The Montclair Girl Team 
Marcel Kitchen and Bakery, located at 631 ½ Valley Road in Montclair, has been a perpetual favorite for breakfast, brunch and more since its 2017 opening. With a new owner as of 2025, and winning The Montclair Girl’s Best Breakfast Sandwich, we figured it was worth a return visit to this cheery spot. Read on for more about Marcel Kitchen and Bakery in Montclair.
About Marcel Kitchen and Bakery
Chef Meny Vaknin opened Marcel Kitchen and Bakery in late 2017, naming the cafe after his grandfather. Chef Meny was also behind the now-closed MishMish Cafe, also in Montclair. Marcel Kitchen and Bakery quickly became a local favorite for its Mediterranean-inspired menu, an homage to Chef Meny’s Israeli roots. Chef Meny was classically trained at the French Culinary Institute and was a competitor – and winner – on Food Network’s Chopped in 2015.
See more: Eating Around the World in North Jersey: 4 Essex County Restaurants Serving Global Cuisines
Chef Meny has since closed MishMish and sold Marcel Kitchen in 2025. He is now involved with One Lev, a new restaurant in Bogota that specializes in Kosher street food.
Marcel’s new owner as of 2025 is Eric Maury, the founder of Jersey City-based Drip Coffee Catering, a mobile coffee bar. Eric and his team have kept the same Mediterranean-inspired menu and sunny, welcoming vibes of the cafe.
What to Expect
Marcel is open seven days a week from 8AM to 7PM, and there’s a little bit of everything on the menu. There are several vegetarian and vegan items, gluten-free options, plus a kids’ menu, so everyone in your crew can find something to enjoy. The fluid nature of the menu – with its selection of all-day side dishes and ‘not brunch’ selection of soups, sandwiches, and smoothies – means Marcel is an easy spot to stop when you’re in between activities and need maybe just a nibble and not a full meal.
Of course, we’re a bit biased since MG readers voted Marcel as having the best breakfast sandwich in Montclair, so of course, that’s one of our favorite menu items. From basic coffees and pastries to sweet brunch dishes to savory dinner entrees, it’s hard not to find something for any kind of diner.
See more: Jersey Shore Etiquette: What Locals Wish ‘Bennies’ Knew Before Visiting
On a recent visit, we enjoyed a smoothie that could hold its own against the viral smoothies from LA-based Erewhon market, which are colorful and frequently spotted in the hands of starlets and internet celebs. The Golden Turmeric Smoothie was an excellent antidote to a grey and windy March day, made with pineapple, coconut milk, banana, a scoop of turmeric, and ginger. The cup was rimmed with coconut milk and beet root powder, which we’re sure has its own nutritional benefits, but it just made the whole thing that much prettier.
Marcel is located at 631 1/2 Valley Road in Montclair and is open seven days a week from 7AM to 8PM. Dine-in and takeout are available, and catering is also available.
Follow @themontclairgirl on Instagram + TikTok for the latest Montclair updates, sign up for our weekly newsletter here that shares everything you missed each week, and check out our events calendar, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.
