When thinking about Paris, you are probably also thinking about all the amazing baked goods you find in bakeries in Paris: croissants, éclairs, pain au chocolat, macarons, or a tarte au citron.
Sounds mouth-watering, no? It is heaven for those with a sweet tooth, but the immense choice – there is a pastry shop or bakery in Paris at every corner – can be overwhelming.
To help you navigate the sweet side of Paris, I asked my friend Jasmin, a pastry chef and true bakery expert, to narrow down her five favorite places in town and satisfy all your sweet cravings! Ready to add them to your Paris food bucket list?
Jasmin originally comes from Vienna, the place where Viennoiserie was invented, and moved to Paris to study pastry at École Ducasse. After finishing school, she worked at the Four Seasons Hotel George V and the boulangerie Mamiche.
Since living in Paris, she dedicated her life to not only learning how to make the best pastry in the world but also to seeking out all the hotspots, the best gâteaux, and the best croissants in Paris. To make it short: she is living quite a sweet life. Follow her on Instagram @jasminmmaier
The Best Paris Bakeries
#1 Babka Zana
Babka is a brioche-like bready cake filled with creamy spreads, that originates from Jewish communities in Ukraine, Poland, and Russia. Today, babka can be found all over social media as well as in most modern bakeries. But one Babka definitely rules them all: the soft and gooey babka from Babka Zana.
What to try: Babka, what else?
Please don’t make me pick a favourite, because I simply cannot choose between their chocolat noisette and pistache fleur d’oranger.
Where to find this Boulangerie in Paris?
8 Rue du Pas de la Mule, 75004 Paris
65 Rue Condorcet, 75009 Paris
#2 Yann Couvreur
There are a lot of great pastry chefs in Paris that opened their own places throughout the years. What differentiates Yann Couvreur, are his creative flavor pairings in tarts and small cakes like raspberry estragon or apricot verveine and his flan, definitely the creamiest vanilla flan in all of Paris.
What to try: If you are as big of a fan of Viennoiserie as I am, go for the roulé Isatis, it is delicious. But please also try a fruit tart as well when you are there, especially in summer.
Where to find this Pâtisserie in Paris?
23bis Rue des Rosiers, 75004 Paris
and 7 more times in Paris
#3 Mamiche
Mamiche is – as they call themselves – the typical local neighborhood bakery, which is reflected in the down-to-earth style of their shop and moderate prices. Combined with mouthwatering products inspired by both French and American bakeries, Mamiche is one of the most popular bakeries in town, so expect to have to wait in line, but it’s worth the wait.
What to try: Mamiche certainly has the best cinnamon roll in Paris, and their cookie is often listed as one of the best cookies in town.
Where to find this Boulangerie in Paris?
45 Rue Condorcet, 75009 Paris
32 Rue du Château d’Eau, 75010 Paris
#4 The French Bastards
The French Bastards is part of the new generation of NY-inspired bakeries that are popping up around town with their brick walls and neon signs. This bakery is first and foremost a boulangerie, with exceptional bread and baguette.
But let me tell you, the real star of the place is their viennoiserie, more specifically their chocolate cruffin – simply mouthwatering!
What to try: The chocolate cruffin! If you are a chocolate lover, this treat will blow your mind, it really is the epitome of Food Porn.
Where to find this Boulangerie in Paris?
181 Rue Saint-Denis, 75002 Paris
61 Rue Oberkampf, 75011 Paris
35 Pl. Saint-Ferdinand, 75017 Paris
#5 Plaq
Plaq is an artisanal chocolaterie, not a pâtisserie per se, but they have the best chocolate in Paris. The special thing about Plaq is their focus on quality over quantity, with their chocolate produced on-site in their store in central Paris on the Rue du Nil.
They also sell pastries, like cookies or in summer even ice cream, made from their chocolate.
What to try: The noisettes chocolat pur lait and the barre praliné pistaches – but be aware they are addictive.
Where to find it?
4 Rue du Nil, 75002 Paris
A few more pastry shops in Paris for your bucket list
Since Paris is the pastry capital of the world, picking my five favorite places was difficult. So, here are a few honorary mentions and a few more amazing bakeries in Paris, France.
#6 Fou de Pâtisserie
The idea behind this pastry shop is to sell the best pastries from different pastry chefs around Paris so that you can try creations from different pastry chefs within a single store.
#7 Lafayette Gourmet
A lot of the best and most famous pastry chefs in Paris (including Yann Couvreur) have a stall in the gourmet section at Lafayette. Want to know more? Lena has written a post with everything you need to know about Lafayette Le Gourmet.
Tip: If you are keen on learning how to bake Macarons in Paris, the Galerie Lafayette offers rather affordable baking classes! Click here for more info
#8 Pierre Hermé
Even though Ladurée has the most famous macarons in the world, the one and only king of macarons will always be Pierre Hermé. You can find his stores all over town, and if you are there, definitely try his signature flavours Ispahan and Mogador!
#9 Cyril Lignac
If you have seen any pastry show on french TV, Cyril Lignac is probably a familiar name and face. He is the go-to address for many Parisians with delicious products that change throughout the year.
#10 Aux Merveiulleux de Fred
By far the best chocolate brioche in town. They bake them freshly throughout the day, so the chances of getting your hands on a warm brioche fresh out of the oven are very, very high!
#11 Land & Monkey
Last but not least: Thankfully pastry, is modernising, and you can slowly find more and more vegan bakeries in Paris. Land & Monkeys is one of the pioneers of vegan pastry in Paris. With five locations, all over Paris, it is your best choice if you want to try your first vegan croissant in Paris.
I am sure this collection of the best pastries in Paris is a Paris bucket list you are eager to check off!
Let us know if you know of bakeries or cake shops in Paris that are worth being on this list!
Want more Paris recommendations? Here’s my free Google Map with 200+ spots 🗺️
À bientôt,
Lena
Parisienne since 2006 🇫🇷
Sharing Paris life, French culture, cafés, food & honest travel tips
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NEW: The Salut from Paris Travel Guide:
Must-Haves for Paris:
- eSim card to stay online while in Paris. I used Airalo for my travels.
- You likely need a travel adapter to plug your devices.
- Travel Insurance – if you don’t have one, VisitorsCoverage is a good option.
- If your flight is delayed or even canceled, use AirHelp to get compensation.
Tours & Attractions:
- I book tours & activities through Get Your Guide or Viator.
- Museum & Landmark tickets can be cheaper on the official page, but they are often sold out.
- I love the GoCity Travel Passes for easy planning
Flights & Transportation:
- I use Omio to compare flight fares & connections
- Airport transfers I book through Welcome Pickup
- For car rentals, I use AutoEurope. It’s easy to compare prices
- Train Tickets, you can book through Omio
- Here’s my Parisian Metro Guide
Accomodation:
- Hotels in Europe I mostly book through Booking.com (check reviews carefully)
- Vacation Rentals through Airbnb or VRBO
PS: Check out these posts, they will help you plan your trip to Paris
- 20 Arrondissements in Paris (Quick Guide + Map)
- 37 Hidden Gems in Paris: Secret Spots to Explore
- How to Get Around in Paris: Your Quick Guide
- Where to Stay in Paris: A Local’s Best Picks
- Your Perfect 2 Days in Paris! Itinerary & Insider Tips
- 5 ways to get from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris – THE complete guide!
- Scams in Paris! How to avoid the most common cons
