Yummy, tasting pastries...got the quiche today and it taste great. Courteous, efficient staff. Lively atmosphere. read more

See all

I highly recommend this bakery. Probably some of the flakiest and delicious croissants I've ever had in my life. I was there on a Saturday and arrived about 10 minutes before they opened. There was already a line, so definitely plan to arrive early if you're in a rush. However, the line does move pretty fast. read more

Arsicault - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Decided to try out this Arsicault location! I got my go to: almond croissant $5.75 ea No line at all. There was some seating inside. The flavor was there, but compared to the other location, it was kind of cold. Not sure if there's an option to re-heat, but will definitely ask. Street/metered parking only. read more

Last time I went to Arsicault, they didn't have the blackberry almond hazelnut croissant so I decided to go back to try it! Went on a Sunday around 11:30am and it was pretty crowded. There is some indoors and outdoors seating. We waited about 15 minutes in line and ordered a variety of items: kouign amann, blackberry almond hazelnut croissant, almond croissant, apricot bostock, and veggie galette. Veggie galette (4/5): Pretty good! Basically veggie pizza with no sauce. The dough was soft which was a nice contrast with the crunchiness of the veggies. I would have liked to have some sort of sauce on it but my friends enjoyed! Apricot bostock (4/5): Looked delicious! I liked the slice of apricot and the sweet jam in the middle. The bread had a cornbread-like texture. The crust was a little overcooked Kouign amman (4.5/5): I have never heard of this so first time trying it! This was a little too buttery but it had a nice, crispy exterior from the sugar and the inside was moist Almond croissant (5/5): Perfectly made with a soft, buttery interior and flakey exterior. The almond filling was nice and sweet. I was unsure if I would like this since I usually don't enjoy nutty flavors, but this was delicious! Blackberry almond hazelnut croissant (5/5): This was soooo good. I loved the tartness of the blackberry combined with the sweetness of the almond and hazelnut filling. The blackberry and almond croissants were amazing! The blackberry one especially was probably one of the best desserts I've ever had. The other items were pretty good as well, but I would come back to Arsicault just for these croissants. read more

See all

At this rate, I'm pretty sure I eat Arsicault pastries on a monthly basis. Love their chocolate almond croissant: it's rich in flavor with a delicious almond filling and powdered sugar on top. their plain croissants are also fantastic: incredibly flakey with the most satisfying crunch. Be warned though, these pastries are quite large and heavy -- I can never have more than 1 at a time. they also sell baguettes which I've personally really loved. The McAllister St location usually always has a line but it moves quickly. The inside is spacious with high ceilings and you can see the endless supply of pastries that they're baking in the background. there's also a good amount of indoor and outdoor seating if you're looking to sit down and enjoy your food. Staff is friendly and very efficient. Very popular amongst locals and well worth the hype! read more

Arsicault - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

DISCLOSURE: THIS REVIEW WAS IN MY EDITS FOR ABOUT A YR BUT IT IS WORTH POSTING Usually a hit this time it was a miss. My boyfriend went to go pick up two iced mocha lattes with oat milk per usual. Line was longer than usual service slower than usual but oh my god the quality was poor poor poor. The latte was watery and though it was large & iced it was placed in a small to go cup and wasn't filled all the way. I called they said too bad we should have told them then but I told them I couldn't believe even McDonalds had a better policy on correcting orders. The assistant manager was very bad. read more

Excellent pastries. Fluffy and light, but crispy on the outside. The almond filling was a sweet compliment to the puffy croissant. Definitely would come back again. Though there maybe a long line, it moves rather quickly. They're very efficient and quick. read more

Arsicault - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I came here around 11 a.m. and there was already a long line, but it moved pretty quickly and I was in and out fast. I wanted to try their ham and cheese croissant, but unfortunately they were sold out and making more at the time. Blackberry Bostock: 3/5 - It was good! Not my favorite, but the fruit paired nicely with the bread. Chocolate Almond Croissant: 5/5 - Holy, this was a literal foodgasm. I got lucky and snagged one from a fresh batch -- the chocolate was so gooey and warm, and the bread inside was incredibly soft. If this croissant was that good, I can only imagine how amazing the others must be! I'll definitely be coming back to try that ham and cheese croissant and a few more pastries. read more

