The City Bakery

I have been going here for a few years now periodically. It’s the best coffee in Bloomington, and the service is fast and the employees are always pleasant. Their espresso eggs are my favorite, but very cheap! My favorite local business in B-​town!

Seemed like nice people but I waited 20 minutes in a crowded room for a simple baguette with cheese.

A tiny place on a busy street. I decided to try this place out because, well, why not?
It has a grand total of 5 small tables in an equally small establishment. There was a man by the name of David who worked there when I arrived close to 9 AM on a Wednesday. He seemed nice enough. Turns out he also likes to talk, but only to the regulars. There were a lot of regulars and he knew them all by name and vice versa, which I thought was nice.
I ordered a large iced mocha. Looking around, there was an outlet… right above an occupied table of three. That was obviously not going to work. After some searching and a question to David, I realised that the only other one was tucked behind the table holding the coffee. I set up my Station right by it and David helped me move over the table, just in case my charging cord wasn’t long enough. It was, but it was really nice of him.
The mocha itself wasn’t the best. It wasn’t sweet and the coffee wasn’t very strong. There was only a hint of chocolate. I’m not sure if City Bakery had wifi but I ‘borrowed’ it from next door and it worked pretty well! The table was small — just enough for my laptop, the drink, and a tiny notepad. If I hadn’t had breakfast already, we would have an issue with trying to get everything to go on that table without falling.
Half of the people were there for breakfast. The earlier ones mainly enjoyed it over a crossword puzzle or by themselves doing something or other. The later it got, the people who came were louder and with the small space, it was a little distracting. It also turned out David was quite chatty as well and I found out some things about everyone. Unfortunately, I couldn’t join in because it was a busy work day for me and I needed to get it finished or I would be taking up one of their few tables for way too long and I would feel pressured to get something else.
They also offered food items in the display case. That morning, they were mainly of the donut variety but I also saw some bagels. I believe they may get their bagels (and perhaps even the schmears!) from Bloomington Bagel Company… where I got my breakfast not too long before, haha. I remember reading reviews of awesome croissants, but I didn’t see any. Or perhaps I chose not to, to avoid temptation? Who knows? Either way, no one else ordered a croissant while I was there for the next 3 hours or so, so I’m assuming they didn’t have any that morning.
Halfway through, another man (a tall one, if that helps?) came in to help out David. I never got his name (speaking of which, I sure do hope that guy’s name was David, unless it’s just a figment of my imagination) and we didn’t interact much. I was working and he was tending to the other people there (by this time, the tables were all full and a lady even had to share with some other people because there were literally no more tables). I think he walked over from wherever he came from because (1) he was sweating and (2) he smelled strongly of sour sweat. Not very pleasant.
All in all, not bad. Even though seating was limited, I never felt pressured to leave. It was a cozy environment full of regulars (mainly liberal arts majors) who came in and generally knew what they wanted. It was a little louder than I’d like on occasion, but it allowed for a brief break from my work, which is always nice. Would I come by again before I leave? I’m not sure. They don’t have enough seats as it is and when I set up Station, I stay for several hours so I would feel bad. However, not a bad place… but mediocre mocha.
I would have liked to try one of those croissants I read about, but on second thought, it’s probably good they didn’t have any when I was there. I don’t need any more fatty snacks or sweets. :/

By far the BEST croissants in Bloomington, way better than Feast (made by Rene’s of Broad Ripple) and Scholars Inn. Especially good are almond and apricot. Their other pastries are fine and don’t know about expresso or other drinks. But when I want a Fine Croissant, I head for City Bakery.

I stopped coming here a year ago when that tall guy pushed me over the edge. That was after months of enjoying the coffee and company of my friends who frequented and the rest of the staff, who were so nice. One too many spats with that tall dude though: unprofessional doesn’t even begin to describe it!
On top of their increasingly irregular hours (sometimes they’re closed unexpectedly for a day or so at a time) and weird problems keeping things in stock (after 11:00am!), the worst service ever just doesn’t make up for it. I found it far too easy to get my coffee and ‘atmosphere’ next door at Soma, which schools this place on the service front and offers a better product anyway (no, they’re not paying me to say that).
It’s just too easy to get away with this poor level of… well, everything… in an overpriced & small college town, isn’t it?! Customers, whether students or not, should expect more from any business!

