Montreal Based bread Company servicing Montreal's top restaurants since 2010, and in 2013 open to the public on BLVD Saint Laurent, north of mount-royal.
Hof Kelsten is described as a standout bakery with buttery, flaky croissants and a broad range of viennoiserie and savory pastries, with the chocolate babka and zaatar torsade frequently highlighted and rugelach noted when available as exceptional. Matzoh ball soup and the egg salad sandwich are repeatedly praised, and the bread and pastries are often regarded as reliable or excellent across visits, with some reviewers noting the cafe quality like full bodied coffee. The space can feel limited for eating in, with seating mostly stools or standing room, though the atmosphere and service are generally friendly; a few comments mention language barriers or uneven attentiveness. While a few reviewers compare value and price to other bakeries, the consensus remains that Hof Kelsten earns a place on many Montreal lists and is worth multiple visits for those seeking variety and technical pastry perfection.
I finally got to try this specialty bakery & it did not disappoint. Everything was fresh & delicious, from the pastries to the sandwiches & even the coffee was well prepared. Service was quick & welcoming. Will definitely be back!
Didn't make it in time for their babka, but got to try their butter croissant which was excellent. So buttery & flakey with a great savouriness to each bite. Will have to come back earlier next time!
Amazing bakery all around. Buttery croissants & pastries that are all top notch. Great Matzoh ball soup, breakfast & brisket sandwiches are both excellent. Loved the muffins & the savory pastries too. Seating is limited & other than a few tables it's mostly stools or standing room. Worth it for the food & good service.
Dec 27, 2025
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Best egg salad sandwich of my life-perfect egg salad, crispy small greens on top & served on great bread. Matzoh ball soup is superb- great flavor to the soup & a delicious matzoh ball, too. Not super cozy but absolutely worth a visit.
I have been getting pastries here many Saturday mornings for 4 years or so & they are always excellent. I think for pure technical perfection Au Kouing-Amann may be slightly better, but Hof Kelsten makes a much wider range of different things (indeed, most of my favorites at Hof Kelsten are items that only they make). I particularly appreciate the selection of savory pastries, an area where they far surpass most other bakeries in the neighborhood - I especially recommend the zaatar torsade which my wife insists (for good reason) that I bring back every time I go.
In addition to the viennoiserie, the chocolate babka is also absolutely fantastic. & (though my experience on this front is more limited), the sandwiches are great, too.
My only complaints: 1. I love the tomato feuilleté but feel like it was only very briefly present this summer (I think I only managed to get it once). 2. Rugelach (the best rugelach I've ever had, in fact) used to be consistently available, but I can't remember the last time I saw it.
Dec 9, 2025
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Was a nice surprise a manager came from back counter & set up tables for us & the kids we enjoyed a nice lunch the Motaz Ball Soup was the best I have ever had 👌Sandwiches were tasty & the fresh bread cool spot 🫶🏻
Faisait un bout de temps que je n'y avais pas été. Service très laborieux, difficile d'être servi en français. Nous ne sommes plus dans les années 50. Le commerce a beau être sur''La main'', learn some french guys.
Recommended by few guides we stopped by & tried the food. Good food , over recommended but at the end the food is a question of taste :-). If you are on Mont Royal steer stop by & make your own opinion
Oct 12, 2025
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Very good selection of baked goods. The Babka is very well made but you need to get there early to get one as they fly off the shelves. Good coffee, the staff does a very good job & is always courteous & friendly. One of my go-to stops whenever I am in Montreal.
Petite boulangerie avec de merveilleux produits (pains, viennoiseries). Ils font aussi brunch & offrent du café. Les produits sont originaux & frais!
Par contre, le nombre de place est vraiment limité pour manger (brunch) & le personnel à la caisse n'est pas très sympathique.
This place is excellent across the board, especially service.
My only remark as an apple lover: please put more apple in the turnovers please, there was a hair's width of it in the last one I ordered!