Arsicault - BlackBerry Bostock and Chocolate almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

First time at the Civic Center location of this bakery chain..had to get in line to go in but the line moved pretty quick. Their products are amazing....the croissants remind me of my time in Paris, their Kouign Amman melts in the mouth & tantalizes your taste buds, the pain au chocolat has chocolate on both sides so there is no missing out if you split one with another person & the ham & cheese croissant was amazing. I'll be going back to try more...I strongly recommend you do too. read more

See all

We stopped by this location in early afternoon on a weekday and surprisingly they had most things, and while there wasn't a line or anything, all of the pretty limited seating was full. We got an orange cardamom monkey bread and a pain au chocolat. The pain au chocolate was super flaky, had a million layers, and the chocolate was super rich. And there was a lot of it. The monkey bread was crisply caramelized like a kouign amann and the flavors were subtle but delicious. read more

See all

I'm Arsicault obsessed. In particular, the chocolate almond croissant. Everything they make is absolute gold, but this is stuff is like a drug. I actually don't love almonds but love the flavor, which makes this even more perfect. The chocolate almond croissant is absolutely filled with almond paste and rich chocolate but no actual almond flakes. The filling is so good! Besides the chocolate almond croissant, I really enjoy the quiche. It's a standout because of how moist and creamy the filling is on the crisp crust. The kougin aman is also a hit! Yes, the area surrounding this location is rough and not ideal for walking. They keep the shop front very clean and the seating area is fenced off a bit, but keep in mind that the nearby neighborhood is not great so I would not stroll around. It is absolutely worth a visit for the croissants though. read more

Arsicault - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Arsicault is a French bakery with three locations and a cult following in the San Francisco area. This particular location is located on McAllister St in the heart of the Mid-Market area. Along with their daily pastries, they also offer coffee, small bites, bread, and some other foods (like quiche and sandwiches) here. There is some seating both inside and outside this location if you're to enjoy your treats on-site. I arrived to early Saturday afternoon for a little pick-me-up and found myself waiting in line (as expected given it's popularity) - that being said, the line did move fairly quickly which is a testament to the staff's efficiency in taking and preparing your order. We decided to get their (1) almond croissant, (2) kouign amann, and (3) financier. I'm a recent convert to loving almond croissants, and Arsicault's would certainly make anyone a believer in their deliciousness. The flaky pastry pairs perfect with the not-to-sweet filling, and is a bite to die for. I would honestly be back just for this one alone! For those who aren't familiar with it, kouign amann is laminated pastry very similar to a croissant; however, much sweeter with caramelized layers. Although, I'm a big fan of kouign amann, I can find them overly sweet at times - that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and found it to be very balanced overall! The outer layers were a bit tougher than I'm used to; however, that's made up by the fluffy delicious interior. Last, but not least, the financier, which is a small French almond cake that's light and moist, with a crisp exterior. Arsicault's bite-sized financier's are the perfect if you're looking for something sweet without it being too heavy. Despite being in the greater San Francisco Bay Area for my entire life, this was my first visit to Arsicault; however, it definitely won't be my last! I can't wait to try out their other pastries and perhaps some of their foods as well. If you haven't tried Arsicault yet, then I highly recommend you to visit one of their various locations - I'm sure you'll come to love it too! read more

See all

I'm a little obsessed with French pastries and one of my favorite things to do when traveling is search out the "best" bakery where I'm staying. Lots of research on Reddit and Yelp led me to Arsicault, and I couldn't be happier about it. This was easily the best croissant I've ever had and believe me, I've eaten A LOT of them. The layers were the most crisp, ultimate, light-as-air, texture ever. I got the ham and cheese croissant and I really loved the hint of rosemary it had. I also got a kouign-amann, savory bacon scone, and chocolate chip cookie, and all I can say is "oh my god," both because they were all amazing and because I basically ate myself sick in one sitting. Yes, the 10 minute walk through the Tenderloin was a little sketchy, but I would never let that keep me from pastries like THIS. And honestly it's not that bad on a bright and sunny Sunday morning. I got there at 8:15am and the seating areas were already full and there were about 10 people in line in front of me. Service was fast and incredibly friendly. I come to SF a couple times a year and I'm already looking forward to coming back to Arsicault! read more

