Best Parisian Pastry or Croissant?

Boulangeries

Two of my favorite boulangeries are near Place de la République. The boulangerie is called 134 RDT and located at 134 Rue de Turenne, it is open during weekdays. The sister boulangerie Aux Germes de Blé is located around the corner at 59 Rue de Saintonge. and is open in weekends.They make very good croissants (they won a prize before) and bread.

Another boulangerie to try around that area is Du Pain et des Idées. They have great bread called Pain des amis and their escargots are definitely worth a try too!

For another great croissant, try Pierre Hermé Paris croissant Ispahan flavored with rose, litchi and raspberry. The viennoiseries of Pierre Hermé are also available at the other store 185 Rue de Vaugirard near metro Pasteur. While you are there, buy some macarons too.

Vandermeersch also sells great baguettes and is popular amongst the locals. They are also famous for their Kouglof and Millefeuille.

Pastry shops and what to try at least.

I have tried many many pastries in Paris and here are my favorite pastry shops.

Pierre Hermé : as mentioned before must try the macarons for sure. 

Mori Yoshida : Viennoiseries (croissant etc) and the cakes are very good. No need to try the macarons if you buy Pierre's

Des Gateaux et du Pain / Des Gâteaux et du Pain: Everything I tried was lovely. (bread/viennoiseries/pastry). 

Sébastien Gaudard - Pâtisserie des Martyrs: Definitely try the lemon tart!

La Pâtisserie des Rêves: Paris-Brest and Saint-Honoré

L'Éclair de génie: Passionfruit-Framboise eclair, but they are all good.

Jean Paul Hévin: Chocolat framboise (right one in the picture)

Gâteaux Thoumieux: Choux coco-passion or praliné 

Bon Appétit!! 

The absolute best croissant amande bar none, can be found at the food hall at La Grande Epicerie du Bon Marche. They literally weigh as much as a work boot and probably contain more calories than most people eat in a week but wow! I actually had two of these in one day once because I just couldn't resist it. This place in general is a total gastronomic wonderland. I’m not even a big foodie and I’ve never gotten out of here in less than an hour.

As far as pastries and deserts, there is no place, absolutely no place that makes a better macaron than Maison Ladurée. I’ve been obsessed with macarons since waaaay before they became fashionable and I’ve tried just about every place in town and nothing beats Ladurée. As you’ll see from the minute you step off the plane, they’ve done a lot of expanding and they have carts and stores all over the city now, but my favorite is the one on rue Royale which is the original.  

As far as bread goes, I choose my boulangeries based on how long the lines are in the morning—if they’re long, you can bet the bread is really good since Parisians are so serious about it. Here are a few such places:

My all-time favorite is Boulangerie Jacques Bazin
. I haven’t been in about two-ish years but the last time I went the line was actually so long I gave up and came back. They don’t have a lot of snazzy breads but their bagettes are great so what else do you want? Such a stunner of a place, too. I think it’s over 100 years old and the interior is exquisite. Be prepared, though—customer service is not their strong point and they tend to run out of things quickly. 

Boulangerie Au Levain du Marais is known in the area for their croissants but I actually don’t think their croissants are that great—I do, however, think the rest of their pastries are sublime so check it out. Another gorgeous place, too.

It’s become a bit trendy lately but I actually think Le Moulin de La Vierge makes a mean bread. I’ve only tried the one at Petits Peres so I can’t vouch for the others but this one is excellent. 

We always love stopping into Ladurée and Pierre Hermé Paris...there's a reason they're so popular :) 

You can find the best bread, croissant and pastries at Fabien Ledoux 

It is in a small city right outside of Paris with a beautiful parc and beautiful houses.

I would recommend Rue Cler. It is like a farmers market every day of the week! They have everything that you can think of thats French. I liked grabbing some champaign, french bread, lunch meat, cheese, and fruit and veggies then walking over to the Eiffel Tower for a picnic (thats just around the corner). The bakeries there have the BEST Croissants every-I would recommend going around 7AM before anything is open (except the bakery) and grabbing a fresh/hot croissant that is right out of the oven! Enjoy!

We were staying in Vincennes, a more residential section of Paris, but very convenient due to the Metro, to everything we wanted.  There was a bakery just about two blocks from where we stayed on Rue de Petit Parc.  The bakery is called Boulangerie Brault at 38 Ave Franklin Roosevelt,  and they pride themselves on baking the old-fashioned way with artisan flours, etc. and the results were amazing.  We would return to Vincennes just for this wonderful bakery.  The staff was extra friendly and helpful to us with our broken French, and made sure we got exactly what we wanted and then some.  They sell pastries and bread.  Try their macarons, and their wonderful tiny muffins that are exquisite little flavor bombs for your mouth.  Darn, now I really want to go back there STAT!!!

Go early for your baguette and breakfast pastries. Go where you see a line of locals.

Personally, I didn't try anything that wasn't wonderful, even at museum cafes.

Pain au chocolate, citron cakes, fruit tarts, flatbread sandwiches w/ cheese and tomato (some places will heat these for your lunch), and macarons. A fresh baguette daily to go with cheeses bought at the shop with a line of locals too. And gorgeous fresh fruit displayed in front of the grocery shop.

Ladurée is truly special. Carette in the 16th has nice macarons too.

Hi,

If you want some chocolate, I mean Haute Couture, you have to go Here Patrick Roger 's chocolaterie, that guy is "Meilleur ouvrier de France" which is the highest distinction you can get when you craft something with your hands.

Check that : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meilleur_Ouvrier_de_France

It's not pastry but I think I worth it even it's a little bit expensive.

Also Ladurée even it's famous all over the world, it becames a little bit too much popular. You can find something better in terms of quality and price somewhere else I suppose.

Enjoy!

Jason, I know you are coming soon to Paris for your concert au Casino! 

I have one good address for one of the best pastries it is called La Pâtisserie des Rêves http://www.lapatisseriedesreves.com

Now around the Casino de Paris, quartier Montmartre, you have la Arnaud Larher 

http://www.yelp.fr/biz/pâtisserie-arnaud-larher-paris

I hope you enjoy these if you taste them! 

xx

Naïma

try Frédéric Lalos or Boulangerie Saint-Louis! Pierre Hermé Paris is lovely, but not for baguettes or croissants, they only sell sweets. 

Hi, Jason, the answer to your question is super-easy and super-convenient! You are literally headed to the croissant, pastry, bread capital of the world! Regardless of where you are staying, if you head to the nearest patisserie/boulangerie you will have arrived at the most wonderful bread or pastry venue you could ask for. Grab a baguette and munch or, for breakfast, try a petit dejeuner (an incredibly superior take on the American Continental Breakfast) with the best croissant of your life (served with coffee - un cafe au lait, if you like - and orange juice, preserves, and butter). A visit to any boulangerie is an unforgettable experience. This may sound over-the-top, but it really is no exaggeration.

I definitely recommend Au petit versailles du marais.  Best traditional baguette I've had - also you can't miss the chocolatine aux amandes - a chocolate croissant with almonds.

One of the best pain au chocolates I have had in Paris was Gérard Mulot in the 6th. Philippe Gosselin in the 1st is also  good for bread and pastry. Jean Paul Hévin is also in the 1st. The chocolate tart is sublime. Seriously, that alone is worth the trip to Paris. The Millefueille, macarons, caramels etc - all delicious. There is seating upstairs as well to enjoy your treats.

Every neighborhood has it's favorite. Here are a few to try: Boulangerie Jacques Bazin, Le Fournil du Village, Boulangerie Moisan [CLOSED], Éric Kayser.