I'm not exceptionally critical when it comes to writing reviews about food. I bother to post reviews only when the food or service at any articular merchant is exceptionally good or utterly blah! For Bouchon, if not in the name of the renowned Thomas Keller for his culinary skills, I definitely wouldn't bother to make a detour there. Nothing spectacular about their pastries. I judge the quality of the taste at any French bakery by the plain croissant they have to offer. Here, big in size, bland and plain in taste. Texture of their pastries is flat, lands nothing memorable on my taste bud. Three of us probably spent around 100 bucks there for the pastries, macaroons and soup/quiche. 4 bux average for a pastry and $6 for a fist-size bread pudding that tastes like rock and veto'ed by us all. The bread pudding we had the night before at a local wine bistro in Palo Alto tasted 20x better. Macaroons are decent. We tried a couple different ones, PB&J, Vanilla, salted caramel, and pistachio. Very large and good. But the line here never subsides. Aside from the hype that this place is associated with Bouchon and French Laundry, everyone here is tourist and has no problem opening up wallet for anything visible at this bakery. Me included :P and disappointed. Pastries at Bouchon are homogeneous to those at Peet's, Starbucks or individual coffee/pastry shops (that usually turn out to be hidden gem). Croissants were invented by French and commonly served at bfast tables across Europe. Any street vendor or coffee shops serve croissants all day long and nearly NONE tastes anything less in terms of flavor (plain croissant with so much flavor!!!), texture, character, depth, and intensity. Tiny yes but full of senses and joy! I haven't had a croissant in any city in NA that tastes anywhere close to a croissant in Europe regardless if its hole in the wall bistro or bakery. Owell....
(2)
Christy T.
Thomas Keller pilgrimage stop #3 (reviews for #2 and #1 soon to follow). So I basically bought one (or two...ok maybe three) of everything in the store (minus the breads). I would've literally bought everything just to sample, but knowing that there is a bouchon bakery in nyc there is no need as nyc is only a 4 hr trip from my parents house :D. I got all flavors of the large macarons, a blueberry muffin, a coffee cake, a gingerbread muffin, a lemon tart, a pear tart, eight eclairs (4 chocolate, 4 coffee), 3 bouchon brownies, a chocolate almond crossaint, a bacon scone, a coffee with milk, and equator's french laundry roast coffee beans..whew! I wanted more but the fiance gave me the evil glare and the "are you serious!?" look. Out of all the macarons I have tried, bouchon's probably has the best tasting macarons. The flavors didn't taste artificial, and we were fortunate enough to not have fully hallow macaron shells. I highly recommend getting the raspberry macaron as inside it is filled with raspberry jelly then a raspberry cream borders it. Delish! I also like their banana flavored macaron (literally taste like a banana milkshake) and the vanilla one (taste like real vanilla not the artificial stuff). The eclairs were out of this world good and I am so happy I bought more than one. I prefer the chocolate eclairs than the coffee ones as the coffee cream inside the coffee eclair got slightly bitter days after being bought. The chocolate eclairs however...were still heavenly days after. The bacon scone is also a must. It tasted like a sausage, bacon, and egg on an english muffin. Go get it. Seriously. The blueberry muffin was quite sweet for my taste as is, but if you pair it with milk/tea/(not sure about coffee as I am not a coffee drinker) it will balance out really well! Make sure to eat it a bit warm (or heat it up with you are carrying it home!)! As for the rest, I wasn't able to sample. The fiance's mom LOVED the chocolate almond crossaint, my fiance demolished the brownies, his dad and himself teamed up on the coffee, his sister got this and that, and lastly his mom proudly (while beating on her chest as a symbol of victory) finished both tarts. It must be that good. Also bouchon bakery bakes the bread for his surrounding restaurants in the area..but know that some things aren't available for sale at the bakery as its only exclusive to thomas keller restaurants such as french laundry (like that pretzel bread at the french laundry..cries). Just expect a huge line if you are going later in the day. We were able to go in a day earlier just to scope things out when there was no line luckily (but the fiance didn't let me buy anything since we were on our way to the french laundry...booo) so just make sure you arrive really early. Best time to go is when they just open..we went really early before they opened at 7am...first in line and no huge line at all (well it wasn't that big). I am seriously considering getting our future wedding favors here.
(5)
linda h.
On my latest (of many trips) I discovered the chocolate covered macaroons. What?!?! They have milk and dark chocolate. I tried the milk chocolate. So good! Got an assortment of other goodies and the tuna nicoise sandwich, with olive tampenade. Not a fan of tuna but this sandwich turned me into a tuna lover! Another delicious trip to the best bakery! Ever!
(5)
Amanda N.
Thomas Keller does it right. Busy little place but worth the wait. Pastries & desserts are so delicious, coffee was good, & staff was friendly. There's outdoor seating for you to enjoy your goodies. pics on instagram @ amanda.n_
(5)
Daniel H.
Came here a couple times already, and is a nice stop to make after a day of wine tasting in the Napa area. I mainly go for the macarons, but have tried pieces of other baked items from here. The macarons are pretty decent, maybe nothing compared to what you can get from Paris, but they are pretty similar in terms of consistency and taste. They come in two sizes, but I mainly saw the larger ones (that go for $3.50 each) on display so decided to get some of them. I tried out the vanilla and the espresso, and I think preferred the vanilla one more. There are a bunch of other flavors though to choose from. As a side note, I have also been to the Bouchon in Beverly Hills, and I think the bakery items from here (for the macarons at least) taste better. At the end of the day, the line wasn't too bad, but I heard that sometimes people line out the door and have to wait for a while before they can even enter the bakery. The bakery (adjacent to the restaurant) is pretty small, so not many people can fit in all at once. If you do come in at the end of the day though, just keep in mind that they might not have as much of a selection as during the day. Items are still pretty tasty though regardless of time of purchase. They also have a small sitting area outside where you can enjoy your pastries!
(3)
Kristian D.
I still hate the American term - bakery. This word does not accurately describe places like Bouchon Bakery, lumping them in with many other places that come nowhere near the quality and luxury you encounter in this Yountville institution. Bouchon is a true pastry shop making exquisitely delicious items in the French tradition, embracing fat and sugar and turning them into a true art form. I love cake bakeries; I love bread bakeries; but I dream about pastry bakeries! Bouchon is located in a rather small, but luxuriously appointed, shop in downtown Yountville. I arrived at 9:30 AM on a Saturday and had no problems parking in a lot across the street and endured only a 20 minute delay waiting in line before devouring my order. Unfortunately, you are teased with the smell of the bakery before actually entering the shop. You will stand outside, so prepare for the elements. Once inside the amazing and patient staff will help you get your sweet tooth. On my trip, the staff were especially attractive and helpful; I cannot guarantee you will be similarly pampered, but you can always hope! While you peek into the windows watching the latest batches emerge from the oven, you will encounter the biggest problem with your trip - choosing what to order. The macarons are oversized and stuffed with tasty goodness. The pastries are held together with the same magic that makes them flaky and light without floating off into the atmosphere. On my trip, I had a raspberry and chocolate macaron and a pan au chocolat. The raspberry had a cream and jelly filling, and the chocolate had a generous amount of creamy filling. The pan was just amazingly delicate and satisfying. I have been to the best pastry shops in Paris and would place Bouchon Bakery in that same level of heaven. Prices are a bit high, but most items are very reasonable given the quality. I got three excellent items for only $10 which was perfect. It has been a long search to find a good pastry shop anywhere near Sacramento or the Bay Area, and I have found it tucked into a small, sleepy town in the middle of Napa Valley! Do not wait or hesitate, you must try them at your earliest possible opportunity.
(5)
Diana I.
MACARONS!!!! by Thomas Keller! I'm a fan! Prepare to wait in a LONG line to get these popular tasty desserts! My husband went at 7:00 AM when they open and there was already a line out the door! You can get a box of 6 small macarons which make a great little gift, or you can get individual larger macarons that are about $3 each. Pretty expensive for a macaron but considering the size of them, it's worth it! My husband and I tried the lemon, pistachio, vanilla, chocolate, raspberry, and salted caramel. I personally liked the pistachio and salted caramel the best! They also have other baked goods and desserts which I have yet to try! There is also a Bouchon Bakery in Beverly Hills and in Las Vegas (inside Venetian Hotel). I've been to all 3 locations now and all produce equally delicious and consistent macarons! :)
3.5 Stars! We stopped by the bakery for a quick rest and recharge. We purchased several macarons, a giant chocolate covered pistachio macaron, peach lemonade and iced vanilla lattes. I was not expecting very much but my overall experience was a little better than average. The macarons were very average to me. The texture was off and my own opinion was that they were lacking with their flavors. The coffee was AOK. The peach lemonade was average at best and even the little one was not a fan. Indeed, the highlight was the dark chocolate covered pistachio macaron. The texture was off but the flavors were vibrant and and went well together. Overall, AOK. The prices, in my opinion, were high for the quality. Having an abundant variety of desserts on this road trip, this is one I could've skipped. I do love this town though!
(3)
Dennis H.
30 minute wait ... hype hype hype... did it live up to it .. eh. Macarons were definitely larger than life literally! Got a pistachio (good) and a caramel (too sweet). TKO .. indeed ... it's their version of an Oreo cookie... oink oink, definitely get this! The Oh Oh reminds me of a Ho Ho ... :D This place is good but way too pricey and sad to say not really worth the wait.
(3)
Jean S.
Omg, am I the only person that didn't think Bouchon Bakery is the best bakery ever?! Wait, I scrolled below and I guess there are a few. My main issue is that the hype is too high. I'd give it 3.5 stars. So here is my experience... I came here on Saturday and there was a line out the door though it did go at an okay pace. I picked up a small box of macarons and an almond croissant to go. I chose salted caramel, pistachio, raspberry, and strawberry lemonade (seasonal). After dinner at Ad Hoc, went to SF and sampled the macarons. Since they were fairly large macarons, I only cut a quarter piece to try. I thought they were SO incredibly SWEET!! Especially the strawberry lemonade and the salted caramel. Only the pistachio was a little less sweet. My stomach hurt after. I admit I was really full already from dinner, but wanted to try the macarons while they were fresh. The next morning, I tried all the macarons again with a nice cup of coffee and for some reason, liked them much better then. They were still sweet, but not sickeningly sweet, and much more enjoyable. The salted caramel tastes the best. The center is like a layer of pure gooey caramel! It has a nice hint of salt, but pretty sweet. Shouldn't eat more than one. Strawberry lemonade and raspberry macarons have a nice fruity flavor and a little bit of fruit jam in the middle. The pistachio is okay, a nice light flavor. I was not a fan of the almond croissant. It was a tad dry, not much almond filling, and...just an okay croissant. Although I did eat it the next morning, I asked the lady who sold it at the bakery and she stated the croissant would be fine the next day. It wasn't an awful croissant. You can taste the almond flavor. It just was not super impressive. I think I was just expecting perfection at the bakery that is much talked about and has the Thomas Keller name. It definitely is an above average bakery, but people hyped it up way too high. In my opinion, the macarons at Ginger Elizabeth in Sacramento (especially the salted caramel ones) are better. And the almond croissant at Ariscault Bakery in SF is much better. My friends all bought macarons and other baked goods from Bouchon Bakery and they all seemed to really like it. I wouldn't mind going back to try other items.
(4)
Karen G.
30+ minute wait in line. Was it worth it? You betcha! Monkey Bread Macarons: Chocolate and birthday cake Baguette TKO: Thomas Keller Oreo Chocolate Éclair Parisian Ham & Emmenthaler Cheese on Baguette French Laundry Equator coffee I don't have much of a sweet tooth though I've never met a piece of dark chocolate I didn't love... TK just knows how to do food. Get in line. It's worth it.
(5)
Gerald R.