Croissants that don’t taste like plastic (flaky, buttery, amazing)! $ 1 mini-​baguettes (perfect economical addition to a sack lunch)! Danishes! Mmmm…
The coffee isn’t fabulous, but it’s perfectly decent, and it’s reasonably priced. And no, there isn’t a ton of seating. That’s okay. There’s an entire campus about ten feet away. Plenty of benches and such to be found there.
The best place ever. Hands down! Although I weathered many a life crisis over an almond croissant and a small coffee here, so I might be biased. This place is part of me.
Do yourself a favor and check out this hidden gem.

I have been here several times before, but would not consider myself a regular. I would say it’s the kind of place that’s worth at least checking out if you live in Bloomington, but is not worth seeking out if you are just visiting and only have a short time here.
I didn’t get an espresso drink this time, but did not like the mocha that I ordered here on another occasion so haven’t ordered espresso drinks here since. I have also had bad service here at least once, but today and other days my service has been fine. This place is also extremely small and gets a lot of business, so definitely don’t expect to find plentiful and spacious seating here.
What I do like is the following:
The pastries and food options are good and range from downright cheap to reasonably priced. Today I ordered the Espresso Eggs (made with scallions, portobello mushrooms, and white cheddar) & a croissant for only $ 4.50. It definitely made a good breakfast.
I would recommend this place for a tasty and cheap breakfast if you are already walking around this side of the IU campus. Get your coffee across the street at Soma coffeehouse though.

The food is amazing. The croissants are especially delicious. I also highly recommend the goat cheese and chive schmear with a bagel.
But if you want to know why it’s a 4 star instead of a 5 – the staff in the late morning/​early-​afternoon is pretty unprofessional. Though a cozy little bakery in an indubitably liberal college-​town, the guy who works in the afternoon is a little too «righteous» for me. I haven’t been back since – partially because I’m trying to cut down costs… but he’s giving me one reason not to go back too.
It’s tough being so tough like that – and honestly, typically I give less than 4 stars when some of the staff are rude or incompetent… but I love this place so much that I still give it 4 stars.

What is there to say but that it is an amazing little bakery. «As good as it gets» is perfect to described this place. Even now, as I have left Bloomington going on five years, I long for city bakery. If you have not yet been here yet, do yourself a favor and go! Savory and sweet croissants, scones, turnovers, and so much more. It was here i fell in love with an au lait (not wanting to shell out the extra .75c for a latte) and it’s here that I compare all of my post IU bakeries to.
Let me address some of the complaints due to customer service. Lets not forget, you are coming here for a pastry, not a Michelin dining experience! If this place was in a major city, think a place for people in the know about a decent cup of coffee and great pastry. This is not the frozen crap you get at Starbucks that’s been defrosting since the delivery truck pulled up.
The baker has been up since 3am making his handheld delights for your consumption. Here is a man who cares about what he’s producing with a NO Shit kind of attitude. That’s what makes this place a standout.
I have five highly regarded bakeries within a mile of where I live now, but none of them make a Cherry Danish like City Bakery. I highly recommend this place!

The coffee and baked goods are probably the best in town. But, with that said, one of the workers is extremely rude, demeaning, and borderline confrontational (a taller gentlemen with brown hair). This particular cashier, frankly, probably shouldn’t be working in any industry where customers are involved. I won’t be returning. It’s unfortunate, given how kind and talented the owner seems to be.

I’m not sure how one could criticize this place. In the present day, when every single restaurant on the east side of town is some chain-​based nonsense, it is wonderful to come here, and if I could I would every day.
The food and coffee have been consistent every single visit (and I do go at least once a week). Not only consistent, but wonderful! And the prices are really quite reasonable and affordable, which I always appreciate.
Okay, sure the place is tiny and packed full of music students all day. Yeah they’re closed on the weekends, breaks, holidays, etc. There are FOUR people who work here. Do you really expect to have the same friendly service, great products and warm atmosphere if they work themselves in the ground? If there are no students in session, there is no business, simple as that.
Go across the street, wait in line for just a little bit and I promise it’ll be worth it.

