When friends or family tell me they’re heading to Paris, one of the first questions I always get is: Where do I find the best pastries? This is the list I share with them.
A few years ago, my husband and I hosted baking retreats in Paris alongside a talented pastry chef who had lived here for more than a decade. She introduced us to some of her favorite shops and taught us how to recognize the difference between an average bakery and a fantastic bakery.
That insight was priceless. After all, with a pastry shop on nearly every corner, it’s easy to end up somewhere forgettable.
We’ve tried a lot of places over the years, and these are the ones that stand out time and again. They’re the shops I recommend without hesitation, the ones I return to myself, and the ones that will stick in your mind long after you’ve already returned home from your vacation.
Now that I live in Paris, I keep this list updated with my very favorite spots. Here are the best pastry shops and bakeries in Paris.
Best Pastry Shops and Bakeries in Paris
Stohrer
Founded in 1730, Stohrer is the city’s oldest pâtisserie and always my #1 recommendation for anyone looking to try classic French pastries. The baba au rhum was invented here, it’s not quite my flavor (a little too boozy for me), but a must-try if you’re a rum fan.
Everything else I’ve tried here has been stellar. I recommend the fraisier, chocolate éclair, pain au chocolate, Piedmont, Intense, Opéra, and any of their tarts. Go to the location on Rue Montorgueil, where the original shop is located.
Location: 2nd arrondissement (original location) plus a few other boutiques around the city
Website: Stohrer
Boulangerie Utopie
Their 2024 award-winning baguette is reason enough to go, but the ham and cheese sandwich, made with that same baguette, is one of my favorites in the city.
Utopie’s signature is black sesame, and they do it incredibly well. I’m still thinking about the black sesame and lime pastry I had on my last visit. I suggest ordering a baguette sandwich and a couple of pastries to get the full Utopie experience.
Location: 11th arrondissement, 20 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011 Paris
Website: Boulangerie Utopie
Atelier P1
This bakery lives in my daydreams – it’s that good. At its core, they’re all about bread, made from 100% organic ingredients using sourdough for fermentation. But for me, the baked goods steal the show.
The pain au chocolate praliné, filled with chocolate and a carmelized, nutty praline, is a masterpiece. You have to get it.
Their tarts, both sweet and savory, make the 15-minute walk from Sacré-Coeur absolutely worth the detour.
Location: 18th arrondissement, 157 Rue Marcadet, 75018 Paris
Website: Atelier P1
Pleincœur
This spot was recommended to us by a Parisian we met while getting ice cream. He swore by the strawberry tart, so we made our way to the 17th arrondissement the next morning to see what the hype was about.
The strawberry tart didn’t wow me, but the pistachio-raspberry charlotte more than made up for it. They also make chocolate mousse, rice pudding, and a good variety of viennoiseries.
Location: 17th arrondissement, 64 Rue des Batignolles, 75017 Paris
Website: Pleincœur
Book: 2.5-Hour Paris Pastry Tour
La Panifacture
A minimalist bakery in the 11th arrondissement with a very small selection of goods. Their Pain Suisse is the best I’ve had in Paris (yet) – it’s buttery, flakey, and loaded with chocolate and custard. The flan is a must, and the hazelnut financier is a real treat.
Location: 11th arrondissement, 104 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris
Du Pain et des Idées
This 10th arrondissement bakery excels in viennoiserie, all made with natural, organic ingredients. I love the chocolate-pistachio escargot and their seasonal fruit tarts, especially the fig tart in the fall.
Location: 10th arrondissement, 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010 Paris
Website: Du Pain et des Idées
Poilâne
A generational family-run bakery since 1932, Poilâne is known for their wood-fired breads. Their buttery croissants are among the city’s very best, and their traditional sourdough bread is divine. I like to buy a few slices of their bread to make tartines at home for lunch.
Location: 6th arrondissement (original location), plus multiple other locations
Website: Poilâne
Pierre Hermé
My personal favorite place for macarons in Paris. We all know of Ladurée, but for me, Pierre Hermé’s unique flavor combinations like passion fruit and chocolate, paired with perfect textures, win every time.
Location: Multiple locations
Website: Pierre Hermé
Cédric Grolet
Known for his fruit-shaped pastries and elegant Saint-Honoré, Grolet’s creations are as much art as dessert. They are expensive at around €18 each. If you’re up for splurging, then you should definitely try one or two.
However, while I think his pastries are an experience, they aren’t mind-blowingly good, especially for the price.