SENSE OF SMELL Several chef celebrities have stated the first thing that gets their attention on food is seeing - the look of a food. I always felt the sense of sight of food is overrated. You miss a lot of great tasting food if you base on looks alone. On the other hand the sight of smell IS the most important attention getter when it comes to food. If the smell is delightful it makes you want to eat the food. However the senses of smell and taste work together when you eat. Yesterday I drove to Yountville as my company was closed due to the July 4th weekend. I wanted to take the opportunity to get out. I've been to Bouchon Bakery in the past. As I waited in line I was standing close to the window. The smell of freshly baked bread and pastry was addicting. It made the wait in line bearable. The smell of freshly baked bread wakes me up in the morning. If I could get "high" off those freshly bake goods I would. I probably did get "high" yesterday at Bouchon Bakery when I was waiting in line. I decided to get some croissants and macaroons for my sister and cousin. Since I didn't eat breakfast or lunch yesterday I decided to get three items for myself: 1) ham and gruyère on toasted baguette 2) iced cappuccino 3) strawberry croissant. The smell from the toasted, crusty baguette and the ham was enticing. Eating the ham and gruyère on toasted baguette made my day as the drive to Yountville was worth despite the traffic (it took me about 2 1/2 hours to drive to Yountville). On a warm day the iced cappuccino was refreshing as it cooled me down. For the strawberry croissant I decided to wait until I got home. When I got home a slightly warmed the strawberry croissant for 30 seconds as I didn't want to warm it too much as I like my croissant with that slight crunch and not soggy. The edges of the croissant maintained that crunch. In the middle you can taste sweetness of strawberry and buttery texture of the bottom crust of the croissant. Despite the smell outside of the bakery and my ham and gruyère baguette sandwich I can't rate Bouchon Bakery a perfect five stars. It's because of the regular croissants I've had in the past. The croissants were tasty but they tend time stay out on display for a while. I love my croissants right out of the oven. It's the buttery smell of the croissants from the oven that makes me want to have a croissant. That's more evident when I smell the croissants at Specialty's Cafe & Bakery at the Financial District in SF. A HOT butter croissant from Specialty's sets the standard of all butter croissants because most butter croissants I've had aren't hot from the oven. I know that sounds picky but as I stated earlier smell and taste go hand to hand when eating food. A great example is when eating a hot butter croissant right from the oven because the flavor of the butter intensifies. Overall I like Bouchon Bakery a lot. When I go to Yountville I go to Bouchon Bakery to pick some pastries. If I go to Bouchon Bakery again I would like to go early in the morning before it opens. So when Bouchon Bakery opens I hey a chance to have a hot butter croissant. If I'm able to have a hot butter croissant from Bouchon Bakery then I will update my ratings.
(4)
Trishia P.
I've been back to Bouchon this summer due to my craving of macarons. I decided to go back and try it out. The flavors have since improved. I am happy to report that the Salted Caramel now has caramel as the filling (not buttercream). My favorites are Salted Caramel, Raspberry (Filled with buttercream and Raspberry jam, Chocolate (filled with a fudge buttercream) and Pistachio. The line has now wrapped all the way down the block.
(4)
Diana H.
I happen to stumble on to this place while looking for one of the best dessert places in North Cali.. And boy this by far was one of the best discoveries EVER!! Pictures are true thought, the line does come out the door but totally worth the wait for what's inside.. First time I came here was with hubby while we were in Yountville for the taste of Yountville.. We were surprised with the line running out the door and almost 3/4 down the street.. When we finally get inside we were in awe with the huge selection they had to pick from.. The smell of fresh baked bread fills your nostrils, amazing.. They have pastries, muffins, sandwiches, quiches, cakes, cookies, macarons and hot & cold coffees, teas and hot chocolate.. We ended up with almond croissants and lemon & raspberry macarons to start of our day.. Bouchon is defiantly a heaven for macaron lover, they're the best I have ever tasted.. The almond croissant was super flakey, the right balance of sweetness and yummy toasted almonds on top.. The macarons ARE TO DIE FOR!! One of the best I've ever eaten.. The outside is the right amount of soft but light crunch and the middle has a small tart of a bite with real fruit in the middle.. I came a second time with hubs, his son and son's gf.. We might've gone a little crazy with the ordering.. We all each got 2-3 items each and a loaf of bread (hubby loves hot fresh bread).. Oh Oh, Butter Nutter, Key Lime Eclair, Lemon Tart, Blueberry Muffin, Oh No, Chocolate Bouchon, Lemon/ Raspberry/ Chocolate/ Salt Caramel Macarons are some of the few things we have tried here.. Everything here is created all so beautifully and the presentation very appeasing to the eyes.. It's always so hard to choose 1 or 2 things only when coming here.. Our goal is to try everything at least once and then repeat.. Lol (^__^) So when it comes to giving this place another 5 stars, it's definitely earn it on so many levels.. The staff there a super friendly, amazing, always with a smile, great attitude and willing to do the little extra just to make your day (like perfectly hot bread for hubby).. They have a amazing system there on taking orders to make it a smooth operation, easy and super fast.. We will definitely be back soon, again and again.. Til then.. :)
(5)
Amy C.
Happy place Childhood nostalgia Spongecake swirls Ho Ho Oh Oh Little Debbie Big Debbie Fellow chocoholic Macaron convert Bouchon lover Happy face.
(5)
Josephine L.
We came here on a Tuesday morning during our vacation and there was no line which was pretty awesome considering everyone warned us about the lines. - Monkey bread: basically a large cinnamon bun with a salted caramel sauce on top. It was really good but slightly dry - Coffee Cake: really tasty and crumbly - Salted Caramel Macaroon- OH MY THIS WAS AMAZING. I've never been the biggest macaroon fan but you cannot leave without trying the macaroons. It was perfectly crunchy yet the inside was soft and it changed my life a little bit. We loved it so much we had to get another before we left. Take your food out back to the little tables and eat there. There is a cute little garden and it is perfect
(4)
Minerva L.
Super packed! But their stuff is neat, because they back it super fresh! I do think it's overrated, I've had their macaroons in Vegas, not the best, NYC is the best. The pastries and all are unique on its own, so it's worth checking it out and grabbing a few things while you're there.
(4)
Jasmine X.
So in love with this place. My friends and I were driving from Napa back down to SF and since we weren't going to make a normal dinner, we decided to grab some snacks from Bouchon to manage her hunger. Thomas Keller would also have a super bomb bakery oh my goodness it was great. When we arrived around 5:30pm, there was actually a line out the door, but it moved pretty quickly and they're really quite efficient. You place your order with someone when you get in and then they assemble the goods for you and by the time you reach the register, you just pay and go. I got: strawberry lemonade macaron, vanilla macaron, cheesecake, monkey bread, chocolate croissant, eclair, and a vanilla latte. Highlight was definitely the cheesecake. Easily one of the best cheesecakes that I've ever had. Would highly, highly recommend. It's not too sweet, the crust on the bottom is perfect, and the rhubarb jam that they had on top complemented the cheesecake itself really well and added an awesome amount of flavor. The macarons were also pretty stand out and I would say are on par with Laduree which is what most of us coin as the best macarons you can get. I was amazed with how soft the shell was and again, how not overbearingly sweet the macarons were. Great flavor. The shell was perhaps almost too soft, but it was great. They sell them in either giant size or miniature size if you want a small bite sample of them all. Everything else was pretty typical of what you would expect from a bakery. I also want to highlight some pretty bomb customer service that Bouchon had. They actually mixed up my drink and gave me a cold instead of hot vanilla latte. Instead of tossing it out, the barista actually ended up just giving it to me for free. It's a small thing for a bakery as profitable as Bouchon to simply give away a free drink, but it makes the customer experience so, so much better. So yeah, bomb customer service. The vanilla latte was also pretty well crafted as well. tldr; one of the best bakeries I've ever encountered. highly recommend the cheesecake and the macarons!
(5)
Stella K.
Five Perfect Stars! My husband and I have been coming here for years! The best pastries, breads, cookies, and butter and sugar treats in the nation! Beware of the lines! Best time to come is when they open bright and early at 7:00 am. There is rarely a line and they are fully stocked with delicious items. The customer service is top notch and the treats tower above the competition! If you are counting calories....this is not a stop for you.
(5)
Briget P.
The almond croissant had a layer of chocolate on the inside which was a bonus surprise for me, so delicious. I also tried a savory pastry with pork belly, it was filling and the smell was invigorating. Pistachio macaron was my favorite flavor, not too sweet and light consistency. Sea salt caramel was a little too sweet. The line goes out the door but it moves fast.
(4)
Latifa S.
Absolute love-fest!! Absolute!! There aren't many 5 stars bakeries on my yelp but this one, well this one's definitely a 5+++.and above! I'd give it a 6 if I could. Why do I love Bouchon bakery????! Why not!! It is in the cutest building in Yountville. It has tantalizing scent of all things choclate, butter, tarts, eclair with gold, amazing chocolate croissants!! It's bright, shiny and filled with all the goodies. And they always have lines out the door.Always! Bouchon brings out the greedy little fat child in me. Fatty, indecisive child that wants it all at Charlie in the chocolate factory. Do I get the macarons?? Do I get the chocolate ganache? Eeee what do I get? Oh yes,I see all you people behind me waiting for your turn. Better wait up!!!! I didn't come all the way to Napa and wait in line to NOT get all my favorite treats.You all shall wait for your turn and go crazy as well. So yea,let me continue drooling! Few things I got after a few hundred seconds: Chocolate eclair - meltyy, oooeyyyy,gooooeyyyyyyyy! Chocolate Croissants- The best! Chocolate covered macarons - say whaaaaaaaaaaat! Chocolate ganache tart--Gold leaf! Covered in gold leaves! Taste magical. Salted caramel macarons! Like christmas in my mouth. That nutter butter! Oh so nuttyyyy! Chocolate cookies---gimme gimme!! Do you see where I'm going with this? Straight to "Chocoholics are us" meeting! I don't even need to say "Hi, My name is Latifa and I have a chocolate problem". No, sir! I don't. You get the jist.I shall happily die as a chocolate fiend! Or that one girl that took all the amazing Ganache tart from Bouchon!That girl that made you cry because she ate all the gold leaves and chocolate macarons! Yes,that is me!! One and only! Oh you love chocolate too?Too bad for you that you are in line behind me. Sucka!! Tehehe- I'd love to taunt all sorts of fat kid rant for them chocolate. I mean, seriously!! And their macarons are seriously worth slapping a tiger for. Have you ever slapped a tiger? No? Neither have I. But I would if you make me do it for those macarons. And the Ganache tart!! Wahh wahhh: too bad they don't have one in Seattle. What is up with that? But then again, if they do open it here: nobody else would get to eat it anyway. I'll make sure to hog/rob all of it everyyyy single dayyyyy! Maybe move in to the space right above, behind, in front! Or buy an RV and just loge outside? Possibilities are endless. Till then, I enjoy flying to San Francisco every few months just so I can come to Yountville! Drink my favorite champagne and go zombie apocalypse over their pastries! Enough said!!! Mahalo Bouchon! Mahalo!
(5)
Serene E.
We stopped to check out this bakery on are way up to Napa. What a cute little bakery, There is a line out the door but worth the wait. We tried the Almond Croissants and the Almond & Chocolate Croissants, mmm they were very good. We bought some Oatmeal Raisins cookies to take home and they were delicious!! They do have the French Macarons for sell there as well but we didn't try them. We sat on the patio outside and enjoyed our treats it was very relaxing way to enjoy our treats.
(4)
Kayta N.
