Three bakeries in California have been recognized among the 12 best in the world for 2026, according to the restaurant ranking app Beli. The Golden State's bakeries, Petitgrain Boulangerie of Santa Monica, and San Francisco's Butter & Crumble and Arsicault Bakery, were featured on the coveted list.
The rankings, based on 140 million user ratings from Beli, placed the California establishments alongside international acclaimed bakeries in Copenhagen and Stockholm. While a Copenhagen bakery took the top spot, California's bakeries demonstrated strong competition against Europe's pastry establishments.
Arsicault Bakery in San Francisco, known for its croissants, ranked third globally. The bakery has previously been recognized by Bon Appetit as the best new bakery in America for its flaky pastries. Clemence de Lutz's Petitgrain Boulangerie in Santa Monica secured the sixth position globally. The bakery, which opens early and prepares pastries starting at 1 a.m., has expanded its operations with a new venture, Petitpain et Chocolat, to meet demand.
Butter & Crumble, owned by Sophie Smith in San Francisco, ranked seventh worldwide. The bakery is noted for its innovative creations, including cream-filled croissants and seasonal offerings. The source reports that Butter & Crumble recently canceled plans for a second location due to regulatory issues in the city.
Beli gathers user rankings based on personal dining experiences and friend recommendations, attracting notable users such as Zendaya and Tom Holland.