These Are London’s Best Croissants
Hold on to your berets, folks, you don’t need to hop on the Eurostar to France to enjoy a truly great croissant because right here in London, you can find the the crème de la crème of croissants. We’ve done the research and selected some of our favourite spots to get our hands on our favourite snack, which never fails to bring a taste of Paris to London. These are some of the cafes and bakeries we head to when we’re craving croissants:
Chestnut Bakery
Chestnut Bakery is immediately recognisable with its pretty floral facade and the irresistible aroma of freshly baked bread that wafts out of those doors. The croissants here are spectacular—flaky, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth perfect. The menu boasts an impressive selection of bread, cakes, and savoury items too, but the croissants are actually award-winning. In fact, they were voted UK’s Best Croissants last year.
where: belgravia and covent garden
website: www.chestnutbakery.com
Comptoir Gourmand
Comptoir Gourmand is a charming French patisserie that brings Parisian charm to London. This lovely bakery serves golden, buttery pastries, artisanal bread, white chocolate covered canelés and more, but it’s the croissants that keep us coming back for more—crispy on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside, with a rich, buttery flavour, they come in varieties like sugar-coated almond and indulgent chocolate.
where: across london
website: www.comptoirgourmand.co.uk
Le Deli Robuchon
From freshly baked bread and tartines, to rotisserie chicken and fresh salads, Le Deli Robuchon is a great spot to head to for an afternoon coffee or a fruity dessert, but the croissants are real showstoppers. The menu can get quite experimental – they had a very cool, photogenic limited edition cube-shaped pastry called Wimbledon Le Cube in honour of tennis season, and the menu is full of fresh, seasonal goodness. As for the croissants – go for the almond flavour, it’s hard to find a better one in London.
where: Piccadilly and King’s Road
website: robuchonlondon.co.uk
Yeast Bakery
Yeast Bakery is really all about croissants- in fact, it started in 2011 with the goal of making the perfect croissant (and we dare say, it looks like they have succeeded). While the classic butter croissants are fab – there are also some theatrical ones on the menu. Try the s’mores and chocolate crème croissant or go for the almond, you won’t be disappointed.
where: Unit 1, Canal Place, 1-3 Sheep Ln, London E8 4QS
website: www.yeastbakery.com
Cédric Grolet at The Berkeley
The renowned pastry chef Cedric Grolet’s first pâtisserie outside of Paris, this gorgeous spot serves artfully created pastries, rich, roasted coffee and an assortment of delicious sweet and savoury croissants. With its prime position overlooking Hyde Park, you can enjoy your coffee and croissants alfresco when the weather is good. Some other favourites on the menu for the summer include the peach choux pastry biscuits, cherry doughnuts and raspberry tarts.
where: The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge
website: www.the-berkeley.co.uk
Donutelier
While Donutelier might be famed for its artistic doughnuts, its croissants are a gem that equally deserves the spotlight. With very Instagrammable interiors, Donutelier prides itself on its craftsmanship, and the bakery puts a modern twist on classic French patisserie and beloved family recipes. What we really couldn’t take our eyes off is the strawberry and cream croissant—the croissant is first sliced horizontally through the middle, then layered with generous proportions of strawberry jam, glorious whipped cream, and fresh strawberries, making the perfect fruity indulgence.
where: 48-50 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0BB
website: donutelier.co.uk
Toad Bakery
An open-plan bakery perched on a busy street in Camberwell, Toad makes breads, pastries, cakes, sandwiches and filter coffee, fresh every day. The bakery has been known to experiment with their croissants – we spotted a rogue spaghetti croissant made with cacio e pepe sauce and house-made spaghetti, and a Yuzu-vanilla jelly and whipped cream cheese stuffed variety as well. Clearly, whether you’re looking for a more traditional croissant, or you’re up for something highly experimental, Toad delivers.
where: 44 Peckham Road, London, SE5 8PX
website: www.toadbakery.com
