15 Best Paris Patisseries You Simply Must Try

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Best Paris patisseries. How on earth do you know where to begin in a city that prides itself on creating the best French patisseries?

In Paris, there are pastry shops on every corner. Throughout my three years of living in Paris, I have cycled and walked far and wide to find the best pastry shops in Paris.

The 15 best Paris patisseries listed here provide gastronomic delights, some simple, others incredibly complex. All bring immense pleasure. You might even drop to your knees in delight!

3 Tips For Finding The Best Paris Patisseries

During all my taste testing, I discovered three key indicators when searching out the best Paris patisseries.

1. There’s always a lineup. Parisians know.
2. The scent wafting through the bakery doors will stop you in your tracks.
3. There’s an overwhelming choice when entering one of the best Paris patisseries.

Which French pastry will it be today?

15 Best Paris Patisseries

1. Thierry Marx Bakery

Thierry Marx at Le Beau Passage, Paris 75007

Thierry Marx is my place. I swear he makes the best baguette in Paris. And his Paris patisseries? All melt-in-your-mouth calibre.

Choose Paris Brest At Thierry Marx:

I’d heard of Paris Brest. I’d seen Paris Brest. But I’d never tried one. Ouf – what a mistake.

The Paris Brest looks like a donut, for us North Americans. It is round and there is a hole in the middle. The comparison ends right there.

The Paris Brest is made of choux pastry, filled with praline cream which is piped in so that it looks gorgeous and then hidden on the bottom layer, is a buttery crunchy praline concoction.

Sprinkled on top are sliced almonds and icing sugar.

What’s there not to like?!

Louis Durand created the Paris Brest patisserie in 1891 inspired by the Paris-Brest-Paris bicycle race. The shape of the Paris Brest is usually round in the shape of a bicycle wheel. But you know those pastry chefs in France are a creative lot, so you might find some in a different shape.

2. Autour Du Pain

Autour du Pain, 135 Rue de Turenne and 59 rue de Saintonge, Paris 75003

Autour du Pain was the French pâtisserie near me during the spring confinement of 2020. I would line up with the locals around the block for their outstanding baguette and a French pastry. Autour du Pain, like most pâtisseries in Paris, has a fabulous array of desserts making one’s taste buds come alive at first glance.

Best Paris Patisseries | Lemon Tart

It was the lemon tart that I returned to over and over again at Autour du Pain. The pastry is excellent and the filling has just the right amount of lemony tang. These tarts are available with a meringue topping (my preference) or without. Make sure you stop by for one of these outstanding Paris pastries when exploring the Marais.

Update 2023: I have tasted lemon tarts all over Paris. Autour du Pain is still the best.

3. Du Pain Et Des Idees

Du Pain et Des Idees, 34 rue Yves Toudic, 75010 Paris

The line-up. Remember one of the telltale signs of a best bakery in Paris? At Du Pain et Des Idées, there is always a queue. Artisan baker Christophe Vasseur offers a range of delectable items including his famous Pain des Amis, perfect for a picnic by the Canal Saint-Martin.

Best Paris Patisseries | Chocolate Pistachio Escargot

Famous for its bread and chausson aux pommes (apple turnover) it’s the Escargot Chocolat-Pistache (chocolate pistachio danish) that I can not resist. The golden flaky pastry peppered with little tasty bits of chocolate and pistachio might actually be the all-time best Paris pastry. Add it to your list of “must-have pastry” in Paris.

Two long tables sit out front of Du Pain et des Idées, perfect for savouring a Paris pastry. If there is no room, Du Pain et des Idees is situated close to Canal Saint-Martin. Get your chocolate-pistachio danish with a coffee to go and sit by the Canal. This is a slice of Parisian heaven.

Paris Patisserie Tip: Du Pain et des Idées is closed on the weekends.

4. La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac

La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac (multiple Paris locations)

After living in Paris for more than three years, I can honestly say that I have tried almost all of Cyril Lignac’s pastries. I started following Cyril Lignac and his cooking lessons during the first confinement in 2020 and then went in search of his famous French pastry shops. I’m a total fan and everything is superb.