Location: 2nd arrondissement, 35 Av. de l’Opéra, 75002 Paris
Website: Cédric Grolet
Yann Couvrer
Refined, high-end pastries at a surprisingly reasonable price. Yann Couvrer puts a fresh spin on Parisian classics and nails it. The Merveille, tarte au citron, and seasonal fruit tarts are consistently good.
Location: Multiple locations
Website: Yann Couvreur
Jeffrey Cagnes
After years at Stohrer, Jeffrey Cagnes opened his own spot nearby on Rue Montorgueil. I’ve been here many times and have enjoyed everything I’ve tried. The tarts, almond and chocolate croissants, and Paris-Brest are some of the best around.
Location: 2nd arrondissement, 73 Rue Montorgueil, 75002 Paris, plus multiple other locations
Website: Jeffrey Cagnes
Fou de Pâtisserie
A curated collection of pastries from Paris’s top chefs, all under one roof. It’s the perfect spot to sample iconic desserts from places like Angelina and Dalloyau without zigzagging across the city.
Location: 2nd arrondissement, 45 Rue Montorgueil, 75002 Paris
Website: Fou de Pâtisserie
Angelina
Best known for their hot chocolate (worth every sip), this historic tea house and pâtisserie opened in 1903 and remains a Paris must
For the ultimate Parisian pastry experience, reserve a table at their Rue de Rivoli location, order some chocolate chaud and a pastry or two, like the Mont Blanc and Frasier.
Location: 1st arrondissement, 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Website: Angelina
Mamiche
With locations in the 9th and 10th, Mamiche stands out for their bready baked goods. The babka is irresistible, and their cream puffs hit just the spot. The lunch sandwiches deserve a shout out too.
Location: 9th & 10th arrondissement, 32 Rue du Château d’Eau, 45 Rue Condorcet
Website: Mamiche
The French Bastards
Established in 2018, this bakery is on a mission to break convention. Expect the unexpected – croissant dough topped with a gooey cookie, chocolate-pistachio rolls, or stuffed beignets.
You can still order the classics here, but my advice is to try the stuff you won’t see in a traditional french bakery; that’s what these guys do best.
Location: Multiple locations
Website: The French Bastards
La Parisienne
With several boutiques around the city, La Parisienne is a solid all-around bakery. I love their baguettes (their Faubourg Poissonnière location won “Best Baguette in Paris” in 2025), fruit tartes, and their chocolate gâteau.
The croissants are meh, but everything else I’ve tried has been great. It’s also a convenient spot to pick up a bakery lunch with baguette sandwiches and salad options.
Location: 10th arrondissement (best baguette location, 12 Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, 75010 Paris, plus multiple other locations
Website: La Parisienne
Michalak
I first tried Michalak on a Marais food tour. I got the mango pastry and it was smooth, light, flavorful, and memorable. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by to try one of his inventive creations.
Location: 4th arrondissement, 16 Rue de la Verrerie, plus multiple other locations
Website: Michalak
Boris Lumé
This charming Montmartre bakery makes excellent viennoiseries, you won’t go wrong with any of them, but we loved the pain au chocolate and kouign-amann. They also sell a selection of pastries.
Location: 18th arrondissement, 48 Rue Caulaincourt
Au Merveilleux de Fred
These merveilleux desserts are feather-light and indulgent, made with meringue and topped with whipped cream and chocolate. Add the chocolate chip brioche to your order too.
Location: Multiple locations
Website: Au Merveilleux de Fred
Petite Ile Boulangerie
A French-Taiwanese bakery with creative flavors you won’t find anywhere else. The almond croissant is delicious, and the sesame pain au chocolat is next on my list. Expect unique textures and flavors.
Location: 3rd arrondissement, 8 Rue des Filles du Calvaire
Moon Croissant
Specializing in viennoiseries, this bakery sources the highest quality ingredients – D’Issigny butter, Himalayan salt, and Honduran chocolate. Everything is baked fresh starting at 10 p.m., with a strict no-freeze policy and three-day preparation.
We tried the Pain Suisse and the savory peppercorn croissant with sumac and cheese. The texture of the croissant is spot-on: flaky, airy, buttery perfection.
My only critique is that the pain suisse could have used a bit more chocolate, but that could be a personal preference.
Location: 11th arrondissement, 88 Bd Beaumarchais
La Boulangerie Nouvelle
A one-man show, this bakery in the 11th makes some of the freshest loaves of bread in the city. Prices are by weight, and our loaf of semi-complet was only €4.50. This is a place I’ll be going back to regularly.
Location: 11th arrondissement, 8 Rue Godefroy Cavaignac, 75011 Paris
Our 5 Favorite Pastry Shops & Bakeries in Paris
- Stohrer
- Atelier P1
- Boulangerie Utopie
- La Panifacture
- Pleincœur