Where To Find The Best Croissants In Every State

Like scratch-made donuts and that perfect slice of cake, a classic croissant is an excellent barometer for measuring a quality bakery. Whether made in a grocery-store bakery or in one of the best bakeries across the country, these classic French pastries take time, effort, and quality ingredients to execute properly and achieve that ideal balance of crisp and flaky exterior to soft, buttery interior. 

To find the best croissants in every state, I pulled from my own personal experiences as a pastry-loving traveler, as well as reviews from customers and major national accolades, like the James Beard Awards and Michelin endorsements. In my research, the sheer variety of croissant styles and baking techniques staggered me, and the pastries that rose to the top were those lauded for their great flavors and — often — untraditional creative offerings. From pitch-perfect classics found in authentic patisseries to novelty renditions like fried croissants and croissant French toast, these are the best croissants in every state.

Arguably the best bakery in Alabama, Last Call Baking Co. is known for its inventive takes on sweet and savory pastries. The patisserie, founded by James Beard Award semifinalist Chanah Willis, is particularly revered for its croissants, which professional reviews tout for their flawlessly flaky texture. Croissant varieties include chocolate and ham and cheese, all of which undergo a three-day fermentation and lamination process before baking. Arrive early if you want your pick because pastries tend to sell out quickly.

lastcallbakingco.com

213 25th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203

Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop, which was nominated for Outstanding Bakery at the 2026 James Beard Awards, uses the highest-quality ingredients — including organic flour specially milled for baking — for all of its scratch-made pastries, including hand-laminated croissants. 

Traditional butter croissants and pain au chocolat share shelves with ham and Swiss croissants and special flavors like pepper and salami. Customers rave about the bakeshop, and the high quality of its croissants specifically, calling them delicious, buttery, and rich. 

fireislandbread.com

Multiple locations

JL Patisserie, a James Beard Award nominee for Outstanding Bakery in 2023, features handmade pastries that are as visually striking as they are delicious. Owner Jenna Leurquin, who trained at Le Cordon Bleu in France, brings an authentic taste of Paris to Scottsdale and Phoenix with a menu of croissants filled with the likes of chocolate, ham and cheese, and dark chocolate pistachio. 

No matter the flavor, concerted effort and care —  including a five-day lamination process — go into each croissant. Keep an eye out for special flavors like bacon, cruffins, and prosciutto with Brie and fig jam.

jlpatisserie.com

Multiple locations

The Croissanterie is the recipient of numerous statewide awards, including AY Magazine's Best Bakery and Small Business of the Year from the Little Rock Regional Chamber. The cozy, French-inspired café is located in Little Rock, and croissants are the star. 

The pastries undergo a meticulous three-day preparation process and are made with European-style butter and locally sourced ingredients. The Croissanterie also stands out for its sheer variety of croissants, from almond and turtle to brownie croissants.

thecroissanterielr.com

(501) 412-4244

14502 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock, AR 72223

Margarita Manzke won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker in 2023 for her work at République. The bistro, which features a bakery and café in the front and a formal dining room in the back, is heralded for its croissants in particular, which professional reviews call some of the best in the country. Traditional croissants and pain au chocolat are buttery and exemplary takes on the classics, along with rotating specials like Dubai chocolate croissants.

republiquela.com

(310) 362-6115

624 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Poulette Bakeshop is helmed by husband-and-wife team Alen Ramos and Carolyn Nugent, both of whom were nominated for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker at the James Beard Awards in 2025. The New York Times also named it one of the best bakeries in America. Croissants dominate the European-style pastry menu and stand out for their innovative seasonal varieties, like roasted apple and stuffed croissants called "stuffies." 

poulettebakeshop.com

(303) 955-5647

19865 Mainstreet #130, Parker, CO 80138

Sift Bake Shop showcases the pastry skills of Adam Young, who earned the title of Food Network's Best Baker in America in 2018. The menu combines classic favorites — like blueberry scones and sugar cookies — with French-influenced croissants in an array of flavors. And it's that inventive variety that earns Sift Bake Shop high marks for its croissants. Chocolate, almond, and everything croissants are offered alongside originals like apple croissants with royal icing and cream cheese and guava pâté de fruit-stuffed ones. 

siftbakeshopmystic.com

Multiple locations

Follow the scent of warm chocolate croissants, fresh out of the oven, to some of the best pastries in Delaware. Wilmington's Riverside Bakery has been drawing lines of customers since its opening in 2020.

