Where to Find the Best Pastries in Paris (2023)

If you’ve ever spent more than a day in Paris, France, you likely relish the memory of the first morning you awoke to the smell of freshly baked bread and buttery croissants drifting up to your window. There seems to be a bakery on the lower level of every building, and the smell permeates the streets, striking up every hunger hormone and sweet tooth. Thankfully, sweet treats for breakfast are perfectly acceptable to the French. Cafe culture is at the heart of the Parisian way of life, and snagging a café crème and a sweet pastry from your favorite local patisserie is the way to start the day. We’ve scoured the internet and included a few personal favorites to round out this list of where to find the best pastries in Paris. Let the mouth-watering begin!

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The Parisian Way

Paris is second to none on the foodie scene. Its restaurants are to die for, but when you envision Paris, you probably think of the red cafe chairs sprawling out into the cobblestone lanes, filled with people-watching espresso drinkers. You’re not wrong. The cafe is an integral part of life. Some are sit-all-afternoon spots, and others are more of a grab-your-croissant-and-hit-the-pavement kind of thing. It’s also incredibly common to see the same person pop in the same local bakery every evening for a few baguettes on the way home from work. Bread and sweet treats are a way of life.

So, don’t be afraid to chow down on these carb-loaded treats. You’ll do plenty of walking in Paris to counteract any ill effects. Plus, French bread isn’t loaded with all the baddies that Americans suffer in their bread products. So, chow down and enjoy!

What to Be on the Lookout For

The list of French pastries is astronomical; there’s no way we can list them all. Famous pastry chefs create new ones every day, it seems. We suggest you try as many as you can! Some patissier excel at making macarons, others at éclairs. While you may not have time to seek out specific items at particular spots, it pays to have a list of the traditional French pastries that you want to try. Check them off as you go along! Here are a few of the most famous French confections to add to your belly bucket list.

1. Macarons

These colorful little cuties are a biscuit-based (cake-ish cookie to Americans) finger food made meringue. They come in various colors and flavors and are quintessentially French. As far as how they became a French staple, legends abound. Some say Catherine de Medici brought them with her from Italy when she became queen of France in 1533. More than 200 years later, two nuns, fleeing the Revolution violence in Paris, set up shop in Nancy making and selling the treats to support themselves, sending them soaring in popularity. The Maison des Soeurs, in the city of Nancy, reportedly still uses the original recipe.

2. Profiterole

This little treat is called a choux pastry, a delicate puff pastry made of butter, water, flour, and eggs. It is commonly stuffed with whipped cream, custard, or even ice cream. Then it is covered in powdered sugar or flavored syrup. These delicacies can even be stacked into a tower called croquembouche, which is often served at weddings. The origin of the puff pastry is hotly debated, from 13th century Spain to ancient Greece and beyond. Wherever it originated, it is quintessentially French now.

A similar dessert, called religieuse, hails from the 19th century and consists of two stacked choux buns, stuffed with custard and topped with chocolate. The name translates to “nun,” as the dessert looks like a little fat nun.

3. Mille-feuille

Translating to “a thousand leaves,” traditional mille-feuille consists of three layers of thin puff pastry, alternated with pastry cream. The concoction is then dusted with powdered sugar. It was first seen in the 1641 cookbook Le Cuisinier François by pastry chef François Pierre de la Varenne. Modern versions often substitute the filling with fruits, chocolate, or custard.

4. Éclair

Shape the same choux dough into an oblong shape, stuff it with cream, and top it with chocolate and some pretty ditties, and you have the infamous éclair! It means “flash of lightning” and is thought to have evolved in the 19th century, possibly from Antoine Carême, the same chef that brought us the creme-stuffed profiterole.

5. Brioche

The French Viennoiserie is a mashup of pastry and bread. It’s basically bread enriched with tons of eggs and butter and is commonly served with jam. It’s been around since the 1400s and may have been brought even earlier by the Normans. Whoever made it, thank you very much!

6. Kouign Amann

Originating in Brittany in the 1800s, the Kouign Amann is a proper butter cake made of multiple layers of dough, loads of butter, and caramelized sugar top. Its infancy is not concrete, but some say it was a happy accident by Yves-Rene Scordia in the 1800s when his shop ran out of pastries and he attempted to make a sweet treat using bread dough.

7. Cannele

Hailing from Bordeaux, the cannele is a brown cake with a custard center that includes tinges of vanilla and rum and is caramelized. It comes in a cylindrical shape and was supposedly developed by some clever nuns in the 17th century. We’re beginning to love nuns more and more!

8. Pain Au Chocolat

This popular fella is basically a chocolate croissant in a different shape. It’s croissant dough stuffed with slightly melted dark chocolate bits. This buttery, flaky creation is perfect with an espresso!

