Three California bakeries ranked 12 best in the world

The Golden State is rolling in dough.

Three California bakeries have risen to the top of a new global ranking, beating out powerhouses from Paris to Seoul to earn spots among the 12 best bakeries in the world for 2026.

Santa Monica’s smash-hit Petitgrain Boulangerie and San Francisco’s Butter & Crumble and Arsicault Bakery all made the coveted list, released by Beli, the wildly popular restaurant ranking app that’s become a Gen Z favorite.

The rankings, which Beli said were based on a whopping 140 million ratings from app users, put the California trio in delicious company alongside acclaimed addresses like Juno the Bakery in Copenhagen, Lillebrors Bageri in Stockholm and others.

And while the Danes ultimately took the crown, with Juno in the number one spot, California proved it can hold its own against Europe’s pastry elite.

San Francisco’s Arsicault Bakery, a cult favorite for impossibly flaky croissants, was California’s top performer, landing at number three worldwide. The shop’s buttery, golden-brown creations have earned a devoted following and notoriously long lines.

They were previously named the best new bakery in America by Bon Appetit, which praised the pastries for their extraordinary flaky layers and tender interiors.

Southern California showed up in sixth place, with Santa Monica’s Petitgrain. Helmed by Clemence de Lutz, the tiny storefront has quickly become one of LA’s most prized stops for pastry, drawing devoted pilgrims for croissants, cinnamon rolls, sourdough breads and cookies.

Bakers start shaping pastries and such at the ungodly hour of 1 a.m. — staggering production until 6 a.m. to ensure freshness, de Lutz previously told the California Post.

Due to overwhelming demand, de Lutz recently expanded her operations with the opening of Petitpain et Chocolat, just a short distance from the original shop. The new venture features a walk-up window and an early 6:45 a.m. opening, catering to neighborhood residents and nearby students.

Meanwhile, SF’s Butter & Crumble, the North Beach sensation from owner Sophie Smith, claimed seventh place in the world.

The bakery has become famous for its flair for invention — including cream-filled croissants and rotating seasonal creations, attracting lines out the door. The popularity hasn’t made expansion any easier, though.

Butter & Crumble recently had to scrap plans for a second location focused on cakes after running into city regulatory hurdles — a frustrating setback.

Still, the international honor offers a sweet consolation prize for a bakery whose ambitions have been harder to realize at home.

Unlike traditional review platforms, Beli encourages users to rank restaurants against other places they’ve personally visited, build wish lists, and swap recommendations with friends.

The platform has even attracted high-profile fans like Hollywood power couple Zendaya and Tom Holland.

Holland recently revealed to Vogue that the pair have relied on the app while traveling around the world.

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