I don't know if I've ever had croissants as good as the ones here at Arsicault. We tried a few of their croissant varieties and their kouign amann, both right after ordering at ~11 am on a holiday and later that day. And everything we tried was among the best we'd ever had--if not the best. After finishing them, I couldn't wait to come back. The pastries in all formats were amazing, but the biggest standouts were the plain croissant and the almond croissant. Both were as technically perfect in their lamination as I've ever had, and probably relatedly, they had a rich, buttery flavor without feeling too greasy. Besides a flaky exterior, the plain croissant had a beautiful chew inside. And the flavor of the almond croissant's filling was perfect: earthy almond, sweetened just enough to be decadent and filled just enough to satisfy. (It also seems like they either don't use almond extract or just use the right amount so that there's no weird, fakey taste.) We definitely expected a wait when we came, but we ultimately didn't wait long. We got in line when it stretched down to the second tree, and it took us ~20 min to get to the counter. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Plain croissant (10/10): Literally one of the best (if not the best) croissant I've ever had - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Arsicault Bakery is everything people say it is and then some. My wife and I stopped in for croissants and were blown away from the first bite. The layers are impossibly flaky, the crumb is tender, and the buttery aroma hits you the moment you open the bag. We tried a classic butter croissant and one filled, and both were perfect crisp edges, soft center, zero greasiness. Yes, there can be a line, but it moves fast and it's absolutely worth it. Staff were friendly, the pastries came out warm, and you can taste the care in every fold of dough. Easily one of the best croissants in San Francisco our new must-stop whenever we're in the city. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Good food, great service, and To-Go ambiance is the description I give Arsicault. The pastries are very good. Buttery, and flavorful. I got the Akoign Amann (might've misspelled that) Chocolate croissant, Morning Bun, and Ham and Cheese Croissant. The Akoign Amann was good, flaky and buttery. The Morning bun was extremely delicious and flavorful. Every bite was perfect. The Ham and Cheese Croissant was also tasty. Crispy and flaky, with the perfect amount of ham and cheese. The Chocolate Croissant is a double croissant that has rich chocolate inside that pairs well with your favorite coffee or an espresso martini. Arsicault lives up to the hype. I will definitely be back next time I'm in the city. read more

See all

My favorite pastries in SF. I've tried some of the top croissant places and these are my favorite. Less of a line and quality is always great. Flakey, buttery, and rich. My favorite is the koign amann and for savory ham and cheese is really good. It's a takeout spot, no tables except for outside. I recommend. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was quite surprised to see a huge line for this bakery in the Richmond since I don't frequent these parts, but after trying their Croissants, the line is unfortunately very very well deserved Probably one of the best and most bang for buck croissant I've had - nice and buttery and has a really delicious filling! One croissant by it self feels like a whole meal! Would definitely return given the chance read more

Arsicault Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

The kouign amann, amazing. The ham and cheese croissant- great. The chocolate almond croissant- okay. The kouign amann has the perfect glazed, buttery, and sticky texture with an amazing crunch. I highly recommend this. The ham and cheese croissant has a wonderful croissant, though I think you can get away with just plain croissant as well. It is buttery and flakey with my friends proclaiming it the best croissant they've ever had. The almond and chocolate croissant was good but way too sweet.The almond paste was overwhelming and made the croissant a bit soggy. Overall, Ariscault is a must visit bakery! read more

See all

The best croissant ever. Better than the ones I've had in Paris. In fact I usually don't like flaky pastries that much but Arsicault converted me. The ham and cheese croissant literally sent me to another dimension -- buttery, yet light. Flaky yet holds it shape. Not too cheesy. I also like their other croissants but I prefer savory treats so this is the best one imo. I've also gotten the scones and apricot bostocks -- they are good but not as incredible as the croissant and can be found at other bakeries. The Inner Richmond location has the worst wait by far (even on horrible weather days in a weekday midday I've seen short lines) -- so would recommend checking out the Tenderloin and newly opened Mission Bay ones. read more

