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Twice-baked almond croissants from Sunday Morning Bakehouse
Twice-baked almond croissants from Sunday Morning Bakehouse
Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Where to Find Next-Level Croissants Around D.C.

From sweet to savory, and classic to matcha cream-filled

by Julekha Dash and Lisa Ruland Updated
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Twice-baked almond croissants from Sunday Morning Bakehouse
| Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.
by Julekha Dash and Lisa Ruland Updated

Few foods can credibly whisk eaters to a Parisian sidewalk café. But the best croissants immediately call up memories of devouring a morning pain au chocolat with cafe au lait, a foreign treat so good it leaves the customer blissfully unaware of a haughty waiter's disdain. The D.C. area has seen a boon in outstanding bread and pastry in the past few years — and that includes places turning out quality croissants. Some spots, like Bread Furst, stick to impeccably-done classics like plain, almond, or chocolate croissants. Others, like Sidekick, roll out modern, whimsical fare stuffed with matcha cream or potato chips. Here are some of the best bakeries and restaurants that offer the flaky, buttery pastry.

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Sunday Morning Bakehouse

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This chic North Bethesda jewel focuses on crafting quality, small-batch croissants and other pastries. Their croissant menu covers savory and sweet, ranging from a stuffed ham and Swiss cheese to traditional butter, chocolate, and matcha green tea, varieties (plus cruffins).

11869 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852
(240) 669-8202
(240) 669-8202

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Fresh Baguette (Multiple locations)

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The name is all about bread, but Fresh Baguette also has a nice selection of croissants and related pastries. The selection includes plain, almond, and chocolate croissants, plus blueberry-cream cheese kouign amman and French apple turnovers. Mini croissants are also available.

4919 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 656-0000
(301) 656-0000

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Bread Furst

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Owned by James Beard award-winning baker Mark Furstenberg, Bread Furst satisfies the sweet tooth with plain, chocolate, and almond croissants that rival any top bakery in France. A savory variety comes with an egg on top.

4434 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
202-765-1200
202-765-1200
Bread Furst Bakery cafe
The pastry selection at Bread Furst
April Greer For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Also featured in:

The Cup We All Race 4

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The scene-y Line Hotel’s morning coffee bar also turns out pastries and croissants worth racing for, including the “cretzel,” a croissant-pretzel love child. Pastry chef Beth Bosmeny’s croissants are the real deal. Get there early — pastries often sell out before the 2 p.m. close.

1770 Euclid St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 588-0525
(202) 588-0525

Tryst

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Snag a coveted seat on the couch at this perennially busy Adams Morgan café while savoring the almond or chocolate croissant. Or splurge on the popular ham and cheddar sandwich on a croissant.

2459 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 232-5500
(202) 232-5500

Rise Bakery

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Gluten-free Rise Bakery fulfills croissant cravings for people with allergies or sensitivites. Made with rice and tapioca flour, the twice-baked croissants come with fillings like almond puree, Swiss chocolate, or ham and Gruyère cheese.

2409 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20018
202-525-5204
202-525-5204
Almond croissants at Rise
Almond croissants at Rise
R. Lopez

Patisserie Poupon

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The Georgetown outpost of the Baltimore-based bakery offers a savory ham and cheese croissant and a sweet variety stuffed with almond paste and topped with an almond glaze.

1645 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 342-3248
(202) 342-3248

Firehook Bakery (Multiple locations)

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Go ahead and dig into a plain, chocolate, or almond croissant — or a chocolate almond croissant, because why choose? The bakery has eight locations, in Virginia and D.C., including Dupont Circle and Capitol Hill.

1909 Q St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 588-9296
(202) 588-9296

Pluma by Bluebird Bakery

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This tiny but mighty pastry shop bordering Union Market boasts some of the best croissants in town. Choose between plain, almond, pistachio, chocolate, smoked ham and Gruyère, or trendy, croissant-adjacent kouign amann.

391 Morse St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 544-2429
(202) 544-2429
Pluma by Bluebird [Official]

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Seylou Bakery

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A croissant made from 100% whole grain may not seem decadent, but one bite of Seylou’s flaky, buttery plain or chocolate croissants will change your mind. The bakery even mills its flour on-site.

926 N St NW Suite A, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 842-1122
(202) 842-1122

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A Baked Joint

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A Baked Joint has been packed from Day One. In addition to full breakfast, lunch, and bread menus, the Baked & Wired sibling shop makes plain, almond, and chocolate croissants, plus kouign amann and pain aux raisins.

430 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 408-6985
(202) 408-6985

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Bayou Bakery (Multiple locations)

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Owned by Louisiana native David Guas, Bayou Bakery naturally serves killer beignets. But it doesn’t neglect its French cousin, with freshly baked croissants filled with chocolate or almond, ham and cheese, and a special everything croissant (like the bagels).

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 243-2410
(703) 243-2410

Sidekick Bakery

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This Ted’s Bulletin spinoff in Ballston serves some of the area’s most creative croissants. Try the caramel butter pecan, apple cider cinnamon, or stoner-friendly “Frostee + Fries,” which involves chocolate malt, dark chocolate glaze, and potato chips.

4238 Wilson Blvd, Suite 1130 SK, Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 848-0640
(703) 848-0640
View this post on Instagram

Pecan I kick it? Yes you can! #sidekickbakery #

A post shared by Sidekick Bakery (@sidekickbakery) on

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Pastry Xpo

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The rather unfortunate name implies an industrial baking convention instead of fine pastries. But this Merrifield cafe has a variety of quality croissants like cinnamon almond, chocolate, ham and cheese, za’atar, and plain.

