A Legendary German Bakery In Minnesota Just Reopened With A Brand New Bar

A legendary German bakery closed its doors and everyone held their breath waiting. Now it is back and brought something unexpected along for the ride.

The bread still comes out crusty and warm with that perfect European chew inside. Pastries sit in the case looking like little edible works of art every single morning.

But the real surprise is the brand new bar tucked right there in the corner. Pretzels and beer now share the same building which feels dangerously perfect for everyone involved.

Minnesota knows how to celebrate a comeback and this one deserves a round of applause. I watched someone order a strudel with a cocktail and nobody batted an eye at all.

The space feels fresh but the recipes are still the same ones people have loved for years. Old favorites and new adventures under one roof in Minnesota is a combination worth driving across town to enjoy.

The Story Behind Aki’s BreadHaus

Some bakeries are just businesses. Aki’s BreadHaus is something closer to a legacy.

For years, Minneapolis regulars recognized the name from pretzels served at local spots across the Twin Cities. The brand built its reputation quietly, one loaf at a time.

The move to 1712 Marshall Street NE marks a new chapter. It is a larger, more polished space that still holds onto the heart of what made the original so special.

Homages to the bakery’s history line the walls, giving the place a museum-like warmth.

Long-time fans will feel it right away. New visitors will sense they walked into something with real roots.

The staff carry that same friendly energy the bakery has always been known for. It feels professional without feeling cold.

This is a place built by people who genuinely love what they do, and that shows in every corner of the room.

The New Location on Marshall Street NE

Marshall Street NE is not a street you fly down without paying attention. Aki’s sits right there, easy to miss if you are moving too fast, but impossible to forget once you have been inside.

The building shares space with Broken Clock Brewing Co-op, which makes the block feel like a little community hub.

The new space is noticeably larger than the original. High ceilings and good natural light give it an open, airy feel.

Parking on weekdays is manageable, and the rear lot offers a handicap-accessible entrance that is fully finished and ready to use.

Northeast Minneapolis has a long reputation for supporting creative, independent businesses. Aki’s fits right into that culture.

The neighborhood energy around this spot is warm and welcoming. Walking up to the entrance, you get the sense that this place has already become a fixture.

It earns that feeling honestly, with zero pretension.

The Atmosphere Inside the BreadHaus

Walking in on a Wednesday afternoon, the space felt alive without being loud. A few people sat reading near the windows.

Others lingered over coffee. The seating options are genuinely varied, from quirky chairs that pull you into conversation to quieter corners perfect for solo visits.

Rotating artwork lines the walls, which keeps the space feeling fresh each time you return. The lighting is warm and generous.

Nothing about the decor feels forced or over-designed. It has that rare quality of a place that came together naturally rather than being staged for Instagram.

The bakery section is visible and active, which adds a live-kitchen energy to the whole experience. You can hear the rhythm of production in the background.

The smell alone is worth the trip. It is the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to order one more thing, stay one more hour, and tell everyone you know about it.

The Bread That Built the Reputation

Ask anyone who has been to Aki’s what they remember most, and bread comes up immediately. The sourdough loaves are the kind you slice thick and eat slowly.

The three-day ferment process creates a depth of flavor that store-bought bread simply cannot touch.

Rye bread, seeded sourdough, raisin loaves, and classic German rolls called brotchen fill the display on good days. Getting there early matters.

By noon on a Saturday, the selection thins out fast, and some items disappear entirely before the afternoon crowd arrives.

The crust has a satisfying crunch. The crumb inside stays moist and tender.

Real butter cubes served alongside the bread elevate the whole experience. One long-time visitor described the sourdough baguette as delicious in a way that stuck.

That kind of consistency, batch after batch, is what separates a good bakery from a great one. Aki’s lands firmly in the second category.

Pretzels Worth Planning a Trip Around

Aki’s pretzels have a reputation that stretches well beyond the bakery itself. For years, they appeared on menus at bars and taverns across Minneapolis and St. Paul.

People came to expect a certain standard, and the bakery has never let that standard slip.

Fresh out of the oven, they are extraordinary. The outside has that deep, mahogany color with a slight chew.

The inside stays soft and pillowy. Served with cranberry mustard or a sharp cheese dip, they become a full experience rather than just a snack.

