Sacramento’s bakery scene has been quietly building for years. While the city’s restaurants get most of the food press, a small cluster of independent bakeries has been putting out croissants that hold their own against anything you’d find in a bigger city. The best ones arrive early in the morning and sell out before noon, which requires some planning. Here’s where to find them.
Moonbelly Bakery
Moonbelly Bakery has been an East Sacramento fixture since 2022, tucked into a building off Folsom Boulevard near 65th Street. Owner Lucía Plumb-Reyes spent years working at bakeries around the country before opening this small shop, and the croissants reflect that background.
The focus here is croissants and sourdough, with the specifics changing by the season. Reviewers have highlighted the chocolate croissant for its crunchy exterior, its distinct layers, and its balanced fill. Seasonal rotations have included fig and cream as well as other fillings that change with what’s available. The shop is small and the display cases reflect what was baked that morning. The lines on weekend mornings confirm that locals have been paying attention for a while.
Moonbelly doesn’t take reservations and doesn’t hold items. The best strategy is arriving close to opening and picking up a few things to try.
Moonbelly Bakery
6511 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, CA
Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 8am to 1:30pm
moonbellybakery.com | Instagram: @moonbellybakery
Pastry Cat
Pastry Cat opened in May 2026 in East Sacramento’s Sutter Park development, and the first few weekends drew constant lines and display cases that cleared out before noon. Owners Nariya Charoensupaya and Scott Doiguchi brought a menu that blends classical French technique with Asian flavors, a combination that shows up across the entire menu without feeling forced.
The croissant lineup includes a pain au chocolat, a pain Suisse with ham and cheese, and a za’atar and Gruyère croissant bun. Seasonal almond croissants rotate their fillings: cherry pistachio appeared in one recent run. Those who want something more substantial can order a breakfast sandwich ($14), a Koda Farms rice bowl with Delta asparagus and mushrooms ($14), or braised pork with sunomono pickles ($17). Coffee comes from Olympia Coffee.
Pastry Cat is newer than Moonbelly and still settling into a rhythm. Hours are Friday through Sunday, 8am to 1pm, but check Instagram before heading over since the schedule may expand.
Pastry Cat
533 53rd St., Suite 140, Sacramento, CA
(916) 520-9510
Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 8am to 1pm
Instagram: @thepastrycat916
Planning Your Visit
Both bakeries are within about a mile of each other in East Sacramento, which makes a morning double visit possible. The practical rule is the same for both: arrive early. The best croissants are typically gone by 10am on weekends, and both shops close well before noon. Arriving at 9am gives you a full display case; arriving at 11:30 means taking what remains.
Both are closed Monday through Thursday, so this is a Friday through Sunday proposition. The drive from downtown or Midtown takes about 10 to 15 minutes along Folsom Boulevard.
Both shops serve coffee. Moonbelly has historically offered seasonal pastry pairings; Pastry Cat serves Olympia Coffee espresso drinks as well as matcha and hojicha options.
The Details
Moonbelly Bakery
6511 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, CA
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 8am to 1:30pm
moonbellybakery.com
Pastry Cat
533 53rd St., Suite 140, Sacramento, CA
(916) 520-9510
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 8am to 1pm (check @thepastrycat916 for updates)
Both bakeries accept cash and cards. Neither takes reservations. Street parking is available near both locations.
Looking for more in Sacramento’s food scene? Our guide to the best independent coffee shops in Sacramento covers nearby spots worth pairing with a morning pastry run.
Bottom Line: Sacramento’s most interesting croissants are showing up in a small corner of East Sacramento, within a mile of each other. Moonbelly Bakery has been earning a loyal following since 2022 for its layered pastries and seasonal rotations. Pastry Cat arrived in 2026 with a menu that blends French technique and Asian flavors and drew lines from its first weekend. The window is narrow: both are open only Friday through Sunday morning. Plan accordingly.
