Named after its distinctive crescent shape, the French croissant is a firm breakfast favourite in bakeries and pâtisseries around the world. While some establishments sell pre-made frozen croissants, pastry purists will tell you that the only proper way to eat them – with their layered, flaky texture, buttery taste and golden hue – is when they’re made on site, and are delivered fresh out the oven into your eager hands. Here are five Cape Town bakeries that roll, butter and bake their own croissants daily.

Freshly baked croissants and breads at Jason on Bree. Photo supplied.

Dinkel Germany Bakery (Tamboerskloof)

If you’re looking for wholesome baked goods and delicious pastries, this cosy Kloof Nek spot is a great place to stock up on bakes for breakfast or lunch. Their spelt croissants are made fresh every day with real butter and 100% spelt flour, which results in perfect rich, buttery and flaky pastry. Our online editor reckons that these beauties are even better than those made with regular flour – and they’re easier on the bellies of those who can’t tolerate wheat flour. A takeaway croissant is comes served with butter, beautiful fresh fruit and homemade jam.

The spelt croissant from Dinkel Bakery, complete with Katharine Jacobs’s buttery eggs. Photo by Katharine Jacobs.

Foodbarn Deli and Tapas (Noordhoek)

Franck Dangereux’s welcoming farm village deli is a popular spot for tourists, locals and passers-by. The shop is perfect for stocking up on daily essentials such as fresh fruits and veggies, homemade pies and freshly baked croissants. These pastries are served all day for a takeaway or sit-down treat. Have yours with a beautiful preserves and farm butter or get your hands on one of their chocolate filled croissants before they’re sold out.

The golden croissant at Foodbarn Deli and Tapas. Photo supplied.

Jason Bakery (Bree Street and Green Point)

This bakery often has punters queuing for freshly baked croissants that never disappoint. Baked in-house every morning, their pastry selection includes a classic butter croissant, those with almond or emmenthal cheese, wholewheat croissants, and pain au chocolat made with Valrhona 61% noir. The stars of the show are the bacon croissant, and the famous doughssant, a combination of croissant and doughnut, which is only sold on Saturdays. Keep your eyes on baker Jason Lilley’s Instagram account, @CaptainBreadZA , for his weekly creations.

Some of the croissants available at Jason Bakery.

Loaves on Long (City Bowl)

This quaint artisanal eatery bakes all breads and pastries daily in-store. Bakers Ciska Rossouw and Lyndal Wakeford were mentored by George Jardine (of Jordan Restaurant and Restaurant Jardine in Stellenbosch), who also helped make Jason Lilley the croissant genius he is today. If you’re on the go, order a large golden crescent croissant or sit down and have yours toasted with emmenthal cheese and tomato. The croissant pastry has a slightly more doughy texture that makes for the perfect vessel for your sandwich filling of choice. If you’re after the sweeter version, there’s a decadent pain au chocolat.

The pain au chocolat from Loaves on Long. Photo supplied.

Ou Meul Bakkery (City Bowl)

Early birds and worker bees enjoy a strong cup of coffee and croissants warm out the oven at this Long Street bakery. The buzzing spot keeps it simple with a small selection of French butter croissants baked daily. The pastries have a slightly sweet flavour to them and a light, flaky texture. Order plain, pain au chocolat, or almond croissants.

Buttery croissants waiting to be eaten at Ou Meul Bakkery. Photo by Nikita Buxton.