A Fifth Helping: The Vancouver Croissant Crawl Returns With Butter, Boba and More
Paul / Vancouver Croissant Crawl
Vancouver Croissant Crawl
Neighbourhood: Various
Dates: September 25 - October 4
On those first brisk days of Fall, when the little bite from the morning air starts nibbling away at your suddenly rosy cheeks, is there anything more perfectly suited than a steaming coffee and a cheeky pastry on your way to where you’re going? After all, it wouldn’t feel quite like autumn if the smell of the delicious baked treats wasn’t wafting sweetly through the air, tempting you towards good ideas and better outcomes (come on, it’s the season). That’s why it couldn’t be a better time for the Vancouver Croissant Crawl to return for its 2026 edition later this week. In doing so, it celebrates its fifth year.
It’s a significant milestone for organizer Laura Wong-Thompson, who first started the crawl as a way to get to know local Vancouverites and our hospitality scene after moving to BC from California. What started as an intimate affair of nine participating establishments has grown, in 2026, to a total of thirty-seven spread across the Lower Mainland, including Langley-based locations for the very first time.
The Croissant Crawl is self-guided. Each year thousands of shoulder season romantics throw on their sweaters and scarves before stepping crisply through puddle-dashed mornings and sunny afternoons (leaves crunching satisfyingly underfoot) on their way to indulge in old favourites and new temptations. It’s a journey, even a pilgrimage, with a simple formula that’s accompanied by a perfect touch of sophistication.
→ Explore a new locale
→ Reward your palate with something excitingly novel and warmly familiar
→ Share a few good moments with the clerk, owner, or head baker
→ Encounter fellow crawlers to share enthusiastic exclamations, verdicts, and casual compliments
It’s a powerful philosophy, easily practiced, and blessed with a true grassroots heart.
This year’s celebration of what must be the world's most popular pastry takes place for ten days beginning on September 25 and concluding on October 4. During that time, aficionados from across the region will flock to their favourite bakeries and cafés to enjoy the delightfully unique creations that have been designed by each participating vendor.
Among the many standout highlights are confections like:
Banana Turon Twice Baked Croissant, Cadeaux Bakery
Brown Sugar Boba Milk Tea Cube Croissant, To Live for Bakery
Double Raspberry Dark Chocolate Magnum Croissant, PAUL
Pear & Egyptian Chai Croissant, L'Atelier Patisserie
The Dill-irious, Doughgirls Comfort Kitchen and Bakeshop
Apple Caramel Crumble Cheesecake Croissant, Blacksmith Bakery
Several vendors have gone all out with custom drink pairings to make the croissant experience even more immersive.
You can get pairings such as:
Mulled Cider (accompanying a Croissant Bourguignon), Wren Cafe
Caramel Lemon Hot Chocolate (accompanying a Caramel Roasted Pecan Croissant Roll), Mon Paris Patisserie Metrotown
Croissant Cloud Cold Brew (accompanying a Sweet Corn Croissant), Sweet Revenge Bakery & Cafe
Hazelnut Praline Latte (accompanying a Hazelnut Espresso Croissant), Elmo Baking Co.
Devotees looking to hit up more than a couple spots are challenged to pick up or print their own Croissant Passport to collect stamps from each vendor. Those collecting four or more stamps become eligible to win “croissant cash,” earning them future visits to the cafés and bakeries showcasing their creativity and talent.
Participants interested in taking on the Crawl with a string of destinations in mind can take inspiration from the Crawl’s official Taste Off Challenges. These challenges pair vendors featuring a shared ingredient in a head-to-head bout for undisputed and total global supremacy. Ok, maybe it’s not quite that intense, but it’s a great way to get the most out of croissants that feel like spiritual siblings. For example, plenty of guests will be enjoying both the Banana Turon Twice Baked Croissant (Cadeaux Bakery) and the Tokyo Banana Choux-ssant Flower (Broyé Cafe & Bakery). Likewise, Viva Cafe & Bakery (Tropical Pandan Pain Suisse) and Jack's Spot Cafe + Bakery (Coffee and Pandan Croissant) are offering two sides to the tropics-themed “Pandan Taste-Off.”
Fans can cast their votes for their favourite featured croissants while special judges, Alex Kim (Five Sails) and Carson Ting (Chairman Ting, Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Artist), will be appraising the various creations to determine 2026’s official “Most Creative Croissant.”
The Crawl is designed to be a great time, but not necessarily a long one. With only ten days to venture, explore, taste, and enjoy, make sure to hit up your preferred spots early; walk-in quantities will be limited daily (pre-orders, for this reason, are highly recommended).
