As reviewed on Yelp - 5/3/2018 Ola Bakery has European soul! It's THE place to hang out with friends and family. They are known for their great Portuguese pastel de nata (custard pie) among other pastries to go with your expresso, cappuccino, or any hot or cold drink of your choice. They also offer a small variety of cold and hot sandwiches, piri piri chicken, french fries and salad, not to mention their breads. Oh, may I suggest their hot bifana (pork) sandwich. They're open from 7am to 10pm Sunday-Thursday and 7am-midnight on Friday and Saturday. The place is almost always packed, so if you're in a hurry and expect fast service, you're setting yourself up for a disappointment. For your experience to work effectively on their busiest time, don't go sit at a table immediately and expect somebody to come and take your order instantly. Here's how it's done: you walk in; place your order at the counter and pay for it right there and then, that way you don't have to stay in line again to pay your check at the end of your meal; go get a table and the wait staff will bring your order. The staff works furiously fast and efficiently, so cut them some slack and tip well. When I'm in Hamilton, you're likely to find me there at least once a day, alone or with guests! Go enjoy a taste of Portugal!

A small cute little shop serving up some authentic Portuguese pastries. It has a dim interior with old style decor, makes you feel like you just stepped into the past. The staff there was very friendly and helped point out some of their popular desserts, as there are a lot of desserts displayed it can get overwhelming. They are known for their Portuguese egg tarts so that was an obvious must grab, the staff also recommended their coconut tarts, they had plain coconut tarts and strawberry coconut tarts. We went with the strawberry coconut tarts. I honestly, enjoyed the strawberry coconut tarts more than I did the egg tarts. Highly recommend you checking this place out. Keep in mind, this place is cash only though!

A charming little bakery and pastry on James street north, this is my second visit and the small Portugaese pies still délicious. This time I went with my son and my daughter-in-law, in addition To Portuguese pies we had some others pastries, same verdict,,délicious.a football match was shown on a big sreen in a small space near to the cash register, cool atmosphere with some supporters enjoying a good coffee, pastry or a sandwich. I haven't tasted their charcuterie but it will for another time. Ola pastry is worth a visit even just to taste the famous Portuguese pies. Nice to have a little Portuguese bakery and pastry in Hamilton with good pastries and coffee at affordable prices.

Thanks, Ola, for the delicious Nata to go with my cappuccino. Ola is a wonderful place to go for just a coffee or for a meal (Bifana will not disappoint). The vibe of a local cafe in Portugal, bustling but time to linger, lots of conversations in several languages and obvious regular visitors. Sit relax and enjoy or take an espresso at the counter. If you are already a fan of pastel de nata, enjoy some. If you've not tried one yet, put Ola on your to-do list.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Bakery & Pastries

Got a few pastries from here the other day (almond croissant, chocolate croissant and eclair). To keep this short, very disappointed in the quality. The croissant was as dense as a dry brownie. Was very doughy as seen in the picture. This is my second time coming here as I believe in giving businesses a second chance and both have been disappointing. Also, it would help customers coming in to have a debit machine at the least working as not a lot of people carry cash. They do have an atm but expect to dish out another $1.75 charge to use it on top of getting doughy and dense pastries.

We discovered Ola by chance because we had gone to Williams by the Lakeby bus only to discover it was closed for maintenance. So, walking up James St looking for a cafe, we found Ola. It's a lovely cafe, bright and cheerful with nice staff and local ambiance. We weren't going to have anything sweet, but the pastries looked so good we couldn't resist. We were happy to discover they could make us a decaf latte and it was good coffee. Would definitely recommend and will go back when in the area. Just note that there is a small charge for debit transactions under $5, I beleive.

Not one complaint. I am super super super picky when it comes to Portuguese food-All I can ever do is compare it to either my Vavo cooking or the cooking done by authentic Portuguese Restaurants in Toronto! This place is LEGIT! I have had their Natas....Their Bifanas....their coconut tarts etc etc.... Amazing!!! Their super clean, super friendly and just a nice little place to site and enjoy. Their decor also is a little old school but I don't mind because it reminds me of my childhood! Ola Bakery all the way!

