Russian-Inspired Treats Delight at Honey Birds Bakery in Alpharetta

Owners Natalia Hairetis and Valeriya Zalland bring their Russian heritage and friendship to life through unique pastries and custom cakes.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 5:19am

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A high-contrast silkscreen print in neon pink, orange, and blue hues depicting a single, iconic Russian-inspired pastry item such as a honey cake or bird's milk confection, repeated in a tight grid pattern to create a modern pop art effect.Honey Birds Bakery's Russian-inspired pastries and custom cakes bring a touch of Moscow to the Atlanta suburbs.Atlanta Today

Honey Birds Bakery, a Russian-inspired bakery in Alpharetta, Georgia, has been delighting customers with its beautifully designed space and unique pastries since opening nearly a year ago. Owned by friends Natalia Hairetis and Valeriya Zalland, the bakery offers a mix of Russian-inspired desserts and European confections, with a focus on less sweet but indulgent treats.

Why it matters

Honey Birds represents the blending of Russian and American cultures, as well as the power of friendship to create a successful small business. In a suburban Atlanta setting, the bakery offers a unique dining experience that celebrates the owners' heritage and shared passion for baking.

The details

Hairetis, who moved to Atlanta from Moscow, started baking custom cakes at home after leaving her engineering job. Her friend Zalland, who previously worked in accounting, joined her in opening Honey Birds, which features a feminine, cozy design. The bakery offers Russian-inspired pastries like the signature honey cake, as well as European confections like macarons. The owners emphasize using high-quality ingredients and avoiding overly sweet desserts.

  • Honey Birds Bakery opened nearly a year ago.
  • Hairetis started baking custom cakes at home after leaving her engineering job.

The players

Natalia Hairetis

Co-owner of Honey Birds Bakery and former engineer who started baking custom cakes at home after moving to Atlanta from Moscow.

Valeriya Zalland

Co-owner of Honey Birds Bakery and former accountant who joined Hairetis in opening the Russian-inspired bakery.

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What they’re saying

“Everybody started calling me like, Oh Natalia, you're doing cakes. It's so great. It's so beautiful. It's so tasty. And this is how I started growing. People just start ordering it. I was shocked.”

— Natalia Hairetis, Co-owner, Honey Birds Bakery

“We start chatting and we become friends slowly, and then we start to travel together with our kids. Then [Hairetis] came to me, and she's like, 'Do you want to open a business?' I'm like, 'Yeah, why not.'”

— Valeriya Zalland, Co-owner, Honey Birds Bakery

What’s next

Hairetis and Zalland hope to expand the Honey Birds space in the future to offer a full bread program, in addition to their current focus on Russian-inspired pastries and custom cakes.

The takeaway

Honey Birds Bakery showcases how the blending of cultures and the power of friendship can create a unique and successful small business. The bakery's commitment to high-quality ingredients and less sweet but indulgent treats has resonated with customers in the Atlanta suburbs.