Best Croissants in London: Our Croissant Day Hit List

London’s croissant scene has never been stronger. To celebrate National Croissant Day, Taste of France teamed up with France Today and croissant expert Sofia from Où Sont Les Croissants to find the very best croissants the capital has to offer.

Sofia – creator of the viral Paris Croissant Map with over 100 listings – recently moved from Paris to London. Naturally, we enlisted her to help us judge London’s finest using her signature criteria: flavour, affordability, and “je ne sais quoi” (aka vibes).

Here are the standout croissants we tasted – including the one crowned Best Croissant in London.

🥇 Scoff at The Savoy

Winner: UK’s Best Croissant 2025

If there’s such a thing as a luxury croissant, this is it.

Scoff at The Savoy was crowned UK’s Best Croissant 2025 at the Isigny Sainte-Mère competition – and after tasting it, we can see why. Known primarily for their scones, Scoff quietly produces one of the most refined croissants in the country under Executive Pastry Chef Nicolas Houchet.

“This is arguably the fanciest croissant in London,” Sofia said. “The colours, the layering – it’s beautiful.”

The texture was, in her words, “absolutely perfect.” Initially, she noted the croissant lacked a savoury aftertaste typical of a Parisian croissant … until the butter arrived.

“In Paris, serving butter with a croissant would be an absolute faux pas,” she noted. “But… I eat my words. The butter totally fixes that problem.”

Sofia’s scores:

• Flavour: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  
• Affordability (£4): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (for the setting)
  
• Je ne sais quoi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  

Verdict: Unbelievable – and our overall winner.

🥈 Donutelier

UK’s Best Croissant 2025 finalist

A croissant from a donut shop? We were curious too.

Donutelier is best known for its beautifully crafted donuts, but its croissant earned a spot among the UK’s Best Croissant 2025 finalists – and it nearly took the top spot.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Sofia admitted. “But this was really good.”

Buttery without being greasy, with a satisfying crunch and excellent flavour, Donutelier surprised us all.

“I wouldn’t have expected it to be one of the top croissants in London,” Sofia said, “but it’s a really close second.”

The neon-lit interior, cool merch, and central location near Covent Garden gave it serious bonus points.

Sofia’s scores:

• Flavour: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  
• Affordability (£3.40): ⭐⭐⭐
  
• Je ne sais quoi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Chestnut Bakery, Floral Street

Crowd favourite

When Sofia asked her followers where to find the best croissant in London, Chestnut Bakery was recommended again and again.

Set on picturesque Floral Street, Chestnut is beloved for its artisanal bread and neighbourhood feel.

While the flavour impressed, the texture didn’t quite hit Parisian levels for Sofia.

“It’s very good,” she said, “but the inside is a little empty.”

Sofia’s scores:

• Flavour: ⭐⭐⭐
  
• Affordability (£3.55): ⭐⭐⭐
  
• Je ne sais quoi: ⭐⭐⭐

A beautiful bakery, but busy and loud inside – not quite croissant perfection.

Arôme

UK’s Best Croissant 2025 finalist

Arôme’s Croissant 1930 is a cult favourite, rooted in classic French technique with a modern edge.

Sofia noticed immediately that “the ears of the croissant were quite big,” a detail that pastry lovers will appreciate.

“The flavour is quite good,” she said, “but the texture is less crispy than I’d ideally like.”

Sofia’s scores:

• Flavour: ⭐⭐⭐
  
• Affordability (£3.60): ⭐⭐⭐
  
• Je ne sais quoi: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  

A lovely atmosphere and thoughtful baking — though busy even on a weekday morning.

Other London-Based UK 2025 Finalists to Know

While we couldn’t visit every finalist this time, London was well represented in the UK’s Best Croissant 2025 competition. Other London-based finalists worth adding to your croissant hit list include:

• Authentique Bakery – known for classic French technique
  
• Le Cordon Bleu London – where pastry precision meets tradition
  
• Harrods – an iconic destination with a strong bakery offering
  
• Kayu – celebrated for premium ingredients and craftsmanship
  
• Pan Pacific London – luxury hotel baking at its finest
  
• Qima Café – where speciality coffee meets high-level pastry
  

These bakeries further cement London’s reputation as a serious croissant city.

🏆 Best Croissant in London: The Final Verdict

“I really think the winner of best croissant in London is Scoff at The Savoy,” Sofia concluded.
“It was unbelievable – not just the croissant, but the surroundings. The building, the atmosphere, everything made it really special.”

Donutelier came in a very close second, with Chestnut Bakery and Arôme still worthy stops for any croissant lover.

This marks the beginning of Sofia’s London Croissant Map – joining her already legendary Paris edition, available now.

Happy National Croissant Day! 🥐

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