Columbus has a pretty active morning culture and there are a ton of coffee shops and bakeries springing up to help people start their days off right. Pistacia Vera is one of the favorites, no doubt. Primarily a bakery in the German Village and with another location in the North Market, the shop is a brunch spot on weekends and a coffee hangout during the day. But for all these different kinds of breakfast plates you can try here, the one unifying theme is the food shouldn’t be overlooked.
- Parisian Macaroons: These are the signature dish of the shop, and easily worth a try. Probably my favorite is the chocolaty “cocoa nib,” though I also enjoyed the flavor of the true-to-name “pistachio” as well as the more subtle “honey lavender” and the sweeter “strawberry hibiscus.”
- Almond croissant: This giant pastry has plenty of flaky crust to go around. Dusted with powered sugar and chopped almonds, the magic is in the very mild almond paste inside the dough. It doesn’t hit you on the head with sweetness or nuttiness, but it’s assertive nonetheless.
- Maple Latte: Lattes are naturally sweet of course, but this one has that nice syrupy goodness that adds a light note on the end. Without overwhelming you with sugar, I might add.
- Shortbread Cookies: Dusted with sugar and then packed in delicate little stacks, these cookies have a sweet, pleasant crunch and a definite snackable-ness that makes it hard to put them down at one.
- Flourless Chocolate Cake: This thick cut of cake looses nothing in its flavor, in fact the cake itself sits a bit more dense than your average cake.
The little shop in German Village has a quaint feeling but for its small size it’s frequently busy so maybe not the kind of hang-out spot it may have been before. Meanwhile the North Market location is much more of a grab and go bakery. But it has the same variety of goodies, and price points aren’t too bad. The later in the day you go, though, the more likely some of those really popular macaroons will be gone, especially the best-selling pistachio.
Every neighborhood in Columbus has its native coffee shop, quite a few of them are hard to forget. Pistacia Vera is without a doubt one of the best spots in the German Village, and its bakery alone is worth a special trip.
Recommendations
- The macaroons are the best thing on the menu. First recommendation: pistachio.
- The German Village coffee shop is bright, open when the weather is good, and definitely busy in the mornings. Know when to go.
- The North Market location often has baked goods that nowhere else in the market offers.
Another Food Critic 
I love that morning spot and the colorful cookies!
Hands down the best patisserie in Ohio. Always been a favourite. You’ve got to try the chocolate pistachio feuilletine next time you go!