If I am ever craving a ham and cheese croissant, there is only one place I'm going -- Arsicault Bakery. No debate, no second guessing, just Arsicault. I happened to pass by during my Sunday run and made a pit stop on my way back, and honestly it felt like the universe rewarding me for getting out there. Showed up at 2:30pm on a Sunday and walked right in with no line. If you know anything about this place, you know that is a small miracle worth celebrating. I got the almond croissant and the classic ham and cheese croissant and both were everything I needed them to be. Perfectly flaky, fresh, and absolutely delicious. The ham and cheese is the gold standard for a reason -- it never misses. And the almond croissant was the perfect sweet companion to round out the order. Arsicault is an SF institution and moments like a post-run croissant stop on a Sunday afternoon are exactly why. Do yourself a favor and go -- just maybe time it right so you don't have to wait in line! read more

Arsicault Bakery - Almond Croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

* the only place you should visit for croissants -- each one is flaky, buttery, and baked to perfection! * plenty of other fresh baked goods to add to your order as well * i recommend stopping by early in the morning before items sell out 10/10 read more

Arsicault Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Review Arsicault Bakery was amazing! The croissants were absolutely delicious--fresh, flaky, buttery, and full of flavor. Definitely one of the best croissants I've had! I would definitely come back and recommend it to anyone who loves pastries. read more

One of the best croissants I have eaten! I understand why the line is often very long here. Their almond croissants are filled with amazing almond filling and have a crisp exterior. Perfectly done. I really like their chocolate almond croissant which is the best of both worlds. Every bite has melty chocolate, rich almond filling, or both! I have come here several times just for the chocolate almond croissant. It is an indulgent treat! read more

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[Upgrade to five stars] I recently returned to Arsicault, and I realized that the true Arsicault experience is getting there early and enjoying their pastries fresh. I arrived at the bakery before it opened on a weekend morning, and there were already a couple of brave souls in line. I waited only about 25 minutes for the bakery to open, and once doors officially opened to customers, I was in and out in no time with my fresh pastries in hand. I enjoyed my almond croissant as soon as I got back home, and now I fully understand why Arsicault is at the top of everyone's SF bakery list. The almond croissant was still warm, the inside struck the perfect balance between fluffy and gooey (from the almond paste), and the exterior was nicely crisped. The almond filling is super rich and decadent yet not overly sweet. I also noticed - and appreciate - how Arsicault's almond croissant doesn't include toasted almonds on top, since these can often get over-baked and taste bitter. I definitely agree this is one of the best pastries in SF now. read more

These might be the best croissants I've had so far. The texture, the airiness, the flavor are so perfect that they're impossible to describe. Simply the best! The place is a hole in the wall, but it's definitely worth the drive, finding parking, and standing in line. And yes, there is always a line, and that says something about how good these croissants are. read more

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This was the one place I wanted to visit while in SF. It was amazing, but there is so much hype it was hard to temper my expectations!!! There are three Arsicault locations, but this is the original, opened in 2015 (or so the internet told me). Our hotel was closer to the Tenderloin location, but that area wad sketchy. The line was 15 people long, but moved incredibly fast. The menu is on the front glass window (no prices,). Once you enter, you can see the pastries and corresponding prices. Unfortunately, you enter when it's your time to order, pay grab your food, and then leave. We went twice and our whole interaction was less than a minute per trip!!! We had many things and there were only winners. If you don't want to spend $60 like we did, here are my thoughts on what we tried. Croissants: the almond was the winner by a long shot!!! I liked the ham and cheese, but only if you need a savory option. Chocolate chip croissants are not my favorite, but my daughter ate the whole thing and loved it. The almond chocolate chip had too much going on and it's the only one I would not recommend. The kouign amann is delicious and worth getting. The morning bun is good, but only if you want a bit of citrus flavor (orange zest). The monkey bread was good, but after all the other pastries, it didn't stand out. It seemed similar to the kouign amman in retrospect and I'd need another side by side to really sort out the differences. The chocolate chip cookie is delicious, but beware that it is salted. My son wasn't a fan, but the rest of us liked it. A bonus if you go the Richmond Ariscault -- it's next door to Breck's, a great coffee shop that has seating. Looks like most Arsicault customers grabbed their pastries and went next door to get coffee and sit down. We followed suit and it was a perfect pairing. After our pastries, we went to Golden Gate to walk off the meal. An epic morning!!! read more

