Balkan Bakeri: bakery with a broad selection!
- Gard Karlsen
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
There are plenty of bakeries in the Stavanger/Sandnes area these days, but the scene is largely dominated by the big players (you know...Kanelsnurren, Sirkus Renaa, Vaaland Dampbakeri, etc.). That’s why it’s always refreshing when a newcomer shows up and does things a little differently. One such place is Balkan bakeri, located in Sandnes (Langgata 39).
I stopped by on a rainy November day. The bakery itself is quite small, with just a few stools, so the concept clearly leans towards a quick lunch stop or grabbing something to take home. And there’s plenty to take home — the shelves were packed with tempting treats during my visit.
The selection is impressively broad: individual slices of cake, croissants, giant Berliners, cinnamon buns loaded with toppings, and even croissant cubes. Alongside the sweet offerings, there’s also a solid savoury selection: pizza buns, sausage croissants, börek, pizza slices, pretzels, and more. We haven’t tried everything (yet), but it’s great to see a bakery that dares to offer such a wide variety, stays open both early and late, and keeps prices very reasonable — a Berliner, for instance, costs just NOK 35.
I brought home a pistachio-filled croissant cube. Unfortunately, it was squeezed into a box that was one size too small, so it didn’t look quite as pretty by the time I got home. Croissant cubes were all the rage in Oslo two or three years ago, but the trend never really made it to Stavanger. Personally, I still prefer a classic, unfilled croissant, but there’s something fun about seeing one shaped like a cube. Pistachio filling isn’t really my thing, so I’d love to see alternative fillings offered here. But having said that, I think that Balkan Bakeri is the only place in the area that offers croissant cubes at the moment.
All in all: a bakery with a diverse selection, wallet-friendly prices, and generous opening hours. A bit of healthy competition is always a good thing — especially if it keeps us from ending up with only chain bakeries. Places like this, offering something a little different, are a welcome addition.
Have you been to Balkan Bakeri, and what did you think?
Pros:
Wide selection
Good value for money
Cons:
Mostly takeaway-focused