Danville Bakery Wins Best Croissant San Francisco Competition

DANVILLE, CA — The verdict is in: there’s no need to travel to France or even to San Francisco if you want a truly delicious croissant. You just need to head to downtown Danville.

Maison Benoit, a French bakery on Railroad Avenue owned by Parisian Benoit Vialle, beat out more than 350 competitors in the 2025 San Francisco Best Croissant Competition to snag the Grand Prix.

“For me it highlights our relentless focus on producing the best possible quality authentic French products, and croissants in particular, at a price that everyone can enjoy every day at $3.75,” Vialle told The San Francisco Chronicle.

The competition was organized by French Morning, Frenchly, and the French-American Hospitality and Gastronomy Association, and took place at a jam-packed Clift Sonasta Hotel in San Francisco on June 1. The 10 finalists were chosen through public voting, and the judging panel included French food experts from across the Bay Area.

The following Bay Area bakeries were also recognized:

Grand Prix

• 2nd place: Backhaus, San Mateo
• 3rd place: Maison Nico, San Francisco

People’s Choice Award

• The Midwife and the Baker, Mountain View

Best Original Creation:

• Le Carousel, San Francisco

See here for the full list of finalists.

Maison Benoit was opened by Lafayette resident and Paris native Benoit Viaille, who worked for Microsoft, then in fine wine, then at Sotheby’s, according to a Mercury News profile. The croissants, galettes, baguettes, and much more are prepared by a head chef from Paris and a pastry chef from Bordeaux.

In true French style, ample outdoor seating is available to leisurely enjoy coffee and authentic French food. The bakery also offers quiches, sandwiches, Ecuadorian coffee, and more.

Visit maisonbenoit.us for menu, catering, online ordering, gift cards, and more.

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