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.
Reviews describe Hof Kelsten as a top bakery with a wide range of pastries and savory items, from buttery croissants and flaky pastries to chocolate babka and zaatar torsade, plus strong coffee and well made cortados; the sandwiches, including gravlax and egg salad, and the matzoh ball soup are frequently praised, along with rugelach and other pastries; service is generally quick and friendly, though seating is limited to a few tables and stools; some notes mention price and occasional inconsistencies in bread or availability, and a few comments touch on language or service nuance; overall the place is celebrated for quality and variety, with many calling it among the best croissants in Montreal and a reliable destination for pastry lovers.
Secretly one of the best bakeries in Montreal. Their mocha is actually really good, using their signature chocolate sauce rather than mixing in hot chocolate powder. All the pastries are incredible, especially the babka.
Je suis allée prendre un chocolat chaud 30 mins avant que le magasin ferme & il m'ont laissé prendre mon temps (il gelait cette journée là) merci pour l'hospitalité!
Apr 5, 2026
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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!
Jan 1, 2026
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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.
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.
Dec 24, 2025
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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.
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 🫶🏻
Nov 12, 2025
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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
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.
