Parker-Lusseau Pastries & Cafe

This is one of the places I cherish most on the peninsula.
I not only deeply appreciate their bread, quiche, sandwiches, coffee, assorted high quality beverages and pastries, but also their friendliness speaking both English and French to myself as well as to practicing friends I have invited to come for a taste and an opportunity to order food in French.
If you aren’t looking for conversation, none is obliged as you delve into their most amazing sun dried tomato and goat cheese quiche which always hits the spot breakfast or lunch. Their colorful palate of crunchy, creamy macarons always draws me back. Their Easter chocolates rival all other forms of decorative foods in taste and appearance; therefore they are well worth the indulgence. Their tarts and cakes are the absolute finest in the Peninsula. I think the pinnacle of all that I have tasted was their Pink Charlotte wrapped in its own chocolate dress hiding the delicate strawberry surprise.
The charm of the culinary experience is met with equal charm from the owners who are delightful and the quaint and authentic French décor which makes their small space rather inviting all the same.
Lastly, I most recently had the joy of ordering a wedding cake from them. The tasting experience was very appetizing. The owners were willing to squeeze me in right in the middle of their Easter preparations and there was absolutely no fuss over the process. They kept the exterior simple and clean as I had asked. The cocoa buttermilk exterior was so smooth that my guests were in awe. They collaborated with the florist to assure that it was also decorated with my flowers as I desired. Most importantly, both my husband and I were able to choose two different flavors and both were outstandingly delicious. The cake didn’t make it past the next morning as we shared leftovers with our breakfast guests. I can’t wait to taste it again at my one year anniversary!

Best bakery in CA hands down! They’re totally doing our wedding cake and my fiancé and I are honored to have them do it.

Best Pastries in Northern California. Really give it a try! We loved the Canelés. Friendly Staff. A must «taste» if you are in Monterey.

First time visit on my lazy Saturday afternoon. Had the egg salad sandwich (so good!) as well as a strawberry macaroon and a blackberry tea macaroon. They are probably some of the best macaroons that I have ever had! Great customer service, cute small interior. Will definitely be back again.

amazing pastries!!! whenever we are in monterey, we always plan a stop here. today, i started with the spinach/​goat cheese quiche which was kindly warmed up for me. bf had a brioche that was very light and custard inside had great flavors and was not too sweet at all. we also decided to get a few sandwiches to go for a light picnic on the beach. the croissant with turkey/​lettuce and the chicken pesto sandwiches were both basic but delicious! this place is a must visit. there are cute tables and chairs to sit outside as well as in their side garden.

Great stuff. Had the orange morning bun, lemon curd & marion berry danish, but the killer was the asparagus/​leek quiche. Fresh, light, flavorfull, lucious is how to descibe the quiche. I wish they were open where I live. Since La Amande closed in torrance I don’t have a good french bakery near me. Changed my plans for tommorrow so i can have breakfast their again and try some more new stuff. Came here for 3 days of gorgoing on seafood. Might change that to seafood and French bistro. The lunch menu looks good. If you are looking for a sugar rush, do not try this place. If you ar looking for real good food, come here.

Love their sweets! The cakes are rich without being overwhelmingly sweet and the macarons are not only delicious but also pretty to look at. I’ve been to both the Hartnell and Munras locations, both have great food and good service.

Amazing service and amazing pastries! The best macarons I’ve ever had and I’m not usually a fan! The inside seating is small, but it’s so nice to sit outside! Yummy hot chocolate with almond milk and tasty chai! They apparently do catering and I would love to do business here if I needed a cake!

I love this place. Macaroons are pretty good here! My friend and I make pit stops here before eating at Esteban’s for happy hour.

We tried several pastries. The morning bun, canelé, a plain and chocolate croissant. Very delicious. The employee was very sweet and the shop is pleasant. Looking forward to coming back here when we’re back in town.

I’ve tried a ton of pasteries and sweets from Parkers and they’ve all been amazing! I love their quiche lorraine and it’s seriously the best one i’ve ever had. I have tried many quiches and none of them have been as good as this one. I highly recommend stopping here!

