Best Pastries/Bakeries in Paris?
 

I'm going in two weeks to seek out the tastiest of all croissants.

Any suggestions?

That's easy - go anywhere in Paris! They are all great. I will say that there was a tiny corner bakery at the easte side of the 5th at the Cardinal Lemoine metro station that always had a line outside when it was open. It was at the corner of Rue de Ecoles and Rue Cardinal Lemoine and had a red awning. But I had a bunch of croissants in Paris and don't think I ever had a bad one.

I agree....we ate our way through tons of patisseries in Paris, and they were all delicious! We enjoyed Laduree, but we also loved the smaller ones near our hotel in the Rue Cler area.

Tracy

The fun is in trying to find a bad one!

Maybe the cafe in the Louvre on a bad day . . . but there again, we stopped in the cafeteria in the Hotel Invalides, which looked to be the ultimate tourist trap - wrong - we had great croissants and cafe au lait! It is really tough finding a bad one!
LOL!!!

Be sure to try the chocolate filled ones too. I don't speak French but "un pan au chocolat" was something I learned quickly.

I think the bakery referred to near the Cardinal Lemoine maybe Kaiser...or something similar...they are all good....

In the 11th arrondissement, there's a bolangerie/patisserie right on the corner of boulevard Voltaire and rue de Malte, on the eastern side of the boulevard. That's where I had the best sandwich and chocolate tart in Paris. Their pain au chocolat isn't bad either!

I guess I'm not the only one in that I know where my favorite patisseres are located, but not their names.
My favorite ia located on the Place Victor Hugo (there is also a Le Notre nearby, but that's not it). Luscious pastries, always a line of locals stocking up.

My favorite "plain" croissants come from Le Pain Quotidien. Although it's a Belgian bakery/cafe, they have several branches in Paris. www.painquotidien.com

Make sure you have at least one almond croissant. My favorite!

I'm not sure MINE has a name at all. :)

I’m not a big fan of plain croissants--baguette and butter with apricot jam is my favourite first breakfast in France. But the various forms of viennoiserie, which use a croissant dough in different shapes with different sweet fillings, are wonderful; pain au chocolat (also called chocolatine) is just one of many. When we stayed in an apartment in the Marais last summer my daughter and I did a taste comparison of the two nearest bakeries that were open--it was August--and decided that while we preferred Miss Manon's bread, the viennoiserie at Boulanger Yhuel was superior (both are on rue St-Antoine). My daughter's favourite was chocolatine aux écorses d’orange (chocolate and orange peel). I loved the pain aux raisins (a pinwheel of croissant dough filled with pastry cream, studded with raisins, and sprinkled with vanilla sugar).

Margriet,

Boulanger Yhuel is one of our favorites...and our first stop for pastries...they make an incredible mini pear tarte which we request for every day we are in Paris...and, they are so pleasant and cheerful...

bookmarking for my September visit! Thanks, everyone!

Traviata,
I agree about the service at Boulanger Yhuel. So often boulangeries, even in the provinces, employ rather superior young ladies (the kind that trill “Bon jour,” rather than say it). They always seem a little impatient when you’re trying to make up your mind ... so many pastries, so little time. I’ll definitely try the pear tarte next time—and there will be a next time.

To get you started, there is a Patisserie Paul at CDG (near TGVstation ), they have this pain au chocolat et amandes (chocolat and almond paste)...the gates of heaven opened...

Can't believe nobody mentioned the Paul's we were pointed to a year ago. I believe the street is Rue de Buci. It was not too far from the D'Aubusson and across from a little market.

I'm surprised no one mentioned Polaine, 8, rue du Cherche-Midi, or Pierre Herme 72, Rue Bonaparte

Paul's is a chain, and there are hundreds all over France (and probably dozens in Paris). I think they get the dough sent to them, but each shop may bake it fresh on site. I don't know about the little ones in train stations and places -- whether they bake it at all.

At the Paul's at Rue Buci, you can easily see into the work area in back. They are making dough from scratch starting very early in the morning. Some of the smaller ones may bring in the dough, but they sure make a lot of dough there.

That said, and I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit it, we alternated between doing our breakfast at that Paul and at a cheap chain callled Croissanterie on St. Germaine just a few blocks away. Guess what -- I'd put the croissants and the pain au chocolate from the cheap place way above the ones at Paul! But incidentally, I do know the dough is brought in and baked on site at Croissanterie.

Fantastic - thanks a TON for all of the ideas!!!

Gerard Mulot in the 6e on Rue Lobineau, Metro Mabillon, closed Wed. After much research 3 of us voted his the best millefeuille in Paris. Pain au chocolate wonderful too...flaky and rich. Oh Gerard, my Gerard.

I second Gerard Mulot. The lemon tarts are wonderful as well.

Don't worry about looking for "the" Pauls as there are probably 50 of them in Paris. They were once very famous and deemed the best but I'm not so sure that's true anymore. As someone else said all the boulangerie's in Paris are great. Many of the Pauls have table service such as the one on Rivoli opposite the Hotel de Ville.

Larry J

I used to like Paul boulangerie at the rue de Seine location. It's still okay but on the last visit (March '06) the pastries weren't as great as how I remembered in 2004. I tasted better pastries from independent shops such as the one on Ile St. Louis, Gabriela, #35 rue des Deux Ponts. I believe it used to be known as Haupois.

A friend of mine swears that the almond croissants at Contini at 42 rue des Rosiers are the best she's ever tasted.

Chains are fine but please do try the croissants from real (private) bakeries.

My personal favourite is from "La Flute Enchantée" located on Ave Mozart in the 16th : exit the metro station (line 9) la muette via the escaltor, turn right and the bakery is right on your left (do not cross any streets).

bookmarking, we leave in 28 days!

marking for almond croissants :)

Those are butter croissants I like not ordinaire. When ordering be sure to specifiy "croissant beurre"...

You do know that almond croissants are leftovers right?

They take the croissants (can be made without butter) left over, slice them in half and fill with pastry cream and almond paste...

Hi D,


The World’s Best Croissant bakery is at Rue Madam and Rue Vaugirarde.

I, once again, forgot to write down the name.

In 2002 they won the Best Croissant in Paris contest.

Pierre Herme' on Rue Bonaparte has excellent almond croissants, among other goodies.

((I))

>You do know that almond croissants are leftovers right?

They take the croissants (can be made without butter) left over, slice them in half and fill with pastry cream and almond paste...<

Not at Pierre Herme'

((I))

That's interesting Ira; where's the bakery and how do they make them then?

bookmarking

I'll third for Gerard Mulot, 92, rue de Seine. Not all croissants in Paris are great and after several places, this is my fave!

Ira, where is the location you mentioned?

hopingtotravel, Christina: We arrived at Gare Montparnasse late one afternoon famished, having skiped Lunch while seeing Versailles, (BTW, which is nice, but NOT a must) and fell into the Paul's at that station, and everything there was wonderful. So, I agree that most of the Paul's will have consistant quality, but if you are questing for the ultimate croissant, I believe I'd start at the one near Rue de Buci. that's where we found the ultimate crepe!

I love anything from Poujauran--especially the brioche. 20 Rue Jean-Nicot

There's a great fromagerie around the corner from the patisserie as well. The owner will pack up anything you want for the plane.

There is also another patisserie on Rue Dauphine, it always has a line outside it (good sign), but I can't remember the name.

I also love the market on Rue de Baci for Croque Monsieurs, fruit, pique-nique foods, etc.

Bon voyage! I do wish they had the French breads and pastries in Italy.;)