8190 Strawberry Ln, Falls Church, VA 22042
(571) 282-4970
(571) 282-4970

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Sunday Morning Bakehouse

11869 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852

This chic North Bethesda jewel focuses on crafting quality, small-batch croissants and other pastries. Their croissant menu covers savory and sweet, ranging from a stuffed ham and Swiss cheese to traditional butter, chocolate, and matcha green tea, varieties (plus cruffins).

11869 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852
(240) 669-8202
(240) 669-8202

Fresh Baguette (Multiple locations)

4919 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

The name is all about bread, but Fresh Baguette also has a nice selection of croissants and related pastries. The selection includes plain, almond, and chocolate croissants, plus blueberry-cream cheese kouign amman and French apple turnovers. Mini croissants are also available.

4919 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 656-0000
(301) 656-0000

Bread Furst

4434 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

Owned by James Beard award-winning baker Mark Furstenberg, Bread Furst satisfies the sweet tooth with plain, chocolate, and almond croissants that rival any top bakery in France. A savory variety comes with an egg on top.

4434 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
202-765-1200
202-765-1200
Bread Furst Bakery cafe
The pastry selection at Bread Furst
April Greer For The Washington Post via Getty Images

The Cup We All Race 4

1770 Euclid St NW, Washington, DC 20009

The scene-y Line Hotel’s morning coffee bar also turns out pastries and croissants worth racing for, including the “cretzel,” a croissant-pretzel love child. Pastry chef Beth Bosmeny’s croissants are the real deal. Get there early — pastries often sell out before the 2 p.m. close.

1770 Euclid St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 588-0525
(202) 588-0525

Tryst

2459 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Snag a coveted seat on the couch at this perennially busy Adams Morgan café while savoring the almond or chocolate croissant. Or splurge on the popular ham and cheddar sandwich on a croissant.

2459 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 232-5500
(202) 232-5500

Rise Bakery

2409 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20018

Gluten-free Rise Bakery fulfills croissant cravings for people with allergies or sensitivites. Made with rice and tapioca flour, the twice-baked croissants come with fillings like almond puree, Swiss chocolate, or ham and Gruyère cheese.

2409 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20018
202-525-5204
202-525-5204
Almond croissants at Rise
Almond croissants at Rise
R. Lopez

Patisserie Poupon

1645 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

The Georgetown outpost of the Baltimore-based bakery offers a savory ham and cheese croissant and a sweet variety stuffed with almond paste and topped with an almond glaze.

1645 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 342-3248
(202) 342-3248

Firehook Bakery (Multiple locations)

1909 Q St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Go ahead and dig into a plain, chocolate, or almond croissant — or a chocolate almond croissant, because why choose? The bakery has eight locations, in Virginia and D.C., including Dupont Circle and Capitol Hill.

1909 Q St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 588-9296
(202) 588-9296

Pluma by Bluebird Bakery

391 Morse St NE, Washington, DC 20002

This tiny but mighty pastry shop bordering Union Market boasts some of the best croissants in town. Choose between plain, almond, pistachio, chocolate, smoked ham and Gruyère, or trendy, croissant-adjacent kouign amann.

391 Morse St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 544-2429
(202) 544-2429
Pluma by Bluebird [Official]

Seylou Bakery

926 N St NW Suite A, Washington, DC 20001

A croissant made from 100% whole grain may not seem decadent, but one bite of Seylou’s flaky, buttery plain or chocolate croissants will change your mind. The bakery even mills its flour on-site.

926 N St NW Suite A, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 842-1122
(202) 842-1122

A Baked Joint

430 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001

A Baked Joint has been packed from Day One. In addition to full breakfast, lunch, and bread menus, the Baked & Wired sibling shop makes plain, almond, and chocolate croissants, plus kouign amann and pain aux raisins.

430 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 408-6985
(202) 408-6985

Bayou Bakery (Multiple locations)

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201

Owned by Louisiana native David Guas, Bayou Bakery naturally serves killer beignets. But it doesn’t neglect its French cousin, with freshly baked croissants filled with chocolate or almond, ham and cheese, and a special everything croissant (like the bagels).

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 243-2410
(703) 243-2410

Sidekick Bakery

4238 Wilson Blvd, Suite 1130 SK, Arlington, VA 22203

This Ted’s Bulletin spinoff in Ballston serves some of the area’s most creative croissants. Try the caramel butter pecan, apple cider cinnamon, or stoner-friendly “Frostee + Fries,” which involves chocolate malt, dark chocolate glaze, and potato chips.

4238 Wilson Blvd, Suite 1130 SK, Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 848-0640
(703) 848-0640
View this post on Instagram

Pecan I kick it? Yes you can! #sidekickbakery #

A post shared by Sidekick Bakery (@sidekickbakery) on

Pastry Xpo

8190 Strawberry Ln, Falls Church, VA 22042

The rather unfortunate name implies an industrial baking convention instead of fine pastries. But this Merrifield cafe has a variety of quality croissants like cinnamon almond, chocolate, ham and cheese, za’atar, and plain.

8190 Strawberry Ln, Falls Church, VA 22042
(571) 282-4970
(571) 282-4970

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