Bakeries not to be missed in Paris
Paris... What comes to your mind first when you think of Paris?
For me, it's croissant, pain au chocolat, baguette and bakeries filled with fresh, warm, delicious-smelling pastries.
If you have the same connection, this post is totally for you!
Here are my top 6 bakeries that you simply cannot miss in Paris, along with my recommendations for what to try.
1. La Maison d’Isabelle
This bakery... I have no words for how delicious everything was! In fact, in 2018 they won 1st prize for a croissant and 2nd place for a chocolate eclair. The line is long, but it moves so fast that you hardly have time to choose.
Address: 47ter Bd Saint-Germain, 75005 Paris
What to try:
Pain au chocolat - soooo good. It was extremely fresh and a must try in France.
A rich, warm chocolate cake - kind of like a mud cake. When I bought it, it was warm and melted in my mouth. It is quite large and filling.
Pie with chocolate and custard filling - this is my favorite baked goods. When I see the combination of chocolate and custard, I'm sold. So I would say this has been one of my favorite bakes overall.
2. The French Bastards
French Bastards is a French bakery with a modern look. They have many locations in Paris, but below is one quite close to the Eiffel Tower. There is a large selection of sweet pies and savory baguettes, especially for lunch. The service is also very friendly, befitting a modern-looking cafe.
Address: 60 Rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris
What to try:
Black roll with pink pralines - an attractive looking pie. I have to say, when I saw the black pie, I wanted to try it. A layered soft and crunchy roll filled with pink pralines. A wonderful pie that I really recommend trying!
Vanilla Flan – One of the most popular baked goods among many others to try in Paris. Vanilla or chocolate flavors are usually sold. I went for a simple vanilla flan. A shortbread base topped with a thick layer of flan is a divine dessert. Great with a nice cup of coffee.
3. Du Pain et des Idées
Du Pain et des Idees is a bakery in the 10th arrondissement. The bakery in the building dates back to 1875 and reopened in 2002. It has a charming antique interior and traditional French pastries that will take you back in time. Like other popular bakeries in Paris, it has a long line outside, but it's worth the wait.
Address: 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010 Paris
What to try:
Their famous “escargot” – a pie roll that looks like a snail shell, hence the nickname. The most famous is actually the chocolate and pistachio "escargot" that you've probably seen on social media, and for good reason. It's great, with a noticeable chocolate and pistachio flavor. The pie itself is soft, buttery and full of flavor. If pistachio and chocolate aren't your thing, try their lemon 'escargo'. It's a bit sour compared to the other one, but still super tasty.
4. SAS boulangerie moderne Rabineau
This bakery is actually famous because of the first season of the Netflix show Emily in Paris. This is the bakery where Emily bought her first pain au coholat. It's actually in the same area as his apartment building, and it's next to “Gabriel's restaurant”.
Apart from being featured in the Emily in Paris series, this is a really cute little bakery with a wide variety of baguettes (vegetarian and vegan too) and lots of sweet pies. If you're a fan of Emily in Paris, it's a must-visit, but if you're not, you can just try one of the tastiest baguettes and pies in Paris.
Address: 16 Rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris
What to try:
Chocolate Madeleine - a must in Paris, right? The Madeleine itself is probably one of my least favorite pastries, but I actually enjoyed their chocolate covered version. Regardless, try Madeleines in Paris. ;)
Chocolate cramique (brioche) – This is my kind of pie. I really like the cramique! There's nothing better than super fresh brioche with chocolate chips!
Baguette with feta and vegetables - as a vegetarian, it's always quite difficult for me to find something tasty and quick for lunch. But they had at least 4 options. Baguette with feta and vegetables is a safe choice because nothing trumps each other in terms of flavors. So, vegetarian or not, try a baguette there - the choice is huge, both with and without meat.
5. Boulangerie Alexine
A cute and busy bakery in Montmartre. Again, quite a small place, no option to dine in or out, take out only. But that's okay, since it's Montmartre, you can find places to rest and sit down to eat your pies.
Address: 40 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris
What to try:
Pistachio and raspberry cake - a divine cake. Really moist, fresh and soft. Pistachio and raspberry are both really there. As a pistachio lover, I couldn't recommend it more!
6. Mamiche
A bakery with a hipster vibe. They are famous above all for their bread. In fact, "miche" is a rustic loaf of bread in French. Get there early because the selection is small by evening (although everything is delicious, so whatever you can choose even at that time is good anyway). Not far from Montmartre. There is no seating, only takeaway.
Address: 45 Rue Condorcet, 75009 Paris
What to try:
Viennenoise au chocolat (Viennese bread with chocolate) - not as soft as SAS boulangerie brioche. But still super chocolatey and delicious.
Tradition chocolat (rich chocolate bread) - an unexpectedly delicious bread. It looks hard and gooey, but it's soft on the inside and the crunchy outer shell just adds a great texture. Super rich chocolate flavor.
Fruity rye bread - one of my favorite things as a child. Their bread is fresh and their fruit is soft. It's so good that you won't realize you've eaten half a loaf of bread in one sitting.
