The Most Parisian-esque Croissants in Sacramento
From East Sac to Oak Park, these are the best croissants in Sacramento.
Paris in September is the closest truth to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous quote, “life starts all over when it gets crisp in the fall.” Biting into a warm croissant while taking in the side streets of North Marais on a breezy fall morning feels like just that – a fresh start.
I recently took a trip to Paris that consisted of, what I like to call, Croissant Wars - Battle of the Boulangeries. I researched what I believed to be the best bakeries in Paris, and then made my way to each one. My journey to find the best croissants was one I wasn’t ready to end once I landed back home. So I did the only thing left to do - I found the most Parisian-esque croissants in Sacramento, my humble abode.
The food and drink scene in Sacramento is growing quickly, so I wasn’t surprised when I found exactly what I was looking for. I’m talking crunchy on the outside, soft, melt-in-your-mouth goodness, on the inside. These bakeries are serving up the real deal. Bon Appétit!
Moonbelly, East Sacramento
Your hunt for the perfect chocolate croissant is over. The newest member to the Sacramento croissant family is a small bakery only open on Friday through Sunday from 8am-1pm. Moonbelly has quickly made a name for themselves in the Sacramento food scene.
Dare I say, their croissants are nearly perfect. Chef’s kiss. Creme de la creme of pastries.
The smell will overpower you when you walk into the bakery, and you will not be leaving with just one thing. But if you do, make it the chocolate croissant. Crunchy on the outside, soft perfect pastry layers on the inside. In my humble opinion, the hardest part about perfecting the chocolate croissant is just the right amount of chocolate. Moonbelly knows exactly what they are doing.
Located a few blocks from a coffee shop favorite of mine, The Mill. Grab a croissant and head to The Mill for an americano. Less is more with this one, just try it.
Faria, Oak Park
Faria is a bakery known by most in the Sacramento area. Their picturesque location in Oak Park draws a large line every weekend, but it’s definitely worth the wait.
It seems they have taken over most major farmers markets in the city, so don’t assume you’ll beat the line by stopping by their booth (although, that’s a really fun way to grab your croissant and a bouquet of flowers).
Their croissant is absolutely lovely. The inside is a fluffy pastry of never-ending layers, and the outside is ever so crisp.
Faria is well-known for their bread variety, so be sure to grab a loaf to take home with you. Their coffee bar consists of a Sacramento favorite: Camilla Coffee. Grab an espresso with your pastry and you’ll be off to a great start.
Betty, Midtown
When I stopped into Betty for an afternoon glass of wine last Sunday, I was pleasantly surprised with an entire new food and wine pairing menu brought by Localis restaurant, the new owner of Betty. 3:00pm on a Sunday felt like the right time for a pairing of mac & cheese with a crisp glass of Chardonnay. What was really unexpected were the croissants, one chocolate and one plain, at the counter.
Betty is now offering croissants made in the Localis kitchen one day only, Sunday’s starting at 9:00am. When I tell you this was a treat I mean it. I opted for the chocolate croissant which had the perfect amount of chocolate and more layers of dough than I could count. This is truly a decadent croissant. The chocolate sits at $8, so it’s the priciest on the list by far, but dare I say this croissant is worth it? I will be back to try it in the morning with an espresso (most likely next week and I’m already counting down the days). Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.