Customers still clamor over the croissants, including both sweet and savory renditions. In addition to classic croissants, the menu distinguishes itself with varieties like Nutella croissants and Artesian Noir Butter Croissants.

riverfrontbakery.com

(302) 521-0550

313 Justison St, Wilmington, DE 19801

My favorite bakery in Miami is Zak The Baker, a Michelin-recommended kosher café in Wynwood. What started as a small cottage operation has expanded exponentially, attracting crowds and accolades in equal measure. The bakery, owned by Zak Stern, has earned multiple James Beard Award nominations and recognition from both regional and national press. 

The classic chocolate and almond croissants are excellent, but my pick is the hazelnut version, filled with — and dipped in — a creamy, Nutella-like spread. Customers agree, calling the croissants perfectly flaky and incomparably delicious.

zakthebaker.com

(786) 294-0876

295 NW 26th St, Miami, FL 33127

The Little Tart Bakeshop, my go-to bakery in Atlanta, is run by pastry chef Sarah O'Brien, who has been named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Baker multiple times. Anthony Bourdain praised her French-style pastries — specifically the croissants — on his Travel Channel series, "The Layover." In addition to almond and chocolate croissants, which customers call flaky, rich, and fabulous, the bakery features standout originals like Chocolate Pistachio.

littletartatl.com

Multiple locations

Halekulani Bakery, located inside a luxury Honolulu hotel, is among the highest-ranked Hawaiian bakeries on Yelp, especially for its croissants. Customers love the flaky pastries, highlighting unique Hawaiian versions like Panana (passion fruit, mango, and banana). You'll also find other high-quality varieties, like Valrhona chocolate-, pastry cream-, and salted caramel-filled ones.

halekulani.com/dining/halekulani-bakery

(808) 921-7272

2233 Helumoa Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815

Janjou Pâtisserie is renowned for its authentic Parisian atmosphere and flavor, exemplified by crafty and creative croissants. It's led by Moshit Mizrachi-Gabbitas, who was nominated twice for Outstanding Baker by the James Beard Awards. 

Idaho Press says it's "like stepping into a French bakery on a side street in Paris," citing the pâtisserie's croque monsieur croissant as a highlight. The creative assortment of croissants is impressive too; flavors range from chocolate-almond to rice pudding.

janjou.com

(208) 297-5853

1754 W State St, Boise, ID 83702

When I lived in Chicago, Floriole Café and Bakery was a frequent fixture for me. The Lincoln Park bakery specializes in laminated pastries that professional reviews call some of the best in the U.S. 

Owner Sandra Holl was named Pastry Chef of the Year at the prestigious Jean Banchet Awards in 2016. The café maintains a dedication to local and seasonal ingredients, including croissants made with Wisconsin butter, twice-baked almond croissants glazed with rum, and applewood-smoked ham and cheese croissants with spring cheddar and whole-grain mustard.

floriole.com

(773) 883-1313

1220 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Amelia's Bread has received ample national recognition. Its head baker and co-owner Charlie McIntosh helped build Amelia's, alongside the team behind James Beard Award-nominated restaurant Bluebeard. The bakery's original storefront shares a building with the restaurant. Along with traditional croissants, which customers praise for their perfect pastry dough, you'll find specials like potato Emmentaler croissants and destination-worthy novelties like croissant cinnamon rolls.

ameliasbread.com

Multiple locations

Jamie Powers put Iowa City in the national spotlight when she landed a semifinalist nomination for Outstanding Bakery from the James Beard Awards in 2026 — more than 20 years after opening DeLuxe Cakes & Pastries. The local spot has a French-centric menu that puts handmade croissants front and center. Notable for the variety of flavors, an impressive assortment of croissant options includes almond and apricot, pepperoni, and olive za'atar.

