basil or fig gelato in stock they are must tries.

We worked with Bernie at Varallo Brothers Bakery to make a millefoglie cake for our wedding. The cake was both beautiful and scrumptious. We also ordered an assortment of cookies, which were equally delicious. Since the wedding, we have received several compliments from guests - many of whom are disappointed that they do not live closer to the bakery!

Varallo Brothers Bakery is an absolute gem! This old-school American-Italian bakery truly captures the essence of authentic, homemade goodness. Everything I tried was absolutely delicious, but the standout for me was their pistachio ice cream—easily the best I’ve ever had. The flavors were so rich and natural, it tasted like pure heaven in every bite. The pastries, cookies, and breads are all freshly made with that perfect balance of tradition and quality. If you’re looking for a place that delivers on flavor and charm, this is it. A must-visit bakery!

A typical old school Italian family owned bakery. We stopped by to pick something. It was not much crowded. The staff was very sweet. We started with an affogato, a typical Italian espresso drink. It was decent. The coffee was good, and the gelato was mediocre. They have tons of cookies and pastries, and cannoli. The cannoli was decent, however not the best, imo. Some of the cookies were great, and some of them were not so great. I don’t like synthetic almond essence. There are many cookies and pastries where they use a generous amount of that essence, which are not so good. Overall a decent place. In most of the cases Italian bakeries are like this in old towns.

I ordered a cake for my grandson's birthday and it was amazing. Definitely one of the best cakes we have had. It was freshly baked with a truck and car theme. Everyone enjoyed it. The service was incredible from the moment I called to place the order to the delivery. Thank you Varallo Brothers Bakery!

My first visit was on a whim - got a danish, turnover and cannolis. The ricotta cannoli was outstanding -- not too sweet with a superbly crunchy and mildly flaky shell. My son gobbled the pistachio cannoli and uttered, "mmm" ... so I'll call it good. The second visit was within a week of the first, and the ricotta cannoli was just as good as the first. The gelato texture is great, though I would have liked stronger flavor. Tiramisu was my favorite, but hazelnut (nocciola) was a close second. Someone different helped each visit and both were friendly, helpful and kind. As a new South Philly resident they each (a man on visit #1 and woman on visit #2) made me feel right at home. What a great place with delicious baked goods.

I was in the area and decided to give them a second shot. My last review called their cookies good but not great. This time I gave pastries a shot. Tiramisu and sfogiatelle to be exact. The tiramisu, let's just say it's a little too much cake and not enough coffee taste. The sfogiatelle came off slightly on the chewy side. It was less sweet than I expected. Decent but not something I would swoon over. I hate to say it. I want to like them. But they just don't hit me the way I think they should. It's not bad. But it's nothing special to me.

I sort of lose consciousness when i go into italian bakeries so this is one of the rare times i didn't really take pics except for the boxes of gift cookies i picked up. There is a handful of top notch italian bakeries in Philly, this is one of them. The way it smells and feels in there just makes you get a good feeling when you walk in. The gelato case and espresso machine near the front door helps at least for me. I love it here and I am not the only one cause it's packed around the holidays it's non stop busy. They have a great selection of cookies, pastry's and gelato. And although it's not maybe the one everyone thinks of first i think maybe it should be cause the prices and selection i think beats most of their competitors. Even their vanilla selection of flavors is far more than most of the " big guys". It's a few blocks more south than most of the touristy spots but that corner and block or 2 is just synonymous for incredible italian food and baked goods. If you have never been you should give them a try cause it is so worth it O may never go back to another spot again. Sometimes going to other places i have slight regrets. but never at Varallo Bros.

This Bakery has a few spaces in front so you can quickly go in and pick up some pastries. The staff gave us some samples so I picked up a ton of different things. There were so many choices. Hubby enjoyed the pastries. Me not so much. ThEy were tasty but I thought they tasted old :(. I guess they can't fill all the shelves daily but I love fresh goods especially when I'm paying. I could be wrong and it was my tastebuds. As I said hubby liked it and this place has been around for decades I probably won't go back .

