Snack Attack: I Found the Most Addictive Croissant in Beijing at Vespa Coffee

Snack Attack is your weekly guide to the sometimes flavorful, sometimes smelly, sometimes odd munchies to be had in the capital.

When was the first time you ever had a croissant? For me, it was way back when I was a little kid, maybe 7 or 8, at Starbucks.

I don’t quite remember all the details of said pastry, but I do recall it being quite buttery. I later learned that they don’t actually have “buttered croissants” in France, as it had been called, just croissants plain and simple.

It wasn’t until years later that I had a classic French croissant in, of all places, Ningbo. This wasn’t the rich buttery thing I had first had at Starbucks – instead, it was flaky dough with an airy interior and just a hint of butter throughout, the ingredient having been layered into the dough prior to baking.

Ever since, I have made it my mission to find the best croissant in whatever city I’m in, to see if it matches the one I had in Ningbo.

After years of searching and tasting, I think I might have finally found one in Beijing – only it’s far superior – and from a little unassuming café called Vespa.

Each bite is filled with the flaky crust and airy bites I remembered from Mon Epoque, but ten times more amazing, each bite being a revelation, eyes widening in amazement as to how good it is – a memory I can’t help but recall every time I rave about it.

Why is it superior? While I’m sure the recipe won’t be given away anytime soon, it’s got to be more butter, which lends the pastry an extra richness and tinged golden yellow that’s picture-perfect every time.

The folks at Vespa say they bake the croissants and other pastries – another favorite being one filled with chocolate and studded with chocolate chips – fresh every morning, a welcome surprise considering how small the space actually is.

If you’re visiting or ordering for delivery – you can find Vespa on Meituan – you can’t go wrong with a croissant and a warm Americano, which has become a go-to for me many a morning after arriving in the office.

Order one now, in fact. You won’t be disappointed.

Vespa Coffee
82-2 Liulitun Dongli
六里屯东里81-2号

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Images: Vincent R. Vinci, xingchen星尘 (via Dianping)