Nice bakery in a beautiful setting. When I see a line going out the door of a business I normally hesitate to go inside, but I was with a friend was dying to try them out. We took our place in line and waited about 15-20 minutes before we were able to order. It's a bit chaotic inside but it seems like its well organized chaos at the very least. I went with a lemon macaron, a salted caramel macaron and a small iced salted caramel latte. When the well coiffed man behind the counter rang me up the total was only $7 (all of the larger macarons cost $3.50 each) so I knew my latte had been forgotten. I spoke up and another guy set out to whipping one up for me. The well coiffed cashier asked about the origin of my name (German) and then asked me in German if I spoke any. I speak a little and did my best to respond. By the time my German pop quiz was over my latte was finished and I was off to skip merrily down the street with my cutesy little bag and the tastiest freakin' latte I've ever had...ever. I should have turned around and thanked the young man who made it for being born. So thank you bespectacled young man who made my fabulous latte. I think I might be in love with you. On to the macarons. Eh, I found both of mine to be overly sweet for my tastes. The salted caramel macaron had a lovely buttery aftertaste but was just too heavy for my liking. (**SEE EDIT BELOW**) Even my sugar hungry 5 year old found it to be too much for her taste. The lemon one was okay, but I gave my daughter my half of that one as well. I just found both to be too sweet for me. That latte though, mmmmmMMMMM! I will definitely return for that when I'm back in the area. Braving the line is worth the wait at least once. Go for it, all those people must be onto something! **EDIT - I hated to throw out so much of the salted caramel macaron so I took a tiny nibble of the leftovers about 20 minutes after I cut it half at home. I don't know why, but the flavor was much more mellow and far more pleasant. Heck, I was out there to drink wine so my palate could have been skewed on those first couple bites. I'd give the salted caramel mac another chance too I think and have changed my review to a 4 star to reflect this.
(4)
Sophie H.
Macarons are love; macarons are life. My first exposure to Bouchon was through one of my friends who brought two macarons back from her visit for me (Chocolate and Salted Caramel, my favorite flavors), and as expected, I was in love. Finally, I was able to make my own trip to the bakery whilst brunching in the area, and the salted caramel was just as good as I remembered it from the first time, and the strawberry lemonade macaron was perfectly sweet and tangy. $3.50 each for such large and quality macarons are definitely worth it!
(5)
Sebastian F.
Crazy line any time of day - do I need to say more? That place must be a goldmine. If you plan your visit reserve 30-40 minutes wait time and be prepared that it's more a to-go place. There is seating outside but if the Napa weather doesn't play along feel free to eat in the car. I liked the BLUEBERRY TART ($6) which was well balanced - fruity and not too sweet. The STRAWBERRY RHUBARB TART however didn't impress me. The cheese was too heavy and filling. I also got to try the MACARONS - soft and delightful, my favorite was the Chocolate Macaron. Too bad they're out of many items when I got there, in fact most of their signature bakery goods were not available (eclair). Overall this was a solid experience but nothing I'd line up for 30 minutes again.
(3)
Jason K.
Pretty awesome macarons. I am not nearly as big a fan as my wife is (she's kind of addicted now), but these were really good macarons. They better damn well be, though, at $3.50 per cookie. They are larger than a standard macaron, so I guess that's kind of justified...and it is the Bouchon Bakery, so you pay a little for the name. They do live up to the name, though. Great flavor options, excellent textures, and even a nice balanced coolness of temperature. These were really great macarons. Just pricey.
(4)
Tiffany C.
Waited in a long line to get overly sweet macroons. They had many variety of sweet bakery good but most people are probably here for the palm sized macroons. I think I was overly excited to get some and my imagination was better then reality. My wallet hurt a little when I spent close to $100 on bakery good. Over all everyone in my family that were there (10) said it was too sweet for their liking. To me they were good but not that good. Over priced for sure in my book! $3.50/macroon and didn't pay attention to the other desserts. $1/biscuit for doggies (smaller then my pinky finger) Very small place, free water, no where to sit inside the bakery section.
(3)
Sasa S.
Cute LITTLE bakery which I want to emphasize was crowed on a weekeday afternoon.Like 4 people made waiting in line was frustrating.People are all over you trying to peer into the case,or are just plain rude/annoying. I tried the Espresso,Pistachio and Salted Caramel macaroons. Salted Caramel was way too sweet for my taste,but they were pretty good tasting decent sized macaroons. At $3.50 a piece they better taste good!
(3)
Patrycia P.
Spent $96 on baked goods. Was shorted 9 full sized macarons and one $16 sampler box. What a waste of money! The few things I tried were delicious but not good enough to make up for the missing stuff. It's like i paid double!
(1)
R N.
Come early!! Get the macaroons and pastries, but skip the Bouchon. It's just an overpriced brownie.
(5)
Sophie S.
Macaroon is ok...too sweet . pastry is good .sooo pricey. tourist love this place. the hype is too high!
(3)
Margaret M.
Every trip to Napa must include a stop to Bouchon Bakery. While the macarons here are world famous and worth it at $3.50 each, our personal favorite is the Salmon Rillette, which is also an appetizer served in the restaurant. It comes in a sealed container with a layer of clarified butter on top. We actually keep the butter and cook with it, and enjoy the salmon spread with fresh bread. It's now become the gift we bring back for others, in addition to the macarons, of course!
(5)
Anajoy E.
Finally got to try this place out. Wanted to see what all the hype is about. But I can be a bit impatient and was almost turned away by the long line out the door. But my cousin talked me into it since it was my birthday. I have had macaroons before just not at bouchon. I ordered my fav pistachio, and included salted caramel, vanilla and espresso (i think that's what it was called). The winner was still pistachio. I didn't care for the salted caramel it was too sweet and had loads of caramel filling. The rest were ok. Pistachio was still the winner. I also ordered almond croissant and a chocolate croissant. Yes I love croissants. I was bringing home the chocolate croissant to my husband. He said it was ok. But I loved the almond croissant. I would go back just for that!
(4)
Joanna L.
Personally, I think this place is overrated and all hype. There is always a line, and the baked goods are overpriced. Disclaimer: I don't have a big sweet tooth, and I prefer more homestyle goods to fancy schmancy stuff. Nonetheless, whenever I come to Napa with others, we usually make a stop here. It's a right of passage, and out of town visitors usually want to come. It's a safe bet that people will like it. The macarons are about $3.50 each. They're quite sweet, though I enjoyed the pumpkin one on their fall menu. The croissants are the other popular items. There's nice outdoor seating where you can enjoy yourself and people watch. And the surrounding area is good for walking around and relaxing.
(3)
E D.
Loooooved this place. The bakery man was so kind and attentive and made some very good recommendations. The macaroons were huge and had the most awesome texture. The rice Krispy chocolate thing was so goooood! They need more locations
(5)
Shereen A.
Oh how I love you, everything about you, and need you very much so. Love the croissants, lemon tarts, macarons, breads, scones, and am left sadly longing for more (because I'm greedy like that). I hate your line out the door, when you're sometimes sold out of my favorites, and don't like to share you. YUM
(5)
Alex L.
Yes, I know. Yet another 5-star review for Bouchon Bakery. Are they really THAT good? Like give-them-a-five-star-review for-the-thousandth-time good? The answer is an enthusiastic yes. As far as bakeries are concerned, this place blows almost all of its competitors out of the water. What's most unfortunate about this review is that I can't recall exactly what it was I ate. After waiting in a long but fast-moving line for ten minutes or so, I was so hungry and excited to see what the hubbub was about that I let pass details like what they offered and instead focused on the sheer beauty of their products. Each little pastry is beautifully baked and presented on trays and plates. Their offerings ran from fruit tarts to cinnamon buns and everything in between. I ended up ordering a number of goodies so as not to miss out on anything particular. My favorite ended up being a chocolate-topped, custard filled treat that practically exploded in my mouth. Sitting outside on the bench while eating, I simply nodded and smiled at those in line, many of whom were surely first-timers. They had no idea what they were in for. It's unfortunate that there are so few bakeries and breakfast options in this area. At least they have Bouchon. Stand in line and you'll see it is worth the wait.
(5)
Sylvia O.
I came here after a great time wine tasting. I was craving something sweet and decided to come here. I've been to their Las Vegas location and had a great experience, so why not? I ordered the strawberry cheesecake and boston cream cupcake. About $6~$7 a piece. Kinda pricey but not too bad. The strawberry cheesecake was yumm! It was the perfect texture and not too dense nor too sweet. However, the boston cupcake was not as satisfactory. The "cake" portion was very dry and tough. The cream in the middle was just ok. Other than that, the place was clean and the line moved pretty fast.
(3)
Carrie U.
The best macarons you can get anywhere at any time. You really can't make a mistake with the flavors. If you're coming from out of town and have some time to kill, please try your best to make a stop here. The line goes out the door for a reason. Cute shop, but no indoor seating. Plenty of tables and chairs to eat outside between the bakery and the cafe.
(5)
Mari K.
I can't say a bad thing about Bouchon Bakery. Not even about the line you inevitably have to wait in to get the delicious treats and coffee (although if you go right at 7am when they open, it's a much smaller line. It wasn't even stretching out the doors yet!). As always, the macarons were perfect. They're so huge! And yet they still have the perfect texture, the right amount of sweetness, everything. The latte I got was also great. It's so nice to get great coffee and a great pastry treat in the same place. What a way to start my morning!
(5)
Tiffany W.
Bouchon Bakery is the type of bakery you see in the movies, very cutesy, even cuter that it's located in Napa. It is packed here though so I expected the pastries to be mind blowing, life changing. I ordered two macarons, one pisachio and the other vanilla. I also ordered a strawberry almond croissant. I wasn't really impressed by the macarons here except for their size. They were about the size of my palms! I did enjoy the strawberry almond croissant though, but it wasn't extraordinary, but good enough to make me remember. I don't know any other places that make that specific combo of a croissant so kudos to Bouchon for that, my two faves. Overall, I wasn't too impressed by their pastries only at the fact that this place is ridiculously aesthetically pleasing.
(3)
Jonathan A.
Even if I don't like macarons per se, this place is really good! I tried the coffee and salted caramel macarons and they're so good. I personally don't like sweets very much so after half of each I was good. This place makes for a great place to go after a hot day of wine tasting!
(5)
Erica O.
As good as it gets! I've been here a few times and their food is always a hit! Try their Macarons, I just recently tried them and they were amazing! P.s. pay no attention to the line, it's always there. The wait is well worth it.
(5)
Ngoc N.
My friend visit Napa area quite often so i am quite lucky to have had a good amount of sweets from here. When my friend told me about the place I thought he was just spitting nonsense. However the macaroons are really taste. The best I had ever had, though the only downside to it is that it must be eaten right away or the same day as my friend tried to warn me !! unfortunately I was being stubborn and greedy. force my friend to buy a dozen of them in different flavors ..thinking I can just chill them
(5)
Danielle Y.
Visited Bouchon for the first time because my boyfriends parents renewed their vows in Napa. The line for Bouchon stretched down the street, we probably waited in line for about 30 minutes. It's a cute little bakery, but not worth the wait in my opinion. However I'm not a huge sweets person, we got the seasonal fruit tart, the brownie bites, and the 6-pack of classic macaroons. The macaroons were too sweet for my liking, but they came in the cutest box! The fruit tart was yummy, though. Might go again if I'm in the area and the line isn't long.
(3)
Angie L.
the hype is real guys - go here! we came over memorial day weekend which is why i'm guessing the line was so long (almost two hours). in fact it was so long that half our group was able to go elsewhere, eat lunch, and come back to join us in line. once we finally got inside, i could see why the wait was so long. the staff does not rush you at all and they really take the time to assist you and answer all your questions. they had several gluten free options and i went with several macarons (three each of the raspberry, salted caramel, lemon, pistachio, and espresso). i also got their bag of toffee. i spent $60 on treats, but it was so worth it. plus i wanted to get a ton to justify waiting in that long line. the toffee was okay, but the macarons were all delicious! plus they're bigger than average so i guess it's worth the price. i actually brought some home to utah and my family all loved them! my favorite was the raspberry, but you can't go wrong with any of them.
(4)
Rhea N.
