There’s a particular Montreal ritual on cold mornings: a short walk to the neighbourhood bakery, a paper bag that’s already going translucent with butter, and a croissant eaten before you get home. The city takes its viennoiserie seriously, and the competition is fierce. To find the best croissants in Montreal, we started with Tastet’s croissant list, updated this spring, and picked ten bakeries across the island, from Old Montreal to Villeray.
What makes a great croissant
A great croissant is all about lamination: layers of butter folded into dough again and again, so it bakes into dozens of whisper-thin sheets. Look for a deep golden shell that shatters when you bite, flakes everywhere (that’s a good sign), and an airy, honeycombed interior that pulls apart in soft, slightly chewy strands. It should taste of butter, not oil, and it should be fresh: the best ones are gone by late morning.
The best croissants in Montreal: 10 bakeries
1. Hof Kelsten (Plateau)
Tastet admits it has “a certain weakness” for Hof Kelsten, at 4524 boulevard Saint-Laurent, and it’s easy to see why. Jeffrey Finkelstein’s bakery turns out buttery, perfectly baked croissants that shed crumbly flakes with every bite. Some credit the Bongard oven; others, the head baker’s meticulousness.
2. Pâtisserie Au Kouign-Amann (Plateau)
At 316 avenue du Mont-Royal Est, Au Kouign-Amann is named for the Breton “butter cake,” so you know where its priorities lie. The croissants are baked in small quantities, the few tables are almost always taken, and taking them to go is perfectly acceptable.
3. Boulangerie Les Co’pains d’abord (Plateau)
A neighbourhood favourite at 418 rue Rachel Est, Les Co’pains d’abord takes its name from a Georges Brassens song. It bakes plenty of bread and pastries, but the croissant is the must-try: flawless puff pastry and lots of butter.
4. Le Pain dans les Voiles (Villeray)
Two lifelong friends who love sailing opened their first bakery at the foot of Mont-Saint-Hilaire in 2009, then this Villeray location at 357 rue de Castelnau Est in 2012. Everything is well made, wonderful buttery croissants included.
5. Le Paltoquet (Outremont)
A classic at 1464 avenue Van Horne, where the croissants have been perfected for more than 20 years. Each one has a melt-in-your-mouth buttery flavour, and the consistency is the point. Don’t leave without trying the Royale cake.
6. Olive et Gourmando (Old Montreal)
A pioneer when it opened in 1997, Olive et Gourmando at 351 rue Saint-Paul Ouest is now a classic for brunch, lunch and takeout. Tastet loves the croissants, while noting prices reflect the touristy location.
7. La Bête à pain (Griffintown)
Chef Marc-André Royal’s La Bête à pain, at 195 rue Young, is a café, organic bakery, mini restaurant and caterer in one. Come for one of the city’s best breakfasts and leave with exceptional croissants and bread.
8. La Petite Boulangerie (Ahuntsic)
Warm and friendly, this bakery at 1412 rue Fleury Est has been baking for two decades. Its bakers are true puff pastry craftspeople, and the croissant shows it.
9. La Croissanterie Figaro (Mile End)
With its old-world décor and charming staff, the Figaro at 5200 rue Hutchison feels like a little French café. It’s open from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day, which makes it one of the few places where a croissant at midnight is an option.
10. Brioche à Tête (Mile End)
Best known for its artisanal brioches in original flavours, this small bakery at 107 avenue Fairmount Ouest also bakes one of the best croissants in town. The staff are lovely, too.
More bakeries worth a detour
Tastet’s list also includes chocolatier Franck Dury-Pavet’s Fous Desserts on Laurier Est, where croissants are made with natural and organic ingredients; Automne Boulangerie on Christophe-Colomb; Helico in Hochelaga; the aptly named Croissant Croissant on Mont-Royal Est; and Croissant Monkland, which kept its name after moving to 6050 Sherbrooke Ouest in NDG.
Tips for your croissant run
- Go early. Small-batch bakeries sell out, especially on weekends.
- Eat one plain first. Almond and chocolate versions are great, but the butter croissant is the true test.
- Reheat leftovers in the oven for a few minutes, never the microwave.
Make a morning of it: pair your croissant with a latte from our café roundup, plan a bigger feast from our Sunday brunch list, or stroll a market from our public markets guide. Sweet tooth? See our pastry shop picks and the rest of our Food section. Bon matin!
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Photo: Herry Wibisono (herryway) / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Sources: Tastet (best croissants), Tastet (Hof Kelsten), Tastet (Au Kouign-Amann), Tastet (Les Co’pains d’abord), Tastet (Le Pain dans les Voiles), Tastet (Olive et Gourmando), Tastet (La Bête à pain)
