Flaky croissants, crackling baguettes, glossy éclairs: Paris isn't just the City of Light, it's also the city of carbs. With a boulangerie on almost every corner, though, it can be hard to know where to go. Skip the tired croissant at the airport and head straight to these spots instead. From centuries-old institutions to cult modern patisseries, here are the best bakeries in Paris.
Classic Paris Bakeries
1. Le Grenier à Pain
Where: 38 Rue des Abbesses, 18th arrondissement (Montmartre).
Le Grenier à Pain takes bread seriously. Its Abbesses bakery has won the city's prestigious Grand Prix de la Baguette, the annual competition for the best baguette in Paris, more than once. The winner supplies bread to the Élysée Palace for a year. Expect the perfect balance of crunchy crust and chewy crumb.
Tip: Pick up a baguette and some cheese and walk up to the Sacré-Coeur for a picnic with a view.
2. Stohrer
Where: 51 Rue Montorgueil, 2nd arrondissement.
Founded in 1730 by Nicolas Stohrer, pastry chef to the queen of Louis XV, Stohrer is the oldest patisserie in Paris. It is credited with creating the rum baba, which is still the thing to order. The fruit tarts and éclairs are excellent too, and the listed interior, with painted panels and chandeliers, is a treat in itself.
3. Poilâne
Where: 8 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 6th arrondissement, and other locations.
Founded in 1932, Poilâne is a Paris institution, famous for its huge round sourdough loaves, or miches, baked in wood-fired ovens. It also has a quirky history: Lionel Poilâne once made bread furniture, including a chandelier, for Salvador Dalí. Don't leave without a bag of punitions, small buttery shortbread cookies.
4. Du Pain et des Idées
Where: 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 10th arrondissement (near Canal Saint-Martin).
This beautiful old bakery, with its painted glass ceiling, is known for its escargots, swirled pastries in flavors such as pistachio and chocolate, and its rustic pain des amis. It is usually closed on weekends, so plan a weekday visit.
5. Ladurée
Where: 16 Rue Royale, 8th arrondissement, and other locations.
Yes, it's touristy, but Ladurée's macarons are still a Paris classic, with flavors from salted caramel to rose. The original Rue Royale tearoom is wonderfully elegant.
Star Pastry Chefs
6. Cédric Grolet Opéra
Where: 35 Avenue de l'Opéra, 2nd arrondissement.
Cédric Grolet is the rock star of pastry, famous for hyper-realistic desserts that look exactly like fruit. They are miniature works of art. Expect a queue, but it moves, and the viennoiseries are excellent too.
7. La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac
Where: 24 Rue Paul Bert, 11th arrondissement, and other locations.
Chef Cyril Lignac brings fine-dining precision to his pastry shops. Try the kouign-amann, a caramelized Breton pastry, or one of the glossy tarts and choux.
8. Philippe Conticini
Where: Several locations, including Saint-Germain and the Opéra area.
Philippe Conticini is a legend in the pastry world, known for his take on the Paris-Brest, a ring of choux pastry filled with a silky praline cream with a liquid praline heart.
Modern Bakeries With a Twist
9. Bo & Mie
Where: Several locations, including the Marais.
Opened in 2017, Bo & Mie blends traditional techniques with creativity and has grown fast. Its pistachio escargot is a social media favorite, and its stylish shops are made for photos.
10. The French Bastards
Where: Several locations across Paris.
A cheeky name, but serious pastries. The French Bastards is known for inventive bakes such as cruffins, a croissant and muffin hybrid, and twists on classics like pain au chocolat.
11. Boulangerie Bo
Where: 85 bis Rue de Charenton, 12th arrondissement.
This neighborhood bakery is loved for its French pastries with Japanese touches, such as matcha and yuzu, as well as excellent bread.
12. Bontemps
Where: 57 Rue de Bretagne, 3rd arrondissement.
Bontemps specializes in sablés, delicate shortbread cookies sandwiched with cream, and seasonal fruit tarts. Its pretty, whimsical interior makes it one of the most charming bakeries in Paris.
13. Boris Lumé
Where: 48 Rue Caulaincourt, 18th arrondissement (Montmartre).
A neighborhood gem away from the crowds, Boris Lumé is known for its fluffy brioche and beautiful viennoiseries, sold from a charming old storefront.
Tips for Visiting Paris Bakeries
- Go early. Popular items sell out, especially at weekends.
- Check opening days. Many independent bakeries close one or two days a week, and some close for vacation in August.
- Order a "tradition." The baguette de tradition is made with only flour, water, salt, and yeast or leaven, and is usually tastier than a standard baguette.
- Learn a few words. A simple "Bonjour" when you walk in goes a long way.
- Stay connected. Use maps to plan your pastry crawl. An egoViet France eSIM gets you online when you land. See our France eSIM guide and the best European travel apps.
Pair your pastry with a great coffee from the best coffee shops in Paris, then explore more of the city with the best things to do in Paris and our list of free things to do in Paris.
FAQs: The Best Bakeries in Paris
Which bakery has the best croissant in Paris?
It is hotly debated. Cédric Grolet, Du Pain et des Idées, and Bo & Mie are all popular choices, and many neighborhood bakeries are excellent too.
What is the oldest bakery in Paris?
Stohrer, on Rue Montorgueil, founded in 1730, is the oldest patisserie in Paris.
What is the difference between a boulangerie and a patisserie?
A boulangerie mainly sells bread and viennoiseries such as croissants. A patisserie specializes in cakes and pastries. Many shops do both.
What should I order at a Paris bakery?
Try a baguette de tradition, a croissant, a pain au chocolat, an éclair, and a regional specialty such as a kouign-amann or a Paris-Brest.