deluxeiowa.com

(319) 338-5000

812 S Summit St, Iowa City, IA 52240

Lawrence's 1900 Barker has been praised for its bread, but don't sleep on the croissants. Owner Taylor Petrehn has been a semifinalist for Outstanding Baker at the James Beard Awards multiple times, and its menu features jazzed-up classics, like dark chocolate croissants and ham and cheese croissants with local ham, white cheddar, and everything bagel spice. Local critics praise the craftsmanship of these croissants specifically. Keep an eye out for seasonal specials, like a spiced maple twice-baked croissant with pecan and brown butter frangipane.

1900barker.com

Multiple locations

When I first visited Covington, I went to North South Baking Company for croissants and was blown away by the variety of beautiful, quality pastries. The shop has been praised by Slow Food Cincinnati for its commitment to local sourcing, which is reflected by the bakery's list of vendors. That dedication translates into a bevy of scratch-made croissants, and some of the most imaginative flavor combinations I've seen, like toasted coconut and pistachio rose.

northsouthbaking.com

(859) 815-8014

39 W Pike St, Covington, KY 41011

Some of the most unique croissants in the country can be found at New Orleans' acclaimed Ayu Bakehouse. Professional reviews named Ayu Bakehouse one of the most exciting bakeries in the U.S., and awarded its chef, Kelly Jacques, plenty of accolades. Such acclaim is rooted in Jacques' offbeat pastries, with standout, only-in-Louisiana croissant creations like croissant king cakes and crawfish-stuffed Crawwsants.

www.ayubakehouse.com

(504) 302-7985

801 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Zu Bakery is one of the most acclaimed bakeries in the nation, having won Outstanding Bakery at the James Beard Awards in 2024. The bakery gets considerable praise for its croissants, including from regional publications like the Portland Press Herald, which called them the best in Portland, and from customers praising the perfectly laminated dough. Look for pitch-perfect classics, such as ham and cheese and almond.

zubakery.com

(207) 409-0117

81 Clark St, Portland, ME 04102

Baltimore's Café Dear Leon, a semifinalist for Outstanding Bakery at the 2026 James Beard Awards, has become a viral sensation for its French-Asian fusion, which re-imagines laminated tradition through a Japanese lens. 

Menus at two locations rotate seasonally and often include rum-soaked almond croissants, twice-baked ham and cheese croissants with fontina and mortadella, and crookies – aka chocolate chip cookie dough croissants. Local critics call the croissants perfect, citing their flaky texture and buttery flavor. 

cafedearleon.com

Multiple locations

Michette, one of the best French bakeries in the U.S., is raising the bar on pastries in Boston, especially with its twice-baked croissants. Boston Magazine named Michette the best bakery in town, praising its croissants particularly.

Its offerings were inspired by the owners' childhood in France. The French-style pastries include multilayered traditional croissants, raspberry almond croissants, and a vanilla custard and chocolate chip croissant called pain suisse. And look out for innovative specials like chicken tikka masala croissants.

michette-bakery.com

(339) 241-2416

164 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145

Croissants are in Matt Knio's blood. The pastry chef and owner of MK Cannelle has worked in a bakery — and on a cocoa bean plantation — at a young age before training in Paris under master pastry chef Claude Baraque. 

That work paid off, as Knio's patisserie was named the best bakery in the Midwest by Midwest Living, and is often lauded for its croissants. Now with several Michigan locations, inventive varieties like coffee croissants, bacon croissants, and salted caramel pain au chocolat are on offer.

mkcannelle.com

Multiple locations

When I ate at Diane's Place in Minneapolis, the coconut-pandan croissant stole the show. The restaurant is an acclaimed Hmong concept from chef Diane Moua, who has been nominated for James Beard Awards multiple times, and Diane's Place has been named one of the best restaurants in America by The New York Times. Considering Moua's pastry background, the restaurant is renowned for its croissants, and the version I had was incredible — perfectly crisp, flaky, and buttery on the outside, with toasted coconut flakes and a fluffy pandan filling.

dianesplacemn.com

(612) 489-8012

117 14th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Le Bakery, voted Mississippi's best bakery by Visit Mississippi three years running, is a French-Vietnamese fusion spot in Biloxi known for its fresh bread, desserts, and pastries. The family-run bakery is an ode to the owners' Vietnamese heritage, featuring bánh bao and bubble tea alongside the best croissants in Mississippi. Users on Reddit call the bakery a hidden gem, especially for its classic butter croissants.

