Nielsen’s Authentic Danish Pastry

This pastery shop is really the best in town. Ive had the patatoo with marzipan and its really the best! I am getting hungry again while i write this… must go back fast.

You deff should get the snitters. The sandwiches are a great deal with a really enjoyable fillings to bread ratio. The servers are very kind. And the cookies are also delicious. Would recommend to anyone for a nice lunch.

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and Nielsen’s did not disappoint. Bought the Kringle and berry cheese Danish because I just couldn’t decide. The the Kringle was amazing sweet flaky and slightly crusty enough to give good texture. Paired it with an Americano which helps take the edge off sweet delicious pastries. The berry cheese Danish was good but I would not buy it again.

The best birthday cake! We have used Nielsen’s for multiple special birthday parties, and the cake with marzipan icing always gets lots of compliments. Real butter, real cream in the filling, looks beautiful and tastes great.
Of course we have to pick up a couple of pastries, when we go to get the cake; see others’ comments for which ones to choose.

I just moved across the street and I am so excited to have somewhere like this so close. I’ve been twice, loved everything that I have gotten. My only complaint– and its not really a complaint– but the atmosphere inside isn’t a coffee shop atmosphere. (its not a coffee shop) so if you’re going to do some work or computer use, i’d find somewhere else just because its a little noisy and no comfy chairs.
definitely 5 stars for the food.

The candied ginger shortbread was so buttery and light with touch of sweetness. And the Danish… wow. Also had the Russian tea cake but preferred the shortbread overall.

I have never been here but someone brought us a treat and we shared the Kringle… boy was fresh. Would love to try other items from them:)

Yum! This place was recommended for us to try on our trip to Seattle. We have been here twice and will be going back a third time. The danishes are delectable. So happy I found out about this place. Wish there was one in my hometown.

Everything we tried was delicious. Stop reading and go eat there.
I had the boller and it was amazing. Probably one of the best pastries I’ve ever had.

I go to this place a lot for their lunch foods — soup, sandwiches, etc. Every soup they’ve had has been filling and savoury — White Bean Basil, Yellow Split Pea, Pumpkin Wild Rice. Yum! I love good soup.
The sandwiches aren’t super over the top but they go well with the soups and are tasty. Basic staple sandwiches — Egg Salad, Chicken Salad, etc. The Chipotle Chicken has a little ‘kick’.
The drip coffee is from the Olympia Roasing Co. and is fabulous, especially with a pastry. The fruit/​custard pastry and the shortbread cookies are tasty; I would guess every other baked good is just as flavorful.
The atmosphere is welcoming and warm — shelves of books, board games, etc. Every person who has waited on me has been great; happy to be there and happy to wait on me.

These guys are just the best. Cute little place, good coffee, friendly service, and the pastries? Divine. Trying to decide if this is the place to get a buttery, sugary snack? Answer is yes.
Try the snitter, or if you’re with a big group, the Kringle. Or the potato. Or the coffee cake. Or the shortbread.

This place is a bit different than just a coffee shop, or just a bakery/​pastry shop.
Evaluating them on the one visit I had seems like a troublesome way to write a review — But, here goes. Would I sit and stay and drink 2 or 3 coffees and get some work done here? No, it just doesn’t have a quiet atmosphere or comfy chairs to get the job done. I’m not sure if they have wifi internet access either; My quick visit was merely to satisfy an espresso and cookie fix.
On the merit of the dessert — I ordered two things (during the week-​day happy hour, which was awesome.) I was able to get some russian tea cookies as my ‘free pastry’ — which were light and not too sweet; I enjoyed them. I also picked up one of the Sarah Bernhardt desserts — sort of a combination of a cookie covered in mousse — all covered in chocolate. Overall, the sweets were decent — I don’t think I’ll order either of those items again, but they were good in their own right.
The espresso was decent — I ordered an amiercano that turned out alright. Nothing blew my mind about it, but it went well with the snack.
So, yeah, worth a visit, but I think I’ll try what appear to be the more popular pastries next time I go — the Kringle and the Snitter.