Okay, I’ve read a lot of the negative reviews, and they’re ridiculous. The place and the baked goods are gems!
However, if you want a consistent, reliable, and lackluster product in a consistent reliable but lackluster atmosphere that is bland but bright (like Panera Bread’s) then go to Panera!
This is a place owned and run by a specific human being, not a committee, a place that reflects the individuality of the owner and staff and it produces AMAZING baked goods and a distinctive atmosphere. If you cannot tolerate the occasional erratic hour or less than falsely bright corporately trained service then good riddance!
You’re a generic and entitled corporate-​loving type who probably thinks he or she has enjoyed a really good Italian meal at The Olive Garden. So please, stay away. Starbucks will tell you you’re a wonderful and worthy person and give you the same cup of coffee every day. So. Go. There. Puh-​lease!

A great treasure in Bloomington! You’ve probably passed by it many times like I have, it’s a small bakery on the SW corner of 3^rd & Jordan next to Bears. Their coffee and pastries turn out perfect everytime I go there. Definitely take the time & stop by this café! Often times I’d find students from the music school here, sometimes practicing before heading to class. Some of my favorites here are the hazelnut latte, apricotta croissant, and the almond croissant. Yum!

I don’t think anyone’s food couldi possibly be good enough to make up for the appalling customer service at this establishment. I was mocked by the guy behind the counter for asking if they had a plain bagel (something to the effect of «they look like sesame to me). Then there was nowhere to stand so I went outside, where I was in plain view of the guy bringing out the food. This place is tiny, but apparently the guy was unwilling to walk the 5 extra feet to the door to hand me my bagel. So instead he just left it sitting on a counter. When I came in to get it a lady who worked there shouted «someone’s lox bagel has been sitting here for a long time» in about as unfriendly a voice as you could imagine.
On top of the bad customer service, there were also several flies in the case with the bakery items.
The food was okay and not too expensive. Otherwise they would get just one star.
[I drafted this review several months ago. I don’t know if anything changed since I have NOT been back]

Sports fans would probably agree with me that there are times when raw talent can trump just about any flaw in someone’s professional performance.
City Bakery’s lone flaw is that you can never be entirely sure that it is going to be open when you need it the most. Closed weekends. Closed holidays. Closed for lengthy stretches in the summer. And subject to the occasional random closing, late start, or limited menu on any other given day.
I understand, more or less, why this is so. City Bakery sits strategically on a busy street corner opposite Indiana University’s world-​renowned music school. The pastry –loving music students and professors are the bakery’s primary target market. When school’s not in session, and foot traffic from the university is reduced to a trickle, business drops off substantially. Closing shop during these down periods is likely just a simple supply-​and-​demand decision.
It is probably selfish of me, then, to complain about the City Bakery’s European-​style hours of operation. But I promise, my complaint stems entirely from true, passionate love and admiration. The bakery is a mesmerizing hole-​in-​the-​wall type of joint which shines at about 8 AM on a school morning (go later and you will stand in long lines out the door). The calming voice of National Public Radio airs in the background, while scents of coffee, fresh-​baked scones and croissants mix to fill the air. Daily newspapers are strewn across the café’s 6 or 7 tables for your reading pleasure as you sip your java. The chalk-​board menu is simplified, so as not to overwhelm the customer nor the baker: there are 4 or 5 types of croissants, a few scone choices, a few bagel choices, and another item or two here or there. They also serve «espresso eggs» — eggs scrambled with the steaming wand from the espresso machine — which are incredibly light, fluffy, and are an absolute bargain served with a croissant for 4 bucks.
My favorite pastry is the spinach and feta croissant, which so masterfully combines flaky, buttery dough with savory tanginess to offer the perfect solution to the person who gets overwhelmed by sweetness in the morning. When I do have the occasional sweet tooth, the classic chocolate croissants or the almond croissants aptly satisfy the craving. The scones are crispy on the outside, surprisingly light on the inside, and have a pleasant hint of orange zest.
To sum it up, City Bakery’s got talent. When operational, the bakery brings a serious game to the table which blows away anyone else in town. (Don’t even think about mentioning wannabee corporate restaurant Scholar’s Inn in the same breath). Like many of the great sports figures, however, it will occasionally break your heart and not show up.

