Where to Find the Best Croissants in Paris
If you ever want to stir the pot (of French onion soup) for a bit of a laugh, bring up the subject of where to find the best croissants in Paris while at a bistro of bar with a table of Parisian locals.
Suddenly everyone is French pastry guru. Those are too flakey; these too buttery; that boulangerie doesn’t grease their baking trays properly.
You’ll learn more about croissants in Paris in those few minutes than you will on the streets. And afterward you’ll have a pretty good idea of exactly where to go for the perfect, crispy, buttery flake. Here is what I know for sure:
Montmartre: Pain Pain in Paris
Pain Pain is one of the first Montmartre bakeries you’ll pass on a free guided walking tour starting from Pigalle and heading up.
The croissants in Pain Pain are renowned. Order at least two flavors to taste if you go alone, if you visit with a friend purchase at least four. The chocolate filled croissants are something else.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS: Tuesday TO SUNDAY – 6:30AM TO 9PM
ADDRESS: 87 Rue Saint-Antoine, 75004 Paris, France
METRO STATION: Sully-Morland
Le Marais: Miss Manon in Paris
Miss Manon has some sort of decadent butter connection coming from the French underground, myself and many others are convinced. Their croissants are so good that travelers who leave Paris write to them asking why they can’t stop craving them — I’m not joking.
Miss Manon have won the croissant game in le Marais (and arguably the rest of Paris). Pay them a visit next time you’re in the 4th and see for yourself.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS: MONDAY TO SUNDAY – 9AM TO 4PM
ADDRESS: 10 RUE LAMARCK, 75018 PARIS, FRANCE
METRO STATION: LAMARCK – CAULAINCOURT
Les Halles: Boulangerie Terroirs d’Avenir
I can only speak for the almond croissants at Boulangerie Terroirs d’Avenir, and those are worth the boulangerie queues in les Halles any day.
Two blocks up from Boulangerie Terroirs d’Avenir is the Grand Rex cinema complex. Like a true Parisian I quite like to enjoy a croissant during a film, movie theatre snacks simply don’t cut it. Sneak your treats from Boulangerie Terroirs d’Avenir inside!
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS: Tuesday TO SUNDAY – 8AM TO 8PM
ADDRESS: 3 Rue du Nil, 75002 Paris, France
METRO STATION: Bonne Nouvelle
Notre Dame: BERTRAND’S in Paris
Being quite a historic little neighborhood, the bakery industry within Notre Dame is a competitive one.
Bertrand’s is the best all rounder in this area. The croissants are not only always baked to perfection but Bertrand’s does an incredible range of tartlets, pastries, cakes and sandwiches to go.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS: Tuesday TO SUNDAY – 7AM TO 8PM
ADDRESS: 10 Rue Lagrange, 75005 Paris, France
METRO STATION: Cluny – La Sorbonne
Montparnasse: Des Gateaux et du Pain in Paris
Everyone who visits Paris should consider going up the Tour Montparnasse at least once. The view up there is far superior to the Eiffel Tower, just don’t tell the iron lady I said that.
Des Gateaux et du Pain will treat you to fresh, warm croissants before or after your excursion. If you’re not staying nearby, purchase a few extra to enjoy for breakfast the following morning — future you will thank past you.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS: Wednesday TO Monday – 9AM TO 8PM
ADDRESS: 63 Boulevard Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
METRO STATION: Volontaires
Bastille: Blé Sucré in Paris
I sometimes jump off the metro at Ledru-Rollin just to run into Blé Sucré for a chocolate croissant, and then jump back on the train to continue onto my destination. If that doesn’t summarize the quality of the product I don’t know what does.
Remember Blé Sucré if you’re ever in the Bastille. Those saying in Airbnbs out here are lucky to have this bakery within walking distance.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS: Tuesday TO SUNDAY – 7AM TO 7:30PM
ADDRESS: 7 Rue Antoine Vollon, 75012 Paris, France
METRO STATION: Ledru – Rollin
Canal Saint Martin: Du Pains et des Idées in Paris
That debate I told you to spark at your bistro table? Well, its almost always resolved by a majority of conclusion that Du Pain et des Idées probably has the best croissants in Paris. It is also the most beautiful bakery in terms of design perhaps in the whole city.
Being near the banks of the Canal Saint Martin (and because it’s just so good) there are always queues in this boulangerie. Worth every minute, the customers proclaim. They make the fluffiest pistachio croissants this side of the Seine.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS: MONDAY TO Friday – 7AM TO 8PM
ADDRESS: 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010 Paris, France
METRO STATION: Jacques Bonsergent
The Latin Quarter: Poilâne in Paris
The Latin Quarter isn’t a part of Paris particularly well known for its bakeries. Poilâne is therefore a bit of an anomaly to the area, which brings crowds al week long.
The croissants are buttery goodness and on a whole the bakery is well priced and filled with other wonderful treats. Get here early on weekends, the morning rush can clean out most of the stock.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS: MONDAY TO SUNDAY – 7AM TO 8:30PM
ADDRESS: 8 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006 Paris, France
METRO STATION: Sèvres – Babylone
Belleville: Boulangerie Au 140 in Paris
Being one of the least gentrified parts of Paris, the bakers in Belleville are making croissants for the locals instead of for the masses. The quality, price and service has remained the same for decades.
Boulangerie Au 140 is a hidden gem of the south. There is a lot of street art to be seen in the streets surrounding the bakery, walk with your croissant in hand if you can .
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS: Tuesday TO SUNDAY – 7AM TO 8PM
ADDRESS: 140 Rue de Belleville, 75020 Paris, France
METRO STATION: Jourdaine
Champs-Élysées: Joséphine in Paris
Unfortunately today the Champs–Elysées is merely a tourist trap and has lost a lot of the authentic Parisian goodness that other neighborhoods still cling to. The bakeries out here and the big business brands that make money because they are world famous and not necessarily because they are the best. Paul’s is a good example of this.
Joséphine is the closest you’ll get to wholesome, homestyle croissants in the Champs–Elysées area. This is more of a sit down cafe than a walk in bakery, but the breakfasts are good and takeaways are an option!
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS: MONDAY TO Friday – 8AM TO 8PM
ADDRESS: 69 Avenue Marceau, 75116 Paris, France
METRO STATION: George V
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