A small tip from regulars: eat them the same day you buy them. Pretzels do not keep the way bread does, and the difference between fresh and day-old is significant.

If you cannot finish one on the spot, take it home and reheat it with your preferred condiment. Either way, this is the pretzel that earns the hype every single time.

The WunderBar and Its Evening Vibe

The WunderBar is the headline addition to this reopening, and it delivers. Open on Friday and Saturday evenings, it transforms the bakery space into something more intimate and relaxed.

The same warmth from the daytime carries right into the night hours.

The bar leans into a European sensibility, which feels completely natural given the bakery’s German roots. The kitchen runs during bar hours too, though it tends to close a bit before the posted time, so arriving early is a smart move.

Evening visits have a different rhythm. The crowd is a little quieter.

The lighting feels softer. Pretzels and snacks stay available right up until closing.

It is the kind of low-key evening spot that Minneapolis does not have enough of, and Aki’s pulls it off without trying too hard.

Pastries, Rolls, and Sweet Baked Goods

The pastry case at Aki’s is the kind that makes decision-making genuinely difficult. Lemon poppyseed rolls, cinnamon sticks, blueberry streusel, cardamom bread, and Nutella pastries all compete for your attention at once.

Each one looks like it was made with real care.

The lemon poppyseed roll has developed a fan base of its own. Visitors describe the texture as impossibly soft, with a lemon flavor that feels balanced rather than sharp.

The cinnamon stick is a crowd favorite for good reason. It is simple, warm, and exactly what you want with a morning coffee.

Prices stay very reasonable, which makes it easy to grab a few items and experiment. A box of mixed pastries for a meeting or gathering will earn you serious praise.

The blueberry streusel carries a freshness that processed baked goods never manage. This section of the menu alone is enough to justify the trip from anywhere in the metro area.

Savory Options and Soup of the Day

Aki’s is not purely a sweet-tooth destination. The savory side of the menu holds its own with real confidence.

Open-faced sandwiches called belegtes brotchen arrive on thick slices of rye bread with rotating toppings. Tuna salad, beet salad, and braunschweiger are among the options, each one distinct and well-seasoned.

The daily soup is a quiet highlight. A squash soup made entirely from scratch arrived silky and light despite being fully vegan.

The kitchen manages to create depth without relying on heavy ingredients, which is genuinely impressive. Potato soup and other rotating options keep regular visitors coming back to see what is new.

Savory bread rolls filled with onion and bacon or sauerkraut and cheese round out the lunch possibilities. The selection is intentionally limited, which keeps quality high.

Nothing on the savory menu feels like an afterthought. Every item tastes like someone put thought and skill into making it properly, not just quickly.

What Makes Aki’s Feel Authentically German

Authenticity is one of those words that gets overused until it loses meaning. At Aki’s, it actually applies.

European visitors and expats consistently describe the bread and pastries as tasting genuinely German, not a Midwestern interpretation of it. That distinction matters more than it might seem.

The techniques are traditional. The fermentation times are long.

The ingredients lean toward simplicity rather than excess sweetness. Nothing tastes artificial.

The flavor profiles land closer to a Munich bakery than a standard American pastry shop, and that is entirely intentional.

Even the atmosphere carries a quiet European sensibility. Staff are friendly without being performative about it.

The pace is unhurried. You eat, you linger, you leave feeling like you spent time somewhere real.

For anyone who has traveled in Germany and missed that specific kind of morning bakery experience, Aki’s BreadHaus provides something genuinely close to it right here in Minneapolis.

Planning Your Visit to Aki’s BreadHaus and WunderBar

Timing your visit makes a real difference here. Tuesday through Thursday, the bakery runs from 8 AM to 4 or 9 PM depending on the day.

Friday and Saturday stretch to 10 PM, which is when the WunderBar comes fully alive. Sunday and Monday are closed, so plan accordingly.

Arriving early on weekends is strongly recommended. The bread and pastry selection peaks in the morning and shrinks steadily through the day.

Showing up around opening time gives you the widest range of choices and the freshest items straight from the oven.

Parking is available on the street during weekdays, and the rear lot provides accessible entry from the back of the building. The phone number is 612-578-7897 if you want to check on specific items before making the trip.

Prices stay in the affordable range, making this a place you can return to often without hesitation. Address: Aki’s BreadHaus and WunderBar, 1712 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413.