A Taste of Love at Bakey: South Florida's Newest Bakery Opens July 14
Some food experiences stay with you long after the last bite, and my time at Bakey was exactly that.
Before Bakey officially opens its doors in South Florida, I had the chance to spend a really special evening with Chef Uri Scheft, a James Beard nominated pastry chef, baker, cookbook author, and heart behind Bakey. Getting to meet him was one of the highlights of the night.
Chef Uri is warm, down-to-earth, and passionate about what he does so that you can’t help but be drawn in. After spending time with him and hearing his stories, it is easy to understand why so many people have fallen in love with Bakey.
One of the most memorable moments of the evening was learning how to braid and bake my own challah alongside Chef Uri. As we worked the dough, he encouraged us to be playful with different toppings and reminded us that when food is prepared with love and intention, it will always taste better. As he shared stories about his life, it became clear that his passion for baking began long before he became an internationally acclaimed baker.
Born to Danish parents and raised in Israel, Chef Uri credits his mother with inspiring his lifelong love of baking. She ran a kindergarten out of their home, and every Friday the children would gather to bake challah together for Shabbat. Those afternoons filled with flour-dusted hands, laughter, and the comforting aroma of fresh bread became one of his most cherished childhood memories and planted the seed for what would become his life’s work.
Hearing him tell that story while we braided our own challahs made the experience even more meaningful. It reminded me that the best recipes aren’t just about ingredients, they are about family, tradition, and the memories we create around the table. It’s easy to see how that philosophy continues to shape everything at Bakey today, where every loaf, pastry, and babka is made with the same love and intention that began in his childhood home.
If you’ve never heard of Bakey before, you are in for a treat. After earning a devoted following with five Boston-area locations, the bakery is opening its first South Florida café in Hallandale Beach on Tuesday, July 14, with additional locations already planned for Fort Lauderdale and Aventura.
Everything at Bakey is baked fresh in-house throughout the day and their philosophy is simple: The oven is always on; The result is an incredible selection of artisan breads, challahs, buttery croissants, flaky burekas, sourdough loaves, bagels, pastries, and their world-famous babkas.
The chocolate babka is the star of the show, but don’t stop there. I also recommend exploring the savory side of the menu, including the cheese burekas, spinach burekas, fresh salads like the lentil and beet salad, chickpea and spinach salad, and potato salad, plus sandwiches and all-day breakfast offerings.
Coffee lovers will appreciate that Bakey serves premium coffee made with beans sourced from Umbria, Italy, roasted to bring out exceptional flavor in every cup.
Located in the former Bagel Cove space, the beautifully redesigned cafe is bright, modern, and welcoming, while remaining a kosher establishment. Whether you are stopping in for a quick pastry and coffee, lunching with friends, or grabbing challah for Shabbat, it feels like the kind of neighborhood bakery you’ll want to visit again and again.
I am genuinely excited to see Bakey open its doors to South Florida. If my first experience is any indication, this bakery isn’t just serving exceptional pastries, it’s creating a place where food, tradition, and community come together.
668 West Hallandale Beach Boulevard.
Hallandale, Fl
Sunday -Thursday from 7:30AM to 5PM; and Friday from 7:30AM to 4PM.
Complimentary parking is available in the shopping plaza.
Follow Bakey on Instagram @BakeyBabka for future
updates and opening announcements.