Reasonably priced,Fairly decent food. Service with a Frown! I was served by an extremely hostile young man, who, glowering at me,served me a large helping of cold shoulder, not sure what it was , I'm sure my money was the right colour.
Service
Take out
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 4
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 1
Recommended dishes
Bakery & Pastries
Wheelchair accessibility
I think there was a ramp.

This is a staple of Hamilton. The location is pretty good right on James St. So a great place to stop on one of Hamilton's Art Crawl nights. The interior is classic but we'll up kept. The seating is well spaced. The pastry options are amazing especially given the price. The portions are big and all the pastries are well made. We ordered 2 pastries and coffee and it was $7. The one thing is it is cash only so keep that in mind. Highly recommended.

Very poor costumer service. One young lady working behind the counter did not have her face covering on while handling other people's food and drink. We are still in a pandemic. If it's cash only, then have a clearly visible sign at the entrance not simply the poorly written sign at the register. We are approaching 2022, I think it's time for this business to get a debit/credit machine. My family and I will definitely not be returning.

Great service, excellent treats, and awesome atmosphere!!! I felt like I was in little Europe when I sat down at a table with my cousin. I ordered flan (it's the best I ever had) couldn't get enough. The hosts were very friendly and polite. I like the fact that everything I gazed upon the host had detailed info on each item and was willing to explain them all! This is a 5 star bakery and experience! Insta: @cmartianator

I gave 2 stars because of their large variety but unfortunately lost 3 stars due to the quality of the items we bought. The croissants were way too dense and still doughy from the inside. Croissants should be fluffy, with layers and lots of air pockets. The other pastries we got also tasted like dough, and still under. Really disappointed because the reviews are so high, thought we had found a new favourite.

honestly just an amazing place. my friends and i went here for lunch all the time. the sandwiches were some of the best we’ve ever had. the desserts are all amazing as well, and never once did we have a negative experience with any of the staff. overall, this is one of the best places i have ever been to. its affordable, good quality, and i have lots of good memories here. i’d recommend Ola’s to anyone.

Walking into this bakery, you truly do not know what to expect. The bread and pastries we got were phenomenal, but the staff was extremely disorganized and was yelling from the kitchen to the customers in the bakery. There were also no signs on anything so I needed to ask the staff questions and she did not seem pleased to have to explain what is what. Could have been an off day?

Been popping by this cafe for over 15 years, nothing changes (in the best way!). The comforting atmosphere, helpful and genuinely friendly owners, delicious and diverse pastries... Such a gem remaining m James after so much change and loss of so many family owned businesses. Partial to the egg tarts, but everything is good and the coffee is strong and dark. ❤️

You ever been to Europe? Its nice. This place is nice. I've never been to Portugal, but I'd imagine that this is what Portugal is like. Wonderful cafe, with lots of really delicious baked goods (get the natas, and their pizza thing). And it's really lovely to see people sitting around drinking espressos out of little cups and speaking Portuguese :)

Awesome spot for sandwiches at a great price !
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Eggs & Toast, French Fries, Cappuccino and Pastry, Bakery & Pastries, Mortadella Sandwiches, Salami, French Butterfly Cookies, Soup of the Day

I really love Ola's food. The prices are fantastic, the food is very fresh, and the atmosphere is lovely when you can eat inside. It loses a star for only taking cash. The atm on location is expensive and I can only assume things are the way they are to profit extra off of the atm fees. If you go here it is absolutely worth it, but being cash.

Hidden gem! This shop is extremely clean and well run. The offerings include coffee, desserts and pastries as well as sandwiches. The seating area is well lit and perfect for a chat with a friend or two. Our service was prompt and friendly. The shop is extremely clean - including the washrooms and the shop is accessible. Highly recommend!

Portuguese Pastries, cakes, sweet bread, fresh portuguese bread buns, sandwiches, pork lion "bifanas" with fries and Lattes are of the many items I have eaten at Ola! The owners and servers are super friendly. I enjoy going here every now and again for a treat. Our family buys bread 1-2 times/ week. Tip: Place Accepts Cash as payment

This was a lovely place to visit. The coffee is wonderful and the food is delightful. The egg tarts are absolutely amazing, and I enjoy going down here specifically for those desserts. They also have fresh bread and an assortment of muffins. I would definitely recommend going here! But parking is sometimes tricky as it is James.

use to come here all the time as a kid. Delicious food, friendly service :) and the pastries will make your mouth water. portions are really generous, and I cannot wait to come back. loved being able to be apart of my culture, especially as the area is Portuguese <3 so proud and maybe biased, but I know good food when I taste it

Yum, shrimp and cod cakes fresh and flavorful- on point. Didn't know they made sandwiches here so I will be returning for sure to try those out (I'm usually heading to Barton area - there are a couple spots down in the area - to get my fresh sandwiches with the fresh daily buns). Worth checking out - espresso had me walking in!

