Monika’s Macarons & Bakery Boutique - San Luis Obispo, California

Stefani S.

Oh my goodness! I stopped in on whim this week while picking up Jamba Juice. This shop is absolutely adorable 🥰. There are so many different macaroons to choose from and they are all beautifully decorated! It was hard to destroy them by eating them!

The employee who’s name I did not get, was super attentive but not pushy and made the experience very pleasant.

Corena

I recently had friends over for afternoon tea and macarons. My friends were blown away with how beautiful and delicious these macarons are. They couldn't believe they're gluten-free.

It's a real challenge finding quality, delicious gluten-free treats, so I'm happy we have Monika's Macarons in SLO. I stop here regularly to pick up a couple to have with my afternoon coffee. They also have other delicious treats like carrot cake and creme brulee.

Alex F.

I can’t talk about Monika’s work without taking care of one quick thing first…

Macaron (MAK-ə-RON) — a sweet meringue-based confection made with egg white, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond meal, and often food colouring

Macaroon (MAK-ə-ROON) — small cake or cookie, originally made from ground almonds, egg whites, and sugar, but now often with coconut or other nuts. They may also include jam, chocolate, or other flavorings.

Macron — a French politician who has served as the 25th president of France since 2017 and ex officio one of the two Co-Princes of Andorra.

Macaroni — a type of pasta shaped like narrow, often curved, tubes, or an 18th century fashion trend notable for its description of Yankee Doodle’s cap. Or hat. Kinda depends who you ask and who’s singin’ it.

Monika only deals with the first, and boy howdy, does she know what’s up.

I myself did NOT know what was up until semi-recently. I thought macarons and macaroons were the same thing, and since I’m not the hugest fan of coconut, I never gave macarons OR macaroons much thought. After my wife started experimenting with baking macarons, though, the scales came off my eyes and I saw the light:

Macarons are great! Generally you get a little bit of crunch, a little bit of chewy, a (double!) little bit of cookie, and a little bit of filling combined into a (sort of) bite-sized treat.

Now, you can probably find macarons at your local grocery or warehouse store, and they’ll probably scratch an itch, but you REALLY owe it to yourself to check out a REAL macaron.

One of Monika’s.

Her bakery (macaronerie?) is easy to find, and it’s conveniently located close to Poly and Sierra Vista, next to Starbucks at Foothill and Chorro. She used to be in a different spot at Broad and Marsh, so don’t believe the address your friendly Search Engine Machine gives ya!

She has a standard line up including chocolate, vanilla, lemon, salted caramel and pistachio as well as seasonal varieties, too. Do yourself a favor and buy two of each, so you can figure out what your favorite is and have a whole second one! They’re big enough to easily split into halves (or maybe even quarters!) while you sample to figure out which ones you like best, but, after having the ‘Around the World/One of Everything Sampler Extravaganza’ (not a real or official menu item) multiple times, I can say that all of ‘em are great and the quality and consistency of these little bundles of joy are top notch.

While the flavor is super solid and consistently delicious, the appearance is outstanding, too. Her standard macarons pop with color, and some of her special holiday varieties are extra large and whimsically decorated (think snowmen and Easter bunnies). The pictures on her website give you a good idea of what you’re gonna get, but they’re truly little edible pieces of art.

Her boxes present the macarons really well, and don’t require any work on your part at all to make the perfect gift. Because they’re freshly made, you will want to refrigerate them if you don’t eat them or gift them right away (and that temptation will be STRONG!) and the gift is sure to delight any recipient. Also, the whole bakery is gluten free, so they’re the perfect treat or gift for anyone with a gluten allergy or sensitivity.

I’ve also tried a number of Monika’s other treats, and highly recommend the sea salt chocolate chip cookie, the quiches, and the corn flake treat (think Rice Krispies treats but with corn flakes instead!) She’s even got treats for your dog!

Whether you’re served by Monika herself or one of her employees, you’re gonna get service with a smile, as well as expert guidance and recommendations (especially for a first time visitor!) and even if you walk in expecting a macaroon or two, it’s gonna be tough to walk away disappointed!

Out of dozens of trips to Monika’s, both at the current Chorro shop and the prior Broad bakery, I’ve only had a couple misfires in the way of dry cookies, and she’s replaced them immediately, no questions asked. I can’t say enough good things! Go check it out today!

Amy F.

Absolutely fabulously delicious! I've had the lemon macarons, caramel pumpkin roll, ginger cookie and (my favorite) the carrot cake. All gluten free and all so incredibly yummy.

Dusty H.

Wow!! I just finished the quiche and I would be completely ok if this was the last meal I ever ate!! The crust is made of layers and layers of pastry and butter that create the most perfect texture. The warm gooey cheese and fluffy egg made me a VERY happy person. What made it even more wild is the fact that it was gluten free! I felt like I had to go back after every bite and make her promise me it was gf! My partner is not gf and he had a quiche for breakfast in Pismo Beach yesterday from a popular breakfast spot. He had his own quiche and he was shocked and speechless! The quiche from Monika’s put the other one to shame!

The eclair!?!? The next level of heaven for sure! Monika, you are a true master of your craft!

Mark H.

My wife is gluten free, but I am not. When she came home with bakery items from Monika's, I was hesitant. However, everything was amazing. I had a lemon bar, which you would NEVER know it's gluten free. My wife's carrot cake was also amazing. Highly recommended. Go try it!

Jacques D.

This is a fantastic store! So beautiful, and relaxing. There are tables on the inside where you can sit and enjoy the macaroons that you buy. And they sell more than just macaroons. They have cookies and other sweets. Check this place out!

Nicole J.

I really wanted to love this place. My son's cupcake was delicious and very fresh. Unfortunately, I bit into the eclair only to notice an odd taste. I turned it over, and it was completely moldy underneath. I am hoping this was just an anomaly as the shop seems very clean and well kept, otherwise. The food looks flawless in the case, but be sure to turn it over before you try it.