See all

Heard of this place many times but never had the chance to try it until Saturday. The exterior looked quite normal and a bit too humble for its reputation. But as you walked closer to it you could smell the butter and the bakery aromas magic. There was a line and I imagine there will always be a line. But the line moves quickly. As we stepped inside, there's minimum decorations, you can't call it a cute cafe. The variety of pastry is also less than I thought. You couldn't find cakes for example. The croissants look huge and the kouign-amann was sold out at 12pm. The next batch needed 45 minutes wait. I didn't like that it was hard to take a good picture of the bakery and their labels without the reflection of the glasses. We bought 2 croissants for the first try. The almond chocolate and a cheese and ham. They are not the buttery but empty airy nothing but a hole kind. They are dense and solid inside, well, worth the $6+ each. Hubby wanted a decaf cold brew but they didn't have it. The cashier was very friendly and kind and kept offering other choices. All together, 2 croissants, $13.5. I think they are good, but maybe a once awhile treat only. read more

See all

Third time having arsicault this year and I have encountered the first pastry that is a bit too intense and rich. The chocolate almond is delicious, however I would ideally only eat a third of it. The chocolate croissant and the ham and cheese were delectable and flakey. read more

Arsicault Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had a great experience at Arsicault Bakery. My chocolate almond croissant was wonderful - savory, rich, and buttery. Easily the best I've ever had. The price was very reasonable given the portion and quality, and the service was on point. I'll be going back the next time I'm in San Francisco. read more

It was a bit difficult to find parking, but I eventually found one as I circled around the neighborhood a few times. This bakery has become a quintessential destination. I would often bring out of town guests here and recommend it to all my friends. The offerings are simple, straight to the point, but oh so delicious. I often order the almond chocolate croissant. It's flaky, buttery, sweet, and nutty. A great combination to satisfy a breakfast treat or actually any treat during the day. read more

The best croissants I've ever had, nothing else really even comes close. Better than in France I swear to god. This is how you should do a croissant, filled and heavy. Get the chocolate almond croissant. They don't skimp out on the filling. The photos and reviews can't do this place justice. Wait might be a bit long (30 min for us on a Saturday) but absolutely worth it You have to try this place if you like pastries. Every time I go to San Francisco I have to go here read more

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

Hands down one of the best (or the best) croissants I've ever had. Seriously, I still remember the butter & the croissant crust even after 2 weeks. I'm so glad I made it to Arsicault this time. Luckily, there was a small queue & I got my almond, ham&cheese croissants & morning bun. I was actually surprised by the price of these pastries. I don't know how to put it in words but everyone should try these croissants at least once. It remained fresh even after 6 hours. That's amazing TBH! Bakery is very small on the inside & this place will probably be the constant in all my future SFO visits. P.S: I've also learned something new that Morning bun & cinnamon rolls are very similar but not the same. read more

See all

I was skeptical that Arsicault would live up to the hype, I'm so often disappointed by places that you hear raved about all the time. Happy to report that Arsicault is indeed amazing and well worth the wait. We got here right at opening on a Saturday, and had a 20 minute wait. Since ordering is pretty simple and they pack everything for you on the spot, the line does move pretty quick. I've seen the line get super long though, so if you are in a hurry, try to get here as close to opening as possible. Since it was our first time we decided to go big and ordered a ham and cheese, chocolate, and chocolate almond croissant, scone, and kouign amann. In an absolutely shocking surprise to myself, the ham and cheese croissant was my favorite. Not usually something I choose to order, but so glad I did, and don't think I could ever come back here and not get it. Truly everything we got was fantastic. The croissants were so warm and flaky, and the ingredients on the inside warm, gooey, and oh so flavorful. Definitely would come back and order any of these items again, though if I had to pick between the chocolate and chocolate almond croissant, I'd go with the plain chocolate because the other was super rich - still unbelievably delicious, but rich as can be. read more

See all

Really good pastries! We got the ham + cheese, chocolate almond, and morning bun. Croissants are incredibly flaky and delicious. Even though I'm definitely a savory type of girl, the chocolate almond croissant was hands down the best pastry. You have to get that one! The morning bun was pretty good, tastes in between a doughnut and cinnamon roll with a slight orange flavor. There was a line when we got there, but it moves pretty fast! read more

See all

Good croissants but don't get the craze and the line. It's a bit too flaky for my taste. I prefer juniper croissants on Polk more.

