A Slice of Paris on Smith Street: Atelier Ariana Charms Carroll Gardens

Nestled on a sunny corner in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, Atelier Ariana is the kind of café that immediately draws you in. Founded by Chef Ariana Barkin, a pastry chef with over 15 years of experience in French pâtisserie from Detroit to Paris, the bakery is the realization of her career-long dream—a place where she can share her craft with the community that inspired it. After years working in acclaimed kitchens such as Hôtel Grand Amour and Palais Royal in Paris, Ariana returned to New York to open this Parisian-style café and pâtisserie, which recently celebrated its first anniversary. The space, intimate and light-filled with mosaic tile floors and marble tables, channels the effortless charm of a Parisian corner café, now perfectly at home in Brooklyn.

During our visit, we sampled some of Atelier Ariana’s current seasonal highlights—starting with the Pumpkin Spice Latte and a beautifully balanced cappuccino, both made with locally roasted Parlor Coffee. Each sip was warm, fragrant, and comforting—perfect companions to the pastry lineup that followed. Ariana’s Fig & Vanilla Goutte, the October viennoiserie special, was a standout: her signature croissant dough layered with housemade fig jam, vanilla pastry cream, and topped with fresh fig, all shaped into an elegant teardrop. The new Croque Croissant, a savory twist on the classic croque monsieur, was equally irresistible—flaky, buttery layers filled with melted cheese was our favorite bite of the day and the dish to go back for. We finished with a slice of her tender Plum Cake, delicately sweet and spiced, embodying the café’s dedication to using the freshest seasonal ingredients.

For those looking to experience a true taste of Paris without crossing the Atlantic, Atelier Ariana offers an experience that’s as thoughtful as it is delicious. The café is open Wednesday through Sunday, perfect for grabbing breakfast and coffee on the way to the subway or for trying a seasonal treat on a leisure weekend. Chef Ariana also leads monthly baking classes which is a treat itself. Don’t miss her seasonal pies for Thanksgiving—Pumpkin Pie with butterscotch and Apple Crumble Pie are both available for pre-order.

Atelier Ariana
478 Smith Street (at W 9th Street)
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, NY 11231
📞 718.614.3582
🌐 atelierariana.com
📸 @atelierarianacafé
Open: Wednesday–Friday, 7am–5:30pm; Saturday–Sunday, 8:30am–5:30pm

Photos courtesy of Atelier Ariana and Stephanie Carino