Best Croissants in NYC – TOP 5 in Manhattan • Abroad with Ash

Looking for the best croissants NYC has to offer? From sweet to savory, Instagrammable to traditional, I've got the spot for you!

After completing my post on the top bakeries in NYC, I just had to follow up with a post dedicated to the glorious, and oh so hard to perfect, croissant.

Achieving the perfect amount of butter and that honeycomb-shaped interior proper croissants are known for is no easy feat!

Thankfully, NYC does not disappoint when it comes to quality croissants. Whether you're looking for classic almond, plain, chocolate, or something more unique, I'll take you through the bakeries serving the best croissants in NYC.

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Photos: Supermoon Bakehouse

1. Supermoon Bakehouse

Some of the most unique and Instagrammable croissants in NYC

Supermoon Bakehouse has been a favorite of mine for years. I can't visit NYC and not go to Supermoon Bakehouse. Their flavors continue to impress in both quality and originality.

Here you'll find unique treats in a trippy atmosphere. Club music echoes off the concrete floors, light reflects from the psychedelic packaging lining the walls, and you get a full view of what’s baking behind the glass wall separating the shop from the kitchen.

Supermoon Bakehouse is known for their cruffin (a croissant-muffin hybrid) with fillings like vanilla cream paired with rhubarb, strawberry, and basil. Their menu changes weekly and includes a mix of flavors.

Their croissant offerings range from traditional to wildly unique.

A mainstay is the croque monsieur; a ham and cheese croissant made with thick slices of ham and the perfect blend of gouda, cheddar and béchamel. Probably my favorite ham and cheese croissant on the planet.

Pair that with one of Supermoon's more unique flavor combinations like the rosemary blueberry croissant, s'mores croissant, or banana split croissant.

Supermoon Bakehouse easily makes the list of best croissants in NYC with their traditional and unique offerings.

If I haven't convinced you yet, just visit their Instagram and your mouth will be watering in seconds.

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2. LA CABRA

THE BEST plain CROISSANT IN NYC PAIRED WITH INCREDIBLE COFFEE...also delicious cardamom buns

La Cabra was originally on my list of coffee shops to check out. My first visit I arrived later in the afternoon, every seat was taken, and the pastries were practically sold out. What was left looked incredible. I knew I had to return and try a few.

I arrived early the next morning and found the place packed again with a consistent line out the door.

La Cabra makes all their pastries in house (you can see the magic happening behind the glass wall at the back of the coffee shop).

Originating from Aarhus, Denmark, La Cabra knows what they’re doing when it comes to pastries and croissants.

My goodness, the plain croissant is probably the best plain croissant I have ever had. The texture was perfect, not too crispy or flakey, not too doughy. Just the right hint of butter flavor coming through. If I lived in NYC I would order these by the dozen.

Everything about this place hit a home run for me. Incredible coffee, the flat white was one of the best during my last trip, and the pour overs are top quality. The simple yet homey décor, rustic serve ware, and friendly service warrant their 4.9 star reviews on Google.

The ham and cheese croissant is also delicious as is the pain au chocolate.

If you want to veer away from croissants, the Cardamom bun (a Swedish treat) is a must. A yeasty, knot bun made with butter and cardamom and sprinkled with sugar. Be sure to ask if a fresh batch is coming out of the oven…it’s worth waiting for.

La Cabra's original location is in East Village. A SoHo location recently opened is and ALWAYS slammed. If you want a pastry you must go early.

3. Petit Chou

The best non-traditional almond croissant in NYC

If you know your baked goods, or watch the Great British Baking Show like me, you’ll be wondering why I’m including a bakery with “chou” in the name.

Chou is a hallmark pastry and nothing close to a croissant. While the chou I tried was fantastic, Petit Chou also makes some of the best croissants in NYC.

I especially liked the almond croissant. The filling was not dry like a traditional almond paste but had a creamy consistency to it with a bit more sweetness than the average almond croissant. It was perfect and did not taste artificial at all.

The plain croissant and strawberry and cream croissant roll are also delicious.

4. Dominique Ansel Bakery

The best hybrid croissant in NYC (the cronut and DKA)

Chef Dominique Ansel has quite the reputation in the pastry world. He was named the "World’s Best Pastry Chef" by the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards in 2017 and listed as one of Business Insider’s “Most Innovative People Under 40”.

His signature creation is the cronut (a croissant-donut hybrid) which Time Magazine named one of the 25 best inventions in 2013.

Though his other signature pastry, the DKA, outsells the cronut 2 to 1. It's a caramelized croissant type treat with a gooey center and the perfect combination of sweet and buttery.

These two unique croissant hybrids earn Dominique Ansel a top spot on the list of best croissants in NYC.

You have two options for experiencing Dominique Ansel’s creations, though I only recommend one.

Dominique Ansel Bakery is the original shop located in SoHo. Here, you'll find all the usual croissants, including chocolate, plain, ham and cheese, and almond. There are also rotating and seasonal flavors.

Last time I visited, there was a Nutella croissant and a toasted coconut chocolate croissant.

This is the only location you can buy the cronut and they usually sell out.

The SoHo location is extremely popular, with a constant flow of customers. This is also where you'll find a selection of artistic pastries almost too beautiful to eat. Almost.

The other location, Dominique Ansel Workshop was sadly disappointing in both flavor and texture. I recommend sticking to the original Dominique Ansel Bakery.

5. Claude Bakery (NYC)

One of the best chocolate croissants in NYC

If you're looking for a classic pain au chocolate, Claude Bakery will fit the bill.

The chocolate inside is perfect. Not too much or too little, and perfectly soft. It's so disappointing when you order a chocolate croissant and the chocolate inside is hard and minimal.

Chocolate aside, the actual croissant is beautifully laminated. You can taste the hint of butter...bliss.

The almond croissant is equally delicious, though a bit heavier. Claude Bakery uses almond pastry cream vs. almond paste (made with ground almonds). The pastry cream gives the croissant a smooth, creamy center with the ideal level of sweetness.