Not only does Ola have delicious (and well priced) pastries, but it's also my go-to place to grab a cappuccino downtown when I want to treat myself. While they might not be as hip as other local coffee shops & bakeries you can't beat the price-point of a $2.50 cappuccino. Definitely one of Hamilton's hidden gems!

I'm so glad I found this place! We just happened to stop in, but will definitely return anytime I'm in the area. The desserts are great and the price is even better! Most items are only $2.50 or less and the staff were super friendly as well. Their custard tarts alone are worth the trip ($1.50).

So-so. Pastry not much flavour. Was there early evening on a Sat and they were out of black & green tea!?! Walk over to the grocery and get some for your customers! Cash only. Cashier didn't say they were out of tea before I paid so ended up w lukewarm coffee that was watery and not much taste.

I'm learning this place is under new management (Since Oct 2022?!). It's much more decorative and the space is very welcoming. Desserts are amazing and fresh. A must try if you haven't yet. The Portuguese tarts are always a favourite. I like the mini cheese cakes and the service is friendly.

Great little bakery and coffee place. It’s one of the most comfortable place to go to during cold winter days or any time of year. It’s truly old Hamilton and it’s a wonderful experience. Oh, did I mention their desserts and coffee? Second to none! And at a price that will leave you smiling!

Good food, great coffee and pastries, friendly staff and customers, great view of James St N. Recently renovated, they've added wifi, prices are excellent.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$1–10
Recommended dishes
Bifana, Bakery & Pastries, Salami

We arranged for Ola to prepare a staff lunch for us and we were blown away by the quality of the food. The sandwiches were freshly made and the pastries were exceptional. Thank you for taking care of us so well, we really appreciate it. We will definitely be coming back in the future!

We got there right when the custard tarts came out of the oven. We had to wait a few minutes to let them cool and it was so worth the wait. The tarts, the eclairs, the cakes, and the bread were all wonderful. They are wonderful anytime of day, but this was something special.

Can’t get enough of this place. They have no debit machine though so you just have to remember to have cash on you. We love going down to olas for a Portuguese tart and a coffee. My husband usually gets the turkey sandwich and a pop and we get some pastries to go. So good!

Yes excellent pastries and coffee for very reasonable prices! I will now extend myself and try the bifana (pork sandwich)! If new to Hamilton this place must be attended as you walk up and down James Street...especially during Super Crawl (a monthly festive atmosphere)!

Nice to see new management, really brought back some life into the establishment. I really enjoy what they did to the place, feels homey....almost like being at avo's house lol The quality of the pastries have also improved, so that's a big plus. Keep up the good work!

Amazing place, didn't know they had sandwiches, we got 4 (for 4 ppl lol) and they were sooooo delicious! Not to mention the natas are to die for. They have a huge variety of other pastries as well... Only a few pictures here in this photo. Def will visit again.

Lots of nice pastry offerings and great day old bargains, great food reasonably priced
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Bakery & Pastries

I love this bakery, and come here often. The Portuguese custard tarts are my favorite, but other baked goods are delicious too. The lemon tea is tasty and fresh with a lovely presentation. Everything is very affordable. Keep in mind that they only take cash!

Absolutely love Ola Bakery! One of the best bifanas I have had! They also have delicious, always fresh buns! The freshest deli meat I have ever had! Highly recommended! My wife loves the pastries! We come here a few times a week and are never disappointed!

The best Portuguese tarts in town. Although, after many purchases, I can say their pastries always has a weird taste, and I believe it is due to their fridge/cooler temperature. Quite disappointing as it completely masks all the flavor of their desserts.

