5 croissants to try in the Midtown Toronto area

A buttery croissant made well can be a tasty treat and many Toronto bakeries feature delicate bread.

A good croissant should have a crunchy crust on the outside and a soft, airy feel inside, according to the Michelin Guide. It should be baked until golden brown and the layers inside should not stick together.

While many places in Toronto sell the delicious treat, a cluster of bakeries in the Midtown area of the city feature croissants.

This is by no means a complete list. There are many other French bakeries across Toronto and across the GTA. But many of these places are among the oldest French pastry shops in the city and they are all conveniently within walking distance of each other.

Here are five places to try:

Rahier Patisserie

This shop has been a mainstay on Bayview since 1996. Located at 1586 Bayview Ave., founder Francois Rahier, who studied in top pastries shops in Belgium, opened this shop after settling in Toronto. The pastries are made with handmade production techniques and all-natural ingredients.

Croissants on the menu include almond, chocolate and cheese varieties.

Pâtisserie La Cigogne

Established in 2003, the bakery features the award-winning pastries of Thierry Schmitt. Schmitt is a French master pastry chef with over 30 years of experience in artisanal baking.

The menu includes the classic croissant along with almond croissants and a chocolate hazelnut creation.

This place is at 1626 Bayview Ave. with a second location at  1419 Danforth Ave.

Bomou Artisanal Bakery

Just a few doors down, at 1636 Bayview Ave., Bomou also has a location in Rosedale. The founder, Negar, learned how to bake and cook alongside her mother starting at age four. After moving to Canada, she studied at George Brown College and focused on French pastries.

Bomou also has many croissants beyond the classic including an apple walnut variety.

Epi Bakehouse

This place, also on Bayview, was voted as having the best croissants in Midtown, according to their website.

“Our croissants whisk you away to Paris,” the website states. And, in fact, their croissants do hit the mark with a crunchy crust outside and soft interior.

Located at 1526 Bayview Ave., it is not far from the three places above.

Jules Café Patisserie

Opened 11 years ago by Marc Tournayre, this patisserie offers traditional French food and pastries. It has some of the “best, authentic French croissants” in the city, according to the Mount Pleasant Village community website.

There are traditional croissants and croissant sandwiches on offer.

The patisserie is located a few blocks to the west of the Bayview shops, at 617 Mt Pleasant Rd.

Those interested in croissants in Toronto may want to check out this extensive rating list here.