9. Tarte Bourdaloue

We know exactly where this one comes from. The Tarte Bourdaloue was created by a Parisian pastry shop on Bourdaloue Street in 1890. It’s an expansion of the traditional amandine tart and consists of multiple slices of poached pear placed on top of a frangipane-topped dough. It has the appearance of an American piece of Apple pie and is often topped with bits of macaron or hazelnut slivers.

10. Gâteau Saint Honoré

This one is a showstopper. Named after the patron saint of pastry chefs, this glorious stunner has a puff pastry base. Then, there’s a ring of choux puffs filled with pastry creme and topped with choux cream puffs. It’s reportedly a beast to make since it requires several types of dough and baking skills. The famous Paris-Brest is basically a St. Honoré without the puff pastry base.

Where to Find the Best Pastries in Paris

Now that you know the must-try pastries, let’s get you to the best bakeries in town! Every Parisian has their favorite bakery, and it’s generally in whatever neighborhood they frequent the most. You can’t go wrong with pastries in Paris. You’re not going to get a bad one. Pastries are so important in the culture that the French government has strict mandates on the making and serving of its national treasure to ensure that you get the best in the world. For instance, to be an office boulangerie (bakery) in Paris, chefs must make the bread on-site and cannot utilize premade or frozen ingredients. There are even rules for ingredients and sizes for baguettes, which, as of November 2022, have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.

However, a good rule of thumb is to follow the locals. Sometimes the biggest and fanciest stores have sold out on tradition in order to produce elaborate products for throngs of tourists. They also have higher prices. Don’t be afraid to step off the main tourist track to grab a tasty treat in a side alley. Classical pastry making often takes time, love, and a perfectionist’s hand. Look for smaller boulangeries that make their pastries fresh daily. That’s not to say that some of the big boys aren’t famous for a reason! Many of them are elegant spaces to spend a morning or afternoon, and they crank out a great pastry too.

1. Maison Landemaine

Maison Landemaine is a smaller chain of bakeries in Paris and Japan, each with its own on-site team. It’s owned by pastry chef Rodolphe Landemain, who studied in two different culinary schools, working alongside other legends like Pierre Herme and Paul Bocuse. He runs the bakery with his wife and fellow pastry chef Yoshimi Ishikawa. While many turn up their nose at the notion of a chain, Maison is different. Their breads are consistent across each shop, no matter which arrondissement you visit. They have shops in the 11th and ninth. While famous for their baguettes, you also can’t go wrong grabbing a few madeleines from the counter basket either.

2. Poilâne

Poilâne is a family-owned la pâtisserie that has been baking up deliciousness since 1932. Appolonia Poilâne is a third-generation pastry chef carrying on the traditions and techniques of her grandfather Pierre. The bakery has several locations across Paris and is immensely popular. Poilâne is famous for its sourdough bread. They also make a lovely Tarte aux Pommes. Their bakeries still retain a traditional and homey feel that makes them feel extra special.

The location in Le Marais is perfect for sightseeing, or you can visit the quaint original at 8 Rue du Cherche-Midi, Saint Germain des Prés.

3. Stohrer

Like the others on the list so far, some bakeries are famous for good reason! If you want to experience the elegance of old Paris, you must make a stop at Stohrer on 51 Rue Montorgueil. It’s highly regarded as one of the best bakeries in Paris. This is the oldest pastry shop in the city, founded in 1730 by the personal pastry chef to the family of King Louis XV’s wife, Nicolas Stohrer. He invented the now-famous Baba au Rhum, which is the store’s best seller. It’s a rum-laced spongey yeast cake, which is to die for! Everything about this place, from the rum-soaked cakes to the decadent decor (created by the same architect who worked on the famous interior of Opéra Garnier) is sumptuous, and the bakery is listed as a National Historic Monument. Try their Baba Chantilly or delicious Kouign-Amman.

4. Pralus

Praline fans, this one is for you! In 1955, Roanne pastry chef Auguste Pralus invented a new type of Brioche bread containing crunch praline, and it became the star of the show, soon selling hundreds of loaves each morning. The bakery has now expanded to Paris and most major cities in France. It’s now owned by the son, who is a seriously talented chocolatier. The chocolate beans are imported from a plantation in Madagascar, and he makes the chocolate directly on-site. His tasty creations feature both dark and milk chocolate and are packed with the punch of praline, pistachio, hazelnut, and coffee! Pralus has several locations within the city of Paris.

5. Mamiche

Located in the ninth arrondissement, Mamiche is a local favorite that offers one of the best cream puffs in the city. It’s a non-pretentious facility that serves up fresh sourdough baked daily and utilizes the best raw ingredients prepared in the traditional manner. Mamiche makes everything by hand, so they often have limited stock. Getting there early is a good idea. You can find their stores at 45 Rue Condorcet in the ninth or 32 Rue du Château d’Eau in the tenth.

