Hotel Meininger – Lyon

Don’t let appearances fool you. This croissant may be petit, but it is mighty. I couldn’t have asked for a better first croissant in France. I took one bite, and it was immediately better than any croissant I’ve tried in America (yes, even better than Costco). Perfect buttery layers, a pleasing combination of soft and crisp… ooh la la!

★★★★☆

Boulangerie des Canuts – Lyon

This croissant was my Cinderella. She came in to my life at the perfect time, I fell in love, and then she disappeared, only leaving a few buttery flakes on my plate. I didn’t know who she was or where she came from, and I was distraught.

… until I stopped stuffing my mouth long enough to ask my host mom where she got it. Anne bought me this heavenly croissant for breakfast. You know what they say: a surprise croissant always tastes better than an intentional one.

★★★★☆

Pret A Manger – Lyon

This is a perfect example of why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. I’ll admit I doubted this croissant because it wasn’t was pretty as my previous pastries. I’m a big fan of symmetry when it comes to baked goods. However, this croissant had a perfect initial crunch and a soft, sweet interior. Croissants are just like people: it’s what’s on the inside that counts!

I will say, this restaurant is a popular chain and I know I can do better. Obviously, I’m interested in small, local boulangeries. In my defense, I was hungry and this was the nearest establishment.

★★★☆☆

Chez Jules – Lyon

This was a pleasant croissant. No complaints, but not much else to say. Maybe it’s all in my head, but you can tell this croissant is from a chain of boulangeries. I enjoyed my experience, but it’s not the croissant.

★★★☆☆

BAKARO – Villefranche-sur-Mer

Let me set a scene for you: you’re strolling down the quaint streets of Vieux Villefranche when you come across a small bakery. Inside, a picturesque basket sits on the counter, its croissants nestled within. You’re ordering one before you even have time to think, and you do not regret it.

This croissant was bold. It was crunchy and crispy on the outside (perhaps just a bit too much for my liking). But the inside held substantial savory, buttery layers.

★★★☆☆

Tartine & Ficelle – Lyon

Tartine & Ficelle is one of my go-to boulangeries for a quick lunch or afternoon snack. As a frequent baguette customer, I had to try their croissant. Quite honestly, I was impressed by everything but the outermost layers. This croissant had a lovely flavor: slightly sweet and just enough butter. It wasn’t too crunchy or over-baked. However, it was a little dry on the outside, like it wasn’t made fresh that day.

★★★★☆

Paul – Lyon

This croissant was an impulse-buy in the Part-Dieu train station. Paul is a huge international chain of French bakeries. I consider this to be the fast-food of croissants, and it tasted like it. This was fair punishment for being lazy and not buying from a local boulangerie. The outer shell was far too overdone and way too crunchy. I couldn’t tell if it had too much butter, but it almost tasted greasy. This disappointing croissant is proof that going local is always better.

★☆☆☆☆

Ladurée – Paris

I bought this precious baby croissant at the famous Ladurée pâtisserie in Paris. It was good, but not as exceptional as I hoped. The internal layers were pleasant but I found the outside a bit too buttery. I recommend skipping the viennoiseries and investing in their world-renowned macarons.

★★★☆☆

Le 97 – Lyon

I won’t say it was bad, but this croissant tasted suspiciously store-bought. To be fair, I bought it from a café, not a bakery. While achieving impressive layer distribution, it was a little dry and lacking flavor. The outside was far too crunchy for my liking. Overall, not very fresh.

★★☆☆☆

Comme à la Maison – Lyon

Trying to disguise itself as a baguette, I was initially thrown off by this lengthy croissant. However, it was pleasant. A little cold and nothing incredible to rave about, but a good croissant overall.

★★★☆☆

Boulangerie Du Palais – Lyon

I had high hopes for this croissant because it was born at a popular boulangerie in Vieux Lyon. In general, I was satisfied with the flaky layers and rich blend of savory and sweet (it was just a tinge too buttery). I do regret visiting so late in the afternoon: croissants stand a much better chance in the morning.

★★★☆☆

Le Pain Du Roy – Lyon

This croissant was so seductive I forgot to photograph before sinking my teeth in! It was a solid croissant with near-perfect composition and flavor palette. The center part of the shell was a tad overdone, but this was forgiven when the baker brought us a free palmier.

★★★★☆

Maison Fattier (Aux Petits Gourmands) – Chamonix

I haven’t been this impressed with a croissant thus far. Wow! This croissant was beautiful, inside and out. Great layer distribution, light on the outside and rich within. It was sweet enough, but not too sweet. The exterior was perhaps just a little dry, but it was late afternoon.

★★★★★

Artisan Boulangerie Patisserie – Lyon

I think we’ve found a leader, folks! This might be the best croissant yet. Just look at these swirled layers, sexy and flaky without too much crisp. The flavor combination was a perfect blend of buttery, sweet, and rich. I’ll have to go back and try a fresh one in the morning.

P.S. This bakery has the best Pain au chocolat, too!

★★★★★

Le Peloton Café – Paris

Was this croissant good? No. Was this a French café? No. So was I surprised? Not at all. It was unsettling to hear so much English in Paris, but even more unsettling to see a sacred croissant turned into a sandwich. Croissants should not be treated like ordinary sliced bread, but maybe this one should be.

★☆☆☆☆

Du Pain et des Frangins – Grenoble

While this croissant was beautifully layered, I almost want to call it burnt. This was the crunchiest, crispiest, messiest croissant I’ve eaten. I recommend this croissant if you enjoy slightly-burned cookies, but that’s not me. The pleasant interior was easily overlooked by its crunchy shell, unfortunately.

★★☆☆☆