We weren't able to get a table at French Laundry so we went to Bouchon instead and boy were we glad afterwards. Great food and friendly staff, we started with the truffled mushroom risotto and it was absolutely amazing, definitely a must try here. My sister had the beet salad, normally I am not a huge fan of the earthy taste of beets, but I have to say it was tasty. I have had better oysters but they were still very good and my gnocchi was to die for. I'm giving them a 5 star because it is deserving of being one of the top restaurants in Napa Valley.
(4)
Darina H.
A personal favorite for me and the family. Bouchon Bakery is well known for their macaroons and French pastries. I must admit, I am a huge fan of all there yummy goodies. I was here the other day with family and friends. The line was literally out the door and around the establishment. We wait for about 20-30 minutes, but the line moved semi-quickly (definitely worth the wait). My husband and I ordered a mixture of various flavored macaroons including the pistachio, vanilla and chocolate. We also indulged ourselves with a chocolate croissant as well. In addition to these sweet treats, they also have French bread and other savory goodness. Other options for drinks include bottled water, sparkling water and juices as well as coffee & ice tea. The seating it a little tricky. I wish there were a few more tables outside to sit and enjoy the pastries. If you don't reserve your table (while waiting in line), you and your party may be out of a place to sit. My party and I had to be tactical about it and grab a table while my other party was still waiting / ordering.
(4)
Alvin C.
Definitely a fan of Bouchon Bakery, but it is pricey. $3.50 of a regular size macaron. There's always a line since the bakery shop is small. If you notice, most of the customer don't walk out with a big box of bake goodies. Not something you buy in dozens but it does make you miss it. I think they will have longer lines if they were a bit cheaper. Customers will buy in dozens instead of a box of 4. My wife and kids would always like to make a stop here when we're in Napa. Parking is available across the street, but expect to drive a round to find an empty space.
(4)
Catherine C.
Long lines for what? The only item I found amazing here is the strawberry almond croissant. Everything else is just OK. The regular croissants are dry and uninspiring. It's also pricey. Most of the pastries here $3.50 a piece, a few are in the $6 range. I've never been a huge macaron fan, but I've tried the pina colada and pistachio ones here, and the it's light and fluffy and sweet like candy as expected (not my thing but apparently macaron fans rave about them).
(3)
David H.
Macarons about the size of your palms... solid and chewy on the inside (as opposed to being hollow under the shell). Since my fiancee and I were in the area for our Christmas vacation, we bought enough macarons and various baked goods to last the entire week for the both of us and my family. This is the first time I've had such a solid macaron. Back at home, the macarons we get are hollow underneath the shell. I didn't realize that they were suppose to be more solid under the shell. We got one of each flavor and I liked peppermint the best. If you like bacon (who doesn't?) then be sure to order their bacon scone! The eclairs are delicious as well with rich filling in each bite. We went on a Monday morning at opening, 7am, so we were first in line. But lines can be long at any given time. Even if we had to wait it would have been worth it.
(5)
Mike R.
Long line as usual but didn't mind it with the nice weather. Had the macaroons - hazelnut, salted caramel, pistachio, and espresso flavors all very good! The coffee here is great too which complements the sweet desserts. Delicious treats you definitely need to try when you are in town.
(4)
Tara N.
very good, had some great beer as well. French Food, pretty authentic. Excellent chicken dish.My brother didnt really enjoy his dish. Great location.
(4)
Heidi M.
We all know the Cookie Monster, we'll I'm the macaroon monster. Nomnomnom mom! *crumbs flying everywhere* A napa trip is not complete without a visit here! I recommend coming encore 11am to avoid the lines over the weekend! Favorite macaroon flavors: Pistachio Espresso Hazelnut ...but I will eat any of the macaroons!! And when you think it can't get any better.... There's chocolate dipped macaroons. *faint*
(5)
Sarina T.
The lines may be long but it moves quite swiftly if you know what you want. Enhanced palm sized macarons are worth every bite, it's like 3-4 lady like bites. Pistachio is my fav. Flavor bursts, chewy texture and super fresh and not overly sugary. Not like the dried out crack and crumble bite sizes macarons elsewhere. Also try the fresh baked breads and other pastries too.
(5)
Laura Kate S.
While Bouchon restaurant is overpriced with tiny food, Bouchon Bakery is only a bit expensive with big portions. I'd had macarons a few years ago at the Bouchon in NYC at Columbus Circle. I found them lackluster and dry. My sister insisted I give them another try. So, after our less-than-thrilling Bouchon meal, we popped next door for treats. I'm glad we did, as they were all delicious. Amongst our group, cakes, cookies, and macarons were nibbled on. All were very good. The macarons were particularly nice once they were an ambient temperature (they're kept quite cold in the bakery). Hoorah for some slight redemption.
(4)
Jeromy G.
Came to the bakery to get some desserts post wine tasting. The line is long when you come here on a nice day. So many people are out and about it's expected when the place has a famous name and the pastries are so darn good.We got a few macaroons, the nutter butter and ho-oh. Now let's go over each. The macaroon is your regular french macaroon cookie that tastes of various flavors and butter. We got a few fruit and vanilla ones and they tasted like they were suppose to. Some places make macaroons that only taste like butter and the highlighted flavor is lost. Not here so that's nice. It is also nice that their macaroons are big. Like really big. I love it. The nutter butter is exactly like you'd expect the nabisco cookie to taste in the red package. It's good but it has a homemade flair to it. The ho-oh tastes exactly like the hostess cake with frosting. It's pretty trippy to eat snacks that resemble ones from my childhood. They were good but not amazing. I expected them to outclass those snacks and they did a bit but by a small margin. The macaroons were the stars this outing. I hope to come and try other tasty treats the next time I'm in town.
(4)
Karah G.
Great little place to stop while visiting, definitely a tourist attraction like a lot of other things in yountville. The line can get really long, but if get lucky it quick and easy, there's a big selection. I got a small cake thing with a big purple flower on it, it was really good. And a couple cookie scone things which were also good. Is it worth the money, that's what you have to ask yourself.
(4)
Andrew C.
Hands down the macarons are a must. They're bigger than your average macaron you'll find at Bottega Louie, but quality is a plus. Alongside those babies, they've got lots of pastries, fresh sandwiches and French baguettes- you don't want to miss out on the pastries for sure. I'd say the shop is pretty small which causes the long line, (the goods themselves are pricey) but it's all worth it! My splurge: Macarons (salted, hazelnut choco ganache, pistachio, fig), Original/almond croissants, Madeleine's, blueberry muffin, Zucchini loaf, Blueberry scone. :) On a side note, watch out for flies roaming around outside and at the entrance. They on the attack.
(4)
Cindy C.
When we used to visit Napa on a more regular basis, we would always stop here as our first stop to stock up on baguettes, macarons, and coffee. Haven't really been this way much as of late (doing more the Sonoma/Healsburg visits) so it was a nice change to come back here over the weekend and see that the line is still just as long and the baked goods just as good. Was a bit sad that the chocolate & almond croissant did not live up to the quality of what I just experienced in Paris (even at some dinky local mom and pop bakery), but happy that the macarons are less sweet than their counterparts in France. Will always stop here if I'm near by Yountville!
(4)
Tina C.
Got some macarons to go for the ride back to San Fran. My only regret was that we didn't get more!! It was so flavorful, crisp and flaky and not too sweet. Espresso and pistacio were my favorites flavors. There is always a long line there, but go early in the morning when they open and there is no line.
(5)
Vivian A.
I've only had Bouchon macarons as gifts so I was super excited when we finally stopped here so I can have a live Bouchon experience all to myself. We arrived around 2pm and as expected, there was a line (but it moved fast). yelp.com/biz_photos/bouc… What I swallowed: MACARONS: A LOT OF THEM. ONE OF EACH. FOUR OF PISTACHIO. Yes, they are as good as they are hyped up. Get some. Get all of them. And when in doubt, get two of everything. yelp.com/biz_photos/bouc… yelp.com/biz_photos/bouc… yelp.com/biz_photos/bouc… PORK BELLY CROISSANT FOUEE: This probably wouldn't have been something I would have picked eating with my eyeballs but my friend who met us there just had one and she said it was to die for. She was right. The pork belly was so tasty and the toasted bread wrapped around it complimented it perfectly. yelp.com/biz_photos/bouc… HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH: How can something so simple be so delicious? I am not sure but my friend got a couple to take home for her hubby and after one bite, I jumped back in line so that I could take one home for The Canadian (anything to divert his attention away from my macarons!). Walk, don't run and get your macarons and ham and cheese sandwiches!
(5)
Katie P.
They ham n cheese croissant toasted amazingly awesome. Accompanied by two double shot espresso's, can't ask for a better breakfast in wine country!!!! I don't even have to mention not shall I the pastries, as they are too good to share.
(5)
Alex M.
Many places make decent pain au chocolate, and Bouchon is one of those places. Considering the quality, I don't think they're very expensive, and they're a nice size. I love the sugared brioche, and the epi bread, and of course I'm really there for the macarons. I'm addicted to salted caramel and pistachio. I've eaten macarons all over the world, and yes, I think they're better in Europe- but it's hard to find decent ones here. These are good. Are they like the best French macarons? No. They aren't. And I think Miette in SF has better macarons in the Bay Area. But is it worth standing in line and trying Bouchon? Yes, absolutely, if the line isn't too long.
(4)
Eugenia L.
First off everything here is made well so there are no technical faults to be found. I just found their offerings a little on the boring side. Macarons and eclairs can be found in any bakery or patisserie. They aren't the only ones who can properly execute it or offer unique flavors. Some of their other treats are riffs on classic junk food like Oreos and HoHos. But it still doesn't justify a $6 HoHo knock off that ends up tasting exactly like one from Hostess (but without the chemical preservatives). For me I found Bouchon to be a let down especially after seeing what the patisseries in SF were doing.
(3)
Darlyn S.
It quite a drive to Yountville but a beautiful one. Once you get here, the line is long but just enjoy the view, the wait is all worth it. The Hype is real. All the pastries, dessert and coffee so yummy. Try the salted caramel macaron, it's so rich, so good, I died and went to french pastry heaven!
(4)
Bob S.
We had the eclair and the past two or three times it has been really dry like old, however I know it is not old because of the volume that they do. I hope that they go back to the old recipes that they had.
(2)
Seneca G.
As amazingly delicious as they were, I made the mistake of only getting macarons. Somehow when I went on a Tuesday afternoon the line was only 3 people long and I think I froze under the pressure of having to make a quick decision. Everything looked so delicious, but all I knew about were those macarons. I ended up getting a large hazelnut one, which was absolutely phenomenal, and the baby sampler pack. It had six mini sized bites, and each were worth savoring. Whether it was the intensity of the deep, rich chocolate, the unexpected whimsy of the blackberry that only asserted itself at the last possible second, or the rich pistachio flavor that was only missing the shell to crack open, these were delightful little treats, each and every one of them. Next time I return I will be ready. I'll know that I should order one of the other pastries, and a loaf of bread, and a delectable dessert, but for now I'll live on the memory of the macaron.
Alice C.
I'm not exceptionally critical when it comes to writing reviews about food. I bother to post reviews only when the food or service at any articular merchant is exceptionally good or utterly blah! For Bouchon, if not in the name of the renowned Thomas Keller for his culinary skills, I definitely wouldn't bother to make a detour there. Nothing spectacular about their pastries. I judge the quality of the taste at any French bakery by the plain croissant they have to offer. Here, big in size, bland and plain in taste. Texture of their pastries is flat, lands nothing memorable on my taste bud. Three of us probably spent around 100 bucks there for the pastries, macaroons and soup/quiche. 4 bux average for a pastry and $6 for a fist-size bread pudding that tastes like rock and veto'ed by us all. The bread pudding we had the night before at a local wine bistro in Palo Alto tasted 20x better. Macaroons are decent. We tried a couple different ones, PB&J, Vanilla, salted caramel, and pistachio. Very large and good. But the line here never subsides. Aside from the hype that this place is associated with Bouchon and French Laundry, everyone here is tourist and has no problem opening up wallet for anything visible at this bakery. Me included :P and disappointed. Pastries at Bouchon are homogeneous to those at Peet's, Starbucks or individual coffee/pastry shops (that usually turn out to be hidden gem). Croissants were invented by French and commonly served at bfast tables across Europe. Any street vendor or coffee shops serve croissants all day long and nearly NONE tastes anything less in terms of flavor (plain croissant with so much flavor!!!), texture, character, depth, and intensity. Tiny yes but full of senses and joy! I haven't had a croissant in any city in NA that tastes anywhere close to a croissant in Europe regardless if its hole in the wall bistro or bakery. Owell....
