Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe Review: Is Epcot’s Norway Bakery Worth It?
Wondering if Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe is worth visiting? Here’s my review of Epcot’s Norway bakery, including the famous School Bread, Norwegian Kringla, and my best tips for visiting.
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
There are a few places in Epcot where I don’t even have to think about whether I’m stopping.
Karamell-Küche?
Yep.
Absolutely.
Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe?
Almost every trip.
I love bakeries anyway, so walking into Kringla is a little dangerous for me. There’s always a case full of pastries and desserts, and I inevitably end up standing there longer than I planned trying to decide what looks the best.
Usually I’m still trying to decide while the poor Cast Member is waiting for me to order.
If you’ve done any research before your trip, you’ve probably heard everyone talk about School Bread.
I know.
I’m supposed to tell you it’s the greatest thing ever.
I’m not going to do that.
Not because I think it’s bad.
It’s because I don’t like custard.
Seriously… that’s it.
I’ve never liked custard-filled pastries. So expecting me to fall in love with School Bread would be kind of like expecting someone who hates coconut to rave about a coconut cake.
That’s not the dessert’s fault.
It’s mine.
And honestly, I think that’s important to say because there are a LOT of people who absolutely love the School Bread. If custard is your thing, don’t let me talk you out of trying it.
Now… the Norwegian Kringla?
That’s a completely different story.
Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe is just one of the many reasons I love eating my way around World Showcase. If you’re planning your day, be sure to check out my guide to the best snacks at Epcot to see what else deserves a spot on your must-try list.
Where Is Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe?
You’ll find Kringla in the Norway Pavilion, right next to Frozen Ever After.
Actually, that’s one of the reasons I think people sometimes overlook it.
They rope drop Frozen, meet Anna and Elsa, and then head to the next country.
Slow down.
Seriously.
Walk inside.
Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s worth looking around for a minute because everything in the display case looks incredible.
There’s a lot more to the Norway Pavilion than just Frozen Ever After. Between Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, and one of the best places to meet Disney Princesses, it’s easy to spend more time here than you originally planned. If characters are high on your priority list, don’t miss my guide to where to meet Disney Princesses at Disney World. And before you leave the park, be sure to check out my roundup of the best snacks at Epcot so you don’t miss some of the other incredible treats around World Showcase.
What I Ordered
Norwegian Kringla ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is why I keep coming back.
It’s soft, slightly sweet, has just enough icing, and somehow manages to feel like a treat without making me feel like I need to take a nap afterward.
That’s something I appreciate more and more at Epcot.
There are so many rich desserts around World Showcase that it’s actually kind of nice when something isn’t trying to overwhelm you with sugar.
This one just works.
If someone handed me one of these every time I walked into Epcot, I wouldn’t complain.
School Bread ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Okay…
Here’s my unpopular opinion.
I don’t order this anymore.
Not because I think it’s bad.
Not because I think Disney fans are wrong.
I just know myself.
Custard has never been my thing, and it probably never will be.
The bun itself was nice.
The coconut was fine.
But every bite kept reminding me why I don’t order custard desserts anywhere else either.
So if you’re reading this thinking, “Wait… everybody else says School Bread is amazing…”
You’re right.
They do.
And they’re probably right.
If you love custard-filled pastries, I honestly think you should try it and decide for yourself.
I’m just not the target audience.
There Are Still Things I Want to Try
One of the reasons I love this bakery is that I still haven’t made it through the menu.
The lefse has been calling my name for a while now.
So has the cinnamon roll with the orange cream cheese icing.
And every time I walk past the cookies, I think maybe next trip…
At this point, I don’t think I’ll ever run out of reasons to stop here.
Is Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe Worth It?
Absolutely.
In fact, I’d go so far as to say this is one of those places where I don’t think you need to overthink your order.
Yes, I have favorites.
Yes, I like the Kringla better than the School Bread.
But more than anything…
I just like walking in and seeing what sounds good that day.
Sometimes that’s the best way to experience Epcot.
Who Should Visit Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe?
If you like bakeries, pastries, cookies, or basically anything sweet…
You’re probably going to like Kringla.
I also think this is a really good stop if you’re traveling with a group. There are enough different things here that everybody can usually find something they’re excited about, even if you all end up ordering something different.
And if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably spend longer looking in the display case than you intended.
A Few Tips From My Visits
Here’s one that I don’t hear people talk about very often.
A lot of guests rope drop Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and then immediately head over to Les Halles for breakfast.
The problem?
So does everyone else.
Instead, one of my favorite strategies is to head to Frozen Ever After first thing in the morning. After that, walk over to Kringla for breakfast.
It works almost every time.
The bakery is usually much quieter than Les Halles is at that point, and there’s just something kind of fun about sitting in the Norway pavilion with a pastry and coffee while everyone else is fighting the crowds over in France.
Another tip?
Don’t walk in convinced you’re ordering the School Bread.
Walk in with an open mind.
Seriously.
Take a minute to look around first.
I’ve changed my mind standing in front of that bakery case more than once because something else looked too good to pass up.
Is Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe Worth It?
Without question.
Actually, I’d put it in a pretty small group of places at Epcot.
To me, there are three bakeries and snack shops that are basically automatic stops.
Les Halles.
Karamell-Küche.
Kringla.
I don’t necessarily order the same thing every trip, but I almost always stop.
That’s probably the biggest compliment I can give a place.
Final Thoughts
I know the School Bread gets all the attention.
And honestly… it deserves it.
There are a lot of people who absolutely love it.
I’m just not one of them.
That doesn’t mean Kringla isn’t worth visiting. Quite the opposite, actually.
I think the biggest mistake people make is walking in, ordering the one thing the internet told them to order, and walking back out.
Look around.
There are a lot of really good pastries in that display case.
In fact, my favorite thing here isn’t the School Bread at all—it’s the Norwegian Kringla.
And I still have a handful of things on my list to try, which gives me a pretty good excuse to keep coming back.
