Le Mèrle Coffee Bar & Bakery — Restaurant in Belleair Bluffs

I was very excited to find a French pastry store near me since I’ve been driving to St Pete and Tampa to fulfill my baked goods and pastry cravings. I would give this place more of a 3.5 rating, but I am unable to leave a half star.

The bakery is charming, quaint, and clean. They also have 50% of croissant-based pastries and baguettes during their last hour of opening. The cruffins were delicious and flakey and the baguette was so light, had the perfect amount of chewiness, and just plain delicious. I also got a quiche, which was okay, but left something to be desired.

I took off one star though due to an experience that left a bad taste in my mouth. I ordered a breakfast sandwich that would normally come on a croissant. After I paid, I sat outside with my dog. The owner shortly came out to let me know that they are out of croissants and unable to make my breakfast sandwich normally. He offered substituting the croissant with their almond croissant. While I love almond croissants, I didn’t want a sweet breakfast sandwich and asked if it can be on a baguette instead. He told me he can definitely do that, and I said perfect! As he headed inside, he told me it is a $2 upcharge and I have to pay the difference, which kind of surprised me, but I went inside and paid the cost anyways. After paying though, I thought it’s odd for me to have go to back to pay extra when they did not realize they were out of the main component of the order at before charging me. They were also selling their baguettes for 50% off since it was within an hour of closing. I will say the sandwich was delicious, but found it bad customer service on their end.

I will return again since their offerings are delicious, but I probably won’t come here as regularly as I would’ve hoped due to...

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Le Merle Bakery in Belleair is a true treasure for pastry lovers! From the moment I stepped in, I was surrounded by the delightful aroma of freshly baked goods, and the charming, cozy interior added to the bakery's inviting vibe. The pastry display is beautifully arranged, showcasing an array of treats that look almost too beautiful to eat. You can tell that each pastry is crafted with incredible attention to detail, making this a must-visit spot for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Their pastries are absolutely exquisite. I tried the almond croissant, which was flaky on the outside, perfectly buttery, and filled with a rich almond paste that melted in my mouth. The chocolate eclairs were just as incredible, with a smooth, creamy filling and a delicate chocolate glaze on top. Le Merle’s signature fruit tarts are equally impressive, combining fresh seasonal fruits with a light, buttery crust that’s both delicate and flavorful. Each bite is like a little taste of France, and the quality of the ingredients truly shines through.

On top of the delicious pastries, the staff at Le Merle Bakery are friendly and passionate about their craft, always happy to recommend a new item to try. It’s clear that they care about creating a wonderful experience for each customer. I’ve found myself going back to Le Merle again and again to try new treats and grab a coffee while relaxing in their lovely atmosphere. If you’re in Belleair and looking for a bakery that stands out, Le Merle is the...

I ordered a croffle and wanted a croque Merle. I was told it would be 30 minutes for croissants to be ready for the croque Merle. We went with just the croffle. That was good.

So, since it was good and we had been there 20-25 minutes we asked about the Croque Merle. Was told about 10 minutes for the sandwich. We waited 35 minutes more. The guy making the sandwich had the nerve when it was finally ready to say “your sandwich is ready when you are.” Like I hadn’t been waiting. Beyond that, $9.50 for a croissant with two paper thin slices of ham that didn’t didn’t overlap or even cover the whole tiny croissant. Same for the cheese. The version on a baguette comes with way more meat (nearly triple) for 1.50 more. The croissant version is highway robbery. When bringing it to their attention, the (what seems like head dude) glanced over his shoulder and went back to what he was doing. The brunette at the register with deer in headlights look just said “oh my, sorry to hear that” and continued to stare. What a joke. I never right reviews, but I was so disgusted at the theft of my money and time and their lack of caring that I had to warn others.

I will say the croffles were good and quite delicious, but their attitude toward us over their way over priced insult of a “sandwich” left quite the bitter taste in my mouth. Zero customer service....