Popular for good reason! There was a line even on a weekday, but it moves really quickly. I got the ham & cheese croissant and chocolate & almond croissant. Ham&cheese was so soft and fluffy and savory. It felt like biting into a cloud. The thick cuts of ham were perfect. The chocolate&almond is much heavier, but a perfect sweet - but not TOO sweet - treat. There isn't any seating, it's pretty much a grab and go bakery. I would come again! read more

See all

Reviews are correct, plain Croissant is 10/10. Def best I've had in the US. Chocolate almond croissant is 10/10.

So many people have told me to try Arsicault, so when I recently drove up to SF on a day b. Patisserie was closed, I drove over to give Arsicault Bakery a try. This location of Arsicault was on the corner of Clement & Arguello. I spotted the green awning and line as I approached the intersection. I arrived on a Tuesday at 12:35 and found parking right out front, yay! There were only a handful of people in line ahead of me, and as you all shared, the line moved very quickly. I bought a couple of Kouign Amman, a Butter Croissant, Chocolate Croissant, and a Ham & Cheese Croissant. The Kouign Amann were good but the best items I tried were the plain and chocolate croissants. After warming them up in my toaster oven, I was able to enjoy the shattering crisp outside and the buttery honeycomb insides. The dark chocolate used in the chocolate croissant was the perfect level of bitter and sweet for me. Arsicault definitely knows how to make a great croissant. I'll keep going to b.Patisserie for my Kouign Amann, but yes, if I want a butter or chocolate croissant, Arsicault is an excellent choice. read more

See all

Worth the wait! We came here on a rainy day, and there was a long line that went quite quickly given that the bakery only allows one party inside at a time. You can smell the almond scents in the street. The warm croissants are delectably fresh, flaky, and buttery. Their almond croissant and chocolate almond croissants have a creamy center that pairs well. We also got a few other pastries, but if it's your first time, I'd try them all since you spent the time to wait in line. read more

See all

Hands down the best croissants I've ever had! The croissants were flaky and buttery in the best way possible. There was a long line, but it moved quickly. We were able to wait in line and order our croissants within 10 minutes. The neighborhood it is located in seems very chill and is also close to the Golden Gate Bridge (if you are visiting SF for the first time). **There's no seating inside, it is only an order-and-go type of bakery.** read more

See all

The location of this place is just a whole in the wall. It is not a place to dine in or sit at, simply order and go. The croissants are definitely yummy and awesome . Very flaky and fresh. Still the $6 price tag is a bit much for my pocket. Don't think I'd go that frequently with that price . Overall, the place is worth giving a try. read more

Yeah, these lived up to the hype. 7:45 am on a drizzly Sunday morning and there were already 14 people in line. By the time they opened at 8 am, there were safely 30-40 people in line in total. It's no joke when people say this place is popular. They only let 1 person/group in at a time -- very small indoor space and no indoor seating. After they opened, it took 10 minutes for me to get my plain croissant. The croissant was SO flakey and extremely light while still being appropriately buttery and satisfying. These croissants are about the size of an open hand. People say that croissants here are densely buttery, and I was worried they would thus be heavy and oily. That was not the case at all with the plain croissant, though that may be the case with the other croissants. Guess I'll have to come back to do my research for the good of the Yelp community! read more

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

Best croissant in San Francisco! Hands down the best compare to other croissants spot, this is where you can find the most buttery and flaky croissant in the city !! Nothing can compare to Arsicault, get their ham & cheese croissant !! It's my go to when I pass by this place. Lines can be long , but worth the wait. Get extra napkins cause the croissant flakes are flying all over my shirt!! read more