Arsicault Bakery - Outside with menu on the glass. - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Excellent croissants and pastries at Arsicault. There's usually a line but it generally moves quickly. The storefront is small so you pretty much walk inside to tell them what you want, pay, and get your pastries to go. No place to sit; only drip coffee offered. The croissants are crunchy on the outside and flaky on the inside. One of the best croissants in San Francisco. They don't offer a huge selection of pastries but the more popular ones are the croissants and Kouign Amann. With the croissants they offer a number of variations including almond, chocolate, ham and cheese. They also sell scones but I would stick with the croissants in my opinion. read more

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One of SF's best croissant spots! Known for their long lines, people usually stand here for a hour but thankfully I got here around 10am and stood only for 20 minutes. We got the Almond & Chocolate Croissant (delish, no notes), Ham & Cheese Croissant (wished the cheese was more dispersed eventually) and Savory Scone (wish this wasn't so dry). Overall, would come back and try other items! read more

*** Takeout Only *** Arsicault Bakery is a popular bakery shop in San Francisco and Bon Appetit named Arsicault Bakery 'Bakery of the Year' in 2016 ( https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-bakeries-2016 ). Currently Arsicault Bakery has three locations: Inner Richmond (the flagship location), Civic Center, and Mission Bay. There is a plan to open another location in Palo Alto in fall 2026. [Parking]: Street metered parking only, but there are plenty of 30-minute metered parking spots in this part of the neighborhood. [Ordering]: There was no line when our party arrived at 2:30 PM on Saturday, but the shop had run out of everything except chocolate croissants and plain croissants. [Menu]: Yelp's top highlighted items are Chocolate Almond Croissant, Kouign-Amann, and Morning Bun. *** Chocolate Croissant ($6.00): Great croissant with ultra flaky texture, but I wish it had a bit more chocolate filling. *** Personally this is one of those "good but not that good" croissant shops. It would have been nice to try their almond croissant and few other baked goods, but I had to make this visit count with whatever croissants they had left. This is one of those spots for visitors to come as soon as the shop opens if you want to secure some of their most popular and desirable baked goods. read more

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there's 3 locations and I love this location since parking is pretty easy to find. Also a plus, on Sundays there's a farmers market nearby if you want to come get coffee pastries and support local vendors! Ham and cheese croissant is a MUST. My absolute favorite item here, croissant is super duper flakey, and the ham and cheese is nice and warm and melty, such a nice breakfast treat I could eat 2! Chocolate almond, kouign amann, and the cookie are my top pastries I always get when I am here. Line goes by super fast since you're just in and out when ordering! Also don't forget to get the morning bun, it's a good mix of cinnamon roll and a churro, would be great with some milk read more

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I heard so much about Arsicault and was told I MUST visit here when I am in SF. I was told they have the best kouign-amann which is my fav of viennoiserie of all time. For someone to stake their cred on the line and vouched for the kougn-amann, I am def up for this challenge. We took a Waymo which is the coolest car I ever rode in. This bakery location was pretty far from the hotel, but since our friend said this is the one she often visited, so off we went. The surrounding area for this location was nice and seemed to be in a good neighborhood. Since there is no seating (which is a pity), I bought a cup of hot chocolate from next door and we sat at their seatings. Hence no rating of ambiance here. SERVICE 5/5 I have to say the staff here worked really fast despite the line. They were very efficient but not lacking the basic friendly vibe. FOOD 4/5 Kouign-amann 3/5 Sadly, my friend's cred was gone. It was just an ok kouign-amann. There was not enough sugar and I def have better kouign-amann elsewhere. Mademoiselle Louise in Houston had one of the top kouign-amann I had evereaten. It was in year 2020 and I could still remember the wonderful kouign-amann there. Savory scone 5/5 Luckily I got to try the savory scone which was very flavorful and scrumptious. Highly recommended. Our friend took a bite of the kouign-amann she bought to bring home, she commented yea it was not very good, tasted diff. My brother had a butter croissant, and commented it was flakey and pillow-y at the same time. However, it lacked of a good butttet taste. Perhaps that was the reason the kouign-amann I had paled in comparison to those I ever had, which were usually made of French butter like Elle & Vrie and other gourmet butter. I would still recommend this bakery and the best time I would get the savory scone. read more