3.5 stars.
Their sandwiches are boring and tasteless.
Their coffee isn’t strong enough.
Good enough ambiance
But as far as pastries, desserts, breakfast things, they’re some of the best for miles.

Potato: our favorite, custard filled puff, topped with a thin sheet of marzipan and then dusted with cocoa powder. Creamy, marzipan-​y, chocolatey… heaven!
Snitta: cinnamon rolls, really really great, lots of cinnamon, little bread.
Tosca: small marzipan squares, dipped in chocolate with a little raspberry jam. Yum.
Napoleon’s Hat: OK, a bit dry, not too flavorful.
Poppy Danish: least favorite, tough danish dusted with poppy seed.
Glad we got to try a variety of stuff here, will be back for some of our favorite items, I could totally see the cravings in the near future!

Nielsen’s is close proximity to my work, which regularly requires espresso to make it through the day. Nielsen’s has the best coffee in this part of the neighborhood. They use Olympia Coffee Roasters and the espresso is incredibly smooth and not even the least bit bitter. As for the food, I’ve had a variety of their offerings and I really must recommend the savory croissants and the oatmeal raisin cookies. They make some of the best oatmeal raisin cookies I’ve ever had. I know that this is not a «go to cookie» for a lot of folks but that is just because they’ve never had Nielsen’s!
I’ve typically found most of the staff at Nielsen’s to be agreeable. The blonde girl who often works in the morning is incredibly friendly and chatty. I love going in there when she is working. There is one other younger female that usually works in the afternoons that isn’t always friendly, but I cannot honestly say she is rude either, just curt? perhaps.

Being that my grandparents are Danish and used to live in Ballard, this bakery is the stuff of family legends. We often make day trips from Portland just to satisfy cravings for potatoes and snitter, and would never think of coming to Seattle without stopping by.
This place has the best Danish pastries I’ve ever had outside of Denmark!

This is such a hidden gem. I had walked past its subterranean locale many times without stopping in until one day I had a bite of their ‘potato’ and I was hooked. The potato just looks like one, but it is far beyond that and possibly one of the most delicious treats I’ve ever had.
Great service. Delicious coffee. Superb treats. Oh my yum!

Friendly staff, cozy atmosphere, and homemade pastries that are flakey and light. I came in right before closing, but they were so nice to serve me and let me have a seat.
Even though most of their items were sold out, they had good recommendations. Ordered their ginger shortbread cookie (tastes like Christmas), had a pumpkin chocolate chip cooke (soft and not too sweet), and a new Danish pastry that the bakery is now carrying.
The owner recently got back from his Denmark trip, so he has now introduced newer pastries. A really fun café.

Have you heard about Nielsen’s? If you haven’t, I’m here to enlighten you (and your tastebuds). You can thank me later. It’s a simple little shop, cute and spacious, charming in its own way. Lots of natural light and people watching for those who want to hang for a bit. I’m surprised I’ve never noticed this place before. It’s not hidden, but not flat out flashy either.
I heard about Nielsen’s because they were featured on «Unique Sweets» (I’m a Food Network junkie). Once I saw this episode I HAD HAD HAD to have this sweet thang called the, «potato». At first I thought I’d go next time I was in the neighborhood. Then there was this gnawing whisper in the back of my mind, «potato, potato, potato» that wouldn’t quit. I finally gave up and gave in, and headed to Nielsen’s.
I excitedly ordered one potato and left. Oh snap! ONE?! I should have ordered the last four in the case and preordered the next 10!
Love at first noms. Seriously. It only takes one bite before twothreefour and done!
I tried a few of their other goodies, but this was by far my favorite. If you decide to pig out make sure you keep your leftover treats (this word doesn’t exist in my vocabulary) refrigerated or you’ll be sorry. Staff is helpful and sweet.

Holy Snit!
This longstanding Danish bakery freshly bakes «some of the best pastries from a Scandinavian point of view» according to Seattle local Blake P.
I ordered a delicious snitter which is a heavenly combination of sugar, butter, and flour.
Bring home a Kringle for the whole fam!