(228) 436-0850

280 Oak St, Biloxi, MS 39530

From baklava croissants to chocolate croissant bread pudding, you'll find some of the most decadent croissant innovations at Nathaniel Reed Bakery. It's been called one of the best bakeries in Missouri, with James Beard Award nods for Outstanding Bakery and Outstanding Baker.

Reid specializes in both contemporary and traditional pastries. Professional reviews named the bakery's brownie one of the best in the nation, but its croissant offerings specifically should convince you to give it a try. 

nrbakery.com

(314) 858-1019

11243 Manchester Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122

You know a bakery is serious about croissants when it employs a dedicated Croissant Manager. That's the role of Erin Cox, who crafts seasonal specials, new recipes, and techniques at Wild Crumb. 

The buzzy Bozeman bakery won the 2026 James Beard Award for Outstanding Bakery. Croissants include ham and Gruyère, as well as Valrhona Manjari pain au chocolat, along with striking seasonal specials like apple walnut and blackberry sweet corn.

wildcrumb.com

(406) 579-3454

600 N Wallace Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715

The pastries at Reis' Bakery are so authentic that even the flour is French. Reis' Bakery feels — and tastes — like Paris in Omaha, down to the French butter and imported ingredients made to replicate traditional French flavors. Croissants are its specialty and include novel flavors like cherry, pain au chocolat, and turkey-pepper Jack.

reisbakeryomaha.com

(531) 213-2739

1314 S 119th St, Omaha, NE 68144

When Las Vegas' "Eat. Talk. Repeat." podcast embarked on a Croissant Crawl, 1228 Main emerged as the best croissant in the city. Customers concur, calling the croissants heavenly. Beyond the classics, what sets 1228 Main apart is how it uses croissants as a canvas for invention, like a crème brûlée croissant with caramelized custard and croissant French toast topped with vanilla whipped cream.

1228mainlv.com

(702) 602-0531

1228 S Main St, Las Vegas, NV 89104

Elephantine Bakery is my favorite bakery and café in my home state of New Hampshire. The cozy, European-style café has a second location in Boston, but the original is tucked down a cobblestone alley in the seaside town of Portsmouth. The pastries reflect European craftsmanship, especially the croissants, which are made using traditional French techniques (and French butter) and flavored with the likes of almonds, pistachios, chocolate, and ham and cheese.

elephantinebakery.com

(603) 319-6189

10 Commercial Alley #2, Portsmouth, NH 03801

With a name that means "chocolate croissant" in France, Chocolatine is all about honoring French traditions. French baker Cédric Hosy is behind the patisserie, which boasts two locations in New Jersey. 

Loyal customers tout its croissants as both fresh and delicious. The chocolate croissant is a must-try, along with raspberry, hazelnut, and innovations like tiramisu croissant cubes.

chocolatinenj.com

Multiple locations

I visit Albuquerque often, and any time I'm in town, I make sure to hit The Burque Bakehouse for some of the best French-inspired pastries I've ever had. The Burque Bakehouse was a semifinalist for Outstanding Bakery at the James Beard Awards in 2026, and the café draws lines for innovative, handcrafted pastries, especially its distinctive croissants like green chile and blueberry violet.

burquebakehouse.com

(505) 234-6294

640 Broadway Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Bien Cuit's name translates to "well-done" in French. It's helmed by James Beard-nominated baker Zachary Golper, and professional reviewers say it has some of the best croissants in the country.

