While strolling downtown Columbia with my friend on a random Thursday afternoon, we decided to stop at Delysium Artisan Bakery, a family-owned bakery that opened on Elm Street on Aug. 21.

Upon walking in, customers can peruse the menu painted on the wall behind the counter. Their menu serves a perfect balance for both sweet and savory cravings, as the bakery has a wide selection of items from croissants to empanadas to cookies as well as many other pastries and some coffee and tea options to drink.

The bakery is filled with students getting work done and others engaging in conversation. The environment was slightly quiet with upbeat music playing softly in the background, creating a pleasant atmosphere for studying and chatting with friends.

Each of the pastries are displayed in a case along the counter with handwritten signs that explain what each item is. On the side of the display case is a stack of trays so customers can grab their own pastries from the display.

My friend and I each took a tray and a few pastries, then proceeded to the register, where we were asked if we wanted our food warmed up. I ordered a coffee then sat down at a table. 

The first item I tried was the cheese and ham pastry, and it was my favorite out of everything I got. It was slightly crunchy on the outside but still soft enough to blend well with the other flavors. The cheese had a rich taste, but paired with the sweetness of the pastry and ham, it was an amazing combination of flavors.

I also tried the chocolate bread, which was impressive. I appreciated how not every bite was extremely sweet and wasn’t overwhelmingly chocolate. Bites with less chocolate were enjoyable, as the pastry itself was somewhat sweet on its own. This pastry was on the crunchier side, especially around the edges, but that didn’t take away from how good it tasted.

The iced vanilla latte wasn’t as sweet as I was expecting, even with the addition of the vanilla, but the coffee was good quality and definitely got the job done. The drinks also came with colorful boba straws, which were cute additions.

Delysium Artisan Bakery is a must-try. The pleasant and calming nature makes it a delightful place to go for any purpose, whether it’s getting schoolwork done or unwinding after a long day. It provides a multitude of delicious baked goods for customers to enjoy at all times.

Edited by Alyssa Royston | aroyston@themaneater.com

Copyedited by Ethan Palgon and Hannah Taylor | htaylor@themaneater.com

Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com