We stopped by when we were in the are. Everything looked amazing. They had tons of Italian cookies and baked goods to choose from. We ended up getting a piece of cheesecake, cannoli, strawberry dessert and something else that was the free sample they were giving out. The carrot cake was really dry and had chocolate chips in the icing. I didn't like it. The cannoli was good. Everything else was just okay and pretty sweet. Looked better than they tasted.

My last visit was 2 summers ago and they were closed for vacation (late Aug., 2019 if I remember correctly-time flies!) so this time visited pre-summer on a Thursday afternoon around 3. Pretty quite and I was greeted by a couple of friendly ladies as well some Italian music from the speakers. So many baked items, so little time! Loved the cafe feel and vibe and they also have Gelato made on location! Did I mention they have so many cakes, cookies , pies etc. but I was here for the Cannolis. Specifically, the ones featured on the Best Thing I ever Ate. A few varieties to choose from so I asked which were the best ones? Recommended the ones with Chocolate Italian Cream & Vanilla cream filling. When I asked which one was the best?- the chocolate dipped with ricotta filling was the one (from BTIEA.) I got two of those. For sure some of the best Cannolis I've ever had and lived up to the billing. The ladies that helped me were as friendly and kind as can be. This place is a South Philly gem! I need a Varallo Bros around the corner. A Food Network favorite that lives up to the hype!

The BEST cannolis in South Philly or anywhere for that matter! Highly recommend! The people that own this bakery are so friendly and helpful when choosing desserts. They truly make you feel like home!

My daughter-in-law worked there for several years as a pastry chef. She is an amazing pastry chef!

Everything here is excellent including the top notch service. Order online or walk in and have the best of Italian pastry. Varallo still does the old world Italian that you don't see these days. Best cannoli anywhere hands down.

I really like "Italian cookies" so I stopped in here to get some. Cookies are sold by the pound and they had several varieties, but not exactly everything I was looking for. I think my favorite cookie from here was the amaretto cookie. It has a great flavor to it. The other cookies were fine, but for me, the amaretto wass a stand out. The staff seemed friendly and the business is located a few blocks from the two cheese steak sandwich places. Definitely seems like a local shop which is great. The cakes and other pastries looked terrific.

LOVE IT. Wonderful carrot cake and delicious cannolis. Staff were friendly and surely I will be back since moving to the area. Grateful to have found a delicious carrot cake so close by since it's my favorite. And THE CANOLLIS!!! each I've tried has been better than the last.

It's a cash only bakery. An elderly Italian lady was helping me. You can definitely feel the mom and pop atmosphere as she was talking to a well known customer in Italian. I showed the yelp check in offer of free fig bar. She said it's old but she would honor it. Fig bar: a lot of moist fig fillings. Not hard at all and not overly sweet. Highly recommend. Baba rum is really soaked with light rum. She put it in a plastic bag with the soaking liquid. Not too sweet, has a very light run. Italian rum cake is very moist and the cake layer is super soft. Unfortunately I didn't taste any rum. It's okay. Ricotta cannoli is ok, no chocolate chip in it.

Old school Italian Bakery Great cookies & Cannoli. Nice place to sit-eat your pastry-and have coffee. Definitely recommend!!

My friend who grew up in Philly recommended this family pasticceria and it did not disappoint! The glass lit cases were filled with cookies, cakes and treats on a Saturday morning. I went for some delicious cannolis and a cheese zeppoli. Amazing! Cash only.

Had my first real cannoli from this place and I WISH I would have gotten more than one. This place has so many options. I would have to go back many times to try all their goodies! Definitely worth a pop in to try.

Excellent pastries, cakes and bread. Best cannolis in Philly! The cannoli pastry shell is tender and flaky, and not hard like most other cannolis. The chocolate covered special cannoli filling is my favorite.