We ordered our wedding cake from here — not only was it absolutely delicious, but they were so easy to work with! We tried some take-​out samples a few months before the wedding, chose the passionfruit and lemon/​raspberry flavors, and decided to do 4 round tiers for about 120 guests. Parker-​Lusseau took care of the delivery, and voila! Best wedding cake I could have imagined :) (They also provided a box for us to save the top layer for our anniversary.)

Amazing almond croissant. Cute and quiet little café with French style décor– very homey and inviting

Absolutely delicious! We got the strawberry-​rhubarb pastry, goat cheese/​tomato quiche and the famous almond croissant. Hands down the best croissant I’ve ever had in my life and I’ve been to Paris even. Wow!!! Coffee was great too! Yum!

Wish they had a larger variety of macarons, but super nice and you can tell them make everything fresh!

4.5
I usually visit the other location when in town so this was my first time visiting this other location. Still one of the best almond croissants around — and I’ve had quite a few around the Bay Area. Of course today I got lucky and picked up a few straight out of the oven. This croissant has got a higher ratio of almondy custard to bread, just FYI.
They usually have a nice assortment of unique pastries so there’s always something new to try. This time we picked up a chocolate caramel tart with caramelized pear on top, and an individual sized chocolate walnut brittle cake. The tart was delicious. The cake was good but I thought there would be brittle inside, not just one piece on top.
The only problem I have when coming here is limiting how many pastries we bring home! And they are no longer cash only as they had been in the past.

Amazing in every way. From the little pieces of heavenly desserts, to the soups, quiche, and sandwiches. Quite possibly the best Caesar salad dressing I’ve ever had. Worth every single calorie.

This place is the best bakery on the peninsula. It is the closest thing we have found to a traditional French bakery. It is on the expensive side but all the ingredients are quality. I believe you get what you pay for here.

No visit to the Monterey peninsula is complete without a visit to this amazing French bakery, best baked sweets out side of Britannia… amazing! 3 locations in Monterey, must haves are almond croissants, Kouign Aman and others.

A very cute little pastry shop, just a short distance away from the touristy main drag of Cannery Row and well worth the trip!
We stopped in for breakfast because we weren’t that enthused about the continental breakfast offered at our hotel. The storefront is at the bottom of the parking lot between some other restaurants and can be a little hard to see, but look for the sandwich board pointing the way.
Inside, the place is surprisingly large with high ceilings, although most of it seems dedicated to the kitchen area behind a curtain (they also make wedding cakes and specialty cakes to order). There are a couple of small tables and a couch area, a display case, and a self-​service coffee station. The décor is cute and cheerful, down to the vintage stove displayed in a corner, and a pleasant place to sit and enjoy a treat.
They had a variety of breakfast pastries including sweet and savory croissants, buns, and quiches, plus fancy cakes by the slice, orange brioche, stollen, and macarons. We had a spinach and cheese croissant and orange brioche, and both were fresh and tasty. They warmed the pastries up for us, which I definitely recommend. They also serve soups, salads, and sandwiches there if you’re looking for more of a meal.
Service was friendly and fast, and the owner was on hand to answer questions about the pastries and give advice to customers who weren’t sure what to get. A great place to stop in for a treat or grab some breakfast goodies to take to your hotel!

Almond croissant — not warm, also I don’t like the sweet cream they have inside
Chocolate croissant — very regular croissant, not enough layers. Inside not soft enough
Vegetable quiche — first time trying, didn’t like. Not a fan of custard

I bought some macarons, they were very delicious. I liked the vanilla and purple one better but they are all bomb :) will be going back for more

I love this place! I lived in Monterey 10 years ago for a few short years and so enjoyed the yummy pastries from this place. Coming back to Monterey for a week long visit and I am struggling to not make it a daily stop — chocolate croissant, chai latte and a portabella tartine — so far and I am only on day 2 — lord help my waistline! Cost is incredibly reasonable too!
Two 16oz Chia Latte’s and a chocolate croissant was just over $ 11. Why would you then go to Starbucks for pre-​made, previously frozen «baked goods» and chemical filled coffee mixes? No way! Go to the real deal! Support local and your health!

