8 Best Croissants in LA: West Side Edition
Looking for the best croissants in LA? Read on!
The Gluten (And Flavor) Dilemma
For years, I had a rule similar to my pizza story: don’t eat croissants outside of Europe.
Having grown up in Europe, I became one of those insufferable people who insisted that croissants anywhere else in the world simply weren’t worth it.
Too bready. Not buttery enough. Lacking that delicate, shattering flake that makes a proper croissant feel like a tiny architectural miracle.
And then I moved to Los Angeles.
For a long time I stuck to my rule. If I wanted a croissant, I would wait until my next trip to Paris, Rome, or Copenhagen.
Not least because in Europe I happily eat all the carbs with zero side effects. In the U.S., I usually try to avoid gluten due to a mild intolerance. Anyone else relate?
But then fellow European expats in LA started whispering names of bakeries I had to try. “Just trust me,” they said. “This one will change your mind.”
Annoyingly, they were right.
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The Best Croissants in LA (West Side)
After a series of field tests (strictly in the name of research, of course), I can now admit that Los Angeles has some truly excellent croissants.
I’ve been reformed. I still treat them as a special indulgence – gluten intolerance is real.
But when the craving hits, there are a few places that absolutely deliver.
So if you’re searching for the best croissants in LA, here are eight West Los Angeles bakeries that prove the city knows its laminated dough.
1. Bread + Butter — Santa Monica, Main Street
Undisputable winner.
Tucked away on Main Street in Santa Monica, Bread + Butter is a Tasmanian outpost that plays in a league of its own.
Their croissants are everything a croissant should be: extra buttery, extra flaky, and deeply golden with those delicate layers that shatter when you bite in.
But the real revelation here is the walnut croissant. It may very well have been my most important food discovery of 2025.
Not overly sweet, perfectly balanced, rich without being heavy, and unapologetically decadent. If you only eat one baked thing in Los Angeles today, make it this.
2. Gjusta — Venice, Abbot Kinney
There’s a reason Gjusta has become an LA institution.
What started as a Venice bakery has grown into one of the city’s most influential food spots, with a cookbook, a devoted following, and lines that form early in the morning.
Yes, it’s hip. Yes, the crowd is fashionable. And yes, I will absolutely stand in line with all the cool kids if the croissant is this good.
Their plain croissant is beautifully executed, but the real celebrity here is the tahini croissant — a genius mash-up of French technique and Middle Eastern flavors that perfectly reflects LA’s culinary spirit.
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3. Petitgrain Boulangerie — Santa Monica, Wilshire
Lines form outside this small Wilshire Boulevard bakery for a reason.
Petitgrain Boulangerie is driven by serious passion for traditional baking, and the result is a menu full of meticulously crafted pastries.
Their almond croissant is a crowd favorite, and regulars rave about the savory scones and the aromatic cardamom twirl.
But even with all those temptations, the classic butter croissant still holds its own. Simple, crisp, and deeply satisfying.
4. Artelice Patisserie — Sawtelle
If precision had a flavor, it might taste like Artelice.
This refined French-style patisserie in Sawtelle produces some of the most elegant pastries on the Westside. Their plain croissant is excellent, perfectly laminated and beautifully balanced.
But whatever you do, do not leave without trying the mango éclair.
Just like the walnut croissant at Bread + Butter, it may permanently redefine how you think about baked goods — especially in Los Angeles.
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5. Rockenwagner Bakery — Culver City, Washington
Few bakeries on the Westside have the history of Rockenwagner.
Founded by German master baker Hans Rockenwagner, this bakery has been shaping LA’s bread and pastry scene for decades.
They’re perhaps best known for their artisan breads, pretzels, and European-style baking traditions.
Their croissants reflect that heritage — classic, buttery, and reliably excellent.
6. Lodge Bread Company — Beverly Hills, Ventura, Culver City
Ask almost anyone on the Westside for a bakery recommendation and Lodge Bread Company will likely come up.
Best known for their naturally fermented sourdough breads, Lodge has built a loyal following among serious carb enthusiasts.
My fellow Euro expat Filipe swears by the seeded country loaf. He takes his food rather seriously so I’d go with his recommendation in a heartbeat.
Their pastries follow the same philosophy: carefully made, high-quality, and deeply satisfying. The croissants are beautifully rustic, with rich flavor and generous layers.
The ham and cheese croissant is one of the finest in the area, and the wagyu sausage roll is simply next level.
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7. Superba — Venice, off Lincoln
The bakery and café on Superba Avenue just north of Lincoln is, quite simply… superb.
Superba is beloved not just for its pastries but also for its excellent all-day menu.
Their bakery program produces consistently delicious croissants that show up in several standout dishes on the cafe menu.
Try the croissant French toast, avocado toast with their house breads, or the cheesy egg toast.
When the base ingredients are this good, everything else shines.
8. Copenhagen Pastry — Culver City
For over 14 years, Copenhagen Pastry has been quietly delivering Scandinavian precision and flavor on the Westside.
The space reflects Scandi minimalism — clean lines, understated design — while the pastries deliver maximum flavor.
While they don’t offer classic plain croissants, this is the place to explore classic Danish pastries.
Try the poppyseed croissant, the vanilla custard scandauer, the princess cake, and their outstanding rye bread. And, of course, the traditional Danish cinnamon roll.
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Best Croissants in LA: Honorable mentions
Several other bakeries also deserve a quick nod when discussing the best croissants in LA.
- Baked Bar LA – A Culver City bakery known for creative pastries and vegan variations.
- Tartine – The famous San Francisco bakery now has several LA (and Seoul, Korea!) locations where you can find their celebrated country breads and flaky pastries.
- Chaumont Bakery & Café – A vegan favorite known for beautiful French pastries and classic croissants.
- Des Croissants Paris – A small bakery focused entirely on traditional French-style croissants.
- Ludivine Paris Bakery – A charming French bakery in West LA with authentic pastries and viennoiserie, macarons and quiches.
- House of Bread – A Santa Monica bakery known primarily for artisan breads but also serving solid pastries.
- Häsi Bread – A newer bakery with a strong following, previously of Mar Vista farmers market.
- Modern Bread and Bagel – A unique bakery specializing in gluten-free baked goods that still manage to deliver serious flavor.
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Los Angeles Croissants – The Verdict
I’ll admit it: Los Angeles has convinced me.
While I still treat croissants as a very special treat — and I still believe eating one in Europe is a completely different experience — LA has proven it has some very decent bakeries and genuine talent.
And thanks to the spots above, when the craving hits, I no longer have to wait for my next trip to Europe.
With these bakeries on the West Side alone, I’m more than covered when searching for the best croissants in LA.
Have you been to any of the bakeries above? What else would you add to the list of best croissants in LA? Let us know in the comments or tag @eightyflavors on socials!
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