These Chicago Croissants are Worth the Buttery Mess of Eating Them
via Swadesi Cafe
Fresh + flaky, warm + buttery - literally what’s NOT to love about croissants?! Cooler mornings are making their debut, which makes starting the day with a fresh croissant and hot cup of coffee all the more enticing. And as any true bakery enthusiast knows, not all croissants are equal, so we did the “hard” research for you and rounded up some of the very best croissants around the city! They’re absolutely worth the flaky mess you’ll make while you dig in…
Swadesi Cafe {328 South Jefferson Street, Chicago, IL; 708.553.6350}
Swadesi Cafe brings a taste of Indian cafe culture to Chicago, embracing the vibrant atmosphere and fusing rich Indian flavors with modern twists. Their bakery + beverage menu is anything but ordinary, with creative takes on classics and bold Indian ingredients. Swadesi offers both sweet + savory croissants (made fresh daily) with one-of-a-kind highlights like a Samosa Chaat Croissant, Butter Chicken Croissant and for the sweet-tooths in the group, a Gulab Jamun Cheesecake Croissant. (Dine-in, to-go and online ordering available)
La Boulangerie {Multiple Locations}
Get a little taste of Paris in Chicago at one of La Boulangerie’s multiple cafes located throughout the city. Their menus focus on simple, high-quality food made fresh daily, using French flour and REAL butter in true Parisian fashion. La Boulangerie croissants have been in the running for ‘best croissants in Chicago’ since opening their doors, but we’ll let you be the judge! Some of their must-tries include their Almond Croissant made with rich almond cream and the French classic, Pain Au Chocolat. Be sure to arrive early because these croissants are highly sought after and do sell fast! (Dine-in, to-go and online ordering available)
via Bad Butter
Bad Butter {311 North Morgan Street, Chicago, IL; 312.764.1919}
Move over Bad Bunny, because Bad Butter is in town. Located on the lobby level of Fulton Market’s Emily Hotel, Bad Butter Pastries is already a Chicago favorite thanks to the cult following of its owner ‘Dan The Baker’, former head baker at Soho House. With a motto of “if we can’t make it exceptional, we simply won’t make it”, it’s no shock that Dan bakes some absolutely knock-out croissants. Bad Butter offers all the cult classics, like Plain, Chocolate + Almond, but what really sets them apart is Dan’s specialty & seasonal croissants, including Smore’s, Twice Baked Almond, Sour Cream + Onion and more! (Pre-order and pick-up exclusively at The Emily Hotel)
Floriole {1220 West Webster Avenue, Chicago, IL; 773.883.1313}
What started out as a stand at Green City Market many years ago is now a permanent fixture in Lincoln Park. Floriole’s menu brings together chic European flair and local Midwest ingredients for some truly delicious pastries, baked goods, bread + more. They source most of their ingredients from local and sustainable farms and offer approachable, always fresh croissant varieties like Butter Croissants (made with Wisconsin butter!), Chocolate Croissants and a fun lunch option: a BLT Croissant Sandwich! (Dine-in, to-go and online ordering available several days in advance)
Vanille Patisserie {Multiple Locations}
Award winning and female owned & led bakery, Vanille, has been making mouths water in Chicago for over 20 years and shows no signs of slowing down. With two locations, one in Ogilvie’s lower level French Market and one in Lincoln Park, Vanille is an inviting spot for fresh pastries, traditional French macarons and afternoon tea. Their TWELVE *sinfully buttery* croissants are made-fresh daily and include unique flavors like Chocolate Almond, Cinnamon Sugar and Spinach & Ricotta. (Dine-in, to-go & online ordering available)
via Good Ambler
Good Ambler {216 North Peoria Street, Chicago, IL; 312.872.7165}
West Loop’s Good Ambler is one of those ‘came for the pastries, stayed for the vibes’ type of cafe. Their prime location off Fulton Market and dreamy, upscale interior make it a perfect coffee hang or work from home destination. Along with a traditional coffee + baked goods menu, Good Ambler also specializes in hand-crafted chocolates and custom, gourmet cakes sure to elevate any occasion. Their croissant offerings stick to classics done right - Plain, Almond, Double Chocolate and Ham & Cheese - but be on the lookout for frequently rotating seasonal specialties! (Dine-in, to-go and online ordering available)
Hendrickx Bakery {100 East Walton Street, Chicago, IL; 312.649.6717}
Hendrickx Belgian Bread is proof that France isn’t the only European country known for their mouth-watering pastries!
All menu items are prepared from scratch by Belgian Chef Renaud Hendrickx and his team in their open kitchen. Apart from Hendrickx fresh bread, homemade Belgian chocolates and pastries, they also feature a whopping 13 different croissant varieties to try! Some unique highlights include Chocolate Pistachio Croissants, Apple Turnover Croissants and a savory Gruyère Croissant.
By Robyn Glaza | Market Manager