Excellent service and plenty of options for any sweets craving. I tried the pistachio cannoli and it was great! I also sampled the peanut butter and jelly gelato which is a really fun and delicious flavor. Definitely check it out!

Italian treats the way nonna wants you to eat them! This is a cash only bakery, run the same way for let's go with 125 years. who knows. All I know is get in line, place the biggest order of your life and pay in cash! this place is a fast sell out on any given day of the week on the good stuff. I make it my business to get cannolis and lots of them. They are made so well. I never had a fig bar before and the sweet lady behind the counter talked me into it. That fig bar never made it down the street. Either way, as we all know Termin'is up the road and been there forever, Varallo brothers is the next best thing. Next time you'd like a slice of south Philly, give them a go.

I see why they have the sign "#1 cannolis in South Philly" hanging outside in bright lights. I always walked by but one night after an intense workout, I decided to stop inside and try some of their patries. The old italian grandma said their specialty is cannolis (d-uh it says so outside haha). Normally I am not a big fan of cannolis but I decided to try one and I was hooked. It was not too sweet and it has the right amount of filling to compliment the the crunchy outer shell. I went back the next day to grab three more different flavors. This place is cash only.

What can I say about Varallo Brothers Bakery. This is a top notch, old school, Italian pastry shop. I have been coming here for many years and even though there is no shortage of top quality Italian Bakery/Pastry shops in the neighborhood, Varallo is my personal favorite. Weather you're getting a cannoli, rum cake, or some cookies, you can't go wrong here. On top of this, they make a great cappuccino! In the end, I think what I like the most about Varallo Brothers is it's Intimacy and the friendliness of its staff. It's not touristy, It a place you can grab your treat, find a seat inside and enjoy a coffee. It's also rarely overran with people so you can get in and out or enjoy and take your time. Do yourself a favor and check it out!

This is a very cute mom and pop shop. The pastries are real deal Italian pastries. These are the closest to the pastries from my childhood in Italy. The owners are very nice and you can tell they love their customers. The regulars were coming in and out the whole time we were there. Like others said cash only but they have an ATM.

I love old school Italian pastry shops! I am not a fan of cannolis but I bought an assortment of small cookies and the rum cake with a coffee. The coffee didn't rock my socks but the pastries were freakin delicious and oh so fresh! This place gets 5 starts from me though because of the customer service. It can be overwhelming trying to choose something and the young woman with the cool hairdo was super patient with us and was extremely helpful. It was such a great and affordable experience even though we were in and out! P.S Try their Amaretti cookies!!!!!

Really great variety of Italian pastries and gelato! Everything looked tasty so it was really hard to choose. I ended up getting an original cannoli and it was on par with other amazing cannolis in Philly like Isgro and Termini Bros. The workers were also super friendly. Would definitely recommend this place!

While walking around I desperately wanted coffee and was intrigued when I saw Varallo's sign saying it has the best cannoli in South Philly so I decided to stop in. I ordered a cappuccino which was outstanding. The foam was so fluffy and the espresso packed strong flavor. It was by far one of the best cappuccinos I have ever had. While I was there I decided to try the regular cannoli which turned out to be a great decision. The cannoli shell is so fresh and crisp and the cream is a beautiful consistency. The chocolate pieces add just the right hint of chocolate and sweetness. The cannoli was a wonderful treat!! The staff working there were very sweet. A great place and one I will definitely return to soon.

We travel from Jersey every year into south Philadelphia and this is a must stop at location to bring back home cannoli's and some other goodies. Absolutely delicious we never leave Philadelphia without getting our goodies!

At work, we take turns getting birthday cakes and cards. One of my coworkers requested Cannolis for her birthday. It was Colleen's turn this time, so she picked up the Cannolis form Varallo. And holy cannoli, they were mind-blowing. I tried few flavors including: Ricotta cheese, pistachio cream, chocolate ricotta, banana. Seriously, try and stop at just one chocolate chip cannoli. You can't. Four Yelps.