Really, really wonderful quiche and croissants. The espresso was wonderful, and coffee was served the authentic way in a bowl.
My 13 month old son couldn’t not get enough of the croissants and quiche. He must have eaten a whole quiche by himself in addition to the croissant. Babies do not lie. They know delicious food!
In addition, there was a courtyard/​garden area where he could run around safely. Super plus for people w kids that like to «roam» around.
The owner even took the time to bring my son to the back kitchen and gave him a tour. He came out w a coconut almond cookie for mommy! Haha (this cookie was warm from the oven, crisp, buttery and Oh so good!!!)
Super friendly service, relaxing atmosphere, and great food. Highly recommend!!! We will be back next time we are in Monterey!

Really great pastries. Almond croissant was amazing. Quiches were good. A bit pricey but can tell it’s homemade and high quality ingredients so it’s worth it!

Family vacation. A group of us went to this café because it was near our hotel and had such wonderful reviews on Unilocal.It did not disappoint.
It was very small inside. The building is over 140 years old. The owner was friendly and polite.
Everything looked so good I couldn’t decide so I asked the proprietress what they were known for and she suggested the almond croissant.
The almond croissant was HEAVENLY! It literally melted in my mouth. I kept saying, «What is this made of?» because it was sooo damn good. It was tender and moist and VELVETY. My niece thought it may have almond paste as an ingredient… I’m pretty certain this is what the bible describes as manna. I almost wish I never ordered it because now I know it exists and I live 150 long miles away. Thank you Parker-​Lusseau Pastries for setting the croissant bar so incredibly high that any other pastry I will consume in my life time will never compare to your delicate and delicious almond croissant. I also bought a plum tart which was, naturally, the best tart I ever tasted. I’ll never forget that almond croissant. Sigh. I miss you already.

Very yummy baked goods. (probably not dirt cheap)
Surprised at the yummy quality and sun-​lit attitude of the younger attendant behind the counter or the sun-​lit place.
Definitely would stop by if nearby.

The best croissant we have had outside France.
The regular coffee is great.
The brioche and morning bun were also very, very good.
He mentioned that he has been making Kouign Aman for 15 years, but only now are they getting popular. Yes, sir, please do make more each day.
And the Munras Ave. location is perfect: a warm, wood-​laced nook with seats… like befriending a chef pâtissier and relaxing in his home kitchen.

OMG! We stopped here on Saturday morning on our way to Point Lobos for some diving to pick up a couple of coffees and some pastries to fuel us up for a morning of cold water diving.
The coffee was great and the pasties were delicious! My spinach and cheese croissant was absolutely amazing! Fresh, flaky, buttery pastry covering the most moist and tasty spinach filling I’ve ever tasted! These people know what they’re doing!
Just a hint… Get here early… The store opens at 7am… we arrived at 8am and they had already sold out of most of their pastries… There wasn’t much left which in my mind is always a good sign!

Being a Carmel local I never really get out and try new coffee. This place is super good though. If you are ever in the Monterey Peninsula area check this place out.
There is free parking everywhere. The building is super cool and the coffee here is on point. Definitely get a latte here. Lastly, the macarons here are bomb!

Found this place after looking through Unilocal.Nice cute little bakery tucked away. Have to look for the little sign that is placed out on the sidewalk otherwise you will miss this little hidden gem. Wanted to find a nice local establishment to pick up some breakfast/​brunch items. The bakery is located directly across the street from Casa Munras Hotel. There is indoor seating available — limited space since it is a smaller establishment. Has some very cute outdoor seating available.
We ended up ordering:
Croissant (very light & flaky)
Spinach & Cheese Croissant
Leek & Asparagus Quiche (very light & full of flavor)
Cinnamon Raisin Roll
BLAT — Bacon Lettuce Avocado Tomatoe Sandwich On a Ciobatti Roll with Pesto Sauce: both my kids loved this sandwich very tasty. yumm!
Service was excellent! Offered to warm up some of the items. Will definitely keep this place on the list of go to places the next time we are in town.