(2)Christy T.
Thomas Keller pilgrimage stop #3 (reviews for #2 and #1 soon to follow). So I basically bought one (or two...ok maybe three) of everything in the store (minus the breads). I would've literally bought everything just to sample, but knowing that there is a bouchon bakery in nyc there is no need as nyc is only a 4 hr trip from my parents house :D. I got all flavors of the large macarons, a blueberry muffin, a coffee cake, a gingerbread muffin, a lemon tart, a pear tart, eight eclairs (4 chocolate, 4 coffee), 3 bouchon brownies, a chocolate almond crossaint, a bacon scone, a coffee with milk, and equator's french laundry roast coffee beans..whew! I wanted more but the fiance gave me the evil glare and the "are you serious!?" look. Out of all the macarons I have tried, bouchon's probably has the best tasting macarons. The flavors didn't taste artificial, and we were fortunate enough to not have fully hallow macaron shells. I highly recommend getting the raspberry macaron as inside it is filled with raspberry jelly then a raspberry cream borders it. Delish! I also like their banana flavored macaron (literally taste like a banana milkshake) and the vanilla one (taste like real vanilla not the artificial stuff). The eclairs were out of this world good and I am so happy I bought more than one. I prefer the chocolate eclairs than the coffee ones as the coffee cream inside the coffee eclair got slightly bitter days after being bought. The chocolate eclairs however...were still heavenly days after. The bacon scone is also a must. It tasted like a sausage, bacon, and egg on an english muffin. Go get it. Seriously. The blueberry muffin was quite sweet for my taste as is, but if you pair it with milk/tea/(not sure about coffee as I am not a coffee drinker) it will balance out really well! Make sure to eat it a bit warm (or heat it up with you are carrying it home!)! As for the rest, I wasn't able to sample. The fiance's mom LOVED the chocolate almond crossaint, my fiance demolished the brownies, his dad and himself teamed up on the coffee, his sister got this and that, and lastly his mom proudly (while beating on her chest as a symbol of victory) finished both tarts. It must be that good. Also bouchon bakery bakes the bread for his surrounding restaurants in the area..but know that some things aren't available for sale at the bakery as its only exclusive to thomas keller restaurants such as french laundry (like that pretzel bread at the french laundry..cries). Just expect a huge line if you are going later in the day. We were able to go in a day earlier just to scope things out when there was no line luckily (but the fiance didn't let me buy anything since we were on our way to the french laundry...booo) so just make sure you arrive really early. Best time to go is when they just open..we went really early before they opened at 7am...first in line and no huge line at all (well it wasn't that big). I am seriously considering getting our future wedding favors here.
(5)linda h.
On my latest (of many trips) I discovered the chocolate covered macaroons. What?!?! They have milk and dark chocolate. I tried the milk chocolate. So good! Got an assortment of other goodies and the tuna nicoise sandwich, with olive tampenade. Not a fan of tuna but this sandwich turned me into a tuna lover! Another delicious trip to the best bakery! Ever!
(5)Amanda N.
Thomas Keller does it right. Busy little place but worth the wait. Pastries & desserts are so delicious, coffee was good, & staff was friendly. There's outdoor seating for you to enjoy your goodies. pics on instagram @ amanda.n_
(5)Daniel H.
Came here a couple times already, and is a nice stop to make after a day of wine tasting in the Napa area. I mainly go for the macarons, but have tried pieces of other baked items from here. The macarons are pretty decent, maybe nothing compared to what you can get from Paris, but they are pretty similar in terms of consistency and taste. They come in two sizes, but I mainly saw the larger ones (that go for $3.50 each) on display so decided to get some of them. I tried out the vanilla and the espresso, and I think preferred the vanilla one more. There are a bunch of other flavors though to choose from. As a side note, I have also been to the Bouchon in Beverly Hills, and I think the bakery items from here (for the macarons at least) taste better. At the end of the day, the line wasn't too bad, but I heard that sometimes people line out the door and have to wait for a while before they can even enter the bakery. The bakery (adjacent to the restaurant) is pretty small, so not many people can fit in all at once. If you do come in at the end of the day though, just keep in mind that they might not have as much of a selection as during the day. Items are still pretty tasty though regardless of time of purchase. They also have a small sitting area outside where you can enjoy your pastries!
(3)Kristian D.
I still hate the American term - bakery. This word does not accurately describe places like Bouchon Bakery, lumping them in with many other places that come nowhere near the quality and luxury you encounter in this Yountville institution. Bouchon is a true pastry shop making exquisitely delicious items in the French tradition, embracing fat and sugar and turning them into a true art form. I love cake bakeries; I love bread bakeries; but I dream about pastry bakeries! Bouchon is located in a rather small, but luxuriously appointed, shop in downtown Yountville. I arrived at 9:30 AM on a Saturday and had no problems parking in a lot across the street and endured only a 20 minute delay waiting in line before devouring my order. Unfortunately, you are teased with the smell of the bakery before actually entering the shop. You will stand outside, so prepare for the elements. Once inside the amazing and patient staff will help you get your sweet tooth. On my trip, the staff were especially attractive and helpful; I cannot guarantee you will be similarly pampered, but you can always hope! While you peek into the windows watching the latest batches emerge from the oven, you will encounter the biggest problem with your trip - choosing what to order. The macarons are oversized and stuffed with tasty goodness. The pastries are held together with the same magic that makes them flaky and light without floating off into the atmosphere. On my trip, I had a raspberry and chocolate macaron and a pan au chocolat. The raspberry had a cream and jelly filling, and the chocolate had a generous amount of creamy filling. The pan was just amazingly delicate and satisfying. I have been to the best pastry shops in Paris and would place Bouchon Bakery in that same level of heaven. Prices are a bit high, but most items are very reasonable given the quality. I got three excellent items for only $10 which was perfect. It has been a long search to find a good pastry shop anywhere near Sacramento or the Bay Area, and I have found it tucked into a small, sleepy town in the middle of Napa Valley! Do not wait or hesitate, you must try them at your earliest possible opportunity.
(5)Diana I.
MACARONS!!!! by Thomas Keller! I'm a fan! Prepare to wait in a LONG line to get these popular tasty desserts! My husband went at 7:00 AM when they open and there was already a line out the door! You can get a box of 6 small macarons which make a great little gift, or you can get individual larger macarons that are about $3 each. Pretty expensive for a macaron but considering the size of them, it's worth it! My husband and I tried the lemon, pistachio, vanilla, chocolate, raspberry, and salted caramel. I personally liked the pistachio and salted caramel the best! They also have other baked goods and desserts which I have yet to try! There is also a Bouchon Bakery in Beverly Hills and in Las Vegas (inside Venetian Hotel). I've been to all 3 locations now and all produce equally delicious and consistent macarons! :)
(4)Ted S.
On my way out of Napa, after five days of indulging in fantastic wines and food, I drove by Bouchon bakery, and had to stop. While not a sweets guy, my wife and kids were in the mood to try their famous macarons, or something else in that neighborhood. What we ended up getting, with no input from myself, was three different macarons, some éclair type of thing, and a fuggedaboutit. My mind on sweets is forever changed. Macarons: Biting through the thin frosted coating, the texture turns to fresh gingerbread, decidedly chewy, and then to a cool, creamy and flavorful center. The flavors are almost overwhelming, and so damn good. The first one, and my favorite, had a lemony flavor, followed by a salted caramel, and finally one that tasted like Trix cereal. My wife and kids were simply blown away by these. We were a couple of miles away from Bouchon by this time, and they were begging me to turn back. Sorry, but too much traffic. Éclair thing: Just ridiculous. Chocolate covered and great mouse inside. "Tastes like the one from Starbuck's, but a little better." This from my 14 year old daughter. By far the best I've ever tasted. Fuggedaboutit: Described by the counter girl as a rice crispy square kind of thing, it seemed quite pricey. That is, until you take a bite. Ding-dongish in appearance, but quite larger, this chocolate coated delight is all about the chocolate, then the salt, the caramel, and that crispy center. This one was simply too much for me. It was fantastic, but too rich, too much of a good thing. Two small bites did me in. My daughter worked on it for a couple of hours, but was spent from the macarons and the éclair. Ultimately ants sieged upon the final third, and we sacrificed the foil-wrapped wonder. Bread: We had hired a private chef to cook for us a few evenings prior to visiting the bakery, and she brought out a beautiful braided type of baguette that she picked up at Bouchon on her way to the house. This is just so good. I would make a stop just for the bread. Bouchon bakery is not all hype, but just all good. It's really a tiny place, but a must stop if in the area.
(5)Nick H.
3.5 Stars! We stopped by the bakery for a quick rest and recharge. We purchased several macarons, a giant chocolate covered pistachio macaron, peach lemonade and iced vanilla lattes. I was not expecting very much but my overall experience was a little better than average. The macarons were very average to me. The texture was off and my own opinion was that they were lacking with their flavors. The coffee was AOK. The peach lemonade was average at best and even the little one was not a fan. Indeed, the highlight was the dark chocolate covered pistachio macaron. The texture was off but the flavors were vibrant and and went well together. Overall, AOK. The prices, in my opinion, were high for the quality. Having an abundant variety of desserts on this road trip, this is one I could've skipped. I do love this town though!
(3)Dennis H.
30 minute wait ... hype hype hype... did it live up to it .. eh. Macarons were definitely larger than life literally! Got a pistachio (good) and a caramel (too sweet). TKO .. indeed ... it's their version of an Oreo cookie... oink oink, definitely get this! The Oh Oh reminds me of a Ho Ho ... :D This place is good but way too pricey and sad to say not really worth the wait.
(3)Jean S.
Omg, am I the only person that didn't think Bouchon Bakery is the best bakery ever?! Wait, I scrolled below and I guess there are a few. My main issue is that the hype is too high. I'd give it 3.5 stars. So here is my experience... I came here on Saturday and there was a line out the door though it did go at an okay pace. I picked up a small box of macarons and an almond croissant to go. I chose salted caramel, pistachio, raspberry, and strawberry lemonade (seasonal). After dinner at Ad Hoc, went to SF and sampled the macarons. Since they were fairly large macarons, I only cut a quarter piece to try. I thought they were SO incredibly SWEET!! Especially the strawberry lemonade and the salted caramel. Only the pistachio was a little less sweet. My stomach hurt after. I admit I was really full already from dinner, but wanted to try the macarons while they were fresh. The next morning, I tried all the macarons again with a nice cup of coffee and for some reason, liked them much better then. They were still sweet, but not sickeningly sweet, and much more enjoyable. The salted caramel tastes the best. The center is like a layer of pure gooey caramel! It has a nice hint of salt, but pretty sweet. Shouldn't eat more than one. Strawberry lemonade and raspberry macarons have a nice fruity flavor and a little bit of fruit jam in the middle. The pistachio is okay, a nice light flavor. I was not a fan of the almond croissant. It was a tad dry, not much almond filling, and...just an okay croissant. Although I did eat it the next morning, I asked the lady who sold it at the bakery and she stated the croissant would be fine the next day. It wasn't an awful croissant. You can taste the almond flavor. It just was not super impressive. I think I was just expecting perfection at the bakery that is much talked about and has the Thomas Keller name. It definitely is an above average bakery, but people hyped it up way too high. In my opinion, the macarons at Ginger Elizabeth in Sacramento (especially the salted caramel ones) are better. And the almond croissant at Ariscault Bakery in SF is much better. My friends all bought macarons and other baked goods from Bouchon Bakery and they all seemed to really like it. I wouldn't mind going back to try other items.