Another "stumbled upon". Out for a walk in East Passyunk deciding where to eat we walked on the back streets and found this bakery. Left with Italian cookies and sticky buns with the most subtly flavored sugar coating. So very nice. Took them to a friends house and all were consumed that day by people in the burbs who miss the good bakeries the city offers.

Classic old school italian bakery with delicious cookies and pastries. Authentic family owned feel with nice workers speaking italian to one another while working. Cash only so be prepared. Loved the italian cookies and coffee I got when stopping in. Love special places like this that feel so traditional.

Aww man! Talk about missed opportunity. Totally did not check yelp first to see that there's an offer! Stroller in here right before noon on a cold winters day and instantly you could feel the warmth of the place from the older lady behind the counter. Got a tea and donut. Donut was nice and soft and the chocolate glaze on top was excellent way to pair with the bitterness of the tea. There was cream and sugar available but plain was the best way to take it with an already sweet treat. There was also a sample of fig treats on the counter. Overall just sitting in the bakery and admiring the atmosphere was the best part of the experience and it is easy to see why this place has continued to stay in business all these years. Excellent customer service!

So glad I checked out this hidden gem in South Philly after the barbeque next door. The store has a strong old-school mom and pop atmosphere. Great selections from gelato to cookies and pastries. Service is nice and welcoming. I really liked their Cannoli and the cream puff, not a big fan of the éclair or maybe it's just my personal preference. We sat down at one of the small tables and savored our treats after a big satisfying meal. The day couldn't get any better. One thing to keep in mind, they only take cash, but $10 is more than enough to make your day 10x sweeter.

This is the only bakery open after dinner so we figured we'd give it a try Gelato was fantastic. The stracciatella tastes fresh & delicious Pastry was also. very good. Highly recommend the Pistachio cannoli. The Zeppole was fantastic. Grabbed a few biscotti for the next days coffee and was not disappointed. The service was great too. Very polite sweet girls working in there!

Italian pastries, ooh. So many to choose from, an old world flair. Am I in South Philly or the Mercado in Florence? Girls so nice. I think I love you Varallo.

Disappointed. Have not meet my expectations. Overpriced as well...Will not be going back...

I ordered an Italian cream cake. Michael helped me order a cake and was extremely helpful. The cake was delicious. It wasn't over powered with rum yet it was still moist. The icing wasn't the usual sugar kind. The peanuts on the sides were the best.

Ok Italian bakery with many selections. What sets the apart is they are open on Mondays when I happened by. I was intrigued by the pistachio canolli but disappointed that there were no evident pistachios but a hint of a nutty liqueur. Great afogato and baba au (plenty of ) rum. Eclair were ok as the pastry was a bit dry. Nice cheese and cherry tart.

I really hate to say this about an old Italian bakery because I'm an old Italian myself (haha)...but this place just isn't good. Everything looks very pretty but everything I got was not fresh. Cake was dry, pastries were that rubbery texture that pastry gets when it sits too long. Not only that, it just wasn't delicious in the first place. You can definitely tell when shortening or other cheap ingredients are subbed for butter and cream, etc. That being said, the cannolis are probably a safe bet, but I don't think I'd venture out from the traditional ricotta. All in all, if you want old school Italian pastry, go to Termani or Isgro.

It is a very traditional Italian bakery. I love it!!! It is a friendly place to get a coffee and a large variety of traditional Italian cookies, delicious cannoli and a lot of Italian cream cakes. Italian figs cookies are very tasty, but I love tiramisu, too! The cheesecake is one of the best I've tasted!!! I like it for a good breakfast Italian style. Really like Varallo brothers bakery. I can't wait to go there again.