On the epic quest for perfection on pastries for our wedding, we did not take the decision process lightly. Making the drive from Sonoma County just to taste cakes was a statement on its own of just how serious we were about the task at hand. We tried three bakeries on just the first day– all were ok but none really punched us in the face and screamed «INVITE ME TO YOUR WEDDING!!!» That was when the tides changed and we met Ann, the co-​owner of Parker-​Lusseau Pastries and we knew we had reached our delicious destination.
The first good sign to me was that I was contacted immediately from my online request to schedule a tasting. I was able to talk with Ann that very same day and secure our time. We spoke at length about our flavor preferences and event expectations, and she left me feeling calm and confident; a feeling that would only grow as our wedding partnership continued.
We arrived for our tastings at their location across from the hotel, not the one by the post office. Ann was friendly, helpful, and best of all, totally prepared for us. I’m more into dairy and savory sweets like nuts and chocolate, whereas my husband is delighted by citrus and fresh fruits. We were given samples of 3 or 4 each of their highest rated from both category, and truly any of them would have been an excellent choice. Our very last sample was their passionfruit cake with passionfruit curd, and as we both bit into our pieces, our eyes closed with enjoyment and we said simultaneously «this is THE ONE!»
We opted for a cupcake tower for the wedding, which Ann provided for us, and we presented our guests with three cupcake flavors to choose from: lemon filled with lemon curd, chocolate with hazelnut filling, and the memorable passionfruit which we also selected for ourselves to cut at the reception.
Delivery by the other co-owner/Ann’s husband Yann was prompt, efficient, and beautifully set up. We had so many wonderful compliments on the cakes, of which we echoed as we munched on leftovers in our hotel room after the wedding.
Absolutely would recommend to anyone needing delicious, beautiful, and reasonably priced sweets for a special occasion. Parker Lusseau sets the bar in the stratosphere of quality without compromise, and does so with a friendly, detailed confidence.

Great find in the area. The café is really cute and the food is very tasty. I had a pain au chocolat and a Canelé while my friend had a hot chocolate and a quiche with goat cheese. The pain au chocolat was probably one of the best I have had in the US: flakey, crunchy and soft at the same time and with an even distribution of good chocolate. The canelé was hard on the outside and moist and flavorful on the inside (which was expected).
The hot chocolate was at the right point between not overly sweet and enjoyed the sips of it that I had from my friend.
There isn’t a ton of space to sit and service is just fine.

Great macaroons (the coconut and raspberry flavors were great!)
almond croissant (flaky, soft, and filling)
coffee (ordered it black — very flavorful roast!).
Hidden away in a small strip of stores a few miles from Cannery Row. A must visit whenever you’re in the area. Great service and food here.
There are two small tables — one in and the other outside.

I came here after our massage as Elysium was literally just a couple blocks away. This was around 3:30 and the bakery looked totally cleaned out, they only had a couple of little cakes and just macaroons — three flavors of them. I guess I’m just used to Bouchon in Yountville which has a wide variety of macaroon and assorted pastries, even in the afternoon and even with the fat lines they get. I purchased a passion fruit macaroon for myself and the rosewater one for him. She packaged it for us to eat later on. These were teeny tiny at $ 1.50 each.
We ended up eating them the next morning and they still kept very well. They were delicate and moist still and not hard or too chewy. I thought the rosewater would be too perfumey tasting but it was subtle and delightful. The passion fruit was okay but needed to be a little more bold. I prefer Bouchon’s passion fruit macaroon.
I can only give it a three based on the macaroons. They have a second location as well. There are hotels in this area of Monterey, but it’s not walking distance from Cannery Row, so I’m honestly a little surprised to see that they were pretty cleaned out in the afternoon. Bouchon’s huge macaroons are twice the price, but 3 – 4 times bigger. The texture of Parker-Lussaeu’s are slightly better though. They just need to make theirs more flavorful and offer more flavors. Would I give them another chance? Possibly if I was craving an almond croissant (all the raves on their Unilocal) & they had it, otherwise, probably not.

Cute little place whose only identifier from the street is a tiny A-​frame.
A bit hard to find since the shop’s front door is not facing the street.
What we swallowed:
MACARONS: I ordered one of each. These had really awesome flavors and were really. The girl behind the counter was super nice and made sure the packaging was just right for the macarons (presentation, presentation, presentation!). The flavors were spot-​on and had the perfect chewy center with crispy shell.