Totally one of the best bakery/coffee shops in the city. They always have the most delicious treats. The classic being the tarts. It is the kind of place that locals go to. Trendy bakeries come and go but this place is a Hamilton and James street staple!

Excellent Service and very well priced delicious food better than all three of my Ex-Wives. ☕
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

The bakery offers a good amount of sweet selections. I've only had the Portuguese tarts and pizza buns, both are good. The prices are reasonable. A downside is that they don't have any prices on the display area. Portuguese tarts were 1.50 each.

I went here to purchase a few cupcakes for some friends and I went up to the cash register, two workers saw me just waiting there I waited for a solid 15 minutes and no one asked to take my order. I even said “hey can I get a few cupcakes”

Superb desserts. Reasonably priced. My friend said it's been under new management since October 2022. Friendly staff. The Portugese tarts are a must but I can't get enough of the mini cheesecakes. The pastries are so fresh. The stores is

My daily place of selection. Great service, love the staff, amazing sweets and meals. A place with a familiar portuguese environment. The owners Paulo and Christine are so nice. Awesome and I may say the best bakery ever

Tried pork sandwich and custard tarts. Very tasty and very reasonable prices. Will be back for sure. Wish they accept credit card and have a menu in the future. I had to literarily point at the food that I couldn't call the name.

This place is an awesome hole in the wall. We stopped by tonight with a large group. They went out of there way to accommodate us by sliding various tables together. Coffee and pastries were amazing and priced very reasonable.

I've had better service. Thumbs up: coffee and decor. Thumbs down: cash only, no debit. A machine is available but it has a minimum withdrawal of $20 with a $1.75 fee. And no cream, milk only. Street parking is $1.50 per hour.

Very nice family run Portuguese authentic bakery and bistro. The steak sandwich is delicious and the pastries are scrumptious too. A great place to have breakfast, lunch or and afternoon coffee and delight. Recommended!

A wonderful family owned place to get authentic Portuguese treats. Always fresh. The owners are very sweet. Their Portuguese tarts are our favourite we’ve been coming here for years. They also have a great almond cake.

Pastry was old and dry. It tasted good... But the attention made all around just an experience I wouldn't get into again. Never again, and not recommended. Imposible to have a sweet desert with such a bitter personnel.

Great atmosphere and delicious desserts! I definitely want to go back to try more of the bread and deli products. Very fast a friendly service. We had the brownie and the cannoli and I would definitely recommend both.

I wanted to like this place so bad, but the desserts were dry and flavor was off. Hate to be the one guy that didn't like this place, so I went back and had the same experience. Friendly staff and open seating though.

Ola is an absolute gem. Fantastic people working there who are very friendly and courteous. The cappuccino and hot chocolate were delicious and the pastries we tried were fabulous. Favourite coffee spot in the city!

Best bread! We love picking up fresh bread and desserts. When their dining was open, it was a lovely place to go for a coffee and sandwich. The staff are very patient and caring with the elderly people who come in.

A James st. N. staple! Great large sandwiches for about 5 bucks. Espresso is good or not so good depending on who makes it. Fries are amazing! Tons of homemade dessert and breads. I go once a week pretty much.

Absolutely delicious sandwiches and drinks. The prices are fair as well.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Under New Management … Well done Had a Bifanas , custard tart and capacino .. Yummo . Great prices , good food and excellent service By the way they are open until 9:00 pm during the week …

Stopped by for a Portugese Tart and coffee. The tart was really good but would have liked it warmed up. Very reasonable pricing. I think it was $1.50 per tart. Coffee was okay. I'll come back again.

Very nice coffee place amazing pastry very very fresh. ppl works there friendly very clean and nice atmosphere I love it and latte it's amazing
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Thanks to Instagram for showing me this gem. Grabbed a variety of deserts to test them out. Wow, super fresh and amazing flavour, along with an amazing price. New customer here. :) Support Local!!

Very tasty and large menu of tarts, pastries and coffees. This is me and my husband go to place now onwards. We almost visit here every second day. Staff is super nice too. Loving all the menu…

Always my kids go to for a treat. They even prefer the pastries for their birthdays instead of cake. Delicious and can't beat the prices. Just wish they took debit or credit and not just cash.