Choose the Tigre Chocolat or the Chocolat Tiger

Why is this my favourite Cyril Lignac pâtisserie? The individual round cake, made with the same recipe as a financier, has little bits of chocolate that crunch with every bite. But the pièce de resistance is the chocolate ganache in the centre. The chocolate creamy middle is the perfect match with the cake. It’s a little bit of French pastry heaven!

5. Pierre Hermé Paris

Pierre Hermé, 4 rue de Bretagne, Paris 75003

Best Paris Patisseries | Choose The Macarons

They’re little. Cute. And certainly classic. They make the perfect gift. And are just the right bite-size for an afternoon snack. Macarons are indeed one of the best Paris patisseries.

The crunch on the outside pairs perfectly with the soft filling. Exquisite. I’ve tasted my fair share of macarons this year and Pierre Hermé takes the win due to his innovative flavours. M O G A D O R … milk chocolate and passion fruit. I S P A H A N … raspberry, lychee and rose water. Swoon. Find a Pierre Hermé boutique and your day will go from marvellous to splendid!

6. Best Paris Patisseries: La Maison Odette

Odette Paris, 77 rue Galande, Paris 75005

Best Paris Patisseries | Cream Puffs

La Maison Odette specializes in one thing only: cream puffs, known in French as choux. These cream puffs are a bite-size best patisserie in Paris that pack a punch. Cream puff. The name evokes floating somewhere. Choux pastry. Creamy filling. Your taste buds will be sending you directly to another planet!

Choose your flavours and take your cream puffs to the park, Square René Vivaldi. Or, enjoy your choux pastries in the retro tea room which has lovely views over Notre Dame Cathedral. The cream puffs at Odette’s are definitely one of the must try pastries in Paris.

7. Aux Merveilleux de Fred

Aux Merveilleux de Fred, 24 rue du Pont Louis Philippe, Paris 75004

Best Paris Pastry | The Merveilleux

Aux Merveilleux de Fred always has a line-up. In all of their Paris locations, the lineup is out the door. I remember wondering what the fuss was about this dessert from Northern France made by artisan pastry chef Frédéric Vaucamps. I stopped and stared at the meringue cakes available in three sizes.

Watching through the boutique window as the bakers swirl and dip the Merveilleux, it is hard to resist. My favourites are the Merveilleux dipped in dark chocolate and the L’Incroyable covered in white chocolate. They’re light. Airy. Full of flavour. A little chewy meringue (my favourite) in the middle.

Definitely one of the best Paris patisseries. Definitely worth lining up for.

8. Best Paris Patisseries: Yann Couvreur

Yann Couvreur (multiple Paris locations)

Chef Yann Couvreur makes delectable pastries. I’m often found at the boutique at Gare Montparnasse purchasing his unique creations. My introduction to Yann Couvruer was the Kouglof!

Choose The Kouglof

A brioche from the Alsace region of France is not something I would normally choose. Walk into a Yann Couvreur pâtisserie and you’ll be drooling instantly.

This round brioche came highly recommended by my French friend Laurence. She convinced me that it was one of the best Paris patisseries and needed to be savoured.

But with the first bite, I was converted. Raisins, cognac, nuts, and orange blossom water. The brioche is then dipped in hazelnut butter and sprinkled with sugar. It’s a complete fiesta for the taste buds. It’s light and juicy. And oh so flavourful.

Of course, there is a story behind this brioche because, as I am discovering, there is a story behind everything in France.

The Kouglof Story

A king of Bethlehem had forgotten his hat, an almond-shaped turban when leaving for the Crusades (yes, this is an ancient legend). A pastry chef from Strasbourg in Alsace, France found the hat and used it as a cake pan. And thus the Kugelhof, the Alsatian word for turban, was born.

Let the kouglof melt on your tongue and think of the clever pastry chef!

9. Cédric Grolet Opéra

Cédric Grolet Opéra, 35 ave de l’Opéra, 75002 Paris

Cédric Grolet. His name is everywhere. He’s the award-winning pastry chef from the hotel Le Meurice. Cedric Grolet is known for his inventive creations. Just look online at the pâtisseries that are visually stunning and almost too beautiful to eat!