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Finally got to try the famous croissants! I've been seeing so many TikToks raving about the croissants from Arsicault and I finally found the right time to come by and grab some. I came by on a Friday around 11 am and it was so hard to find parking. There's street parking available but it was all filled up and I ended up getting dropped off since I saw the line forming outside the bakery. The line was only formed because the bakery is relatively small and doesn't have a lot of wiggle room so they only let in one party at a time. There aren't any sit-down tables or chairs so this is a grab and enjoy somewhere else. Pastry: Kouign-amann (8.4/10): Oh this was yummy. I love a good kouign amann and Arsicault satisfied my sweet tooth. It was a little too sweet but had a good outer layer crunch and fluffy interior. Chocolate Almond Croissant (7.8/10): This one was amazing! I will say that this one is definitely on the sweeter side but it was still delicious. It's a pretty big croissant with a good crunch but not a lot of flaking :( I did really enjoy the almond paste that was smothered on the inside. My boyfriend really enjoyed this croissant and wouldn't stop talking about it for a few hours. read more

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Arsicault Bakery - Richmond District, San Francisco (94118) This small, charming bakery is absolutely worth the visit! Yes, there's almost always a line, but don't let that discourage you--the staff keeps it moving quickly, making the wait fast and efficient. The pastries are incredibly delicious. Their giant croissants are buttery, with soft, airy layers on the inside and a perfectly crispy, flaky exterior. Every bite is heavenly! My personal favorite is the cranberry scone. It's tender, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. For the best experience, enjoy your pastries while they're still warm--they taste even better fresh out of the oven. Payment is easy since they accept both credit cards and cash. If you're a pastry lover, Arsicault Bakery is definitely a must-visit in San Francisco. We highly recommend it! read more

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Arsicault Bakery is soooo worth lining up for I was the first to go and it was so yummy and fresh! I love a good croissant and I got their ham & cheese croissant which was so good. It was so interesting because the ham & cheese are INSIDE the croissant (and I thought it would be a ham & cheese croissant sandwich) and the Kouign Amann is super good too (those 2 are my recommendations !!) If you're ever in the area, make sure to visit Arsicault Bakery (and line up before it opens) !!! read more

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Had to come check out one of SF's top bakeries and I enjoyed it. Fresh pastries and good sizes. Came on a Saturday around 9:15 am and there was a short line to order. Lots of pasties were still available and line moved pretty fast so we were in and out in about 10 mins! Service was friendly and quick. -Plain croissant (4/5): simple yet tasty! Flaky, moist and slightly crispy -Chocolate croissant (3/5): I'm not the biggest fan of chocolate filling but it was strong and not overly sweet -Kouign amann (4.5/5): crunchy yet soft and moist, nice carmalized exterior, good amount of sweetness -Morning bun (4/5): soft with a slight crunch, covered in lots of sugar and cinnamon so a bit too sweet read more

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Heard they're one of the top bakeries in SF and I enjoyed it! Came 9:15AM in the morning on a Saturday and there was a slight line out front but it moved efficiently, we were in and out in 10 minutes! There's no seating so we took our goods to go. 4 pastries came to about $22 total Kouign Amann (4.5/5): crispy and flaky, the right amount of sweetness! Morning Bun (4/5): a little sweet but soft and yummy! Plain Croissant (4/5): flaky and slightly crispy, could've been crispier but still fresh and delicious Chocolate Croissant (3/5): preferred the plain croissant. Chocolate wasn't overly sweet, even though there was a lot of chocolate read more