(4)Karen G.
30+ minute wait in line. Was it worth it? You betcha! Monkey Bread Macarons: Chocolate and birthday cake Baguette TKO: Thomas Keller Oreo Chocolate Éclair Parisian Ham & Emmenthaler Cheese on Baguette French Laundry Equator coffee I don't have much of a sweet tooth though I've never met a piece of dark chocolate I didn't love... TK just knows how to do food. Get in line. It's worth it.
(5)Gerald R.
SENSE OF SMELL Several chef celebrities have stated the first thing that gets their attention on food is seeing - the look of a food. I always felt the sense of sight of food is overrated. You miss a lot of great tasting food if you base on looks alone. On the other hand the sight of smell IS the most important attention getter when it comes to food. If the smell is delightful it makes you want to eat the food. However the senses of smell and taste work together when you eat. Yesterday I drove to Yountville as my company was closed due to the July 4th weekend. I wanted to take the opportunity to get out. I've been to Bouchon Bakery in the past. As I waited in line I was standing close to the window. The smell of freshly baked bread and pastry was addicting. It made the wait in line bearable. The smell of freshly baked bread wakes me up in the morning. If I could get "high" off those freshly bake goods I would. I probably did get "high" yesterday at Bouchon Bakery when I was waiting in line. I decided to get some croissants and macaroons for my sister and cousin. Since I didn't eat breakfast or lunch yesterday I decided to get three items for myself: 1) ham and gruyère on toasted baguette 2) iced cappuccino 3) strawberry croissant. The smell from the toasted, crusty baguette and the ham was enticing. Eating the ham and gruyère on toasted baguette made my day as the drive to Yountville was worth despite the traffic (it took me about 2 1/2 hours to drive to Yountville). On a warm day the iced cappuccino was refreshing as it cooled me down. For the strawberry croissant I decided to wait until I got home. When I got home a slightly warmed the strawberry croissant for 30 seconds as I didn't want to warm it too much as I like my croissant with that slight crunch and not soggy. The edges of the croissant maintained that crunch. In the middle you can taste sweetness of strawberry and buttery texture of the bottom crust of the croissant. Despite the smell outside of the bakery and my ham and gruyère baguette sandwich I can't rate Bouchon Bakery a perfect five stars. It's because of the regular croissants I've had in the past. The croissants were tasty but they tend time stay out on display for a while. I love my croissants right out of the oven. It's the buttery smell of the croissants from the oven that makes me want to have a croissant. That's more evident when I smell the croissants at Specialty's Cafe & Bakery at the Financial District in SF. A HOT butter croissant from Specialty's sets the standard of all butter croissants because most butter croissants I've had aren't hot from the oven. I know that sounds picky but as I stated earlier smell and taste go hand to hand when eating food. A great example is when eating a hot butter croissant right from the oven because the flavor of the butter intensifies. Overall I like Bouchon Bakery a lot. When I go to Yountville I go to Bouchon Bakery to pick some pastries. If I go to Bouchon Bakery again I would like to go early in the morning before it opens. So when Bouchon Bakery opens I hey a chance to have a hot butter croissant. If I'm able to have a hot butter croissant from Bouchon Bakery then I will update my ratings.
(4)Trishia P.
I've been back to Bouchon this summer due to my craving of macarons. I decided to go back and try it out. The flavors have since improved. I am happy to report that the Salted Caramel now has caramel as the filling (not buttercream). My favorites are Salted Caramel, Raspberry (Filled with buttercream and Raspberry jam, Chocolate (filled with a fudge buttercream) and Pistachio. The line has now wrapped all the way down the block.
(4)Diana H.
I happen to stumble on to this place while looking for one of the best dessert places in North Cali.. And boy this by far was one of the best discoveries EVER!! Pictures are true thought, the line does come out the door but totally worth the wait for what's inside.. First time I came here was with hubby while we were in Yountville for the taste of Yountville.. We were surprised with the line running out the door and almost 3/4 down the street.. When we finally get inside we were in awe with the huge selection they had to pick from.. The smell of fresh baked bread fills your nostrils, amazing.. They have pastries, muffins, sandwiches, quiches, cakes, cookies, macarons and hot & cold coffees, teas and hot chocolate.. We ended up with almond croissants and lemon & raspberry macarons to start of our day.. Bouchon is defiantly a heaven for macaron lover, they're the best I have ever tasted.. The almond croissant was super flakey, the right balance of sweetness and yummy toasted almonds on top.. The macarons ARE TO DIE FOR!! One of the best I've ever eaten.. The outside is the right amount of soft but light crunch and the middle has a small tart of a bite with real fruit in the middle.. I came a second time with hubs, his son and son's gf.. We might've gone a little crazy with the ordering.. We all each got 2-3 items each and a loaf of bread (hubby loves hot fresh bread).. Oh Oh, Butter Nutter, Key Lime Eclair, Lemon Tart, Blueberry Muffin, Oh No, Chocolate Bouchon, Lemon/ Raspberry/ Chocolate/ Salt Caramel Macarons are some of the few things we have tried here.. Everything here is created all so beautifully and the presentation very appeasing to the eyes.. It's always so hard to choose 1 or 2 things only when coming here.. Our goal is to try everything at least once and then repeat.. Lol (^__^) So when it comes to giving this place another 5 stars, it's definitely earn it on so many levels.. The staff there a super friendly, amazing, always with a smile, great attitude and willing to do the little extra just to make your day (like perfectly hot bread for hubby).. They have a amazing system there on taking orders to make it a smooth operation, easy and super fast.. We will definitely be back soon, again and again.. Til then.. :)
(5)Amy C.
Happy place Childhood nostalgia Spongecake swirls Ho Ho Oh Oh Little Debbie Big Debbie Fellow chocoholic Macaron convert Bouchon lover Happy face.
(5)Josephine L.
We came here on a Tuesday morning during our vacation and there was no line which was pretty awesome considering everyone warned us about the lines. - Monkey bread: basically a large cinnamon bun with a salted caramel sauce on top. It was really good but slightly dry - Coffee Cake: really tasty and crumbly - Salted Caramel Macaroon- OH MY THIS WAS AMAZING. I've never been the biggest macaroon fan but you cannot leave without trying the macaroons. It was perfectly crunchy yet the inside was soft and it changed my life a little bit. We loved it so much we had to get another before we left. Take your food out back to the little tables and eat there. There is a cute little garden and it is perfect
(4)Minerva L.
Super packed! But their stuff is neat, because they back it super fresh! I do think it's overrated, I've had their macaroons in Vegas, not the best, NYC is the best. The pastries and all are unique on its own, so it's worth checking it out and grabbing a few things while you're there.
(4)Jasmine X.
So in love with this place. My friends and I were driving from Napa back down to SF and since we weren't going to make a normal dinner, we decided to grab some snacks from Bouchon to manage her hunger. Thomas Keller would also have a super bomb bakery oh my goodness it was great. When we arrived around 5:30pm, there was actually a line out the door, but it moved pretty quickly and they're really quite efficient. You place your order with someone when you get in and then they assemble the goods for you and by the time you reach the register, you just pay and go. I got: strawberry lemonade macaron, vanilla macaron, cheesecake, monkey bread, chocolate croissant, eclair, and a vanilla latte. Highlight was definitely the cheesecake. Easily one of the best cheesecakes that I've ever had. Would highly, highly recommend. It's not too sweet, the crust on the bottom is perfect, and the rhubarb jam that they had on top complemented the cheesecake itself really well and added an awesome amount of flavor. The macarons were also pretty stand out and I would say are on par with Laduree which is what most of us coin as the best macarons you can get. I was amazed with how soft the shell was and again, how not overbearingly sweet the macarons were. Great flavor. The shell was perhaps almost too soft, but it was great. They sell them in either giant size or miniature size if you want a small bite sample of them all. Everything else was pretty typical of what you would expect from a bakery. I also want to highlight some pretty bomb customer service that Bouchon had. They actually mixed up my drink and gave me a cold instead of hot vanilla latte. Instead of tossing it out, the barista actually ended up just giving it to me for free. It's a small thing for a bakery as profitable as Bouchon to simply give away a free drink, but it makes the customer experience so, so much better. So yeah, bomb customer service. The vanilla latte was also pretty well crafted as well. tldr; one of the best bakeries I've ever encountered. highly recommend the cheesecake and the macarons!
(5)Stella K.
Five Perfect Stars! My husband and I have been coming here for years! The best pastries, breads, cookies, and butter and sugar treats in the nation! Beware of the lines! Best time to come is when they open bright and early at 7:00 am. There is rarely a line and they are fully stocked with delicious items. The customer service is top notch and the treats tower above the competition! If you are counting calories....this is not a stop for you.
(5)Briget P.
The almond croissant had a layer of chocolate on the inside which was a bonus surprise for me, so delicious. I also tried a savory pastry with pork belly, it was filling and the smell was invigorating. Pistachio macaron was my favorite flavor, not too sweet and light consistency. Sea salt caramel was a little too sweet. The line goes out the door but it moves fast.
(4)Latifa S.
Absolute love-fest!! Absolute!! There aren't many 5 stars bakeries on my yelp but this one, well this one's definitely a 5+++.and above! I'd give it a 6 if I could. Why do I love Bouchon bakery????! Why not!! It is in the cutest building in Yountville. It has tantalizing scent of all things choclate, butter, tarts, eclair with gold, amazing chocolate croissants!! It's bright, shiny and filled with all the goodies. And they always have lines out the door.Always! Bouchon brings out the greedy little fat child in me. Fatty, indecisive child that wants it all at Charlie in the chocolate factory. Do I get the macarons?? Do I get the chocolate ganache? Eeee what do I get? Oh yes,I see all you people behind me waiting for your turn. Better wait up!!!! I didn't come all the way to Napa and wait in line to NOT get all my favorite treats.You all shall wait for your turn and go crazy as well. So yea,let me continue drooling! Few things I got after a few hundred seconds: Chocolate eclair - meltyy, oooeyyyy,gooooeyyyyyyyy! Chocolate Croissants- The best! Chocolate covered macarons - say whaaaaaaaaaaat! Chocolate ganache tart--Gold leaf! Covered in gold leaves! Taste magical. Salted caramel macarons! Like christmas in my mouth. That nutter butter! Oh so nuttyyyy! Chocolate cookies---gimme gimme!! Do you see where I'm going with this? Straight to "Chocoholics are us" meeting! I don't even need to say "Hi, My name is Latifa and I have a chocolate problem". No, sir! I don't. You get the jist.I shall happily die as a chocolate fiend! Or that one girl that took all the amazing Ganache tart from Bouchon!That girl that made you cry because she ate all the gold leaves and chocolate macarons! Yes,that is me!! One and only! Oh you love chocolate too?Too bad for you that you are in line behind me. Sucka!! Tehehe- I'd love to taunt all sorts of fat kid rant for them chocolate. I mean, seriously!! And their macarons are seriously worth slapping a tiger for. Have you ever slapped a tiger? No? Neither have I. But I would if you make me do it for those macarons. And the Ganache tart!! Wahh wahhh: too bad they don't have one in Seattle. What is up with that? But then again, if they do open it here: nobody else would get to eat it anyway. I'll make sure to hog/rob all of it everyyyy single dayyyyy! Maybe move in to the space right above, behind, in front! Or buy an RV and just loge outside? Possibilities are endless. Till then, I enjoy flying to San Francisco every few months just so I can come to Yountville! Drink my favorite champagne and go zombie apocalypse over their pastries! Enough said!!! Mahalo Bouchon! Mahalo!