The name is an apt moniker for an acclaimed Brooklyn bakery slinging some of New York's finest laminated pastries. There are several croissant varieties ranging from the buttery, slow-fermented classics to twice-baked almond croissants and a savory version with ham and Brie.

biencuit.com

Multiple locations

The number one donut shop in North Carolina, according to Yelp, also happens to serve the best croissants in the state. The Fayetteville café was ranked by Yelp as one of the top spots for croissants in North America. That's because, as a bakery adept at fried dough, Superior Bakery distinguishes itself with fried croissants served glazed and fresh all day.

superiorbakerync.com

(910) 424-4242

2433 Hope Mills Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28304

A taste of France in Fargo, Nichole's Fine Pastry & Café has earned widespread acclaim as one of the state's best bakeries. It's helmed by Nichole Hensen and was a semifinalist for Outstanding Bakery at the James Beard Awards in 2024. 

Customers call the café the perfect place for coffee and pastries, highlighting the delicious croissants specifically. Look for authentically Parisian options like le petite déjeuner, which features a flaky, fresh croissant with whipped butter and seasonal jams.

nicholesfinepastry.com

(701) 232-6430

13 8th St S, Fargo, ND 58103

The café serving the best ramen in Ohio also makes the state's best croissants. Chef Elaine Uykimpang Bentz was a James Beard finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker in 2023, and her croissants are an ode to her Asian-American roots. 

Stunning croissant flavors include an ube halaya croissant filled with purple yam jam and sweet yam cream and a kimchi and egg croissant. Look for rotating croissant specials, like ramp ham and cheese and lamb merguez sausage.

cafemochiko.com

(513) 559-1000

1524 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45206

Despite the fact that I live over an hour away in Oklahoma City, Tulsa's Country Bird Bakery is well worth the morning drive. Its baker, Cat Cox, won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker in 2025. Pre-orders are a must at the wildly popular bakery, which features an always-exciting array of croissant flavors like apple pie, Monte Cristo, and a frittata croissant sandwich.

countrybirdbakery.com

1644 E 3rd St, Tulsa, OK 74120

Before chef Kari Shaughnessy earned a James Beard Award nomination for Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific at Carlton's Hayward, she started in pastry. Lucky Duck, her café and retail shop down the street from Hayward, taps into her roots with small-batch croissants made from two kinds of flavor-boosting pre-ferment: a sourdough starter and pâte fermentée (aka "old dough," a portion of dough from a previous batch). Expect flavors like salted croissants, ham and cheese, and chocolate.

luckyduckor.com

(971) 758-1030

105 W Main St, Carlton, OR 97111

The croissants at Philadelphia's Machine Shop, one of the best bakeries in Pennsylvania, helped earn owner Emily Riddell immense praise. Her croissants come in traditional flavors and seasonal specials like Cara Cara orange. The New York Times has called Machine Shop one of the best bakeries in America, which reflects the craft and care that go into each croissant and bakery offering.

machineshopphilly.com

1901 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Butterbang, a tiny pop-up, originally served as a wholesale operation before evolving into a mobile business, a croissant window, and now, an in-demand bakery cited by Rhode Island Monthly and Yelp as having some of the state's best croissants. The menu rotates regularly and includes impressively creative croissants like vanilla-glazed, croissant cinnamon rolls, and pumpkin pie.

butterbang.com

The Charleston City Paper has lauded Grit Bakery's croissant creations, among its other breads and pastries. Its menu includes a selection of masterful classics and the croissant-based morning bun. Resy lists the bakery as one of the restaurants defining Charleston dining, and customers love the pastries — especially items like French onion soup croissants.

gritbakery.com

(843) 640-3162

601 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403

Sourdough is the star at The Sour, which The New York Times named one of America's best bakeries. After getting a sourdough starter to make pizza at home, the husband-wife team grew their passion into a business.

They regularly serve up naturally leavened sourdough croissants in flavors like chocolate, ham and Gruyère, and almond. Customers love The Sour and its croissants, calling the bakery dangerously good.

thesoursd.com

510 St. Joseph St, Rapid City, SD 57701

Last time I was in Nashville, I was dazzled by the croissants at D'Andrews Bakery & Café. And I'm not alone; reviewers call this bakery a standout for its artistic confections. The bakery was also a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Bakery in 2024. 

