The perfect croissant is one that transports you to a small café surrounded by the bustle of Paris.
It should be light delicate on the inside, with a crust that shatters into crumbs. A wonderful croissant requires napkins, but the mess is worth it. Whether filled with chocolate or ham, topped with almonds or glaze, Atlanta is filled with great ones.
Here are just a few that we adore.
Alon’s Bakery and Market
Multiple locations, www.alons.com
When asked about the best croissant in Atlanta, eyes will light up and the almond croissants from Alon’s will be an immediate answer for many. They are legendary. Made with almond paste and topped with roasted almost, the flavor is intensely sweet and nutty at once. Walk into Alon’s when these masterpieces are being made and try to resist with that smell wafting through the air, we dare you.
Amelie’s French Bakery
840 Marietta St, Atlanta, GA 30318;(404) 921-0276, www.ameliesfrenchbakery.com
The Atlanta outpost of this French bakery concept is as charming as the name suggest. The menu is filled with expertly baked goods that channel a Parisian café. Among the treats is the croissant. The plain croissant is flaky and delicate. To add a little joie de vivre, try one flavored with strawberries or chocolate. A brie and ham breakfast sandwich on a griddled croissant will satisfy any francophile’s deepest cravings.
Dough in the Box
3184 Austell Rd SW, Marietta, GA 30008; (770) 436-5155, www.doughinthebox.com
Fried. Croissant. Let those two words sink in. Then, immediately get yourself to Dough in the Box and try one. As one would expect from a doughnut shop, these are on the sweeter side, and resemble doughnuts with the glaze. But the flakey layers that melt on your tongue make them stand apart. There is a baked version for those wishing to be a tad healthier, but hey, life is short. Why not live?
Little Tart Bakeshop
437 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30312; (404) 348-4797, littletartatl.com
Many coffee shops offer pastries that are more of an after-thought. Not true at Grant Park’s Octane, which houses this bakery-within-a-coffee shop. The croissants here are little bites of happiness. The exterior is crispy and shatters when bitten into, revealing a soft interior that is every bit as flavorful as one hopes. Even Anthony Bourdain noshed on one when filming for his Travel channel show, Layover.
Proof Bakeshop
100 Hurt St NE, Atlanta, GA 30307; (678) 705-3905, www.proofbakeshop.com
Proof Bakeshop is part of the trio of eateries that also includes Cakes and Ale and Bread and Butterfly. The bakery began as the popularity of Cakes and Ale’s baked goods grew. There are a few varieties, but start with the original croissant. There are no bells and whistles, just pure delight. They are feather light and seasoned just so that there is no need for any toppings. When stopping by the Inman Park shop, don’t miss the English muffins that are also superb.
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