Top 10 Bakeries in les Halles and What to Order

Top 10 Bakeries in les Halles and What to Order

Les Halles and the surrounding neighborhoods of the Louvre district tend to be the first stop for most travelers to Paris. Everyone is excited to see the center; the pyramids, the architecture and the renowned gardens.

Since eating an authentic croissant is often at the top of everyone’s bucket list upon arrival in Paris, les Halles often becomes the neighborhood in which this happens right away as well.

les Halles, Paris – by Guilhem Vellut – Wikimedia Commons

There are many a great bakery in les Halles; enough so that one can shy away from big brand names and overly gentrified establishments. Here are ten of the best and what you should order upon your visit.

1. BO&MIE in les Halles

BO&MIE is one of the few bakeries in les Halles that actually opens for business on a Sunday. This tends to be a considerably dead day for pastries in the center of Paris, with few bake shops making the effort.

Sundays make for great free guided walking tour days through les Halles as you won’t be battling the regular swarms of people usually on the streets.

BO&MIE in les Halles – by BO&MIE – Uploaded by them

It’s a quaint little coffee shop/bakery hybrid, with ample seating space for dining in. Their menu is extensive and delicious, but you can’t go wrong with one of their specialty raspberry flavored croissants.

What to order: Raspberry croissant or mango flan

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Sunday: 7:30am to 8pm

ADDRESS: 18 Rue de Turbigo, 75002 Paris, France

METRO STATION: Étienne Marcel

2. Au Petit Versailles du Marais in les Halles

Some argue that Au Petit Versailles is to far east to qualify as les Halles but the district still claims it as its own regardless.

The bakery is laid out to resemble the palace of Versailles, filled with royal treats and baked goodness. They have repeatedly won awards for having the best baguettes in Paris.

What to order: Baguettes or macarons

by Valentin B. Kremer – Unsplash

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Saturday: 7am to 8pm

ADDRESS: 1 Rue Tiron, 75004 Paris, France

METRO STATION: Saint-Paul

3. Boulangerie Jean-Noel Julien in les Halles

If there is one bakers that gives Au Petit Versailles a run for their money in the baguette game it’s the Boulangerie Julien.

Situated in the very heart of les Halles, this spot pleasantly surprises all who happen to wander inside of it. Their menu is vast; pastries, brownies, cakes, tarts, macarons, sandwiches, quiches, eclairs, flans… I can go on.

Always buy from their freshly made goods and avoid their prepackaged treats.

What to order: Citrus tarts

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Saturday: 7am to 8pm

ADDRESS: 75 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris, France

METRO STATION: Chatlet — les Halles

4. Paris Baguette in les Halles

Another bakery a little further east than most in the area. Paris Baguette is slightly pricier than other patisseries around here, but usually doesn’t have long lines or waiting periods which people gravitate toward.

They do light breakfasts and lunches in addition to their baked section. Delicious soups in the winter!

What to order: Quiche

Paris Baguette in les Halles – by Paris Baguette – Uploaded by them

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Saturday: 7am to 8pm

ADDRESS: 11 Rue Jean Lantier, 75001 Paris, France

METRO STATION: Pont Neuf

5. Boulangerie De Belles Manières in les Halles

Walking the streets of les Halles you can smell this bakery a mile away. The boulangerie is known for their breads, with all of them being baked fresh right there inside of the store.

Bakeries in Paris don’t always offer decent coffee or a place to sit down — Boulangerie de belles Manières does!

What to order: Chocolate almond croissant

Boulangerie De Belles Manières in les Halles – by Boulangerie De Belles Manières – Uploaded by them

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Saturday: 8am to 8pm

ADDRESS: 5 Rue de Turbigo, 75001 Paris, France

METRO STATION: Étienne Marcel

6. The Color Wheats in les Halles

The Color Wheats, or La Couleur des Blés, is one of the nearest bakeries to the Louvre and attracts a significant amount of foot traffic because of this.

While I wouldn’t call anything in the bakery exceptional, everything is good and worth trying.

The waiting time can fluctuate depending on the time of day. If the line appears to be longer than ten minutes you’re better off moving on to the next!

What to order: Palmier

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Saturday: 6:45am to 8pm

ADDRESS: 6 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 75001 Paris, France

METRO STATION: Les Halles

7. Maison Marnay in les Halles

Maison Marnay, on the other hand, is a bakery worth a thirty minute plus wait if necessary. Everything on the menu here actually is outstanding.

Airbnb dwellers in these parts love being able to walk down to Maison Marnay every morning for a breakfast fix.

What to order: Croissants!

Maison Marnay in les Halles – by Maison Marnay – Sourced from their Facebook

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Saturday: 10am to 9pm

ADDRESS: 80 Rue de Rome, 75008 Paris, France

METRO STATION: Châtelet

8. The Smiths Bakery in les Halles

The Smiths Bakery is deeply south of les Halles but easy to get to from the center. Their main attraction is their outdoor courtyard which is unheard of for bakeries in Paris; in the winter they even provide blankets for customers who want to dine outside.

What to order: Palmier or banoffee pie

The Smiths Bakery – by The Smiths Bakery – Uploaded by them

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Sunday: 8:30am to 11:30pm

ADDRESS: 12 Rue de Buci, 75006 Paris, France

METRO STATION: Mabillon

9. Boulangerie Flamel in les Halles

The Boulangerie Flamel hasn’t been part of les Halles for very long but so far all feedback on the bakery has been positive.

The very charming exterior is what attracts most customers passing by. There are a few spaces inside for dining in and they make delicious tea!

What to order: Pain au Chocolat

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Saturday: 7:30am to 8pm

ADDRESS: 34 Rue de Montmorency, 75003 Paris, France

METRO STATION: Rambuteau

10. Aki Boulanger in les Halles

Aki is a Japanese, Korean and Parisian hybrid bakery in the heart of les Halles. The east has a very particular way of preparing breads and baked goods; in Aki you’ll be able to experience it first hand.

Be open to sampling new and unusual looking baked goods during your visit.

What to order: Matcha eclairs

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Saturday: 7:30am to 8:30pm

ADDRESS: 16 Rue Sainte-Anne, 75001 Paris, France

METRO STATION: Pyramides