After lining up outside this famous patisserie in Paris, you are given time to look around and make your choice. It’s a very selective choice with about four or five pâtisseries to choose from.

Choose The Chocolate Fleur Forêt Noire

Of course, I chose the chocolate option. It was the most beautiful pastry I have ever eaten. And it was absolutely delicious with different layers and textures of chocolate surprising my taste buds with each bite. I savoured it. It was divine.

Best Paris Patisseries Tip: The lineup in front of Cédric Grolet’s boutique is often about 2 hours long. If you want to sample a croissant, I was told to line up an hour before opening. If you go in the afternoon, there are no croissants left.

I lucked out on a rainy February afternoon and only lined up for 50 minutes. I’m not sure if I would line up again.

Cédric Grolet Hack: Make a reservation in advance for the tea room online or purchase your pastries using the click-and-collect option. That way, you can enjoy a Grolet pastry while not wasting your precious Paris time standing in line.

10. Best Paris Patisseries: Poilâne

Boulangerie Poilâne ( multiple locations)

Poilâne is known for its gorgeous, rounds of bread with the letter “P” etched on top.

Founded in 1932 by Pierre Poilâne, his son Lionel continued the family art of bread making and earned worldwide recognition. His daughter, Apollonia, carries on the tradition of making artisan bread and baking.

Don’t be shy to ask for exactly the amount of bread that you need. The shopkeepers will happily cut you what you want from the round loaf.

Choose The Chausson Aux Pommes (Apple Turnover)

I had heard that the Chausson aux Pommes at Poilâne was legendary so on a chilly February day, I decided to put it to the test! The golden crust is

D I V I N E and the apple filling the exact right amount of sweetness. It’s a win.

Poilâne Patiserrie Tip: I also love their sablet biscuits, especially the ones that come in the shape of a spoon for dipping in your coffee.

11. Best Paris Patisseries: Angelina’s

Angelina Paris ( multiple locations)

Angelina is world-famous for her hot chocolate. The warm, rich, pure chocolatey drink slips across the taste buds and down your throat. You might gasp at the luxuriant goodness of the experience.

Best Paris Patisseries | Mont Blanc

My French friend Joelle arrived at my door one evening with a round pastry. Not one I would pick on my own. A Mont Blanc. Little did I know that this best Paris patisserie has been a speciality of Angelina’s since 1903.

Mont Blanc is a dessert of sweetened chestnut purée in the form of vermicelli filled with chantilly (whipped cream) sitting on a meringue base. It’s a winter favourite in many Paris patisseries.

I looked at this round ball of chestnut paste not sure what to make of it…

I dove in. No turning back. The chestnut cream paired with the whipped cream and the little crunch of meringue were…. well… you can only imagine. Let’s just call it U N F O R G E T T A B L E….

12. Ritz Paris Le Comptoir

Paris Ritz Le Comptoir, 36 rue Cambon, Paris, 75001

Head to  Ritz Paris Le Comptoir where pastry chef François Perret’s creations are a delight to savour. After his time in the United States, Perret invented elongated pain au chocolat, to be eaten on the run. It’s the only place you’ll see them!

Best Paris Patisseries | Madeleines

The best Paris pâtissseries at Ritz Le Comptoir are François Perret’s madeleines. Madeleines are a classic and delicious French pastry – a small sponge cake with a shell-like shape. Perret’s flavoured madeleines have a creamy or fruity surprise in the middle. They make the perfect snack and elegant gift. Purchase five or ten in lovely boxes honouring chefs at the Ritz Hotel.

Ritz Le Comptoir has a small tea room so choose your madeleine flavours and enjoy!

Read More: Take a 4-hour cooking class at the Ritz.

13. Pâtisserie Stohrer

51 rue Montorgueil, 75002, Paris

The plaque to the left of the shop reminds us that Stohrer is a historical site and the oldest pastry shop in Paris. Yes, it’s one of the most famous Paris patisseries.

