Paris has thousands of bakeries. Most are excellent; a few are extraordinary. This list — compiled after years of walking every arrondissement — identifies the fifteen boulangeries and pâtisseries that represent the absolute best of the city: the most technically accomplished, the most delicious, and the most worth crossing town to visit.
A refined boulangerie on the famous Rue Lepic in Montmartre — one of the most vibrant market streets in Paris. Alexine is celebrated for its beautifully laminated viennoiseries and sourdough loaves. The morning croissants are particularly worth getting there early for.
Multiple-time winner of the Grand Prix de la Baguette de Paris — the official competition that crowns the best baguette in the city. Their baguette tradition is extraordinary: thin, crackling crust, soft and slightly chewy interior, perfect balance of salt.
The bread arm of Alexandre Drouard and Samuel Nahon's extraordinary network of terroir producers. Their boulangerie on the Rue du Nil uses heritage wheat varieties from small French farms, producing bread with a complexity of flavour that is entirely unlike supermarket loaves.
Perfectly placed near Notre-Dame — this excellent boulangerie is a reliable choice for breakfast or an afternoon pastry after a morning of sightseeing. Their fruit tarts and Paris-Brest are outstanding.
The most famous loaf in Paris — Poilâne's large, round miche au levain, baked in a wood-fired oven, has been the benchmark of Parisian sourdough since 1932. Their butter cookies (punitions) are equally famous. A piece of Paris history.
The most Instagrammed croissant in Paris — the TFB cronuts, stuffed croissants, and creative layered pastries are genuinely extraordinary. A young, irreverent boulangerie in Le Marais that has taken the traditional craft in completely new directions. Always a queue; always worth it.
The undisputed king of French pastry — Pierre Hermé's Ispahan (rose, lychee, raspberry) has become a Paris icon. His croissants and kouign-amann are the best of their kind. An essential address for anyone who takes pastry seriously.
One of the most beloved young boulangeries in Paris — Mamiche's incredibly fluffy, golden brioche has become a neighbourhood obsession. Their chocolate brioche, kouign-amann, and seasonal tarts are equally exceptional.
An extraordinary creative bakery in the 11th arrondissement where the croissant fillings change daily and the tarts are works of art. Utopie attracts pastry lovers from across the city every weekend. Arrive before 10am or accept that your favourite will be sold out.
A small, beautiful pâtisserie in the Marais dedicated to the sablé — the French butter biscuit — in its most delicious, most varied, most creative form. The biscuit boxes make extraordinary gifts; the on-site tasting room is quietly wonderful.
Bo&mie combines the best of boulangerie and pâtisserie in a single bright address near the Rue du Nil. Their plain croissant is among the best in Paris; their seasonal tarts and entremets rival the best pâtisseries. A complete address.
Boris Lumé's café-pâtisserie on the Rue Lepic brings Japanese precision and aesthetic to French pastry. The matcha croissant has become something of a Montmartre icon. The black sesame éclair is equally extraordinary.
Carl Marletti's eponymous pâtisserie near the Luxembourg Gardens is one of the most accomplished in Paris. His lemon tart is the best in the city — a precise, intensely citric disc of perfection. The rest of the window is equally impressive.
The original Ladurée — the house that invented the macaron sandwich as we know it. The pastel interior, the scent of roses and vanilla, the beautifully packaged boxes — it is an experience as much as a bakery. Worth visiting once for the theatre of it.
A remarkable neighbourhood bakery in the 5th arrondissement that produces bread and pastries of outstanding quality. Known to locals and largely unknown to tourists — the best kind of Parisian address. Their sourdough and kouign-amann are exceptional.