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The pastries here are delicious, arguably some of the best in California. However, the pricing is hard to justify. When you compare it to Paris, where you can get a world-class croissant at a top-tier bakery for $2 to $3, the prices here feel significantly inflated. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Almond croissant. - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had a chocolate chip cookie ($4.50) from here, it was absolutely delicious-perfectly baked and no burnt bottom. Unfortunately, consistency is an issue. I came back yesterday and bought another chocolate chip cookie, only to find the bottom completely burnt. Hoping it was just a fluke, I stopped in again today during my lunch break. I politely mentioned to the staff that my cookie yesterday was burnt on the bottom and wanted to make sure I got a good one today. Instead of an apology or any real acknowledgment, the staff just started flipping cookies over on the display tray. Right in front of me, they ended up pulling two burnt cookies off the tripod display because they realized they were scorched. What really disappointed me was the total lack of customer service. When a returning customer points out a quality issue, and you literally confirm it by pulling more burnt product off the floor right in front of them, the bare minimum you can do is apologize or offer a discount on the replacement. Instead, I got silence. The lack of care let me know everything need to kre food might have potential, but the servic. - sured I won't be back. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Chocolate cookie - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I give Ariscault a solid 4.5 but rounded up to 5 stars. This is my second visit but I waited until after lunch to get pastries. To get the best choice of pastries it is best to go before noon before some of the most popular items sell out. I was able to get Almond Croissants, Morning Bun, Kouign Amann and a chocolate chip cookie. My wife said they make the best almond croissant, not overly sweet and nice flakey croissant, she liked the Kouign Amann but she said B Patissere makes the best. The chocolate chip was big, soft in the middle with a slight crunchy edge, the cookie had a good sweetness balance. I was lucky enough to go at a time when there were a few porn parking spots. The parking can be a challenge but it is worth the hunt for parking to get some tasty pastries. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Kouign Amann - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

5 stars for the best chocolate chip cookie i have ever found. Now this is unfortunate for me considering that id have to drive about 3hrs to get this cookie. As for you locals i very much envy y'all. Expect a line and expect things to be sold out. Also this is not a place where you can sit and chat and they actually only allow one person in at a time. Hurry up and buy type of vibe, which is efficient but just make sure you know what you want because they do make you feel rushed. The croissant was good and their chocolate almond croissant was as good as they say but i did find it overwhelming half way into it, next time I'll pace myself. Now I'm glad I picked up the cookie, which i always get a cookie for fun but little did i know i was about to have the best one yet! So I will be back just for that cookie or a dozen of them. read more

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I stopped by Arsicault near the end of their day, and luckily there were still enough pastries around to try. They ran out of their kouign amann for the day which is what I wanted to try, but I was still able to get a taste of their ham and cheese croissant. The croissant was perfectly flaky on the outside with buttery layers, and there was a svaory, melty filling of cheese on the inside that made it satisfying. My friend ordered a few of their almond croissants for him and his family, and they all enjoyed it! They said the croissants were rich and flaky. I love the fresh pastries that are clearly made with care! read more

Arsicault Bakery - Ham & Cheese Croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had to try this bakery from a recommendation from a fellow Elite Allstar, Jane, who I met at the Twohey's event on Wednesday. So there are two locations, this one is in the Richmond area. There was a line when I arrived and it only grew longer by the second. This is a super tiny spot with only one person allowed inside at a time. We tried the following: Plain croissant, ham and cheese croissant, savory scone, cranberry coconut scone, and the morning bun for our party of 5. The consensus was the croissant was buttery, light, and flakey and would have been better if warm. The bun was the sweetest similar to a churo with the sugar and cinnamon topping with a lemon center. The cranberry scone was the least sweet. This is definitely a must try If in SF and you enjoy croissants. Street parking was a challenge. read more

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Some of the best croissants I've ever had! Loved the chocolate and ham&cheese ones. Husband loved the almond croissant and the kouign amann. Line moves quickly, probably waited 15 minutes on a busier Saturday afternoon. read more