See all

Arsicault is one of the most established bakeries in all of San Francisco, and in my first trip back to San Francisco in six years, I made it my mission to make a visit. When I got to the storefront, there was already a line of about 50 people down the block. This was only 30 minutes after opening, but also on a Sunday morning. However, the line moves quickly. I could tell that they were used to this and ran a very smooth operation. Each person spends about thirty seconds to a minute inside. Only one party enters the building at a time. You tell your order to the cashier, and while they ring up each item, the other staff members are packing your order as you say it. By the time you finish saying your order, everything is ready to be taken away, and all you need to do is pay. This level of efficiency keeps the line moving quickly without compromising customer experience. We ordered the kouign amann, plain croissant, ham & cheese croissant, chocolate almond croissant, and a scone. There is nowhere to sit down and eat, so we got something from the coffee shop next door to grab a table there. To start, the ham and cheese croissant was amazing. The croissant itself was so flaky and buttery. The cheese added a nice richness and gooey texture to contrast the crisp flakiness of the croissant. The chocolate almond croissant was delicious too. It had a slightly different texture from the ham and cheese croissant, being a little less flaky, but it was just as buttery and rich. They also don't skimp on the chocolate. Each bite almost guarantees a delicious, creamy bite of chocolate. I love it when the chocolate in the croissant has a slight firmness on first contact, then melts apart, and it did just that. As for the kouign amann, I honestly wasn't super impressed. It has a nice flakiness, but I thought it could've had a little more to it. The texture was very similar to the croissant, but I was hoping for a slightly more sugary, caramelized crust. Arsicault was absolutely worth the trip. The croissants were without a doubt some of the best I've ever had. And even though the kouign amann wasn't my favorite, it was still pretty good. If I lived in the area, the pastries are cheap enough, and the line moves quickly enough that I would love to stop by on any given morning. read more

See all

Located in the Inner Sunset of San Francisco. This is a hot spot bakery, so be prepared to wait in line. We got there at 2 pm, on a Tuesday afternoon and there was a short line of patrons waiting for their delicious croissants. Unfortunately, they had only plain and chocolate croissants. I opted for the chocolate croissant, and it was definitely worth the hype. Crispy, flaky outside, and soft bread and chocolate on the inside. read more

See all

It isn't a true SF trip without going here. They have the best croissants ever. The lamination is perfection. I came on a Saturday early afternoon and there was a long line but it went by surprisingly quick. My favorite is the almond croissant and my bf loves the chocolate croissant. Can't wait to try more! read more

See all

Simple selection but everything is delicious! My favorite croissants in the Bay Area--they are golden brown and flaky on the outside and soft on the inside--many of the other good bakeries bake theirs until they are dark brown (more dramatic looking but not as tasty in my opinion). Always a line but it moves relatively quickly. I like the Richmond location more--usually fresher, but Civic Center has seating. read more

This is my favorite bakery in all of SF. Every single pastry here is delicious. I love the savory scone and chocolate croissant. During the week, it's easy to pop in quickly and grab a pastry, but be prepared to see a line down the block on the weekends. Even with waiting in line, the service is super quick and efficient, so it doesn't take too long. read more

Pastry perfection. We were meeting up for a walking tour in the area and this was our recommended first stop, to fuel up before our adventure. I'm not sure about weekdays, although on a Saturday we easily found street parking in a residential area nearby. Also a note regarding Saturdays is to be prepared to wait patiently in line. While it moves quickly, a lot of people are also eager to get their treats, so the line can be a long one. We got a selection of different items and everyone in our group was happy. I went with the savory scone and it was one of the most delicious things ever. Bits of bacon, cheese, and green onions provide pops of flavor throughout the tender and just slightly crumbly texture of the scone. No notes. I'll take four more please. read more

They got the goods here! Came here to get a quick croissant before we hit the town and it delivered. It was flaky, sweet, savory and delicious. Can't wait to try more stuff the next time we come out to SF... read more

Arsicault Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

There is a line outside the shop on the sidewalk. One person at a time is assisted. I ordered a butter croissant, ham and cheese croissant, savory scone, and a morning bun and was simply blown away at how amazing each one tasted!! What a great treat! read more

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

See all

I've been to Arsicault twice now and it's easily one of the best bakeries I've ever been to! Everything is reasonable priced, and there's a variety of options. I've had the chocolate almond croissant, ham and cheese croissant, and the bacon chive scone. All of them were perfectly cooked, flaky, and had the perfect amount of filling. The chocolate croissant was warm and buttery, and had a gooey chocolate interior. The ham and cheese and chive scone are great savory options if you're a little hungrier. I was surprised by how filling everything was, it's great to come with multiple people so you can order more things and share! The first time I went on a Thursday afternoon, there was surprisingly no line at all! The second time I came it was Friday on July 4th and there were about 30 people in line- but it moved pretty quick, I think it took about 15minutes to order. Definitely lives up to the hype, everyone in sf or visiting needs to try! read more

