“Is it worth the wait?” It’s the question everyone asks about Lune Croissanterie. With a reputation solidified by a New York Times article claiming they might be the best in the world, Lune has transcended “bakery” status to become a pilgrimage site. The CBD outpost on Collins Street brings this precision pastry experience to the city center.
The Viral Factor: The Queue & The Box
Before you even taste the food, you experience the queue. It often snakes out the door onto Russell Street. The viral element is the exclusivity and the visual of the “pastry lab”—a sleek, concrete-and-glass bunker where chefs tweeze almonds onto croissants with surgical focus.
The Traditional Croissant—a marvel of honeycomb structure and buttery lamination—is the benchmark. But the monthly specials (often featuring flavors like lamington, tiramisu, or yuzu) are what keep the locals coming back.
The Food: Engineering Perfection
Lune doesn’t do “rustic.” They do engineering. * Traditional Croissant: Crisp, shattering shell, airy interior, distinct fermented butter flavor. It is, objectively, a technical masterpiece. * Almond Croissant: Twice-baked, heavy, sweet, and incredibly rich. One is often enough for two people (but you won’t want to share). * Coffee: They take their coffee as seriously as their pastry, ensuring the flat white cuts through the richness of the butter.
The Sensory Experience (Arlo Standard)
Lune CBD is designed to be a showroom, not a cozy cafe.
- Noise Level: Moderate. The space is concrete and hard surfaces, so it can be echoey, but the primary sound is the hum of the coffee machine and the murmur of the queue. It’s efficient noise.
- Visuals: brutalist chic. Grey concrete, stainless steel, warm lighting on the pastries. It feels more like an Apple Store than a bakery.
- Accessibility: Good. The entrance is street-level with wide doors. However, inside is standing-room only for the most part. There are high benches for standing, but very limited (or no) traditional seating. This is a “grab and go” or “stand and eat” experience, which might be challenging for some.
- Smell: The aroma of butter and caramelizing sugar hits you the moment you step inside—it is intoxicating.
The Verdict
So, is it worth the wait? If the line is under 15 minutes, absolutely. The consistency and quality are unmatched in the city. If the line is wrapping around the block? Maybe try their Fitzroy location or come back on a Tuesday morning. But every Melburnian needs to try a Lune croissant at least once to understand the benchmark.
Location: Shop 16/161 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000 (Enter via Russell St)