i always passed this place on my way to class and wondered why this hole-​in-​the-​wall bakery seemed to get so much business. then my roommate mentioned something about racking up almost forty dollars in coffee this month from city bakery. being a huge fan of coffee, i knew i had to try it to see if she was actually on to something. this place goes to show that a small family owned business can be much better than the corporation giant. this coffeeshop has the BEST croissants i have ever had. always get them warmed in the toaster oven. for a cheap caffeine fix, get their house blend coffee. it’s delicious, convenient, and ONLY A DOLLAR. the last time i went, i got a mocha. the flavor was perfect; not too sweet and the perfect hint of chocolate.
my one gripe with the place is the atmosphere. I know it’s across from the music school, but every time i go there, i feel like the biggest outsider… and i’m pretty sure everyone can tell i am. Everyone in the shop seems to know each other. the first time i went there, i overheard a girl jokingly say «city bakery: feeding the jacobs music school all day, every day,» while paying for her coffee. the guy behind the counter chuckled and said something about it practically being a cafeteria for the music kids. the thing is, they aren’t joking. every time i eat in there, all i hear is jargon about music theory, opera, etc.
if you can handle the hipster atmosphere, this place is for you. otherwise, getting your coffee to go is probably the best option. i’ll be there every tuesday and thursday morning for my spinach feta croissant

The food is not good enough to put up with the terrible level of customer service. The manager who took my order was rude, insulting, and no help whatsoever. The experience ruined the simple pleasure of getting coffee and a pastry.

Another Bloomington retrospective. I’m sorry but I can’t let the City Bakery have nothing but 5 star reviews. I also need a good rant.
I’m not saying it doesn’t have its good points. The product overall is quite good for the money. The croissant fillings are terrific. The croissants themselves are rather tough/​dense, not as flaky as they should be. This is somewhat made up for by the generous amount of filling that one doesn’t normally get in a filled croissant (e.g. the chocolate). I say yes to the baguette halves with bruschetta and/​or cheese/​pesto. The coffee is great – I love the French roast. The espresso is terrible and has a weird taste to it that ruins all lattes, etc. Someone told me it had to do with their machine (have they got a new one yet?)
I was at the IU school of music and despite the fact that I went here all the time I always felt like an outsider there. There is a strange culture of excessive cheesiness and lame cheerfulness there. Maybe that sounds strange but there was something about the overall social vibe in there that bugged me.
I also don’t want to hear Harry Potter books on tape while I’m eating, ok?
Speaking of Harry Potter, this place actually closed down when the final book was released. Then the next day a warning sign was placed on the door telling people they’d be kicked out for revealing the ending. Really? This brings me to the worst thing about the place: it closes ALL THE TIME for no apparent reason. They were closed for Columbus Day for Christ’s sake. What else is closed on this day? Besides banks and such, NOTHING. I often depended on this place for breakfast and felt like kicking the door down when I came only to find it closed (there was almost never an advance warning this would happen). Then the only place to get a quick bite before class was the Copper Cup and their food SUCKS.
I know the owner gets up at the crack of dawn and works very hard to keep this place running but there’s no reason he couldn’t have someone else man the ship if he can’t be there. I would have gladly paid slightly more for the goods in order for there to be another baker that could be there in times of Rob’s absence. One worker told me he was a bit of a control freak about the place and wouldn’t let anyone else bake anything. Given a recipe I don’t think a baker of moderate competence would have any problem producing this stuff.
If I had to do it all over again I’d have been much less lazy during grad school and made my own breakfast most mornings. Too late now. The City Bakery gets one star for my own personal nostalgia associated with it and two stars for everything else.

Oh, my doggs. How did I ignore this place so many times? I ain’t never had a croissant as delicious as this before, and I can’t imagine they’re any better in Paris. Plus the fabulous counter guy is so classy that he pronounces «croissant» right and also doesn’t mock me for saying «crow-​sant» every time! The coffee is pretty good. It’s also very cheap!

Lots of amazing pastries to try. Delicious scones! The yogurt with granola and banana is great too. The hours are very annoying though as they are tied to when IU has classes.