6. Du Pain et des Idées

Located at 34 Rue Yves Toudic, Du Pain et des Idées is a gorgeous boulangerie famous with tourists but that serves up truly wonderful pastries. The flagship product is the chocolate-pistachio Escargot, and it’s not what you think. It’s actually a viennoiserie. The bakery was founded by award-winning baker Christophe Vasseur and has a devotion to keeping it local. They source their raw ingredients from nearby farms and have a large organic selection. This shop gets pretty busy, so you might want to swing in early in the day.

7. Alexine

An affordable and wonderful option in the Montmartre District, Alexine serves up both sweet and savory treats. Their tomato-laced puff baguettes are amazing, and the Vanilla Diamond, a shortbread cookie, is the perfect pairing with your afternoon espresso. They don’t have a website, but you stop in the shop at 40 Rue Lepic.

8. Ladurée

If you’re visiting Paris for the first time and you want to get a taste of the regal French tea room, an afternoon at Maison Ladurée is a must. Located on the Champs-Elysées, the decadent patisserie is considered the go-to place for the Parisian Macaron. In 1862, Louis-Ernest Ladurée opened his flagship bakery in the luxury craft district of Madeleine. His wife soon had the idea to merge pastries and coffee in a sit-down tea room that became an instant hit. In 1930, Pierre Desfontaines (apparently you have to be named Pierre to be a truly famous pastry chef), a cousin of the family, decided to take two macaron shells and fill them with fluffy ganache, creating the Parisian macaron that the bakery is now the ambassador for. Ladurée is one of the best patisseries in Paris for the experience, but we also have no complaints about the delicious macarons.

9. Des Gâteaux et du Pain

Claire Damon comes from a family of chefs, and her patisserie is anything but blase. Her creations are simply a work of art. She too studied under Pierre Herme at Ladurée but branched out on her own innovative path. Every pastry is a decadent combination of unexpected gourmet ingredients. She specializes in treats made with local and organic fruits and vegetables, and her unique skills have been recognized by multiple awards. Claire’s creations are not cheap, but each one is an explosion of flavor and beauty. You can find these decadent creations on Rue du Bac in Saint-Germaine or on Boulevard Pasteur.

If you love Claire’s fruit twist on the pastry, hop into Le Meurice and experience the creations of Cédric Grolet, a celebrity pastry chef famous for his reinterpretations of traditional French pastries and incorporation of fresh fruits.

10. Pierre Hermé

It wouldn’t really be fair to talk about all the famous pastry chefs that Pierre Hermé has trained and influenced and not put his own store on the list. The creator of the rose Ispahan and King of the Macaron has won too many awards to number and was actually voted the fourth most influential person in all of France. He created the Ritz Carlton of pastry shops, which he describes as “Haute-Pâtisserie.” His flagship store was actually in the Japanese capital city of Tokyo, but a Paris store soon followed. Pierre’s attention to detail, rigorous sourcing of the best raw ingredients, and sense of style make his stores a feast for the eyes and the tastebuds. You can find this culinary perfection at 72 Rue Bonaparte, in the heart of the Saint-Germain district, and dozens of other sites around the city.

11. Popelini

Popelini was founded in 2011 and named after the Italian chef who supposedly invented, or at least perfected, the choux pastry. This is your go-to spot for cream puffs. With locations all over Paris, they specialize in this tasty treat in dozens of flavors, including passion fruit, raspberry, and Gianduja Nougat. Stop in for a puffy treat at 29 Rue Debelleyme.

12. Angelina’s

Angelina’s makes the list for elegance and experience. Oh, and the world-famous hot chocolate. They serve a wide variety of lovely pastries that are a bit overpriced, but you’re paying for the experience. This elegant tea house has been in operation since 1903 when confection Anton Rumpelmayer opened the flagship store on Rue de Rivoli. The boulangerie quickly became a favorite among the elite due to its prestigious location in the high-end Opera Garnier District. Their signature pastry is the Mont-Blanc, a recipe unchanged since the early 1900s. It consists of crispy meringue topped with a dome of whipped cream and chestnut vermicelli. The Mont-Blanc is incredibly tasty, but their Citron Tarte is also a favorite! This shop is a beautiful space to rest your feet, take some photos, and enjoy a signature treat.

Getting Ready to Indulge

Paris is a haven for foodies! With the huge collection of Michelin restaurants and a fabulous bakery around every corner, you’re going to need to pack your walking shoes to shed those extra calories. Still, your tastebuds will thank you for the sacrifice. Whether you prefer a corner bakery with no pomp and frills or an over-the-top tea room, you’ll find no shortage of satisfying stops to conquer your sweet tooth. So, keep your eyes open and pop into several bakeries in your neighborhood. Try a little bit of everything. You may just find the next best bakery in Paris!

Are you familiar with the Paris boulangerie scene? Where are the best pastries in Paris? Drop your favorite spot in the comments! We’d love to give it a taste.

For more information on the City of Light, check out “How to Spend One Week in Paris.”

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