Locals guide to the best croissants

The eastern end of tree lined Collins Street has been known colloquially as the 'Paris End' with its heritage buildings and high-end boutiques but Melbourne’s best buttery flaky baked good can be found beyond the inner-city precinct.

Lune Croissanterie

Lune Croissanterie put Melbourne on the global map for the French delicacy after the New York Times named the croissants the best in the world. Lune founder and former aerospace engineer Kate Reid has used her background to create world-renowned pastries in the climate-controlled glass cube at the Lune Lab’s brick warehouse in Fitzroy. Don’t be surprised to see locals and visitors queuing around the block at to get their hands on a range of croissants, including the traditional, Pain au Chocolat, cruffins (croissant muffin) and twice baked croissants. Visitors to the city can now find the croissants in the central business district (CBD) after the bakery opened an abridged standing room only version with a shorter menu across the road from the Grand Hyatt on Russell Street. 119 Rose St, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065; 16/161 Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000.

Agathe Patisserie

Reinforcing Melbourne’s mantle as the world’s best croissant destination is South Melbourne Market’s Agathé Pâtisserie. The Paris-inspired bakery, where the freshest French pastries are baked before your eyes at the open kitchen, produce a range of authentic French pastries, cakes and savouries. Along with the traditional plump buttery croissant, the innovative bakery produce an assortment of rotating flavours, including matcha, pandan, cafe au lait, macadamia and milk chocolate, raspberry and gingerbread. The neighbourhood bakery has opened a hole in the wall shop at the elegant and ornate Royal Arcade. South Melbourne Market, 322 Coventry Street, South Melbourne, Victoria, 3205. Shop 49A, Royal Arcade, 335 Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000. +61 3 0403 222 573.

Publique Bakery

A French artisan bakery located in the heart of the north Melbourne neighbourhood Preston Market is known for its delicious pastries and large selection of sourdough breads. The croissants, warm and fresh straight from the oven, come in regular and mini sizes to satisfy any appetite however big or small. Croissants include traditional, Pain au Chocolat, almond, along with danishes, escargots, muffins and tarts. Those looking for lunch are recommended to try their ham and cheese croissant. Shop N26, The Centreway & The Strand, Preston, Victoria, 3072.

Tivoli Road Bakery

Formerly known as MoVida Bakery when it was opened by popular Melbourne restauranteur Frank Camorra, the South Yarra bakery reopened as Tivoli Road Bakery when it was taken over by head baker Michael James. The small artisan bakery using local produce and long fermentation specialise in viennoiserie, which includes croissant, pain au chocolat, escargot, almond croissant, fruit Danish and macadamia & wattleseed praline. From Friday to Sunday visitors can also get their delicious morning buns – croissant pastry baked in a tin, dusted in cinnamon and orange sugar, and filled with custard. 3 Tivoli Rd, South Yarra, Victoria, 3141. (03) 9041 4345.

Gontran Cherrier

After opening 27 bakeries around the world, fourth generation Normandy-born baker Gontran Cherrier opened his first Australian boulangerie on Collingwood’s Smith Street as it reminded him of Paris neighbourhood Montmartre. The handcrafted artisan bakery uses rich French bakery traditions and ingredients, including importing his favourite flour and Lescure butter from France, to create the thick, rich croissants. Since opening in Collingwood in 2016, the award-winning boulangerie has expanded to three venues with shops opening on Richmond and Hawthorn. For a limited time, guests can get their hands on a meringue topped croissant at all three locations. 140 Smith St, Collingwood, Victoria, 3066; 85 Swan St, Richmond, Victoria, 3121; 696 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122.

Weirdoughs

Vegans can join in the Bastille Day celebrations with croissants from Melbourne’s plant-based bakery. Weirdoughs combines old school baking techniques with modern sustainability that uses 100 percent plant-based ingredients to create a range of croissants including traditional, almond, chocolate and a strange shaped cube pastry. Specially crafted vegan butter, produced with macadamia, cashew and coconut oil butter, provides the basis for the baked goods and has been designed to recreate the delectable buttery goodness of traditional pastries. 241 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000.    

White Mojo

For those looking for something a bit different for brunch should look no further than the modern Asian-inspired speciality coffee roaster White Mojo. Located in Melbourne’s Hardware Lane, Balwyn and Glen Waverley, the café offers more than the standard avocado on toast with their notorious croissant burgers, including the Signature Croissant Burger which is served with soft shell crab, chipotle mayo, smoked eel, pickled cucumber, chorizo crumb and fried eggs. The all-day brunch menu also includes The Big Mac which comes smoked paprika mac & cheese, cauliflower floret, jalapeño mayo, smoked belly bacon, pickled green tomato and fried egg. Visitors can enjoy the unique burgers alongside a hand-roasted specialty coffee. 115 Hardware St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000; 182-184 Whitehorse Rd, Balwyn, Victoria, 3103; 83-85 Kingsway, Glen Waverley, Victoria, 3150.