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, achieving an end product that is airy, multilayered, flaky, and that leaves 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
1. 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 the City of Light. 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 the gorgeous red-striped strawberry croissant (HKD35).
Plumcot, G/F, 10A Sun Chun Street, Tai Hang, 2573 6293
2. 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
3. FRENCHIES
FRENCHIES on Hollywood Road has cultivated a loyal 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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 touches into its recipes. On the savoury front, the halloumi and za’atar croissant (HKD28) is a great blend of sweet, salty, and zesty flavours.
Puff Bake, G/F, 3–3A Humphreys Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui
8. 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 artisan tartlets are particular favourites).
Big Grains, multiple locations across Hong Kong
9. The Baker & The Bottleman
At The Baker & The Bottleman, pastry chef Helene Ng has got the science of croissant-making down to an art. The sustainable British bakery’s butter croissant (HKD28) is tops owing to its French AOP butter lamination and model honeycomb structure. For a fun East-meets-West twist, check out the newly introduced twice-baked black sesame mochi croissant (HKD48).
The Baker & The Bottleman, Shop G14–15 & F15A, G/F & 1/F, Lee Tung Avenue, 200 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, WhatsApp 2386 8933
10. LMO Freshly Baked
LMO Freshly Baked presents grab-and-go baked goods in Central by The Landmark Mandarin Oriental hotel’s culinary director Richard Ekkebus (our Foodie Forks 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award winner) and his dedicated pastry team. LMO’s signature vegan croissant (HKD32) is a lifesaver for plant-based diners, but even those who usually enjoy dairy will adore this scrumptious rendition made with fair-trade coconut butter from the Philippines.
LMO Freshly Baked, Shop 10–11, BaseHall, LG/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central, 2132 0188
LMO Freshly Baked, Shop 233–234, 2/F, LANDMARK ATRIUM, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2132 0188