arsicault completely lives up to its hype. came here around noon on saturday and waited around 10 minutes in line, but it moved quickly and is so worth it! I had to try the chocolate almond croissant, which was so flaky, buttery, and delicious without being too rich. we also ordered the parisian baguette sandwich with ham, cheese, and butter. the ingredients are so simple but they came together so well. my friend got the ham and cheese croissant as well and said it was also delicious. I also have to emphasize how amazing their coffee is!! we all ordered iced vanilla lattes which were sweet, smooth, and so flavorful. this location has lots of seating indoors as well which I appreciated, and the bakery itself is very clean and well-lit. the staff are so friendly and fast! I will definitely be back to try the other pastries. read more

Arsicault - ham and cheese croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

The veggie galette underrated. Light, buttery pastry with thinly sliced squash, zucchini, and tomato with a light creamy filling. The quiche with bacon eas also very creamy but not heavy, with carmelized onions soooo good. Ham and cheese croissant. Their croissants are superior. I wish I got the normal almond croissant because the choco almond was very rich, which some might like albiet. Aside from the chocolate the frangipane is soooo yummy. Busy always but line moves quick. Limited indoor and outdoor seating. Would love to try their sandiwiches or whole loaf bread sometime! read more

See all

I would definitely say this was a good bakery. I also would say this is the only bakery I've been to in San Francisco. Went with my buddy Zack and I got one of the caramelized scones? Don't know what it was, but it was yummy. The vibes inside were meh at best, but definitely great quality of food. We'll go back. Five stars I guess, because that's all I really give. read more

Arsicault - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow! Arsicault is fantastic. The Kouign-amann is possibly the best I've ever had. I had a couple croissants and they were both delicious. The line moves fast so don't let that scare you. The people behind the counter were doing a great job. Keep up the good work! read more

Arsicault - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

They make good croissants in a continent where such things are nearly impossible to find. That alone deserves some praise. Are they perfect? No, I find them a bit on the too oily side. Are they good enough to make me wish I could eat them every morning without consequences or guilt? Most definitely. Generally there's a very short wait, not long enough to disrupt your morning schedule. read more

I feel like I have taken a long break from reviewing plain croissants but I had to jump back in after I found out that Ariscault opened a location near my work hotel. Located right on the edge of Google Maps' lines of the Tenderloin, Ariscault on McAllister is bathed in a ton of natural light, perfect for those who need to snap photos of their buttery baked goods. For how busy this place gets, the workers remain extremely friendly and fast. Somehow, the croissant tastes vastly different than NYC plain croissants. Perhaps is made with slightly less salt and maybe it's baked correctly whereas some NYC places overbake the croissant bottoms. The middle is airy but still yields tension when ripped while simultaneously being house by flaky and delicate outsides. The croissant is delicious and leaks less butter than one would expect. The chocolate chip cookie definitely uses brown butter and Valrhona feves, probably Guanaja or Manjari if I had to guess. The crunchy edges of the cookie give way to a sublime jammy, fudgy and sweet interior. read more

See all

THE BEST CROISSANTS EVER. No contest. My favorite is the ham and cheese. While I've noticed there's been a little less ham and cheese over time, it still puts all other croissants to shame. Flaky, buttery, and consistently amazing. I also prefer this location since it's less crowded and perfect for grab-and-go. Worth every visit. read more

I don't know what all the hoopla is about . Just an average bakery. Ham croissant was pretty average ( had a small piece of ham in it ) This place doesn't compare to butter and crumble read more

Love this place. The line never takes longer than 15 minutes and croissants are always amazing. I have tried almost every item they sell and all very yummy. Quality of the croissant is so good. It is so flakey and buttery. When warm, the croissants are EVEN more magical. The chocolate almond is my favorite but if you're looking for something savory, would recommend the ham and cheese read more

Arsicault - Chocolate, ham and cheese, almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Not the prettiest bakery and it's in a sketchy neighborhood, but it's close to work and generally not as busy as other locations. I've never really had to wait in a long line here, and if I come in the afternoon, I'm usually in and out in less than 5 minutes. Pickings are slimmer in the PM though. The croissants are consistently amazing and I do have a soft spot for their almond croissants. These bad boys are also quite hefty and I don't even want to know how much butter goes into these pastries. Very excited for the upcoming Palo Alto location! read more

