Metro Vancouver Croissant Crawl: Get to Know Neighbourhood Bakeries and Cafes

The third annual Metro Vancouver Croissant Crawl is back, running from now until November 21, 2024. It’s the perfect way to experience creative croissant creations as well as get acquainted with the city’s neighbourhoods and their bakeries/cafes.

The Metro Vancouver Croissant Crawl—organized by enthusiast Laura Wong-Thompson—has expanded to three weeks during which participating establishments offer special croissants for customers to try. The initial week (November 1-7) has been declared by Mayor Ken Sim as “Vancouver Croissant Crawl Week,” inviting everyone in the city to celebrate and sample croissants together.

This year 35 vendors are taking part, located in Vancouver in addition to other areas of Metro Vancouver (North Vancouver, Richmond, New Westminster, Burnaby, Surrey, White Rock, Port Coquitlam, and Coquitlam). Croissant lovers are encouraged to curate their own self-guided Croissant Crawls, creating routes that allow them to try different croissants at their various stops.

NOTE: It is recommended to pre-order the croissants to avoid disappointment. As well, check days of availability for each of the establishments/locations.

The croissants are incredibly diverse—from sweet to savoury options—and include a gluten-free Baklava Croissant from Caffè Delish in Port Coquitlam and two plant-based options (an Apple Caramel Monkey Bread Croissant from Bonus Bakery and a White Chocolate Mocha Croissant from To Live for Bakery and Café).

Try as many as possible, and then vote for your “Fan Favourite Flavour.” Nicolas Baudouin, Consul General of France in Vancouver, will also be awarding “Most Creative Croissant.” In addition, there is an Instagram Scavenger Hunt, with prizes randomly drawn for those who post on IG.

Here are three suggested routes to try some amazing croissants and get to know unique Vancouver neighbourhoods:

Granville Island

Charming Granville Island is a lovely setting for enjoying delicious croissants. There are three participating establishments. Firstly, Terra Breads in the Granville Island Public Market is taking part, offering a Chocolate Hazelnut Cruffin, with hazelnut cream, chocolate brownie crumble, and a chocolate hazelnut spread filling. Before or after trying your croissant, you can wander around the Market, shopping at the many gourmet vendors located there, ranging from Oyama Sausage Co. to Benton Brothers Fine Cheese.

A La Mode, also found in the Market and known for their decadent pies, is offering four inventive croissants. From now until November 11, they’re featuring a Bourguignon Escargot Spiral Croissant Pie and a Truffle Treasure Zesty Blossom Croissant Pie, and then from November 12-21, they’re serving a Dolce Tofu Brûlée Croissant Pie and a Salmon Suntan Croissant Pie.

You can then exit the market and visit nearby A Bread Affair, which is combining the best of croissants with bagels in their Everything Croissant, which has cream cheese filling and Everything Bagel seasoning on top of the croissant. While you’re on Granville Island, make sure to visit the shops at Net Loft, the studios in the Artisan District, well as all things kid friendly at Kids Market. If you’re feeling like a drink, Granville Island Brewing, The Liberty Distillery, Artisan SakeMaker, and Tap & Barrel - Bridges are on the Island.

Robson Street

Explore the heart of Vancouver’s downtown, starting at Bel Café in the famed Rosewood Hotel Georgia. The Café is serving a Vanilla Custard Crookie: a round croissant with salted caramelia and a dark chocolate cookie, filled with Tahitian vanilla custard. Visit nearby CF Pacific Centre for shopping or head to the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art to take in one of their fabulous exhibitions.

You can also tour the exhibitions at the Vancouver Art Gallery and then treat yourself to a croissant after. On November 20, Elaichi Patisserie will be at the Downtown Farmers Market in front of the Art Gallery selling their Sweet and Spicy Mango Cruffin (pre-ordering required). Chat with local farmers and artisans at the Market as well.

From there, walk up famed Robson Street, browsing shops along the way, until you reach PAUL, where they have dreamed up two sweet croissants. The first is a Dubai Chocolate Croissant with Pistachio and Filo Pastry and the second is a Pineapple Mango Croissant with mascarpone cream and white chocolate drizzle.

In the next block, stop at Little Café on Robson, who have collaborated with the popular Frying Pan to create a Spicy Korean Fried Chicken Supreme Sandwich. After eating your KFC croissant, head over to Alberni Street where you can be tempted by the offerings at upscale brands like Tory Burch and Cartier.

Commercial Drive

Vancouver’s Commercial Drive, or The Drive as it’s affectionately called, has a long history connected to the city’s Italian community. The street also is home to tons of independent restaurants, bars, bakeries, and cafes. Begin your East Van Croissant Crawl by dropping by Uprising Breads Bakery, just off Commercial Drive on Venables. This long-running neighbourhood favourite is featuring two croissants: a Lemon Pistachio Passion Fruit Croissant and an intriguing Raspberry Dark Chocolate Sriracha Croissant.

You can pre-order the Sweet and Spicy Mango Cruffin from Elaichi Patisserie for pick-up Thursdays at Oh Sweet Day! Bake Shop, or you can go a couple blocks east to Mah Milk Bar on Victoria Drive who will be serving the Cruffin on Tuesdays to walk-in customers (while supplies last).

Merci Boulangerie further south on Commercial Drive is also participating in the Metro Vancouver Croissant Crawl, with an Apple Tarte Tatin Croissant, which is perfect for the autumn season. It contains caramelized spiced apples and white chocolate Chantilly crémeux.

As you walk along Commercial Drive, you’ll find no shortage of boutiques, eateries, bars, and specialty food stores to keep you occupied until your next croissant.

Full information on the Metro Vancouver Croissant Crawl (including flavours and participating vendors) can be found here.