Paris vs Berlin: Where to Get the Best Croissants in Berlin

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SOFI Bakery

Hidden away in a courtyard that is accessible only via Sophienstraße, SOFI Bakery is a true hidden gem. Yet it’s packed when we arrive, and it doesn’t take long to understand why. The pastry and sandwiches look amazing and make your mouth water. You will find well caramelized croissants and pain au chocolat next to cinnamon rolls and fresh focaccia. Everything you could desire can be found at their counter, suitable for a good afternoon snack or a lunch with the girls. The back is filled with sourdough bread and bread baskets exudingit a rustic charm. You have to queue to order and the tables as well as the terrace are almost always full.

The exterior of the pastry was incredibly crunchy, while the inside was airy and bursting with a lot of flavor. Their commitment to deliver only high-quality goods with well selected ingredients really shines through. While the bakery may be on the pricier side, the quality-to-price ratio is fair considering the effort they pour into each product. Not too far from the bakery, you’ll find a French bookshop called Zadig, if you feel like continuing your French journey.

Sophienstraße 21, 10178 Berlin

La Maison
If you live in Kreuzberg, chances are you are familiar with La Maison. Translated to “the home” in English, La Maison is a go-to spot for anyone who likes a good meal. For breakfast, lunch or an afternoon snack, la Maison has a great selection of French goods. The interior is spacey with petite marble tables, giving strong French corner café vibes. The service is French, and they proudly inform us that their products are all homemade with imported French flour.

We tried the croissant along with the pain au raisin (raisin bread with puff pastry), and their choux pastries. While the croissants were slightly on the pricier side, their generous size made the purchase worthwhile. The layers were perfectly crafted and beautifully colored. The first bite was satisfyingly crunchy, and the dough boasted the perfect fluffy texture. Since we arrived in the evening, we noticed that the inside of the croissants was a drying tad dry but nonetheless incredibly delicious. La Maison also offers almond croissants, vegan croissants and savory options like ham and cheese. In summer, you will not oversee La Maison because of its terrace where everyone is eager to get some sun.

Paul-Lincke-Ufer 17, 10999 Berlin

Gorilla

Gorilla Bakery is a must for everyone living in Neukölln since it's known for its excellent sourdough bread and a great selection of French pastry and viennoiserie. On Sundays, hungry bread lovers queue up to the entrance to either get their Sunday bread or sit inside and enjoy a good breakfast. The counter is stocked with heavenly looking sourdough loaves, the German Hausbrot (Eng. house bread), and baguettes. Next to the counter is a huge window that allows you to watch the bakers do the magic, making for a truly authentic experience.

We tried their croissant, which was sitting next to pain au chocolat ( chocolate croissant) and kouign amann (puff pastry rolled in sugar and caramelized in the oven). The flakiness was a delight, and the layers looked perfect. You could taste the distinct flavor that is the result of a long rest and high-quality products. The price-toquality ratio is incredible considering that the products are well selected and the cost is much lower than other boutiques, so we render Gorilla Bakery as offering some of the best croissants in Berlin. See you in the queue!

Hermannstraße 211, 12049 Berlin

Albatross Bakery

Albatross is quite well-known in the city for its extensive delivery services to many cafes all over Berlin. The bakery itself, althoughrather small, boasts shelves with gourmet products and a wall decorated with sourdough breads. Albatross Bakery identifies itself as an international bakery, meaning they don’t only offer French goods but also German and Italian ones. The counter is indeed filled with a diverse selection such as banana bread, apple danish, kuignamann, and, of course, croissants.

During our visit, we sampled the croissants along with other pastries. While we appreciated the crunch of their croissants, we found them slightly dry, likely due to our visit nearing their closing time. We also tried the almond croissant, which was delicious. Unfortunately, we missed the pistachio ricotta croissant, but we’ve only heard great things about it and will return shortly to get a taste of it. Swing by and try for yourself a variety of pastry traditions.

Graefestraße 66/67, 10967 Berlin