My friend was raving about their blackberry hazelnut croissant, so I decided to swing by before work. I actually never knew that this location existed until my friend told me about it. I did have trouble finding it initially since it wasn't obvious. I think it's odd that it's located in Civic Center, but I was surprised with the amount of people inside. There was already a line when I arrived. It's nice that they have seats and tables available both inside and outside. I really enjoyed the blackberry croissant since it was something I've never had before. I liked the texture of the blackberry and how it wasn't too sweet. It was the perfect combination. I'm always a fan of their croissants, so you can't go wrong with any of them. read more

See all

So the other day I came, I purchased something from this bakery first of all my items. One of my items was missing second of all I seen that rat running around the restaurant dirty place. I'm just letting you know people will be aware of and do not support this place like I said, I seen a rat running around their place do not support this place and inside my ham and cheese. There was a hair inside also. read more

This spot is a sweet spot for croissants. Be sure to come early as this spot is typically packed with guests. The line will go out the door if you come too late. The staff is nice but since the line is so long they expect you to know what you want. The ambiance is more of a modern coffee shop feel in the city. I would recommend getting their almond croissant. read more

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

Came on Friday morning/noon time and it was not busy at all which was nice. Got the blueberry hazelnut almond croissant I thought it was alright, the ham and cheese croissant and the kouign aman. I liked the ham and cheese croissant it was so crispy and fluffy. The blueberry one was underwhelming despite the good reviews on it. I wish I tried the regular almond croissant . Still good experience everything was pretty solid overall read more

Arsicault - Inside - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

First time trying this location and I'd say we like our original location more. The staff refused to give us a box for our pastries since we were a little short of a dozen... I mean you're paying a decent amount of these pastries and I doubt a box is going to hurt the bottom line. The kouign amann specifcally tastes better at the more original location imo. Parking is barely there on the street but there is a large passenger loading zone nearby you could have someone wait while grabbing pastries. read more

Kouign Amann- this is the highlight Chocolate croissant- looks like they use dark chocolate Macchiato Long lines read more

As someone who lived in the UK and has visited France many times, I can confidently say Ariscault's croissants are on par with what you'd find in France. My favorite croissant here is the chocolate & almond croissant. In addition, their Parisian baguette: ham, butter, and salt on a baguette, is simply delicious and took me right back to Paris. The only small letdown is the seating area, which feels a bit cramped and could be cleaner. Still, the quality of the croissants and baguettes more than makes up for it! A 5-star experience overall. read more

Living in San Francisco in 7 different neighborhoods as a resident ( Airbnb not included) I have been able to discover some good places which became Cult Classics. Arsicault has a cult following ( it's in the pronunciation at the end of its name) in San Francisco . There are long lines at the Arguello street location to the Mission Bay location and not so long on McAllister street for what is considered one of the best Croissant in America. Once upon a time I taught basketball at different YMCA's around San Francisco and some Midnight Basketball. I was based out of the Central YMCA in the Tenderloin a few blocks over in San Francisco from this Civic Center Arsicault location. The same YMCA location which the song " YMCA" was written about has a so-called cult following. This Arsicault space around Civic Center was once a Scientology Center a so-called cult following. I decided to do a pit stop and go to The Arsicault around Civic Center. The Arsicault on McAllister street has quadruple more space than the Arguello street location and less lines. There are actual chairs inside with a few tables. The only draw back was they didn't have the ham and cheese croissant at the time. The items I did choose was the almond croissant which was tasty but very crumby ( not crummy tasting) also flakey and a bit powdery . The savory scone was delicious and consistent to the Arguello street Arsicault location. Although I never lived in the neighborhoods Arsicault has locations it is good to follow a global cult classic based in San Francisco. Go to Artisticault and join the cult grab a croissant and enjoy it inside the McAllister location in person or remote Hands down got my vote for the best farm to table plain croissant they are the San Francisco GOAT read more

