Viktor Bene's Continental Bakery

Introduction / Overview

For generations of Southern Californians, the name **Viktor Bene's Continental Bakery** has been synonymous with tradition, quality, and fine European-style baked goods. Situated conveniently within the high-end Gelson’s Market in Century City, this bakery offers local Los Angeles residents a taste of artisanal craftsmanship that dates back decades. The original founder, Viktor Benes, a baker who immigrated from Czechoslovakia in 1920, established a legacy of using natural, fresh ingredients and adhering to classic European recipes, a commitment that current owners continue to uphold today. When you step up to the counter, you are met with an inviting display of beautifully decorated cakes, tempting pastries, and a wide array of bread, capturing the essence of a traditional European patisserie infused with Southern California's discerning taste.

Viktor Bene's Continental Bakery is far more than just a typical grocery store bakery counter; it is a full-service destination specializing in both everyday indulgence and spectacular custom creations. While the bakery is famous for its **Alligator** coffee cake, its offerings span a diverse menu that caters to virtually every sweet craving and special occasion. From meticulously crafted mini quiches and delicate pastries to large, fully customized cakes for parties and weddings, the focus remains on delivering high quality, consistent flavor, and exceptional presentation. The convenience of its location, combined with a reputation for friendly and reliable service—including employees who are "wonderful and kind"—makes it a reliable and cherished stop for a quick morning coffee and pastry, or for pre-ordering the perfect dessert.

Location and Accessibility

The Century City location of Viktor Bene's Continental Bakery is strategically placed inside the Gelson’s Market at a prime Los Angeles address, offering maximum convenience for local shoppers and professionals in the area.

The specific address is:

10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90067, USA

This location within the upscale Gelson's market ensures excellent accessibility and a comfortable shopping experience for all California patrons. Key accessibility features include:

• Wheelchair Accessible Entrance: Easy access is provided for all customers entering the store and the bakery area.
• Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot: Available within the larger facility parking area shared by the market.
• Wheelchair Accessible Restroom: Facilities are available for customer convenience within the location.
• Wheelchair Accessible Seating: Designated seating is available for customers who wish to enjoy their coffee and treats on-site.

The bakery is designed for both a relaxed **Dine-in** experience, complete with an amenity like a clean **Restroom**, and for a quick, efficient **Quick visit** for those grabbing baked goods on the go.

Services Offered

Viktor Bene's Continental Bakery provides a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the needs of the busy California lifestyle and special events:

• In-store Shopping: Patrons can browse the extensive displays of freshly prepared pastries, cookies, cakes, and breads, which are prepared daily for high quality and delightful flavors.
• Takeout: The option to quickly select and purchase items to enjoy at home or at the office.
• Dine-in: Customers can enjoy a relaxing break with a **Coffee** and a fresh pastry at available seating.
• Custom Cake Orders: Specializes in custom cakes for parties, birthdays, and weddings, offering various shapes, sizes, and flavors. The bakery is happy to work directly with customers to create the perfect design, often including fresh fruits between layers and on top, a feature highly appreciated by reviewers.
• Online Ordering: The bakery’s website facilitates easy ordering ahead for custom cakes and large orders, streamlining the process for busy clients.
• Full Line of Baked Goods: Offers a wide variety including Danish, coffee cakes, challah bread, rye, pumpernickel, danishes, pastries, and more.
• Payment Flexibility: Accepts modern payment methods including **Credit cards**, **Debit cards**, and **NFC mobile payments** for speed and ease of transaction.

Features / Highlights

The bakery’s reputation is built on its unique specialties and unwavering commitment to using premium, fresh ingredients, such as real butter and fresh whole eggs, a standard set by the European roots of the business:

• The Infamous Alligator Coffee Cake: This is the bakery's undisputed signature delight. It is a scrumptious, rich coffee cake made with a mix of pecans, butter, and egg, and is highly sought after for any occasion. It is available in various sizes, from large to bite-size, making it perfect for sharing or individual indulgence.
• Signature Cakes and Special Occasion Desserts: Offers a vast selection of showcase cakes—over 30 varieties—including the classic Chocolate Parisian, rich German Chocolate Cake, Red Velvet, and luscious fruit tortes. They excel in custom-decorated cakes that impress guests, often featuring fresh fruit additions.
• Extensive Cookie Selection: Features more than 20 cookie varieties, including traditional favorites sold by the pound, festive shortbread cookies in shapes like happy faces and butterflies with sugary fondant icing, as well as florentines, rugelach (such as Apricot and Raspberry), and cinnamon hearts. These are a reliable sweet treat and perfect for holiday or seasonal gifts.
• Daily Fresh Pastries: Known for fresh pastries prepared daily, ensuring high quality. Offerings include morning favorites like fresh-baked muffins (lemon poppy seed, pumpkin, etc.), danishes, croissants, brioche, scones, and mini quiches.
• European Influence: The bakery continues to honor the European techniques and recipes brought to Southern California, evident in the sophisticated flavors and detailed presentation of their fancy miniature products and pastries, which brought a unique flavor profile to the LA market.
• Customer-Focused Service: The staff is frequently noted in customer reviews for being "wonderful and kind" and responsive, a factor that contributes significantly to the reliable, positive customer experience.

Contact Information

For Los Angeles customers looking to place a custom order, inquire about the seasonal offerings, or simply check on the availability of a favorite pastry, the contact details are as follows:

Address: 10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90067, USA (Inside Gelson's Market, Century City)

Phone: (310) 277-7670

Mobile Phone: +1 310-277-7670

What is Worth Choosing

For first-time or returning patrons in the California area, the sheer variety at Viktor Bene's Continental Bakery can be overwhelming. To ensure a truly authentic experience, there are several items that stand out and are consistently recommended:

The absolute must-try is **The Alligator** coffee cake. This signature pecan, butter, and egg-based coffee cake is the item the bakery is most famous for and is praised for its rich, irresistible flavor that makes it a perfect centerpiece for any morning gathering or casual treat.

Next, consider their famous customized cakes. If you are planning an event, utilizing their easy website to order a **Custom Cake** is highly recommended. Patrons love the meticulous decoration and the use of fresh fruit additions. For a ready-to-go slice, the **Chocolate Parisian Cake** or a slice of a **luscious fruit torte** offers a quick taste of their celebrated cake artistry.

Finally, for an everyday indulgence, try one of their **Shortbread Cookies**—the festive shapes are a Southern California tradition—or one of the specialty pastries like the **Raspberry Rugelach** or a **Mini Eclair**. These smaller treats perfectly showcase the bakery’s commitment to high-quality ingredients and European finesse, making them a superb accompaniment to a fresh cup of their offered **Coffee** enjoyed in the convenient seating area.

Viktor Bene's Continental Bakery

10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90067, USA