You need a cappuccino made by Rosa in your life. There are not too many of life's injustices that a sip from the Chalice de Varallo can't right. Try a cannoli, try a sfogliatelle, try a fig bar...it really doesn't matter. There is nothing in the bakery which isn't ridiculously perfect. The old world interpretation of sweet is the antithesis of it's sacrine American counterpart. Everything is brilliantly well balanced, and should be enjoyed as frequently as possible. Did I mention they have gelato for the summer?

Delicious and beautiful cannolis! I'm usually not a huge fan of cannolis as I find them heavy, but these were light and not too sweet. We split the pistachio, house special, and chocolate ricotta; each had its own enjoyable flavor. Friendly staff as well.

This is a bakery that knows what it is doing! Doesn't matter if you get a cake, cookies, cannolis or zepolis! Everything that they have is delicious! And priced well! They even know how to make a chocolate cake that is moist and not overly sweet! Great bakery!

One of the best S.Philly bakeries! Excellent cannolis; amazing fig-chocolate bars! One of the few Italian bakeries that sells bread(which is great) as well as pastries. So many choices too. Patient, friendly staff will guide you in the right direction. If it wasn't for Fountain Porter down the block I may never have discovered this gem.

Upon entering you can smell the aroma of the bakery. I was greeted by a sweet young lady who was very attentive. I already knew what I wanted but decided to try a sample of the chocolate ricotta cookies. Whew, was I blown away. *chef's kiss*

Neapolitan owned and operated pasticceria that is popular with Italian Expats. A variety of pastries are available from diverse regional traditions that are baked by the family. Gelati made on site is available for a better price and quality than the non-Italian producers in the city. The Espresso-based coffee beverages have always been consistently well made. Although there are a few other true Italian Bakeries and Cafés in Philadelphia, Varallo Bros has a fair amount of seating available in the shop and outside. If you want a cake or pie prepared for a special occasion, be sure to order ahead of time because the inventory of certain products may be sold out on holidays and busy weekends.

I stopped in to get an assortment of cookies, hoping to get something that was of a similar quality to the ones my Italian mother made. The older Italian lady behind the counter was very nice and let me sample a few things. The cookies I tried were fairly dry and mostly tasted similar. I liked the almond cookies though. I'd give them 5 stars for service & atmosphere, but only 3 for the cookies. I'm willing to go there one more time to see if their gelato is any good.

Varallo Brothers Bakery is a small, old-school Italian bakery located in South Jersey. We came here late on a Saturday night looking to indulge our sweet tooth. We were unfortunately, disappointed. There was a wide array of pastries, cookies, and cakes, but the 2 pastries and the cookie we chose were all stale and lacking in flavor, despite the copious amounts of cream. It made me wonder how long the pastries had been sitting on display. The stars this bakery gets is based on the friendly employees who welcomed us with huge smiles and warmth. I really wish I liked the baked goods more and I wonder if we had come earlier in the day whether the pastries would have been more fresh.

Excellent pastries. We just hosted our son's rehearsal dinner and served assorted mini pastries to our 50 guests. They loved every variety! Thanks for your authentic and delicious baked goods!

Varallo Brothers is a hidden gem in South Philly! Due to my husband's sweet tooth, we just had to find a bakery for some after dinner treats. I was in the mood for espresso and was pleasantly surprised when I found out that Varallos offers a full coffee bar, complete with regular and decaf espresso. They also have gelato and an array of cookies, candy, cakes...you name it, they have it! We settled on a chocolate ricotta cannoli and some lemon cookie bar thing. Both were delicious. The cafe has a few small tables, so you can sit and sip your coffee while slowly enjoying a delicacy. Bonus - they are open until 9:00pm! Great little spot - I will definitely be back!

This is my 1st visit, and judging from the samples, free chocolate fig pastry, and great friendly service, and hospitality, I do believe that I will be back! I may have just found my favorite Italian bakery. I will review my chocolate ricotta, and pistachio cannolis later...after I get home and try them! Yum Yum!