Ten Best Bakeries in Paris
The Travel Pages picks the ten best bakeries, or boulangeries, in Paris whether you’re looking for croissants, pastries, pains aux chocolat, or artisanal bread.
Paris is renowned for its incredible bakeries (boulangeries), where you can find everything from perfectly flaky croissants to crusty baguettes and decadent pastries. Here’s a list of ten of the best bakeries in Paris that are celebrated for their quality, tradition, and innovation.
Ten Best Bakeries in Paris
1. Du Pain et des Idées
Location: 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 10th arrondissement
Nearest Metro: Jacques Bonsergent
Why it’s great: Known for its artistic pastries and traditional techniques, this bakery is a favorite among locals. Try the escargot pistache-chocolat (a snail-shaped pastry with pistachio and chocolate).
2. Poilâne
Location: 8 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 6th arrondissement
Nearest Metro: Saint-Sulpice
Why it’s great: A legendary bakery famous for its sourdough bread, particularly the miche Poilâne (a large, round loaf). Their buttery, flaky croissants are also a must-try.
What is Brioche?
Brioche is a French bread known for its rich, tender crumb and slightly sweet flavor. It is made from a dough that includes flour, eggs, butter, sugar, and milk, which gives it a high fat and egg content compared to other breads. This results in a soft, light, and slightly flaky texture.
Brioche can be baked in various forms, such as loaves, rolls, or the classic brioche à tête, which is a small, round loaf with a topknot. It is versatile and can be enjoyed on its own, as a breakfast pastry, or used in both sweet and savory dishes, such as French toast or sandwiches.
The dough is typically enriched and requires a longer rising time due to its richness, making it a bit more labor-intensive than regular bread. However, the result is a luxurious, buttery bread that is highly prized in French baking.
3. Pierre Hermé
Location: Multiple locations, including 72 Rue Bonaparte, 6th arrondissement
Nearest Metro: Saint-Sulpice
Why it’s great: Known as the “Picasso of Pastry,” Pierre Hermé is a master of macarons and innovative desserts. Try the Ispahan (a rose, lychee, and raspberry creation).
4. Boulangerie Utopie
Location: 20 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 11th arrondissement
Nearest Metro: Filles du Calvaire
Why it’s great: A modern bakery with creative pastries and breads, like the black squid ink bread and matcha croissants. Their flavors are bold and unique.
5. Boulangerie Bo
Location: 85 Rue de la Roquette, 11th arrondissement
Nearest Metro: Voltaire
Why it’s great: A favorite for its organic ingredients and exceptional viennoiseries (pastries). Their pain au chocolat and kouign-amann are heavenly.
6. Cédric Grolet Opéra
Location: 35 Avenue de l’Opéra, 2nd arrondissement
Nearest Metro: Pyramised
Why it’s great: Cédric Grolet is a world-renowned pastry chef known for his hyper-realistic fruit desserts and exquisite pastries. The croissant and lemon tart are perfection.
7. Boulangerie Laurent Duchêne
Location: 2 Rue Wurtz, 13th arrondissement
Nearest Metro: Glacière
Why it’s great: Award-winning baker Laurent Duchêne creates some of the best baguettes and pastries in Paris. His éclairs and tarts are works of art.
What is a Baguette?
A baguette is a long, thin loaf of French bread, recognizable by its crisp, golden crust and soft, airy interior. It is one of the most iconic symbols of French cuisine and baking. The word “baguette” means “wand” or “baton” in French, referring to its shape.
Key Characteristics of a Baguette:
Shape: Typically about 2–3 inches (5–7 cm) in diameter and up to 26 inches (65 cm) in length.
Crust: Thin, crisp, and golden brown, often with a slightly crackly texture.
Interior (Crumb): Soft, chewy, and full of irregular air pockets, created by the fermentation process.
Ingredients: Traditional baguettes are made with just four basic ingredients: flour, water, yeast, and salt. No fats or sweeteners are added, which distinguishes them from enriched breads like brioche.
Types of Baguettes:
Baguette Tradition (or Tradition française): Made with a more traditional method, using no additives or preservatives, and often considered the highest quality.
Ordinary Baguette: May include additives or be made with less strict methods, often found in supermarkets.
8. Boulangerie Sébastien Gaudard
Location: 22 Rue des Martyrs, 9th arrondissement
Nearest Metro: Saint-Georges
Why it’s great: A traditional yet elegant bakery offering classic French pastries like mille-feuille, chouquettes, and madeleines.
9. Boulangerie 28
Location: 28 Rue de Charenton, 12th arrondissement
Nearest Metro: Bastille
Why it’s great: A small, artisanal bakery with a focus on organic ingredients. Their baguettes and croissants are simple yet exceptional.
10. Blé Sucré
Location: 7 Rue Antoine Vollon, 12th arrondissement
Nearest Metro: Ledru-Rollin
Why it’s great: Hidden near Square Trousseau, this bakery is known for its madeleines, croissants, and pain au chocolat. It’s a local gem with a cozy vibe.
What is a Croissant?
A croissant is a buttery, flaky, crescent-shaped pastry that originated in France but has roots in Austrian baking. It is a staple of French breakfast and is enjoyed worldwide for its rich, layered texture and delicate flavor.
Key Characteristics of a Croissant:
Shape: Traditionally crescent-shaped (hence the name “croissant,” which means “crescent” in French), though they can also be straight.
Texture: Flaky, airy, and layered, with a crisp exterior and a soft, tender interior.
Flavor: Rich and buttery, with a slight sweetness.
How It’s Made:
Croissants are made using a technique called laminating, which involves folding butter into the dough multiple times to create thin, alternating layers of dough and butter. When baked, the butter melts and creates steam, causing the layers to separate and puff up, resulting in the signature flaky texture.
Best Bakeries in Paris: Honourable Mentions
Boulangerie Maison Landemaine (multiple locations): Known for its organic bread and pastries.
Des Gâteaux et du Pain (63 Boulevard Pasteur, 15th arrondissement. nearest Metro: Pasteur): A chic bakery with stunning cakes and bread.
Boulangerie Pichard (88 Rue Cambronne, 15th arrondissement, nearest Metro: Vaugirard ): Famous for its baguettes tradition and brioche.
These bakeries represent the best of Parisian baking, combining tradition, innovation, and passion. Whether you’re looking for a classic baguette, a buttery croissant, or a modern pastry, these spots will not disappoint!
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