Last Updated: July 19, 2022

Best Croissants In New York City

If you have ever tried to make a croissant then you will know the time and dedication required to meticulously layer pastry and butter to create what can be a slice of perfection. But, honestly, who has the time? It’s best to leave it to the pros.

Finding an amazing croissant isn’t easy though, especially in a city like New York where there are so many different options to choose from, so where do you start? Right here!

In this article, we are going to showcase the top 10 establishments that make the best croissants in NYC so you can start your busy work mornings and slower weekends with the best croissant New York City has to offer.

Almondine

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A spot that is famous for the best croissants in NYC is without a doubt, Almondine. If you head to this amazing bakery on a weekend morning, chances are you will see a queue running around the block which is a testament that these really are some of the best croissants in NYC.

Almondine is most famous for its incredible almond croissant but all of their croissants and pain au chocolate are as good as it gets. The light flakey outside combined with a deliciously airy and fluffy interior with the perfect amount of chocolate, almond, or buttery taste makes you feel like you are eating a slice of heaven.

Be sure to get to Almondine early if you want to be able to choose from the full selection as they do run out of almond croissants quickly but there are quite a lot of options to choose from, so you are almost guaranteed to leave with some kind of delicious croissant.

La Bicyclette Bakery

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A French run bakery, La Bicyclette Bakery is one of the top spots to taste some of the best croissants in NYC.

Run by the legendary pastry chef Flo who learned to bake back in France in the Champagne region at the tender age of 13. Since then he has mastered the art of French baking and opened two bakeries in Brooklyn in 2020, one in Fort Greene and one in Williamsburg.

The bakeries are only open from 8 am – 1 pm and there is always a queue, which is a tell tale sign of deliciousness. The croissants are to die for with a flakey crunchy outside and a light fluffy layered inside.

You can choose from a butter croissant, pain au chocolate, chocolate croissant, chocolate almond croissant, almond croissant, and even a more filling ham and cheese croissant.

But you shouldn’t stop there! Pick up some delicious French baguettes and other delights like apricot oreillen and brioche.

Dominique Ansel

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Dominique Ansel bakery serves up some of the best croissants in NYC too and this shouldn’t come as a surprise since he is a James Beard Award-winning pastry chef.

You will find the Dominique Ansel’s legendary bakery on Soho’s Spring St and there is always a queue outside so be prepared to wait for some of the best croissants in town.

You will find a great traditional croissant here but their specialty is Dominque’s Kouign Amann which is a caramelized croissant that is super crunchy while being fluffy on the inside.

This spot is also known for its amazing almond croissant filled with almond paste, a great pain au chocolat, ham and cheese croissant, and a sumptuous toasted coconut chocolate croissant.

Don’t leave without trying the famous cronuts either which are a croissant donut hybrid.

Épicerie Boulud

 

 
 
 
 
 
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If you are in search of the best croissants and pain au chocolat on the Upper West side then you had better head to Épicerie Boulud.

Épicerie Boulud is owned and run by the world-renowned French pastry chef Daniel Boulud and you will find every kind of French pastry you need here from chocolate croissants to almond chocolate and a great plain croissant too.

The classic croissant at Épicerie Boulud is built with super thin layers that create a light fluffy airy filling full of texture and crispy outside. They are delicious and their other croissant offerings are just as good.

The cafe’s vibe is delightfully relaxed too, no matter which of the three of them you head into so it is a great place to catch up with friends or do some work while tasting amazing croissants.

Supermoon Bakehouse

 

 
 
 
 
 
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You might not think that the best croissant in NYC might be filled with cream cheese instead of almond chocolate but Supermoon Bakehouse is all about breaking free of tradition.

You will find the Supermoon Bakehouse in the Lower East Side of New York City and they are famed for making new menus every week which means no weekly croissant is ever the same.

This bakery does play around with crazy flavor combinations for example they serve things like a plum and blueberry pie twice-baked croissant. It doesn’t stop there, you can find things like a rainbow striped pride croissant filled with strawberry jam and lavender crème patissière.

As you can see, this bakery has a different flavorful approach to croissants so if you are feeling adventurous, this is a spot to head to.

Ceci-Cela Pâtisserie

 

 
 
 
 
 
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The celebrated French chef Laurent Dupal created Ceci-Cela Patisserie over 20 years ago and you will find this fantastic establishment right between Soho and the Lower East Side of New York City.

While Ceci-Cela Patisserie is his own bakery, he also makes and sells croissants to cafes all around the city, so you might have even tried one of his famous croissants without knowing it.

The croissants Laurent Dupal come in two options, the classic buttery croissant or a dark chocolate croissant, both of which are absolutely divine. The flakey outside combined with the fluffy layered inside is simply a taste of heaven.

You can even buy frozen dough to make them at home yourself, and branch out from the croissants to brioche, danishes, muffins, and more.

Bien Cuit

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Bien Cuit is another amazing French bakery that serves up some of the best croissants in NYC as well as a load of other delicious treats.

Bien Cuit is actually more famous for its artisan bread but their croissants are causing a storm too. You will find croissants here in every shape and size to match exactly what you are looking for.

The plain croissant is flakey and packed full of buttery deliciousness while the pain au chocolat and the almond croissants, chocolate almond croissants are great if you want a sweeter treat to get you through the day. One of my favorites here is the cinnamon croissant and if you want something for lunch, the ham and brie croissant is to die for.

L’Appartment 4F

 

 
 
 
 
 
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L’Appartment 4F has a wonderful story behind it. The owners, Ashley and Guatier started a bakery in their apartment during COVID having just been married and did so while working full time.

Guatier is French and moved to New York in 2012 and his inspiration for starting the bakery came from not having good enough bread in his life.

Now, this bakery has a queue outside it almost all the time and often sells everything before it is time to close the store. Talk about popularity! They make everything from baguettes to cookies and more, plus being based in Brooklyn Heights they are in the perfect spot.

The croissants here are decadent and excellent. Try the Le framboise – an almond croissant with imported raspberry ganache from France. Or go for the ham and cheese, chocolate and almond, nutella, and the classic butter croissant.

Enjoy these tasty treats on the Brooklyn Bridge for one of the best views in New York City.

Balthazar Bakery

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Sitting on Spring Street on the corner with Crosby is the amazing Balthazar Bakery. This spot has a stunning interior, wonderful vibe, and the server up some of the top croissants and pastries in town.

The croissants have a perfect balance of a ton of butteriness with a soft layered center and a crispy outside, they are heavenly! You don’t have to have a classic croissant of course, as they serve up lots of other options which are just as good as the classic.

I would recommend going for the pain au chocolat and the almond croissants and also picking up some bread and other pastries while you are there too!

Mille-Feuille Bakery & Cafe

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Mille-Feuille Bakery & Cafe was opened over 10 years ago by French chef Olivier Dessyn whose aim was to serve up amazing pastries with all organic ingredients. It is safe to say he succeeded and now has one of the most popular establishments in the city.

The plain and chocolate croissants are incredible but the raspberry jam-filled croissants take things to another level. The raspberry preserve is homemade and beautifully layered.

You can also opt for some more savory options including ham and swiss croissant with bechamel sauce and even a breakfast croissant with ham eggs and cheese.

About the Author Anna Timbrook

Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.

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