The croissant is arguably the most well-loved French pastry of all, adored for its delicate flaky texture and sinfully buttery flavour. Sadly, in Hong Kong we’ve eaten many a croissant that have fallen flat in both taste and texture.
Authentic croissants are made with 100 percent butter and yeast-leavened laminated dough that lead to an end product that is airy, multilayered, and flaky, leaving a sheen of butter on your fingertips long after eating one.
All is not lost in our citywide pursuit of croissant perfection, with Foodie rounding up our tried-and-tested croissant favourites in Hong Kong.
The best croissants in Hong Kong
Plumcot
The scents wafting from tiny bakery Plumcot in Tai Hang get us every time. Pastry chefs (and husband and wife) Camille Moënne-Loccoz and Dominique Yau have quite the pedigree, with Camille having worked in R&D for Pierre Hermé Paris and Dominique pastry-cheffing at Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris. Plumcot’s viennoiseries are as legit as they come, and the bakery’s airy croissant (HKD30) is the most sought after of all. If you head to Plumcot on a weekend, you’ll be able to sink your teeth into a gorgeous red-striped strawberry croissant (HKD35).
Plumcot, G/F, 10A Sun Chun Street, Tai Hang, 2573 6293
Proof.
Moving westwards to another cosy Hong Kong Island neighbourhood, we have Proof. in Happy Valley. The sourdough bakery lists its daily-changing baked good offerings on a big chalkboard outside the shop, so you know what’s in store once you enter. What remains consistent at Proof day after day is the bakery’s delicious plain croissant (HKD24), especially when it’s still warm. The almond croissant (HKD32) is also highly coveted here, filled with decadent almond cream and decked out with toasted almond slices.
Proof., G/F, 14 Tsun Yuen Street, Happy Valley, WhatsApp 6542 9788
FRENCHIES
FRENCHIES on Hollywood Road has cultivated a dedicated neighbourhood fan base who return again and again for the bakery’s divine French patisserie and viennoiserie. The bake shop’s croissant (HKD22) is made with a special flour that’s ground just outside of Paris; it has a golden, crispy exterior and airy interior that’s rich and buttery without being oily.
FRENCHIES, G/F, 39–43 Hollywood Road, Central, WhatsApp 5267 9403
Gontran Cherrier
Queues are a given at the K11 MUSEA location of renowned French bakery Gontran Cherrier, named after its charming founder. Chef Gontran is best known around the world for his impeccable croissant (HKD27) that is golden, glistening, and flaky on the exterior, giving way to a soft and buttery interior. Whilst plain and almond varieties are the more classic croissants on offer here, there are creative croissants too, including some topped with fluffy pillows of torched meringue and others filled with fresh fruits. You can see all these beauties being baked up at the glass-fronted open kitchen adjacent to the bakery.
Gontran Cherrier, Shop B205–207, B2/F, K11 MUSEA, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 3468 2430
Levain Bakery
Levain holds the title of Hong Kong’s first artisanal sourdough bakery, founded in 2009 by master baker KC Li. We think Levain’s croissant (HKD26) is crispier and airier than others on the list, making it feel slighty healthier yet still incredibly moreish. For those who’d like to learn the art of croissant-making for themselves, chef KC occasionally hosts baking workshops – or you can book a private class by emailing levainbakery@ymail.com.
Levain Bakery, multiple locations across Hong Kong
Miam Bakery
The best Western bakery in Sai Ying Pun is Miam Bakery, and this small takeaway shop’s beautiful croissant (HKD28) rivals its cinnamon bun and kouign-amann as the best baked good up for grabs there. Miam is often our first port of call on a weekend morning when we’re craving a simple but indulgent at-home brunch spread starring pastries.
Miam Bakery, G/F, 73 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun, 5592 5507
Puff Bake
A hip new halal-certified bakery in Tsim Sha Tsui, Puff Bake shares a space with café Marouf Coffee, so you can pair your buttery and multilayered plain croissant (HKD21), the most wallet-friendly on our list, with a cup of smooth, rich bean juice from Jordan (the country, not the Kowloon neighbourhood). Puff Bake is very creative with its pastry flavours, often incorporating unique Middle Eastern and Asian influences into its recipes. On the savoury front, the halloumi and za’taar croissant (HKD28) is a great blend of sweet, salty, and zesty flavours.
Puff Bake, G/F, 3–3A Humphreys Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui
Big Grains
Big Grains is a home-grown bakery success story that’s been going strong for a decade. The founders, brothers Andrew and Jeffrey Li, are both graduates of the famed Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. The bake shop’s classic croissant (HKD25) is plump, shiny, and textbook-perfect in terms of both flavour and texture. Andrew and Jeffrey are true patisserie innovators, so we also recommend plumping for another more inventive item or two whilst you’re at it (the sea salt caramel nuts tart is a particular favourite).
