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The Best Bakeries in Paris

SD › Paris Patisseries & Chocolatiers
Updated: August 23, 2023
By Santorini Dave

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Close up view of rows of shredded pastry nests with colorful chocolate caps and chocolate eggs at Maison Aleph in Paris

Maison Aleph is know for their “nids,” kadaïf pastry nests made with clarfied butter and topped with candied fruit or chocolate.

15 Best Patisseries, Boulangeries, and Chocolatiers in Paris

1. Gérard Mulot • 6th

Colorful macarons arranged in tall cone-shaped stacks in the windows of Gerard Mulot patisserie in Paris
Given a knighthood in pastry from the Prime Minister, Mulot produces some of the finest croissants, pain au chocolat, and macarons in France. Try the strawberry and champagne flavor. His baguettes of tradition are excellent, too. Two locations are around the corner from each other in Saint Germain, one being a sit-down tea salon and the other a quick-serve bakery with lunch options.

2. Pierre Hermé • 1st, 2nd, 6th

Warm red interior shown beyond the glass doors of Pierre Hermé cafe and patisserie in Paris
Creative macarons like chocolate and foie gras (available at Christmas) put him on the map but it’s his signature “Ispahan” – a blend of rosewater, raspberry, and lychee – that are worth standing on line for.

3. Angelina • 1st

Exterior of Angelina patisserie with two matching brown awnings with gold trim in Paris
This iconic patisserie has branches across the city and world, but the original is at 226 rue de Rivoli, across from the Tuileries. Grab a light breakfast or lunch in the restaurant (once frequented by Coco Chanel), or just stop in for their signature Mont-Blanc pastry or decadently-rich hot chocolate.

4. Maison Aleph • 3rd, 9th, 18th

Exterior of Maison Aleph patisserie in blue tiles with gold lettering in Paris
A relative newcomer to the pastry scene, Maison Aleph offers an elegant fusion of Levantine traditional flavors (think orange blossom, Damask rose, and sumac) with contemporary French techniques. The nids (pictured at the top) are their most popular offering. Another signature favorite is the 1001 feuille, which is something like a mille-feuille meets baklava with flavors like sesame, Iranian pistachio, halva, and cinnamon. The original location is in the Marais with two more spots in Montmartre and in the 9th near Palais Garnier.

5. Ladurée • 8th

Green exterior of Ladurée patisserie with pink and gold treats displayed in the windows in Paris
One of the most iconic (and ubiquitous) Parisian patisseries, known for their wide selection of macarons. The best and most charming location is at 75 Champs-Élysées, with an attached fine-dining restaurant and cocktail bar.

6. Blé Sucré • 12th

Exterior of Blé Sucré bakery with a gray awning and sidewalk tables set up in Paris
People cross town for the croissants here, but the madeleines and baguettes deserve top billing too. A bit out of the way for most in the 12th arrondissement, it’s worth the trek – and you can enjoy your pastries in the pretty Square Trousseau next door.

7. Tout Autour du Pain (formerly 134 rdt) • 3rd

Former winner of the Best Croissant in Paris and placed in the Top Ten for the Best Baguette in the city. There are two locations in the Marais, one at 134 Rue de Turenne and another nearby on rue de Saintonge. If one is closed, there will be directions for how to get to the other.

8. Chocolat Chapon • 6th, 7th, 16th

Brown exterior of Chapon chocolatier with warm gold light within the shop in Paris
The man who used to make ice cream for the Queen of England now channels those talents towards his single origin chocolate mousses. Or go for one of his award winning chocolates like the dôme au sel which combines caramelized pistachios and a bit of smoked salt. Multiple Paris locations, but the one on Rue du Bac offers the largest selection.

9. Patrick Roger • 6th, 8th

Contemporary glass and metal exterior of Patrick Roger chocolatier in Paris
One of the best chocolate makers in France as well as a talented sculptor. To get the full experience, visit the Saint Germain location next to the Saint Sulpice Church, try the basil lemon chocolate (one of his most original flavors), and then head upstairs to browse his art gallery.

10. Arnaud Larher • 6th, 18th

Exterior of Arnaud Larher patisserie and chocolatier on the ground floor of a Haussmann building in Paris
He’s the “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” of pastry (akin to having a Michelin star), and voted to have the best tarte citron in Paris. He also has some hard-to-find regional pastries such as kouign-amann (like a croissant on steroids from Brittany) and kugelhopf (an Alsatian pastry that’s sort of a cross between a brioche and bundt cake). The Saint-Germain-des-Prés location might be more convenient, but the shop in the Montmartre has a full service tea salon.

11. Un Dimanche à Paris • 6th

Unique concept store devoted to pastry and chocolates with an onsite pastry school, tea salon, boutique, and cocktail lounge. Pick up one of their incredible chocolate éclairs or try their hot chocolate in winter. On Cours du Commerce Saint-André in Saint Germain, one of the most charming passages from the 1700s.

12. Poilâne • 3rd, 6th, 15th, 17th, 19th

Shelves and tables of baked goods inside Poilâne bakery in Paris
Originally opened in 1932, this small empire of boulangeries is run by third-generation baker Apollonia Poilâne. Known for their giant wheels of sourdough miche, weighing in at nearly 2 kilos each (seen here with a swirly “P” carved on top), made with stone-ground flours, salt from the Guérande marshes, and natural leavening. Though rustic bread is their specialty, you’ll also find here flakey croissants, brioche, cookies, and tarts.

13. Maison Éric Kayser • 1st, 2nd, 5th

Exterior of bakery Eric Kayser with friends sitting at a table on the sidewalk in Paris
Though you can now find Maison Kaysers across the globe, this is not a low quality chain. The man responsible for reintroducing artisanal bread to France in the 1990s has supplied past presidents and top restaurants with his baguettes of tradition (aka baguette Monge). There are many locations but go to the one that started it all – 14 rue Monge in the Latin Quarter.

14. Gontran Cherrier • 17th, 18th

Exterior of Gontran Cherrier bakery at the base of a Haussmann-style building in Paris
Known for his traditional baguettes with a twist (think unusual ingredients like squid ink or curry). Though he has a few Paris locations, most people stop in at the one in Montmartre.

15. Jacques Genin • 3rd, 7th

Warm, gold light coming from inside Jacques Genin chocolatier in Paris
Jacques Genin built his reputation as the chocolate supplier to Paris’s top luxury hotels but his caramels (like the mango passionfruit) have almost a cult following. There are two locations in Paris, though the one in the Marais has the advantage of being a full service café.

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Santorini Dave Santorini Dave was started in 2011 when I posted a short guide to visiting Santorini with kids. Now, my small team and I provide guides to Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Crete, Athens, and all of Greece - as well as best places to stay in some of my favorite cities - like London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Venice, and Florence.

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