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

The long lines speak for themselves - which I don't even mind when the sweet smell of butter is wafting out of the door all the way to the end of the line. I also noticed that I barely ever run into a line when I go during the week around 1-2. My favorites are the ham and cheese croissant (I love the toasted cheese on top of the croissant), the almond and chocolate croissant (you would think it would be too sweet but there's just chocolate on the sides) and the Kouign Aman. The service isn't super friendly but it's a grab and go place so there's nothing to expect. read more

I hate waiting in line for food, especially in SF where there are so many great options to choose from. That being said, when I did finally wait in the line for these croissants, my life changed. Alas! Now I know that it is in fact worth the hype! The chocolate croissant is my favorite, it's so tender, fluffy and chewy but also perfectly flakey. The chocolate is rich and on the more dark/bitter end of the spectrum which is perfect for the sweetness of the bread. The chocolate almond is my second favorite, it adds a nice richness to the chocolate, but some bites just have almond which are meh for me. Shockingly I did not care for the ham and cheese croissant, and may have just been a fluke but in mine, the center just had a ball of ham instead of a more evenly distributed savory center. read more

One of the best croissants I think I've ever had! Would be the best if it was warm, but it was fantastic at room temp! I also enjoyed the kougin ann as well, it was crispy, layered, and caramelized to perfection! We got there in the morning on a Monday, there was parking a couple blocks away and their was no line when we got there! We just bought our treats for breakfast and we're on our way! The ham and cheese croissant was simple but super tasty! I can only imagine what it was like just baked and out of the oven! They aren't known for thier coffee, but there are a couple coffee shops in the area if you so desire a specialty coffee with your delicious croissant. I'll definitely stop by again when I inevitably find myself in the area again! read more

In the Bay and had heard about this bakery and their croissants, so made a drive over to stand in a lengthy line (it went by fast) to try the croissants. Grabbed a chocolate croissant as it was early in the morning. First, the croissant. Very delicate, soft with a wonderful flaky outside with a nice crunch. Inside is pure softness mixed with a creamy chocolate. Probably one of the best croissants I've had, and that includes Paris. The chocolate almond croissant was also very flavorful with nice bits of almond coming through. The Kouign Amann, on the other hand, much different item. Nice sweet caramelization on the outside, soft on the inside, but I felt the flavor was lacking to some degree. Overall, definitely try the croissants, they are delicious. The Kouign Amann, up to you, but I say you can pass on it. read more

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

Arsicault is raved to be one of the best bakeries in the US and I can't even lie... it lives up to its repetition! I came to Arsicault on a Saturday morning at around 11am and waited 20 minutes to order. I got to try their Ham and Cheese Croissant and Almond Croissant. Both were the best I've had of either flavor. The ham and cheese was delicious - I loved how the croissant was flaky yet fluffy, and paired so well with the thick slice of ham and savory cheese. The almond was sooo good too - the paste was rich in flavor and though sweeter than the pastries I usually enjoy, it was a good sweet treat to take on the go. There's not really a place to sit and eat, so it's more of a grab n go spot. Service was pretty fast and efficient given the amount of people in line to order. Overall, I'd say Arsicault is a spot worth the hype and worth the wait! I'll be back when I have time to kill to try some of their other pastries! read more

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

Absolutely love this place! It's easily my favorite croissant spot in all of California. There is usually a line, but it moves in about 30 minutes--much better than back when they only had the one SF location. The croissants are flaky, buttery, and consistently perfect. I highly recommend eating them fresh!" read more

Arsicault Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

This is probably the best croissant I have ever had. The line on a Sunday morning was long but it goes pretty quick. Took maybe 20 min but I feel it was worth it and I just read my kindle in line. I tried the ham and cheese, as well as the chocolate almond. There's line ham and cheese is amazing and buttery flaky crust. The chocolate almond Wasn't too sweet and had a perfect balance. Good thing I don't live around here or I'd be getting a ham and cheese croissant every morning read more

See all