5 Incredible Pastries to try at Mediterra Bakery
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Mediterra is a wonderful bakery/coffee shop with 3 locations in the Pittsburgh metro (Sewickley, Mt. Lebanon, and Lawrenceville). Our favorite location is the cafe in downtown Sewickley. This is a charming Main Street district with a lot of local shops and cafes. They have a farmer’s market here during the summer months, so we loved to walk the tree-lined street to this cafe and then browse the market after a great cup of joe and pastry.
Mediterra is the place to go for breakfast, whether you are seeking a quality cup of coffee, a creative espresso drink, a delicious homemade pastry or dessert, or a savory/sweet breakfast entree. We tried a lot of great coffeeshops while living in the ‘Burgh and this is the one we came back to most often. You won’t find better pastries anywhere else in this city.
I love this place so much. Let me tell you why they should be number one on your bucket list. First off, their coffee is amazing and they offer free refills which is a nice perk. Second, they offer a full breakfast and lunch menu if you are seeking something a bit more filling. Third, they bake fresh artisan bread daily. During my year living in Pittsburgh, this was my go-to pick for amazing coffee, pastries, and breakfast, all in the same place!
The Mediterra story
Nick Ambeliotis founded this cafe – the first Sewickley location opened in 2018. In 2020, the second Mt. Lebanon cafe opened. In spring of 2023, a third location opened in Lawrenceville. The Sewickley location is a bit more low-key, especially on the weekdays and earlier in the morning.
We always tried to get here right at opening to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet. Mt. Lebanon’s cafe is always busting with lots of people – oftentimes, it is hard to find a seat! They do have a great patio for the warmer season though. We haven’t visited the Lawrenceville cafe yet.
The best breakfast, pastries & coffee in the ‘Burgh
Recent breakfast entrees have included: Milk Bread French Toast, Four Grain Porridge, Almond butter toast, Quiche, Shakshuka, and The Breakfast Sammie. Pictured below is the delicious Shakshuka, a traditional Middle Eastern dish consisted of poached eggs in a savory tomato based sauce. I’ve ordered this dish many times – it’s a great vegetarian choice. It’s so savory and delicious and I love dipping the homemade bread in the tomato based sauce.
Specialty drinks include a Matcha Latte, Chai Latte, and the highly regarded deconstructed latte. The regular coffee is great and includes a free refill and the basic, but delicious Americano is always perfectly made. Seasonal specials are offered throughout the year, but we typically stick to regular coffee unless we are trying out a special holiday drink like a PSL.
I’ve seen everything from a Peppermint Mocha during the winter months, to a Lucky Charms latte for St. Patrick’s Day on the lineup. Seasonal pastries always give you plenty of reasons to come back and try something new! Over the fall season, we tested a wonderful Pumpkin Cronut and an Eggnog danish (pictured below). Check out the full pastry menu for a current lineup of sweet goods.
Additionally, the offer an on-site market where you can pick up specialty artisan cheeses, jams, chocolates, and more. And don’t leave without picking up a fresh loaf of bread – I recommend the Red Fife, the Sourdough, and the Sprouted Spelt.
Also, be sure to sign up for the frequent visitor deal – you will receive $10 off any purchase after spending 50 bucks. We have picked up many free loaves of bread and pastries courtesy of this great promotion. I love when local businesses offer perks to their loyal customers.
5 pastries I recommend trying (you won’t be disappointed!)
Everything always looks so tempting in the display case, from the freshly made daily pastries to the indulgent desserts. Take a look at a few of my personal favorites!
1. Cinnamon Roll
They easily make the best cinnamon rolls in the ‘Burgh. As a bonus, they are also the cheapest pastry on the menu! For just $2.50, you can indulge in a “healthier” version of the classic treat. Unlike cinnamon rolls you find in the mall at Cinnabon, their creation is sweet enough to satisfy without being overly sweet. I am not a huge fan of cinnamon rolls, but Mike says he has never tasted a better one!
2. Chocolate Croissant
My favorite treat here is the chocolate croissant – I’ve ordered it more times than I can count. A little bit of chocolate goes great with a rich cup of coffee. With just the right amount of chocolate sweetness, this is easily the best croissant in the city and I’ve tried many. Plain croissants also available, as well as seasonal specialities.
3. Pumpkin Danish
During the fall months, they bake up a number of festive treats. The best I’ve tried is the Pumpkin Danish. Although they serve great danishes year round, this seasonal treat is worthy of a special trip this time of year. We tried the Pumpkin Spice Latte once too and it was even better than Starbucks.
This is the best time of the year to indulge in seasonal treats. From pumpkin cheesecake, to apple pie pop tarts, to butternut squash danish, there is a little something for every autumn lover on the lineup. This is the best place if you love everything fall like me! And if you love leaf peeping and fall festivals, you will want to take a look at my autumn activity guide (there are a lot of great fall foliage hikes and special events this time of year!).
4. Almond Bostock
A Bostock is a popular French pastry made with brioche bread and topped with a fruit glaze, almond paste, and nuts. It’s basically a cross between French toast and a croissant. It’s very filling and goes well with a nice rich cup of coffee.
They offer different varieties throughout the year. I hesitated ordering one of these for so long because I love the croissants and danishes so much, but finally caved in and ordered a delicious cinnamon apple creation.
5. Blueberry muffin
Their homemade muffins are always delicious. I love that they are so fresh and full of flavor without being overly sugary. I recommend the chocolate chip or blueberry.
Also, while you are in the ‘Burgh, be sure to check out my local food guide. While the restaurant scene is just so-so in my option (perhaps because I am a vegetarian and my options are limited), I’ve managed to find a number of great local options.
If you are a meat eater, you will definitely want to try out the iconic stacked Primanti Bros. sandwich (coleslaw and fries on a sandwich??). My favorite restaurants include: Chinatown Inn downtown, Badamo’s Pizza in Dormont, and Mercurio’s in Shadyside. You can read more about these and other local gems in my guide.
*For a full guide to my favorite attractions in the state including Philadelphia (another underrated city I loved living in), check out my Pennsylvania Travel Guide.
