Imagine yourself stepping off the plane in Paris, where the first thing you need is something buttery and delicious—perhaps a croissant, a chewy baguette, or even a pain aux raisins. The ultimate goal? A pâtisserie or boulangerie. While the city’s famous for its baked goods, it’s important to avoid the tourist traps. Luckily, the editorial team at Time Out Paris has done the hard work of finding the crème de la crème for you.
Here’s the lowdown on the best patisseries in the city that will have you swooning over every bite.
1. Tapisserie
Where organic flours and local ingredients come together in the hands of talented chefs, Tapisserie offers rustic yet refined pastries. Try their vanilla flan or apple tart—they’re simple, delicious, and made with love.
2. Les Copains du Faubourg
Located near Faidherbe metro station, this boulangerie is a favorite of Alain Ducasse. Gérald Auvrez, a former Dan Barber apprentice, grinds his own wheat, creating loaves with a perfect balance of crispy crust and moist crumb. Don’t miss his rye puff pastry—an unexpected yet delightful treat.
3. Tomo
This Japanese tea room has taken Paris by storm with its dorayaki (pancakes with azuki bean paste) and other delicacies. Former Aida pastry chefs Romain Gaia and Murata Takanori bring an Asian twist to the Parisian pastry scene with mochi, daifuku, and even baba soaked in Japanese whisky.
4. Shinya Pain
Known for his mastery of sourdough, Shinya Inagaki’s small shop near Père Lachaise requires patience—both in terms of timing (his hours are restrictive) and queues. But once you get your hands on his loaves, with their delicate crusts and subtle sourdough notes, you’ll agree it’s worth the wait.
5. Pâtisserie Yann Couvreur Marais
With only eight desserts on offer at any time, Yann Couvreur’s Marais location is minimalist yet spectacular. The Madagascan vanilla millefeuille, raspberry pavlova, and apricot-coriander cheesecake will have you coming back for more.
6. Le Bricheton
While not the most convenient for those outside the 20th arrondissement, Le Bricheton is a pilgrimage worth making. Maxime Bussy’s use of ancient, organic flours results in low-gluten, beautifully textured breads.
7. Des Gâteaux et du Pain
Claire Damon, a pâtissière who’s worked at Fauchon and Ladurée, creates delicate, fruity desserts at this Left Bank institution. Their rhubarb-grapefruit tartelettes, cherry Mont-Blanc, and pistachio millefeuille are crowd favorites.
8. Sain Boulangerie
For breads made with sourdough and ancient flours, head to Sain Boulangerie. Chef Anthony Courteille’s unique creations—like parsley-hazelnut bread or parsnip-turmeric loaf—are a treat. Plus, all viennoiseries here are made with sourdough, which is rare in Paris.
9. Ginko
A short walk from Buttes-Chaumont, Ginko’s Franco-Japanese cakes are the star of the show. Try the Mount Fuji tart with chestnuts, cranberries, and whipped cream, or the Paris-Tokyo hazelnut choux pastry with roasted soybean powder.
10. Éléments
If you’re after crusty, flavorful sourdough, Éléments Boulangerie is the place to go. With a focus on rye, spelt, and rice flours, their bread is dense and satisfying—ideal for bread lovers seeking something a little more substantial.
There’s something for every type of pastry lover on this list. From rustic breads to delicate cakes, you won’t leave Paris disappointed. Which one would you choose for your first stop?