11 Bakeries To Visit For London's Best Croissants

Who doesn't love a good croissant? Warm from the oven, with that characteristic crunch when you bite into it, that delectable subtly sweet taste, that rich butteriness ... well, there's hardly anything better. Except if you're anything like us, you don't have time to make croissants every morning — even when you wish you could.

That's where the bakery comes in and London happens to have some of the best in the world. The U.K. capital is bursting with everything from independent, soulful bakeries to world-famous brands. It's no surprise that many offer fantastic renditions of the croissant including both traditional and modern takes on the flaky pastry. Whether you're embarking on a croissant crawl or seeking a new go-to bakery, look no further. We've curated a list of the most locally-lauded, memorable, and praiseworthy destinations that are an absolute must-visit for an unforgettable croissant experience. Picture viral cruffins, croissant cubes, fusion flavors, perfected classics, and reinvented baking traditions. These are the must-visit London bakeries for your croissant needs.  

While Le Deli Robuchon may be the best place to find London's viral cube croissants, there's another craze developing: cruffins. The name is a playful mix of "croissant" and "muffin," paying homage to its distinctive shape and characteristically croissant dough. Should the temptation sound appealing, make your way to Richoux, a sophisticated patisserie with a centuries-old heritage, first launching in 1909. Find the bakery on the edge of the St James Park locale, amid designer shops and landmarks such as Burlington Arcade and The Royal Academy of Arts. It's accessible from both Green Park and Piccadilly Circus tube stations and easily missed — the façade is deceptively compact.

The cruffins are displayed in the window of the decidedly French-chic shopfront as if to lure you in — once inside, ask your server for their recommendation, or take your pick from the available choices. The flavors change daily, so you can never be sure what you're getting, although we hardly think it's a problem considering that they are all spectacular.

Each cruffin is rolled in coarse sugar and topped with an artful dollop of sweet-flavored cream. Flavors range from classic combinations to adventurous and wild: strawberry and cream, salted caramel, and banoffee pie are among the options. The cruffins sell out fast, so get there early. Despite first impressions, there's ample room to eat at Richoux, although the pastries are available for takeout, too.

At first glance, a Japanese eatery may not seem like the typical destination for superb croissants, but Café Kitsuné in the upmarket district of Belgravia (Central London) is an exception. Founded by a French-Japanese pair in Paris, the Kitsuné brand started as a record company, then expanded into fashion, art, and restaurants. Owing to the company's history, it's no wonder its croissants are exceptionally unusual and deceptively tasty. Unsurprisingly, where Café Kitsuné excels is the intersection between Japanese and Western foods.

Don't expect the croissants to be run-of-the-mill — Instead, the main attraction is a twice-baked matcha pastry. Flaked almonds top the crispy, sugar-dusted pastry, and the inside bursts with mellow, creamy, sweet matcha frangipane laced with hints of caramelized lemon and nutty almonds. Café Kitsuné's savory offering, a delicately balanced truffle, miso, and Comté affair, is its answer to the traditional oozing-cheese pastry, but elevated to complex, sophisticated flavored.

Despite the limited croissant selection, the peerless flavor combinations make a trip to Café Kitsuné worth experiencing. You can find the café on the ground floor of Pantechnicon, a grandiose classical building that's impossible to miss.

There's something that feels incredibly homey about a cozy bakery in the early morning. With its pastel pink façade and wooden interior, Sourdough Sophia epitomizes this emotion perfectly. The business was born in a couples' flat during the lockdown but found a permanent location thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign. No wonder Sourdough Sophia became the focus of neighborhood support; the bakery's commitment to using flour sourced solely from sustainable, regenerative farming practices sets it apart.

While the establishment is a bit further afield than others on our list, the trip to North London is more than worth it — and the prices are more affordable, too. We recommend arriving early to make sure you have the full range of croissant goodies to choose from.

Speaking of the croissant range, Sourdough Sophia offers a few unusual bakes, such as the notable "croissant loaf" made with beautifully laminated, light, and fluffy croissant dough. It's ideal for slicing and can be made into sandwiches or even French toast. There are gorgeous plain croissants that are anything but bland thanks to a flavorsome cultured butter; cruffins, available in monthly changing flavors or regular cinnamon and chocolate babka; indulgent hazelnut praline pain au chocolat; stuffed-to-the-brim twice baked warm and crispy almond croissants; and classic pain au chocolat. Be sure to dip your croissant in some of the specialist coffee.

Some businesses are born from incredible stories. That's the tale of Kossoffs, a family business founded in 1920 by Wolf Kossoff, a Jewish refugee from Kyiv (Ukraine) fleeing persecution. Throughout a period totaling around 40 years, Wolf Kossoff opened several traditional Jewish bakeries around London and successfully passed his mastery of pastry to his grandson, David. While those bakeries are no longer running, Aaron Kossoff (Wolf's great-grandson) kept the family name alive with Kossoffs, his new bakery in Kentish town, which opened in 2021.

If you're the sort of person that pictures heaven as full of croissants (we do), Kossoffs will seem like paradise. Whether you start with a croissant filled with velvety-sweet vanilla almond frangipane, the best-selling richly layered chocolate pastry, or the flawless plain croissant that crunches just so when you bite into it — save room for the pièce de resistance: the croissant cups. 

The buttery layers dusted with icing sugar are extra-flaky, with a subtly sweet dough. But the seasonal fillings inside these cups are equally enticing. The rotating flavors range from fruity apricot jam paired with a subtle basil-scented custard to an Eton mess-esque creation featuring melt-in-the-mouth meringue, fresh berries, and silky sweet mascarpone vanilla cream. 

Deep in the heart of Belgravia (and advantageously close to Victoria Station) lies a charming, airy café that is every pastry lover's dream. A relative newcomer on the scene, Chesnut Bakery opened its Belgravia pâtisserie in 2021, with an outpost in Covent Garden following shortly after. Owing to the bakery's notoriously moreish flatbreads and croissants, it has developed a stellar reputation with tourists and locals alike. Top tip: Head to the upper floor of Chestnut Covent Garden, where you'll discover a beautiful street view perfect for people-watching while nibbling on a croissant.

Chief among the croissant selection is savory aubergine (eggplant) parmigiana croissants. Umami may not be a word you'd expect with pastries, but these are cheesy, rich, and tender — need we say more? For additional savory indulgences, we also highly recommend the za'atar croissants sandwiches or "croccacia," a novel combination of croissant and focaccia dough that can be served sweet or savory, depending on preference.

Classics are classics for a reason, and here, they're well worth trying. That includes twice-baked almond croissants, a sticky, nutty, sweet pecan and salted caramel croissant, pain au chocolat, and plain. Don't forget to enquire about the monthly specials featuring delights such as croque monsieur, rosewater and pistachio, or lemon meringue flavors. Make sure to arrive before 6 p.m., closing time for both locations.