(5)Serene E.
We stopped to check out this bakery on are way up to Napa. What a cute little bakery, There is a line out the door but worth the wait. We tried the Almond Croissants and the Almond & Chocolate Croissants, mmm they were very good. We bought some Oatmeal Raisins cookies to take home and they were delicious!! They do have the French Macarons for sell there as well but we didn't try them. We sat on the patio outside and enjoyed our treats it was very relaxing way to enjoy our treats.
(4)Kayta N.
Nice bakery in a beautiful setting. When I see a line going out the door of a business I normally hesitate to go inside, but I was with a friend was dying to try them out. We took our place in line and waited about 15-20 minutes before we were able to order. It's a bit chaotic inside but it seems like its well organized chaos at the very least. I went with a lemon macaron, a salted caramel macaron and a small iced salted caramel latte. When the well coiffed man behind the counter rang me up the total was only $7 (all of the larger macarons cost $3.50 each) so I knew my latte had been forgotten. I spoke up and another guy set out to whipping one up for me. The well coiffed cashier asked about the origin of my name (German) and then asked me in German if I spoke any. I speak a little and did my best to respond. By the time my German pop quiz was over my latte was finished and I was off to skip merrily down the street with my cutesy little bag and the tastiest freakin' latte I've ever had...ever. I should have turned around and thanked the young man who made it for being born. So thank you bespectacled young man who made my fabulous latte. I think I might be in love with you. On to the macarons. Eh, I found both of mine to be overly sweet for my tastes. The salted caramel macaron had a lovely buttery aftertaste but was just too heavy for my liking. (**SEE EDIT BELOW**) Even my sugar hungry 5 year old found it to be too much for her taste. The lemon one was okay, but I gave my daughter my half of that one as well. I just found both to be too sweet for me. That latte though, mmmmmMMMMM! I will definitely return for that when I'm back in the area. Braving the line is worth the wait at least once. Go for it, all those people must be onto something! **EDIT - I hated to throw out so much of the salted caramel macaron so I took a tiny nibble of the leftovers about 20 minutes after I cut it half at home. I don't know why, but the flavor was much more mellow and far more pleasant. Heck, I was out there to drink wine so my palate could have been skewed on those first couple bites. I'd give the salted caramel mac another chance too I think and have changed my review to a 4 star to reflect this.
(4)Sophie H.
Macarons are love; macarons are life. My first exposure to Bouchon was through one of my friends who brought two macarons back from her visit for me (Chocolate and Salted Caramel, my favorite flavors), and as expected, I was in love. Finally, I was able to make my own trip to the bakery whilst brunching in the area, and the salted caramel was just as good as I remembered it from the first time, and the strawberry lemonade macaron was perfectly sweet and tangy. $3.50 each for such large and quality macarons are definitely worth it!
(5)Sebastian F.
Crazy line any time of day - do I need to say more? That place must be a goldmine. If you plan your visit reserve 30-40 minutes wait time and be prepared that it's more a to-go place. There is seating outside but if the Napa weather doesn't play along feel free to eat in the car. I liked the BLUEBERRY TART ($6) which was well balanced - fruity and not too sweet. The STRAWBERRY RHUBARB TART however didn't impress me. The cheese was too heavy and filling. I also got to try the MACARONS - soft and delightful, my favorite was the Chocolate Macaron. Too bad they're out of many items when I got there, in fact most of their signature bakery goods were not available (eclair). Overall this was a solid experience but nothing I'd line up for 30 minutes again.
(3)Jason K.
Pretty awesome macarons. I am not nearly as big a fan as my wife is (she's kind of addicted now), but these were really good macarons. They better damn well be, though, at $3.50 per cookie. They are larger than a standard macaron, so I guess that's kind of justified...and it is the Bouchon Bakery, so you pay a little for the name. They do live up to the name, though. Great flavor options, excellent textures, and even a nice balanced coolness of temperature. These were really great macarons. Just pricey.
(4)Tiffany C.
Waited in a long line to get overly sweet macroons. They had many variety of sweet bakery good but most people are probably here for the palm sized macroons. I think I was overly excited to get some and my imagination was better then reality. My wallet hurt a little when I spent close to $100 on bakery good. Over all everyone in my family that were there (10) said it was too sweet for their liking. To me they were good but not that good. Over priced for sure in my book! $3.50/macroon and didn't pay attention to the other desserts. $1/biscuit for doggies (smaller then my pinky finger) Very small place, free water, no where to sit inside the bakery section.
(3)Sasa S.
Cute LITTLE bakery which I want to emphasize was crowed on a weekeday afternoon.Like 4 people made waiting in line was frustrating.People are all over you trying to peer into the case,or are just plain rude/annoying. I tried the Espresso,Pistachio and Salted Caramel macaroons. Salted Caramel was way too sweet for my taste,but they were pretty good tasting decent sized macaroons. At $3.50 a piece they better taste good!
(3)Patrycia P.
Spent $96 on baked goods. Was shorted 9 full sized macarons and one $16 sampler box. What a waste of money! The few things I tried were delicious but not good enough to make up for the missing stuff. It's like i paid double!
(1)R N.
Come early!! Get the macaroons and pastries, but skip the Bouchon. It's just an overpriced brownie.
(5)Sophie S.
Macaroon is ok...too sweet . pastry is good .sooo pricey. tourist love this place. the hype is too high!
(3)Margaret M.
Every trip to Napa must include a stop to Bouchon Bakery. While the macarons here are world famous and worth it at $3.50 each, our personal favorite is the Salmon Rillette, which is also an appetizer served in the restaurant. It comes in a sealed container with a layer of clarified butter on top. We actually keep the butter and cook with it, and enjoy the salmon spread with fresh bread. It's now become the gift we bring back for others, in addition to the macarons, of course!
(5)Anajoy E.
Finally got to try this place out. Wanted to see what all the hype is about. But I can be a bit impatient and was almost turned away by the long line out the door. But my cousin talked me into it since it was my birthday. I have had macaroons before just not at bouchon. I ordered my fav pistachio, and included salted caramel, vanilla and espresso (i think that's what it was called). The winner was still pistachio. I didn't care for the salted caramel it was too sweet and had loads of caramel filling. The rest were ok. Pistachio was still the winner. I also ordered almond croissant and a chocolate croissant. Yes I love croissants. I was bringing home the chocolate croissant to my husband. He said it was ok. But I loved the almond croissant. I would go back just for that!
(4)Joanna L.
Personally, I think this place is overrated and all hype. There is always a line, and the baked goods are overpriced. Disclaimer: I don't have a big sweet tooth, and I prefer more homestyle goods to fancy schmancy stuff. Nonetheless, whenever I come to Napa with others, we usually make a stop here. It's a right of passage, and out of town visitors usually want to come. It's a safe bet that people will like it. The macarons are about $3.50 each. They're quite sweet, though I enjoyed the pumpkin one on their fall menu. The croissants are the other popular items. There's nice outdoor seating where you can enjoy yourself and people watch. And the surrounding area is good for walking around and relaxing.
(3)E D.
Loooooved this place. The bakery man was so kind and attentive and made some very good recommendations. The macaroons were huge and had the most awesome texture. The rice Krispy chocolate thing was so goooood! They need more locations
(5)Shereen A.
Oh how I love you, everything about you, and need you very much so. Love the croissants, lemon tarts, macarons, breads, scones, and am left sadly longing for more (because I'm greedy like that). I hate your line out the door, when you're sometimes sold out of my favorites, and don't like to share you. YUM
(5)Alex L.
Yes, I know. Yet another 5-star review for Bouchon Bakery. Are they really THAT good? Like give-them-a-five-star-review for-the-thousandth-time good? The answer is an enthusiastic yes. As far as bakeries are concerned, this place blows almost all of its competitors out of the water. What's most unfortunate about this review is that I can't recall exactly what it was I ate. After waiting in a long but fast-moving line for ten minutes or so, I was so hungry and excited to see what the hubbub was about that I let pass details like what they offered and instead focused on the sheer beauty of their products. Each little pastry is beautifully baked and presented on trays and plates. Their offerings ran from fruit tarts to cinnamon buns and everything in between. I ended up ordering a number of goodies so as not to miss out on anything particular. My favorite ended up being a chocolate-topped, custard filled treat that practically exploded in my mouth. Sitting outside on the bench while eating, I simply nodded and smiled at those in line, many of whom were surely first-timers. They had no idea what they were in for. It's unfortunate that there are so few bakeries and breakfast options in this area. At least they have Bouchon. Stand in line and you'll see it is worth the wait.
(5)Sylvia O.
I came here after a great time wine tasting. I was craving something sweet and decided to come here. I've been to their Las Vegas location and had a great experience, so why not? I ordered the strawberry cheesecake and boston cream cupcake. About $6~$7 a piece. Kinda pricey but not too bad. The strawberry cheesecake was yumm! It was the perfect texture and not too dense nor too sweet. However, the boston cupcake was not as satisfactory. The "cake" portion was very dry and tough. The cream in the middle was just ok. Other than that, the place was clean and the line moved pretty fast.
(3)Carrie U.
The best macarons you can get anywhere at any time. You really can't make a mistake with the flavors. If you're coming from out of town and have some time to kill, please try your best to make a stop here. The line goes out the door for a reason. Cute shop, but no indoor seating. Plenty of tables and chairs to eat outside between the bakery and the cafe.
(5)Mari K.
I can't say a bad thing about Bouchon Bakery. Not even about the line you inevitably have to wait in to get the delicious treats and coffee (although if you go right at 7am when they open, it's a much smaller line. It wasn't even stretching out the doors yet!). As always, the macarons were perfect. They're so huge! And yet they still have the perfect texture, the right amount of sweetness, everything. The latte I got was also great. It's so nice to get great coffee and a great pastry treat in the same place. What a way to start my morning!
(5)Tiffany W.
Bouchon Bakery is the type of bakery you see in the movies, very cutesy, even cuter that it's located in Napa. It is packed here though so I expected the pastries to be mind blowing, life changing. I ordered two macarons, one pisachio and the other vanilla. I also ordered a strawberry almond croissant. I wasn't really impressed by the macarons here except for their size. They were about the size of my palms! I did enjoy the strawberry almond croissant though, but it wasn't extraordinary, but good enough to make me remember. I don't know any other places that make that specific combo of a croissant so kudos to Bouchon for that, my two faves. Overall, I wasn't too impressed by their pastries only at the fact that this place is ridiculously aesthetically pleasing.
(3)Jonathan A.
Even if I don't like macarons per se, this place is really good! I tried the coffee and salted caramel macarons and they're so good. I personally don't like sweets very much so after half of each I was good. This place makes for a great place to go after a hot day of wine tasting!
(5)Erica O.
As good as it gets! I've been here a few times and their food is always a hit! Try their Macarons, I just recently tried them and they were amazing! P.s. pay no attention to the line, it's always there. The wait is well worth it.
(5)Ngoc N.
My friend visit Napa area quite often so i am quite lucky to have had a good amount of sweets from here. When my friend told me about the place I thought he was just spitting nonsense. However the macaroons are really taste. The best I had ever had, though the only downside to it is that it must be eaten right away or the same day as my friend tried to warn me !! unfortunately I was being stubborn and greedy. force my friend to buy a dozen of them in different flavors ..thinking I can just chill them
(5)Danielle Y.
Visited Bouchon for the first time because my boyfriends parents renewed their vows in Napa. The line for Bouchon stretched down the street, we probably waited in line for about 30 minutes. It's a cute little bakery, but not worth the wait in my opinion. However I'm not a huge sweets person, we got the seasonal fruit tart, the brownie bites, and the 6-pack of classic macaroons. The macaroons were too sweet for my liking, but they came in the cutest box! The fruit tart was yummy, though. Might go again if I'm in the area and the line isn't long.