Delicious pastry. Excellent coffee.
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Bakery & Pastries

Best sandwiches and affordable buns if you want to make for yourself at home, been going there for dates and then making the sandwiches for my lunch all week. I’ll never get sick of them:)

Favourite place to get Portuguese tarts! Always a hit when I bring them to house parties. However, must always have cash or change handy cause the ATM charge is not pleasing to the pocket.

First time here and Picked up some Portuguese tarts. The selection was good but the staff here barely acknowledged us and was very miserable. Not the best impression for customer service

This cafe is a European Gem. Delicious freshly made sandwiches on fresh baked buns that you can purchase early in the day when they first open .. the Portuguese tarts are the best.

Stopped in Friday April 14th - James street crawl. Very fun ambiance and fantastic carrot cake and yummy hot chocolate ! Great service and selection of goodies! …

A regular stop for lunchtime. Super fresh bread, great sandwiches and some of the friendliest staff around. Great value as well as some seriously great Portugese baked goods!

I love the sandwiches and the pasteries here. The service is friendly, the prices are great and the food is top notch. They recently renovated to which looks really nice.

Lovely place, great selection of European pastries. Recommend dinning in during the morning for freshly baked items. 4/5 stars because it's cash only (in 2020).

Great espresso and deserts. The tart in here probably is the best in Hamilton.(Another tart place i love is inside the farmers market)A spot i go there recently

Great place .Very comfortable
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$50–60
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Great selection of stuff but the quality of the baked goods isn’t great. Maybe I came in on a bad day because I’ve been recommended this place multiple times.

They make the best sandwiches. Their baked goodies are very good, too. The place is very clean and the staff ate very nice. the prices are very reasonable

Bought cannoli. Not good at all. Pastry was chewy, filling was custard, not ricotta. If you can't make them original. Stick to Portuguese pastry.

May be cash only but it worth it. Prices and freshness is unbeatable! The croissants are not French style. They are more dense but I still like.

Sooooo yummy! Went to Ola for a quick dessert after dinner. The staff there were lovely and the dessert was great. Coffee was delicious too.

5 different desserts and none of them were edible. I do feel bad for the cashier though, she seemed miserable. I hope her life gets better.

We keep coming back to Ola’s Bakery for their delicious food and amazing staff. Thank you again for another yummy and friendly experience.

Picked up some fresh buns and baked goods. So delicious and fresh. I've been stopping in here over the years while in town. My go to.

Warm and nice environment with delicious sandwiches, sweets and coffee. Their Bifana sandwich and chocolate mousse are my favorites.

Great sandwiches but I didn't leave room for a sweet treat , next visit I will get something yummy and a espresso! Eh take it eas !

Excellent Bifana. Little gem on james st n. Im glad I checked this place out. Great for dining in too. Lots of tables, good vibe.

Had a lovely egg sandwich and some bakery. staff are very friendly and the place is kept very clean. Coming back for sure …

Yesterday I had two yellow square pastries, one had coconut and the other had more custard. I was wondering what they are called

One of my favorite places in town to get an espresso & a treat. If you haven't already been there you definitely need to try it.

Disappointed. The natas weren't flaky, mil-folhas had little to no filling. Cash only dynamic was a bit irritating as well.

Delicious pasteries and coffee. Great service. Lots of seating. Soft and tender buns. Best pastege de nata in Hamilton

Have returned multiple times now for the custard tarts and our new favorite, the little cheesecake bites.. So yum!

Firstly the place is clean. I usually buy whole wheat buns and it tastes great. ..Sometimes desert. Please try it.

Desserts are very delicious and you never know that day you might get a free piece of cake I did and it was fun

Tried the cappuccino, was really good. The almond tart was also tasty. Variety of dishes to choose from.

Now under new ownership it's even BETTER, hence the reason why I changed my rating from 4 to 5 stars.

Large selection of pasteries Very friendly staff , clean and sandwiches are delicious, great prices!

Food was good and reasonably priced, didn’t come out hot but otherwise it would have gotten 5 stars

I used to visit this place almost daily, always fresh bakery! I do like the hospitality of owner!.

Awesome food. I LOVE it! and the service??? it couldn't be better!!! You should stop by for sure!

Great selection of pastries. The service and atmosphere are wonderful. I great gem on James St.