Rhode Island officials demanded the best croissant in Philly. Here are the contenders.

When two rude Rhode Island officials rolled into town earlier this year in a now-infamous visit, one of them texted instructions in advance: “Please have fresh coffee (with milk and sugar) and the best croissant in Philadelphia ready for me upon arrival.”

Presumably the official — who was heading to South Philly’s Bok building — was referring to Bok’s own Machine Shop Boulangerie (821 Dudley St.), which was named “one of the country’s best French bakeries” by Eater in 2022. In the last year, owner Emily Riddell picked up a James Beard nomination and was named one of Food & Wine’s best new chefs. And if you’ve had any Machine Shop pastries, you know they’re fantastically flaky, beautifully composed, and unfailingly delicious.

Still, the title of “best croissant in Philadelphia” is not so easily awarded. Just down Mifflin Street is Artisan Boulanger Patissier (1218 Mifflin St.), whose pastries have also received the James Beard nod. You could try a plain croissant, but better yet, order a flavored variation (my favorite is chocolate almond) or a croissant breakfast sandwich.

Venture out of South Philly and there are even more contenders. In Old City, you’ll find excellent iterations at both Oui (160 N. Third St.) and ICI Macarons & Cafe (230 Arch St.), each with several sweet and savory fillings that range from traditional (ham & cheese, strawberry-almond) to unexpected (chicken mole, peanut butter and jam). Bloomsday Cafe (414 S. Second St.) on Headhouse Square has been known to turn out hauntingly good viennoiseries during brunch, though former pastry chef Sofiane Bellal departed last fall; you can now sample his croissants and other laminated pastries on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at String Theory School’s new student-run Cafe Vine (1600 Vine St.). The Kettle Black in Northern Liberties (631 N. Second St.) makes croissants with Amish butter and ranked in Craig LaBan’s 2018 roundup of best croissants, as did Midtown Village bakery J’aime (212 S. 12th St.), which now has a second location in Rittenhouse.

West of Broad, there’s lox croissants at Vernick Coffee Bar (1 N. 19th St.) and Argentine medialunas at Jezabel’s (206-208 S. 45th St.). But don’t stop at the city limits. As far as LaBan is concerned — at least circa 2018 — the most authentic croissants in the area might be on the Main Line, at Le Petit Mitron (207 Haverford Ave., Narberth). While you’re out that way, swing by to try some other greats at Delice et Chocolat (9 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore) or Malvern’s Buttery (233 E King St.).

Update: A reader noted that Le Petit Mitron was sold in the last couple years, and the previous owners, Isabelle and Patrick Rurange, moved back to France. According to the reader, the croissants are not quite the same.

Many thanks to other readers who noted more croissant contenders, including Matines Cafe in Chestnut Hill (89 Bethlehem Pike), FRIEDA in Society Hill (320 Walnut St.), La Baguette Magique in West Chester (202 W. Market St., No. 2903), Mamie Colette in Newtown (202 S. State St.), and Fiore — a complicated addition, for two reasons: The former Queen Village restaurant is currently transitioning to a new location at 2413 Frankford Ave. in East Kensington, which has yet to open. When it does, their excellent Italian pastries will be on the menu, but they make cornetti, not croissants. Well worth seeking out, either way.