Had a morning team event. Had to do a takeout and share... Arsicault Bakery Almond Croissant Chocolate Croissant Chocolate Chip Cookie All the associates proved amazing customer service. The place was clean and so inviting. It is a must visit. read more

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Not a hype. It is a MUST TRY! The wait in line was worth it. I have never had an almond croissant melt in my mouth. It was super flaky, crispy, buttery, moist, and perfectly how dense a croissant should be. The filling was still oozing out a little. It is literally one of the BEST almond croissants I have had even compared to the East Coast "French bakery". What I like about this place is, it is a bake to hands as in farm to fork freshly made product. Since, I waited in line, I also had time to do girl math: I might as well "save money" and buy another one since I am not from the area. The chocolate croissant is beautiful. It looks great as well. read more

Arsicault Bakery - chocolate croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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One of the best bakeries in SF, and the country, for a reason! The Kouign Amann is my favorite, but the Almond Croissant is also incredible. The Ham and Cheese Croissant was also surprisingly delicious and craveable! All the other pastries we tried were also consistently delicious and flaky. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is the BEST croissant place in SF! They have expanded to 3 places. This location does not have any seating. The one on tenderloin has seating but if you are not a local, you will be concerned about the homelessness in that area. The folks servicing us are always smiling! Pre Covid, we could only buy 4 per person. Things would run out by noon ish. These days things are a lot better. Outside of Paris, this is my favorite place for croissants Ps: they have a limited selection of things on the menu - and you can't go wrong with any of them! Also, I finish them so quickly, only managed to take one picture read more

Arsicault Bakery - Chocolate almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Pure pastry perfection! The croissants here are golden, crispy on the outside, and incredibly soft and buttery inside. Grab a fresh almond croissant and a coffee, and your morning is instantly made. Friendly service and incredible consistency. 10/10! read more

Arsicault lives up to the hype. The almond croissant is exceptional -- shatteringly flaky layers, generous almond cream, and that perfect caramelized bottom. The chocolate almond is equally addictive, and the plain croissant is pure butter perfection. The kouign-amann is also outstanding (crisp, caramelized, and not overly sweet). Everything feels carefully made and consistently excellent. Yes, there's usually a line, but it moves quickly and is 100% worth it. This is the kind of bakery that makes you understand why people wait. Highly recommend arriving early if you want the full selection. read more

Finally went to this bakery! The line is always out the door on weekends but honestly we were probably in line for only 15-20 mins. The menu is short & sweet. We got ham & cheese croissants after our bike ride. This is a classic SF spot if you finish a big bike ride, heading to Golden Gate Park or going to the Clement Street farmers market. Ambiance is cute and small. Next door you can order coffee. Would recommend! read more

Arsicault Bakery - Ham & cheese croissants - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Hands down the best plain croissant I've had in the states. There will be a line, but it's worth it. Flaky, buttery, doughy, everything you want in a croissant. The lamination is spot on and you can just see all of the layers of deliciousness. Everytime I come visit SF I will be making this my priority 1 stop. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Outside - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here twice in the late morning on Sundays with friends before checking out the nearby farmers' market. The wait has always been less than 15 minutes for me, despite how long the line looks. Know what you want before coming in (the menu is on the window!). There is often a long line outside, but there is barely any space inside for someone to stand anyway. You get your croissant immediately after ordering. I got the almond croissant, kouign amann, and ham and cheese croissant. Almond croissant - I prefer my almond croissants to be soft, flaky, and have a smear of almond filling. This croissant was the exact opposite of that: it was crunchy, and the almond filling was a huge ball inside. It was messy to eat and honestly, I'm not a fan of this, although I think there are people out there who prefer their croissants to be hard and crispy. It was so decadent that I only ate half and saved the rest. It made me feel heavy. Kouign amann - This sweet, sticky, caramelized pastry is one of my favorite pastries in general, and Arsicault did a good job making one. It's crunchy and tastes rich. It paired great with a cup of coffee in the morning. Ham and cheese croissant - The croissant itself was quite standard, maybe a bit bigger than your regular croissant. There was a smidge of cheese inside and a sad piece of ham. Unlike the almond croissant, I wish there was more filling in this one. It was mostly hollow with liquid cheese and a faint hint of ham. I'm no bakery connoisseur, but I've had better croissants elsewhere. It was a nice experience to stand outside and chat with friends, so I didn't mind coming here twice. However, it's not my first--or even second--choice for pastries in the city. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

