Barcelona once again has in its streets the best croissant in the country. Toni Vera, master pastry chef of the pastry shop Mervier Canal, has won the XVIII Contest for the Best Artisan Butter Croissant of Spain 2025, organized by the Gremi de Pastisseria de Barcelona. His croissant, crunchy, balanced and with just the right amount of butter, has been the most valued among the nearly 60 participants of an edition with a very high level.
Founded in 1970 and with two premises in the district of Sant Gervasi (566 Muntaner street and 15 Calvet street), Mervier Canal is thus consolidated as an undisputed reference of the Barcelona pastry. This is not the first time it has won: it already took the award in 2016, 2019 and 2022, an achievement that very few can boast.
A jury of croissants…with Michelin stars.
The competition, held at the Escola de Pastisseria del Gremi de Barcelona, brought together an exceptional jury chaired by Miguel Moreno, president of the Spanish Confederation of Pastry Entrepreneurs, and composed of renowned figures in the sector such as Miquel Zaguirre (Zaguirre Pastissers, Terrassa), Andreu Sayó (Brunells), Jon García (Jon Cake) or Carles Carreras (Pastisseria Núria).
But this year, in addition, the jury has had the culinary eye of three great Michelin-starred chefs: Oriol Castro (Disfrutar), Artur Martínez (Aürt) and Jordi Vilà (Alkimia), in a nod to the year in which Catalonia is World Region of Gastronomy.
What is valued in the best croissant of Spain
The judges have evaluated each piece according to strict criteria: flavor (40 points), honeycombed (15), flaky (15), color (10), shape (10) and finish (10). An almost scientific balance that seeks to reward both the technique and the sensitivity of the pastry chef.
The competition, sponsored by Cart Service, Ylla and Elle & Vire, is now in its 18th edition and has a clear objective: to recognize and promote excellence in artisanal pastry making.
Previous winners include illustrious names such as Brunells (2024 and 2020), Prat “Can Carriel” (2023), Canal (2022) and Panem (2021).