See all

super flaky shattering croissants. the ham and cheese croissants are an easy winner. kind of spendy but worth it for the experience of well curated baked goods read more

Been here a few times, and have always enjoyed it! - FOOD: the croissants are HUGE and SWEET - WAIT: if there's a line, it goes by quick! - THE SPACE: quite small, clean. if there's a lot of people, it will be noisy! Will always come by if I'm in the area read more

Ordered ahead for a company event. The ordering process was pretty straightforward thanks to the staff that provided such wonderful service. Our order wasn't ready at the set pickup time, but that's okay. The wait was worth it. There was nothing but positive feedback from staff. We will definitely be ordering here again. We had the variety pastries and one whole bacon and one whole mushroom quiche. Tip - request the quiche to be hot if ordering in advance. Delicious food for events or just walk-in's. It can get pretty busy, but the staff definitely handles the rush with ease. read more

Arsicault - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

The inside was decently sized with a good amount of seating indoor and some outdoor! There was a short line but it went by really quickly. Every single item we had was absolutely delicious. I was really surprised with how good the quiche was. It was really moist and flavorful. I couldn't get enough of it! If you're looking for the best croissants/pastries in town, this is definitely a top contender. read more

See all

I've been meaning to try this place ever since they opened up their location in inner Richmond. I decided to come here on a Saturday morning/ afternoon and there was a line out the door; however, there was plenty of seating to choose from. The line moves pretty fast and you tell the worker which ones pastries you want before paying at the front cash register. I ended up getting three items: 1. Blackberry Almond Hazelnut Croissant (5/5): This place is known for its delicious croissants, and I know why. The contrast between the flavors of the blackberry and hazelnut complemented each other well and the croissant part was really flaky. Definitely was worth trying. 2. Savory Scone (4/5): The savory scone wasn't too bad. It had a great flavor but just tasted like a Cheez-it to me, so not too bad if you like that flavor profile. 3. Apple Turnover (3/5): I thought this was a little more on the oilier/ wetter side of the pastries. I wasn't too much of a fan of the Apple flavoring. We were able to easily find outside seating at one of the tables. The vibe is pretty airy and open that definitely gives me a little bit of mainstream vibes, but I definitely recommend trying their croissants. read more

Arsicault - Savory Scone - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

We tried a few different pastries: morning bun, vegetarian galette, kouign-amann. And we also got the vegetarian baguette sandwich. Everything was amazing, fresh. The pastries were buttery and flaky. The baguette was one of the best we've had in some time. The service was very fast too. read more

Arsicault - Selection of their pastries - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've heard a lot about Arsicault, and once I found out about their second location near Union Square, I had to stop by! The line was relatively fast on a Sunday, and there was plenty of seating both inside and outside. I opted for the blackberry almond croissant, having already tried and liked the chocolate almond croissant from their original Richmond location. The blackberry almond had the signature flakiness and deep almond sweetness of its chocolate sibling, but the tart blackberry nicely cut the richness of the almond. This location definitely maintains the Arsicault quality, and if you're in a time pinch, this is a great option! read more

Arsicault - Blackberry Almond Hazelnut Croissant - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here on a lovely Saturday morning at 8:30 before the morning rush. Got the famous blackberry almond croissant and the veggie galette. The blackberry almond croissant was SO GOOD. Loved the blackberry jam layered inside and the nutty crumble on top. So flaky and buttery but not too buttery. The veggie galette was a good savory option, a little too buttery for my liking but so yummy too. We snagged a table inside and had a great time people watching (just the line because the neighborhood is a bit sketchy). read more

Arsicault - Veggie galette - Bakeries Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

This is easily the best place for croissants in the entire city, but fair warning: be prepared to wait! There is a line crawling out the door every single day, which should tell you everything you need to know about the quality of their baking. It's a small, cozy shop where you order directly at the counter. My pro-tip is to come early if you want your pick of all the incredible options, as they do run out of popular pastries quickly. I absolutely adore their original croissant. It is what they are most famous for, and it is a perfectly flaky, buttery masterpiece. Honestly, though, everything I've tried here has been stellar. They truly know what they are doing with every item on the menu. If you are craving a phenomenal pastry, this is the place. Just get in line, and your patience will be richly rewarded! read more