Stohrer was founded in 1730 by Nicolas Stohrer, pastry chef for King Louis XV. The interior of the Paris pastry shop is stunning along with its exquisite pastries. Nicolas Stohrer invented Rum Baba and also Puits d’Amour (the Well of Love). French pastry chef Jeffrey Cagnes creates heavenly pâtisseries and hits the top of the list for the best croissant in Paris.

Choose This Paris Pastry | Rum Baba

You just have to try the Rum Baba at Stoher’s. They have been making this famous French pastry since 1730! I love the individual-sized portion of this rum-soaked classic French pastry with the chantilly topping it! The chantilly perfectly pairs with the light flavour of citrus and rum. Oh là, là!

14. Boulangerie Utopie

20 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 11th arrondissement

I had heard that Utopie was a hot spot of a boulangerie and when I arrived on a recent Saturday morning, the lineup said it all. At least 30 people stood in the line that flowed around the corner. Standing in line, the eye candy in the window resulted in my list of goodies getting longer and longer.

Best Paris Pastry | The Croissant

The croissant. The classic French pastry that starts the day just perfectly. I opted for the croissant which was indeed flaky, buttery, and extremely delicious. Melt in your mouth delicious, in fact. It’s not hard to say that one of the best croissants in Paris can be found at Boulangerie Utopie.

15. Chez Paco

Boulanger Patisser Chez Paco at 64 Av Simon Bolivar

My daughter found this best Paris patisserie and my sister claims the walnut tart is the best dessert she has ever tasted! Walnuts just never taste as fresh in Canada. In France, walnuts melt in your mouth and their taste is exquisite.

Best Paris Pâtisseries | Walnut Tart

Chez Paco is a small pâtisserise close to Parc des Buttes Chaumont. The shopkeeper picked out the loveliest walnut tart when I told her it was for my sister. It could have been the buttery, creamy filling or the gorgeous glazed walnuts on top or perhaps the excellent crust but I concur with my sister… one of the very best Paris patisseries.

And there you have the 15 best Paris patisseries to try on your next visit to Paris. Don’t worry, the tasting isn’t over. I’m sure there will be a new addition to the list of best Paris patisseries very soon.

Let me know your all-time favourite. Which are you going to try?

Until next time,

More Travel Info…

Gastronomy in Paris:

After eating all the best Paris patisseries, find out where to find the most delectable croissants in Paris.

Here are the best tips about French baguettes and how to eat them like the French!

Are you a cheese lover? Have you tried these French cheeses? And here are seven of the best fromageries in Paris to find that perfect cheese, and have that, oh so fun, experience of standing amongst oodles of cheese.

There are also plenty of café suggestions for the Marais area in this post: Tips from a Local. Suggestions for restaurants in the Marais is a popular post along with the best places to eat in Canal Saint-Martin.

If you are in Paris and gluten-free, luckily it is much easier to satisfy the taste buds than it was years ago. Here is my go-to on gluten-free delights.

DELICIOUS TIP: If you are here in January, don’t miss out on this very traditional pâtisserie that only makes an appearance once a year. Find out more here.

Exploring Paris and Beyond:

PARIS: Travelling to Paris alone? This article on navigating Paris alone is full of tips and tricks for the solo traveller. And this guide on the Paris arrondissements will help you plan the best trip ever!

Where To Stay in Paris: Suggestions are here

This page has all my articles on Paris that will help you plan out your trip, including day trips from Paris. Did you subscribe to my newsletter to get my awesome 2-Days in Paris Itinerary?

If you love that village feel in Paris these areas might interest you:

Montmartre, much like Ile Saint- Louis, feels like a small village. This post on Montmartre leads you to the most popular sites as well as some lesser-known places on the hill.

Le Marais is one of the oldest areas of Paris. Once marshland, it is hopping with boutiques, cafés, gorgeous old mansions and museums. Read my full guide to le Marais.

Canal Saint-Martin is great fun to explore. Here is what to do in this Bobo quartier.

These hidden gems of Paris will lead you to uncover some super secrets in Paris.

FRANCE: If you are going further afield in France, make sure to check out my page on France.

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