(3)Angie L.
the hype is real guys - go here! we came over memorial day weekend which is why i'm guessing the line was so long (almost two hours). in fact it was so long that half our group was able to go elsewhere, eat lunch, and come back to join us in line. once we finally got inside, i could see why the wait was so long. the staff does not rush you at all and they really take the time to assist you and answer all your questions. they had several gluten free options and i went with several macarons (three each of the raspberry, salted caramel, lemon, pistachio, and espresso). i also got their bag of toffee. i spent $60 on treats, but it was so worth it. plus i wanted to get a ton to justify waiting in that long line. the toffee was okay, but the macarons were all delicious! plus they're bigger than average so i guess it's worth the price. i actually brought some home to utah and my family all loved them! my favorite was the raspberry, but you can't go wrong with any of them.
(4)Rhea N.
We weren't able to get a table at French Laundry so we went to Bouchon instead and boy were we glad afterwards. Great food and friendly staff, we started with the truffled mushroom risotto and it was absolutely amazing, definitely a must try here. My sister had the beet salad, normally I am not a huge fan of the earthy taste of beets, but I have to say it was tasty. I have had better oysters but they were still very good and my gnocchi was to die for. I'm giving them a 5 star because it is deserving of being one of the top restaurants in Napa Valley.
(4)Darina H.
A personal favorite for me and the family. Bouchon Bakery is well known for their macaroons and French pastries. I must admit, I am a huge fan of all there yummy goodies. I was here the other day with family and friends. The line was literally out the door and around the establishment. We wait for about 20-30 minutes, but the line moved semi-quickly (definitely worth the wait). My husband and I ordered a mixture of various flavored macaroons including the pistachio, vanilla and chocolate. We also indulged ourselves with a chocolate croissant as well. In addition to these sweet treats, they also have French bread and other savory goodness. Other options for drinks include bottled water, sparkling water and juices as well as coffee & ice tea. The seating it a little tricky. I wish there were a few more tables outside to sit and enjoy the pastries. If you don't reserve your table (while waiting in line), you and your party may be out of a place to sit. My party and I had to be tactical about it and grab a table while my other party was still waiting / ordering.
(4)Alvin C.
Definitely a fan of Bouchon Bakery, but it is pricey. $3.50 of a regular size macaron. There's always a line since the bakery shop is small. If you notice, most of the customer don't walk out with a big box of bake goodies. Not something you buy in dozens but it does make you miss it. I think they will have longer lines if they were a bit cheaper. Customers will buy in dozens instead of a box of 4. My wife and kids would always like to make a stop here when we're in Napa. Parking is available across the street, but expect to drive a round to find an empty space.
(4)Catherine C.
Long lines for what? The only item I found amazing here is the strawberry almond croissant. Everything else is just OK. The regular croissants are dry and uninspiring. It's also pricey. Most of the pastries here $3.50 a piece, a few are in the $6 range. I've never been a huge macaron fan, but I've tried the pina colada and pistachio ones here, and the it's light and fluffy and sweet like candy as expected (not my thing but apparently macaron fans rave about them).
(3)David H.
Macarons about the size of your palms... solid and chewy on the inside (as opposed to being hollow under the shell). Since my fiancee and I were in the area for our Christmas vacation, we bought enough macarons and various baked goods to last the entire week for the both of us and my family. This is the first time I've had such a solid macaron. Back at home, the macarons we get are hollow underneath the shell. I didn't realize that they were suppose to be more solid under the shell. We got one of each flavor and I liked peppermint the best. If you like bacon (who doesn't?) then be sure to order their bacon scone! The eclairs are delicious as well with rich filling in each bite. We went on a Monday morning at opening, 7am, so we were first in line. But lines can be long at any given time. Even if we had to wait it would have been worth it.
(5)Mike R.
Long line as usual but didn't mind it with the nice weather. Had the macaroons - hazelnut, salted caramel, pistachio, and espresso flavors all very good! The coffee here is great too which complements the sweet desserts. Delicious treats you definitely need to try when you are in town.
(4)Tara N.
very good, had some great beer as well. French Food, pretty authentic. Excellent chicken dish.My brother didnt really enjoy his dish. Great location.
(4)Heidi M.
We all know the Cookie Monster, we'll I'm the macaroon monster. Nomnomnom mom! *crumbs flying everywhere* A napa trip is not complete without a visit here! I recommend coming encore 11am to avoid the lines over the weekend! Favorite macaroon flavors: Pistachio Espresso Hazelnut ...but I will eat any of the macaroons!! And when you think it can't get any better.... There's chocolate dipped macaroons. *faint*
(5)Sarina T.
The lines may be long but it moves quite swiftly if you know what you want. Enhanced palm sized macarons are worth every bite, it's like 3-4 lady like bites. Pistachio is my fav. Flavor bursts, chewy texture and super fresh and not overly sugary. Not like the dried out crack and crumble bite sizes macarons elsewhere. Also try the fresh baked breads and other pastries too.
(5)Laura Kate S.
While Bouchon restaurant is overpriced with tiny food, Bouchon Bakery is only a bit expensive with big portions. I'd had macarons a few years ago at the Bouchon in NYC at Columbus Circle. I found them lackluster and dry. My sister insisted I give them another try. So, after our less-than-thrilling Bouchon meal, we popped next door for treats. I'm glad we did, as they were all delicious. Amongst our group, cakes, cookies, and macarons were nibbled on. All were very good. The macarons were particularly nice once they were an ambient temperature (they're kept quite cold in the bakery). Hoorah for some slight redemption.
(4)Jeromy G.
Came to the bakery to get some desserts post wine tasting. The line is long when you come here on a nice day. So many people are out and about it's expected when the place has a famous name and the pastries are so darn good.We got a few macaroons, the nutter butter and ho-oh. Now let's go over each. The macaroon is your regular french macaroon cookie that tastes of various flavors and butter. We got a few fruit and vanilla ones and they tasted like they were suppose to. Some places make macaroons that only taste like butter and the highlighted flavor is lost. Not here so that's nice. It is also nice that their macaroons are big. Like really big. I love it. The nutter butter is exactly like you'd expect the nabisco cookie to taste in the red package. It's good but it has a homemade flair to it. The ho-oh tastes exactly like the hostess cake with frosting. It's pretty trippy to eat snacks that resemble ones from my childhood. They were good but not amazing. I expected them to outclass those snacks and they did a bit but by a small margin. The macaroons were the stars this outing. I hope to come and try other tasty treats the next time I'm in town.
(4)Karah G.
Great little place to stop while visiting, definitely a tourist attraction like a lot of other things in yountville. The line can get really long, but if get lucky it quick and easy, there's a big selection. I got a small cake thing with a big purple flower on it, it was really good. And a couple cookie scone things which were also good. Is it worth the money, that's what you have to ask yourself.
(4)Andrew C.
Hands down the macarons are a must. They're bigger than your average macaron you'll find at Bottega Louie, but quality is a plus. Alongside those babies, they've got lots of pastries, fresh sandwiches and French baguettes- you don't want to miss out on the pastries for sure. I'd say the shop is pretty small which causes the long line, (the goods themselves are pricey) but it's all worth it! My splurge: Macarons (salted, hazelnut choco ganache, pistachio, fig), Original/almond croissants, Madeleine's, blueberry muffin, Zucchini loaf, Blueberry scone. :) On a side note, watch out for flies roaming around outside and at the entrance. They on the attack.
(4)Cindy C.
When we used to visit Napa on a more regular basis, we would always stop here as our first stop to stock up on baguettes, macarons, and coffee. Haven't really been this way much as of late (doing more the Sonoma/Healsburg visits) so it was a nice change to come back here over the weekend and see that the line is still just as long and the baked goods just as good. Was a bit sad that the chocolate & almond croissant did not live up to the quality of what I just experienced in Paris (even at some dinky local mom and pop bakery), but happy that the macarons are less sweet than their counterparts in France. Will always stop here if I'm near by Yountville!
(4)Tina C.
Got some macarons to go for the ride back to San Fran. My only regret was that we didn't get more!! It was so flavorful, crisp and flaky and not too sweet. Espresso and pistacio were my favorites flavors. There is always a long line there, but go early in the morning when they open and there is no line.
(5)Vivian A.
I've only had Bouchon macarons as gifts so I was super excited when we finally stopped here so I can have a live Bouchon experience all to myself. We arrived around 2pm and as expected, there was a line (but it moved fast). yelp.com/biz_photos/bouc… What I swallowed: MACARONS: A LOT OF THEM. ONE OF EACH. FOUR OF PISTACHIO. Yes, they are as good as they are hyped up. Get some. Get all of them. And when in doubt, get two of everything. yelp.com/biz_photos/bouc… yelp.com/biz_photos/bouc… yelp.com/biz_photos/bouc… PORK BELLY CROISSANT FOUEE: This probably wouldn't have been something I would have picked eating with my eyeballs but my friend who met us there just had one and she said it was to die for. She was right. The pork belly was so tasty and the toasted bread wrapped around it complimented it perfectly. yelp.com/biz_photos/bouc… HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH: How can something so simple be so delicious? I am not sure but my friend got a couple to take home for her hubby and after one bite, I jumped back in line so that I could take one home for The Canadian (anything to divert his attention away from my macarons!). Walk, don't run and get your macarons and ham and cheese sandwiches!
(5)Katie P.
They ham n cheese croissant toasted amazingly awesome. Accompanied by two double shot espresso's, can't ask for a better breakfast in wine country!!!! I don't even have to mention not shall I the pastries, as they are too good to share.
(5)Alex M.
Many places make decent pain au chocolate, and Bouchon is one of those places. Considering the quality, I don't think they're very expensive, and they're a nice size. I love the sugared brioche, and the epi bread, and of course I'm really there for the macarons. I'm addicted to salted caramel and pistachio. I've eaten macarons all over the world, and yes, I think they're better in Europe- but it's hard to find decent ones here. These are good. Are they like the best French macarons? No. They aren't. And I think Miette in SF has better macarons in the Bay Area. But is it worth standing in line and trying Bouchon? Yes, absolutely, if the line isn't too long.
(4)Eugenia L.
First off everything here is made well so there are no technical faults to be found. I just found their offerings a little on the boring side. Macarons and eclairs can be found in any bakery or patisserie. They aren't the only ones who can properly execute it or offer unique flavors. Some of their other treats are riffs on classic junk food like Oreos and HoHos. But it still doesn't justify a $6 HoHo knock off that ends up tasting exactly like one from Hostess (but without the chemical preservatives). For me I found Bouchon to be a let down especially after seeing what the patisseries in SF were doing.
(3)Darlyn S.
It quite a drive to Yountville but a beautiful one. Once you get here, the line is long but just enjoy the view, the wait is all worth it. The Hype is real. All the pastries, dessert and coffee so yummy. Try the salted caramel macaron, it's so rich, so good, I died and went to french pastry heaven!
(4)Bob S.
We had the eclair and the past two or three times it has been really dry like old, however I know it is not old because of the volume that they do. I hope that they go back to the old recipes that they had.
(2)Seneca G.
As amazingly delicious as they were, I made the mistake of only getting macarons. Somehow when I went on a Tuesday afternoon the line was only 3 people long and I think I froze under the pressure of having to make a quick decision. Everything looked so delicious, but all I knew about were those macarons. I ended up getting a large hazelnut one, which was absolutely phenomenal, and the baby sampler pack. It had six mini sized bites, and each were worth savoring. Whether it was the intensity of the deep, rich chocolate, the unexpected whimsy of the blackberry that only asserted itself at the last possible second, or the rich pistachio flavor that was only missing the shell to crack open, these were delightful little treats, each and every one of them. Next time I return I will be ready. I'll know that I should order one of the other pastries, and a loaf of bread, and a delectable dessert, but for now I'll live on the memory of the macaron.
(5)