Bakery Pausenbrot — Restaurant in Goa

Hmm.... Where do I begin. I guess I'll begin with the word itself. Meaning "School Lunch" Or "Packed Lunch" And that is exactly what you expect from Pausenbrot Benaulim. From the time you enter you're greeted with the softest and warmest smile from one of the counter ladies! In my experience good hospitality is resonated from the first "Hello" The places follows a very transparent culture of displaying a LITERAL OPEN KITCHEN where you can see all the goodies being freshly baked/pulled out of the ovens. Can't really go wrong when you "see" your bread being baked. The food is truly amazing. Its simple, clean and definitely hits the spot. The sandwiches are definitely not like other restaurants by stuffing 25 different items in between two pieces of bread and jacking up the prices to... You know where. I will admit this place has a very very limited menu.... But what I am a firm believer in is the smaller your menu the more focused you can be in mastering the dishes you prepare. How many of us want a 7 page menu but the food tastes below average? That's not fun now is it. Lastly I think a bone to pick with many people excluding me since I have hospitality background, they are SELF-SERVICE. Please do not go here expecting to have a server take your order and someone to serve and clear your plates. Go old school. It's really not that hard. Plus, we'd do the same at fast food restaurant with order numbers, so why not at cafes?

Overall this place is very welcoming from the staff to the food. It's superbly priced and for 2 people you can definitely eat well for under 1000 rupees. I haven't had the opportunity of meeting the owners yet so this will have to do! A HUGE UMARMUNG to the Entire team.

Cheeky side note- if you're new to the world of sourdough bread, everything is gonna taste stale for you!! 😛 And they also serve food in this ultra super cute made in Germany "tiffin boxes" Oh how I wish I...

21-Sep-25: Bakery Pausenbrot has now moved to a beautiful new location! 🗺️

📍 Shop No.7, Clara Classic, next to Maria Hall – Don Bosco Road, Salcete, Pulvado, Benaulim, Goa 403716. (It's the road from Maria Hall heading towards the Umiya Mercado mall – super easy to find!)

We’ve always loved their go-to sourdough bread 🥖, but this time we also tried the Sweet Lime Tart 🍋 and Apple Crumble 🍏 – both were absolutely delicious and appetizing! 😍

The Cold Coffee ☕️❄️ was not only picture-perfect but also spot-on in taste – not overly sweet, with just the right caffeine punch 💥 to perk you up.

The Lemon Soda 🍋🥤 was zingy, bubbly, and super refreshing – just what you need on a warm Goan afternoon!

The new space is open, airy, and full of positive vibes 🌿✨. Perfectly laid out for a lazy afternoon read or an evening catch-up with friends. Indoor and outdoor seating available.

What makes it even more special is the soul that Andrea and Aditya, the owners, have infused into the place – from the rustic décor to the stories behind the furniture and art. Her work with an NGO and orphan children 💛 is beautifully imprinted in the finer details throughout the café.

🅿️ Plenty of parking outside, which is a big plus!

Can’t wait to return and explore more of the menu. 🍰🍪🥐

--------------------------------X------------------------- The Sourdough Breads, the Chocolate walnut cake... Marvelous!!!

The Sourdough had a delicious outer crunch with just the right balance of chewiness and fluff on the inside. Their cinnamon rolls are a huge hit too... can't wait to sample the other pastries.

A pleasant, warm, rustic place with a sense of an old-fashioned bakery.

The products are a little pricey, but they are worth the quality...

We visited Pausenbrot Bakery on May 20th, 2025. Our first visit was lovely. It was pouring rain, we were in our raincoats, our feet were mucky, and we initially stayed outside the café to avoid making a mess. But the staff warmly invited us in, saying, “Don’t worry about the mess—I need to mop the floor anyway. Come in!” That simple gesture made us feel welcome and appreciated, even though there wasn’t much of a bread selection left, as they were nearing closing time and most items had already sold out.

Unfortunately, our experience the next morning left a very sour impression. After a morning swim at the beach, my husband and our two young children (ages 4 and 6) stopped by the bakery for breakfast. It was raining, off-season, and the place was completely empty—hardly a busy time.

Despite the circumstances, we were spoken to quite harshly by the owner, a bearded man whom I hesitate to call a gentleman, simply because we weren’t wearing T-shirts. We explained that we had come straight from the beach with our hungry boys, but rather than being understanding, he refused them service entirely.

We were shocked by the lack of hospitality—especially in a small town during the off-season, where a bit of warmth and flexibility goes a long way. What could have been a cozy breakfast turned into an uncomfortable and frankly upsetting experience. We went to the next bakery, which welcomed us with open arms. They were surprised by how we had been treated, and even our BnB, which had recommended Pausenbrot, was shocked.

It’s not an establishment we’ll be returning to, and I would advise others to approach with tempered...