The staff elevates croissant traditions by baking its classic croissant with 84% butter, offering unique flavors like Dubai chocolate, and stuffing pain au chocolat with vanilla pastry cream and caramel pearl chocolate.

dandrewsbakery.com

(615) 375-4934

555 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219

Love Croissants got its start at farmers markets and has grown a massive following for its namesake pastry. You'll find classics, like pain au chocolat, alongside originals such as beef sausage and cheddar and turkey and goat cheese. The bakery has earned praise from customers, who say that its croissants are among the best — and the most destination-worthy — in Houston.

lovecroissants.com

Multiple locations

Croissants are king at All Purpose Bakehouse, a Salt Lake City hot spot helmed by croissant-obsessed baker Eli Fuhrman. And customers are just as obsessed, calling the laminated dough amazing. Butter, chocolate, and almond croissants are always on offer, along with specialty varieties like ham and cheese.

apbakehouse.com

(385) 420-4308

779 S 200 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Nomad Coffee uses croissant recipes from a chef who trained under croissant master Dominique Ansel and placed second on Food Network's "Chopped Sweets." It's the de facto bakeshop for laminated dough in Vermont. 

The cozy Burlington café features a rotating roster of croissants, including ham and cheddar and chocolate, plus specials like white chocolate matcha croissants and customer-favorite garlic croissants.

nomadcoffeebtv.com

(802) 860-1111

208 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT 05401

James Beard-nominated bakers Evrim and Evin Dogu bake Sub Rosa Bakery's croissants in a double-decker oven. They're so flaky and buttery that — according to one reviewer on Tripadvisor — they rival those in Paris. The Richmond bakery even mills its own flour for distinctive croissants like ones made with cheese and Croatian fig jam.

subrosabakery.com

(804) 788-7672

620 N 25th St, Richmond, VA 23223

Seattle's Bakery Nouveau does many things well, but don't miss the croissants. It's manned by chef William Leaman, who has won awards at the Paris-based Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie. 

The bakery features masterful classic croissants, like chocolate and almond, along with jam-filled cranberry-vanilla croissants and creamy spinach-feta croissants. Local critics highlight the twice-baked croissants as must-order items.

bakerynouveau.com

Multiple locations

This bakery may be best known for its cakes, having been named the best cake shop in the country by USA Today, but the croissants are just as destination-worthy. They have the same quality, attention to detail, and top-notch ingredients as its cakes. 

Scratch-made croissants are available toasted, as the base of sandwiches, or — the real show-stopper — dipped in French toast batter, baked again, and topped with bourbon maple syrup.

nomadabakery.com

(681) 204-5528

210 11th St, Huntington, WV 25701

Madison Sourdough utilizes Wisconsin butter and flour that's milled in-house. It has amassed a ravenous reputation for its artisanal croissants. The bakery has received national acclaim, and its own Andrew Hutchison was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker in 2023 — a testament to the diligence and quality that goes into every butter, chocolate, and almond croissant.

madisonsourdough.com

(608) 442-8009

916 Williamson St, Madison, WI 53703

Persephone Bakery is a chic café with a menu built around traditional French pastries, including croissants made with European butter. The bakery, which has locations in Jackson Hole and Wilson, earned an Outstanding Pastry Chef semifinalist nod from the James Beard Awards in 2020, and Best of Jackson Hole named it the best bakery in town. The quality of the croissants, and the crafty seasonal flavors like strawberry-rhubarb with ricotta mousse, are a big part of those well-earned accolades.

persephonebakery.com

Multiple locations

My rubric for determining the best croissants hinged on quality and innovation. By combining my own dining experiences with acclaim and awards indicating quality, I zeroed in on the pastries that earned the most praise from critics and diners alike. I was wowed by the sheer variety of creative croissants, and most impressed by those that incorporate seasonal and local ingredients (e.g., crawfish croissants in New Orleans, green chile croissants in Albuquerque), as well as wholly original recipes (e.g., croissant French toast in West Virginia, fried croissants in North Carolina).