CAR Artisan Chocolate - Manufactory & Cafe

I’m a croissant fiend and can’t believe I’ve waited until now to try. The ham and cheese croissant was the best croissant I’ve had in LA! I usually prefer almond croissants and the thought the frangipane inside was quite delicious and not overly sweet like other places. What sets these croissants apart are the perfect flakiness without being too dense or overwhelming from the butter.

The chocolate croissant was executed well, but it is a croissant made for chocolate lovers (unfortunately I am not one). Rich and very intensely chocolately. The choco-latte (comes with two shots of espresso) is a great accompaniment.

I am quite worried about my waistline and wallet now that I’ve discovered this place.

It was ok. Decent place to get coffee. People were young servers, polite. I was a bit disappointed there wasn’t more chocolates - but I suppose they manufacture chocolates elsewhere? The dark drinking chocolate was good on a colder day. They had an assortment of milks. I wanted to read more about their story, what does CAR stand for…etc.

Amazing and bustling atmosphere with delicious croissants and chocolate. Don't overlook their chocolate bars - they started out as a specialty chocolate shop first before becoming excellent expert croissant makers. The chocolate bars are to die for.

The shop is great for dates and hanging out with friends. Don't count on staying with your laptop to work - limited plugs and smaller desk space along with patrons looking for a table to enjoy their croissants.

Pictured - vanilla latte to enjoy with croissants

Enjoy your experience there!

I can't say enough good things about this place! The lattes are consistently flavorful and rich, with just the right balance of sweetness. What truly makes this coffee shop special is the friendly and welcoming staff. They always make me feel at home and provide excellent service with a smile. A fantastic spot for coffee enthusiasts!

One of the best croissants! Chocolate croissant is my go to - that flakey crunch. Highly recommend.

Came here after hearing about their chocolate croissants from several different podcasts and could not have been more impressed.

Really great pastries, chocolate, croissant and otherwise and they're sipping chocolate and coffees are great too. It's pretty difficult to find parking because it's straight on Colorado avenue and the seating is very minimal as well. We came on a weekday around noon and there was so many people inside. It was hard to hear yourself but this is a perfect place to grab something to go.

The Los Angeles pastry kings! This place is off the hook for pastries, and there's always a line out the door to prove it. I am a huge fan of their berry pastry and their honey almond pastry. The ambience and service is great too, trendy and bright. This isn't a coffee place, it's an "artisan chocolate" place, so don't complain if you don't like their coffee.

In short,
The place was ok but I didn’t get the hype about the croissants.

With a few more details,
It’s a bit crammed inside and the smell of raw chocolate was a little too much for me. No explanation or marketing about it, if they have a special concept.
It might be cool for chocolate lovers but it was a bit on the bad side for me.
Only had plain croissant and pain au chocolat.
Service was alright. Coffee was good. Normal small neighborhood shop. Croissants were good but nothing to wait in line for.
Anyway I don’t know why I’m reviewing this place. If I live in that area I might find it convenient.

Great place for delicious coffee and croissants. Met up with a coworker, and it was fun. It's very popular, so it might be hard to get a table.
The staff are super sweet. I'll definitely go back!

Amazing pastries, especially the blueberry ones.
Have a seat, and enjoy the smell and sounds of them making pastries fresh, right in front of you.

Croissants are quality. The price is not cheap but it is worth the quality. Best croissants I’ve had in LA and also the best espresso drinks - espresso is dialed in and milk was steamed really well.

Our favorites were the ricotta pesto and the chocolate croissant. The plain was great as well. Indoor and outdoor seating. Expect a line.

I had the Ham & Cheese croissant. It was amazing. I was disapointed with the coffee. I went back the next day for another Ham anf Cheese croissant.but they didnt have them. I had a great blueberry tart

Finally got a chance to try THE best chocolate croissant in la (at least on the Eastside for sure). I second the other readers who are thankful this spot isn't closer to where they live because I ate two of their croissants and half of a savory ricotta pastry. Everything was incredible, as good as anything you'd eat in Paris (although there are hundreds of places in that city with croissants this good). Also everything else is amazing as well, the coffee, everything. It is a bit of a scene inside.

It's a good thing this place is not close to me, or else I'll be here all day. It's that good, you guys. First of all, their pain au chocolat is the best darn thing I've ever tried. They seemed to have solved the problem of dry pastry with little chocolate. It's flaky and perfectly crunchy with the layers, but you bite into it and you find the most tender and moist center, and you finally you end find the most delightful chocolate that is just perfectly gooey. Perfection. A place like does 1 thing and 1 thing really really well.

Besides that, they sell regular croissants and often have some pastry specials. They also make coffee and sell their own branded chocolate. The cappucino we had was good, but unfortunately the temp was a bit too hot, which meant the foam dissipated quickly. A bit of a let down, but not a deal killer.

Place gets packed even at 1 pm, but there's seating outside. For 2 capuccinos, and 2 pain au chocolat, we paid $22. Definitely on the pricey side. But boy, was it worth. Like I said, it's a good thing it's not close to me. Or else my wallet nor my waistline will be having a good time.

A cute little cafe where laptop use is permitted. The coffee was good but not amazing.

The croissants were genuinely delightful. Rick dark chocolate and a glossy finish with a soft inner. We shared one but were very tempted to order more.

BEST CROSSIANT I HAVE EVER HAD! All the 5/5 reviews are true. Got the blueberry pastry, ricotta and spinach, almond crossiant, and ham and cheese. Absolutely amazing and hope the recipe never changes. Also had the iced choco-latte and tasted so heavenly! I can’t wait to come back.

The croissants are wonderful. More buttery than most but you won’t catch me complaining. And the staff are always so sweet, really a special place

Bought several chocolate croissants to compare with the other bakery one block to the west to see which place owns that area. Sadly QC at CAR failed us as all 4 from were pale, slightly under baked. Good lamination, shape and great chocolate. Just needed a few more minutes. Disappointed

This midsize café has great coffee and other delicious coffee like drinks and their pastry is fantastic as well. I had their chocolate almond croissant. The environment is friendly and very inviting so you will definitely enjoy taking a break and enjoying a cup of coffee or one of their specialty drinks.
I recommend them.

I was lucky to get their last croissant of the day on a visit to Pasadena and it was truly the best croissant I’ve ever had in my life. I’m still thinking about it. The employees are also super nice!