This Miami Bakery Takes Crown For Florida’s Best Baguette, Croissant

The French baking scene in Miami is reaching new heights, with an exciting wave of bakeries dedicated to traditional techniques and high-quality pastries offering locals more authentic options than ever before.

Between the discovery of Domaselo, a hidden bakery window in Miami that went viral after a novice baker turned his passion for sourdough into a booming bakery, to the opening of Casa Bake, an artisanal French baked goods bakery located at a warehouse lot in South Miami, the artisanal bakery scene is booming.

And now, another French bakery is rising to the top.

On October 27, the French American Association of Crafts and Trades (FAACT) and online magazine French Morning held their annual competition at the National Hotel in Miami Beach to name the state’s best French baked goods.

Ficelle Bakery, a family-owned shop located at River Landing on the Miami River, emerged victorious, winning both best baguette and best croissant in Florida.

Ficelle Bakery: Winner of Both Best Croissant and Best Baguette in Florida

Founded just three years ago by Olivier Rizk and his two brothers, the family-owned bakery has quickly risen to the top of the local scene with its dedication to authentic French techniques and ingredients.

For Rizk, a Haitian-American baker who grew up in Miami, the win marks an emotional and professional high. At 32 years old, he brings more than a decade of experience to his craft. Starting his career under his uncle’s wing at Delices de France in Palmetto Bay, Rizk honed his craft at New York’s Maison Kayser, where he won the title of best baguette in New York City in 2019. Back in his hometown since 2021, he’s been dedicated to bringing that level of quality to Ficelle, combining traditional French methods in a modern café.

Judges, including world pastry champion Laurent Branlard and cofounder of the World Gastronomy Organization Valerie Girou Legouhy, scrutinized each baguette and croissant for everything from aroma and texture to taste. Ficelle’s winning baguettes were praised for their golden crust and airy crumb — a combination achieved using a sourdough starter and fine French flour.

Rizk’s croissants, also made with a sourdough base, stand out for their flakiness and nuanced flavor.

Ficelle Is on the Rise in Miami. This Is Only the Beginning

Ficelle’s wins have already boosted its customer foot traffic, with curious locals and new fans lining up for a taste of Miami’s best.

But Rizk has bigger plans. With demand increasing, he’s preparing to launch a new wholesale facility to bring his bread and pastries to more Miami eateries, including well-loved spots like Lagniappe in Edgewater and Yann Couvreur Café in Wynwood.

In addition to scaling up production, Ficelle will soon welcome a new neighbor, “Bistro by Ficelle.” Opening November 25, this French Mediterranean-inspired café will offer tartines, French toast, charcuterie, and evening cocktails, serving as an extension of the Ficelle experience.

For the Rizk brothers, this is just the beginning of what they hope will be a lasting legacy on the Miami River. “This is a family business,” Rizk says. “My brothers and I are proud to bring authentic, artisanal French baking to Miami.”

Ficelle Bakery. 1440 NW North River Dr., Miami; ficellebakeryusa.com. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.