HEAVEN!! DIVINE!! HOLY DAMN! No wonder people make a huge line for this! I can't stress enough how delicious these pastries are! This is daaaaangerous!! Very, very, very dangerous! Be advised, you will be tempted! That said, if you are looking to indulge, I can't recommend the Chocolate Almond Croissant enough!! And I say this with 2 exclamation marks! I have tried half their menu so far, and I stand behind my rec. Their Chocolate Chip Cookie is nothing to scoff at, but is loaded with butter. Again, you've been warned! If I manage to get their Monkey Bread I shall come back to update this. Speaking of, even though lines can appear long, they go by really fast. So give it a try! read more

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My OG review still stands, and this review is for this location only. I originally went to the tenderloin location, which is much nicer and has a nice display of pastries. I'd recommend going to that one vs this teeny tiny location. It's not a great representation of the Ariscault as a whole. I think we came here around 2 pm, so almost close to closing, but 90% of items were sold out. Yet there was still a huge queue. Why close so early and be out of stock so fast if ppl clearly still want croissants at 2 pm on a Saturday? Also, they forgot two croissants in our bag, and we turned around 30 seconds later and told them they're missing. They needed to "verify" our order, which made me feel like I'm a thief. I promise I'm not stealing when I already spent $37 there. I just want what I paid for!! Anyways, check out the other 2 locations if you're not a local who lives nearby, as they're much nicer. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Chocolate almond croissant with a small latte -- perfection - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

All I can saw is WOW. This truly is the best croissant I have ever had. After trying Arsicault, no other baked goods have compared and I can't wait to go back. I tried the regular croissant, the almond croissant, and the kouign-amann. My favorite was 100% the almond croissant. All were amazing but the flavors and textures were truly exceptional. The flakiness, the caramelization, the perfect balance of flavors. I wished I had ordered 10 more. Also, the staff were so kind, the line moved quickly, and bonus: all the items freeze exceptionally well! read more

I have visited both locations and the pastries are consistently good. The lines in both locations are typically long because Arsicaukt is rated as a top baker in SF, but the lines move relatively quickly. The staff are always nice and the pastries are definitely good, but I have never had anything that is ground breaking. Good but not great I suppose?.? read more

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Arsicault makes consistently delicious croissants. It's too bad for me, there isn't an Arsicault in the South Bay. I usually hit up the Arsicault in the China Basin location, but the Arguello location (the original) was closer on our way back from Marin. Parking was not easy, and once we got there around 2pm, there was a long line... it did move fairly quickly however, so don't be put out by the line. There is only a bit of space in front of the counter, so they have a guest or one group together at a time. And it was worth a short wait! Don't sleep on the ham & cheese, if it's available! read more

Arsicault Bakery - Line was out the door - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Are these the best almond croissants in San Francisco? There's always a long line and I was initially skeptical, but now I get it, they're pretty damn good. I arrived on a Saturday around 10:20 AM and waited approximately 25 mins until it was my turn to order. I went with the Chocolate Almond Croissant and wow, it was absolutely delicious! It was flakey, buttery, and full of flavor. I can see why there's always a line for it their baked goods! Arsicault Bakery's almond croissants definitely lives up to the hype. You can always expect a line, but it does moves quickly and they get the customers in and out in a very timely manner. read more

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Are there insane lines on the weekends? Yes. Do they have the best croissants in SF? Also yes. I have been to all of their locations but this one is my favorite. Their ham and cheese croissant in particular is divine and so tasty. The croissants is so flaky and buttery and the cheese tastes amazing with the ham. Hands down the best I have tasted in SF and many other places. read more