The undisputed capital of deliciousness, Paris serves up indulgently finger-licking good baked treats that are guaranteed to leave you swooning for more.
Rainbow-coloured macarons, petit-fours, profiterole, pain au chocolat, mille-feuille, éclairs and Madeleines - all things of pastry lovers' dreams. In the City of Love – and Light, pastry is part of everyday life and it isn’t uncommon to see lines of Parisians picking up fresh tarts for Sunday brunch, or schoolchildren racing to their favourite bakery for a “petit snack” on the way home.
Beyond the traditional, across the city, you’ll find intricately composed and elaborately decorated pastries that taste as incredible as they look. From croissants made with light choux dough, buttery sablés, and an ever-growing array of French and internationally-inspired cakes, cookies, and brioches. All are sold at patisseries dedicated specifically to sweet baked goods — as opposed to crisp baguettes and bread, which is sold at French boulangeries - bakeries. Hearty country loaves and boundary-shifting pastries, Paris has no shortage of sweet & savoury baked delicacies … yum!
The BusinessClass.com guide to the 11 Best Patisseries in Paris:
As soon as you enter Angelina Paris at No. 226, Rue de Rivoli, you will be drawn in by the glorious décor of the dining area which has remained unchanged for 120 years. Elegant and refined, it is the work of the Belle Epoque architect, Edouard-Jean Niermans and has a long tradition that extends back to the 1900s. To a time when Paris blossomed both artistically and intellectually and writers, painters and politicians gathered in the cafés, restaurants and stylish tea rooms. Angelina’s dates back to 1903 when the confectioner Anton Rumpelmayer founded the patisserie with his son René, naming it after his daughter-in-law.
The location’s charm and the baker’s expertise quickly made Angelina the place to be and the likes of Proust, Coco Chanel and fellow French icons soon gathered in the famous tearoom. Today, Parisians and tourists alike patiently queue for a taste of the signature Mont-Blanc and famous hot chocolate. The authentic spirit of Angelina Paris is preserved in the mouldings, cornices, bevelled mirrors, and paintings by Vincent Lorant-Heilbronn. In 2013, Christophe Appert, Angelina's very talented pastry Chef, joined the team and has upheld the heritage, refreshing Angelina's iconic reputation and serving up the best French patisserie.
Address: 226 Rue de Rivoli 75001
Des Gateaux et du Pain
Claire Damon's flagship Gâteaux et du Pain bakery and lab has an imposing black shop front that compliments the chic Haussmann building in the 15th arrondissement. Very much a favourite among neighbourhood residents and food tourists alike, the matching black interior walls and elegant typeface on the logo leave Des Gâteaux et du Pain feeling more like a luxury boutique or jewellery store, than a bakery. Except here the finely crafted pieces are edible. In the middle of the room is a long display case where the baked goods are on show. Claire Damon grew up on the border of Auvergne and Aveyron, and from an early age developed a close connection with nature, a theme which guides her pastry chef's hand and is carried across her creations. Born of a long line of outstanding cooks, her childhood years were influenced by the delicious meals she was served.
Claire is committed to flavour discovery in the workshop, yet true to French cuisine and authentic meals as can be seen with the likes of cooked pate, terrine and quiche Lorraine on the menu. The lemon tart twisted with olive oil hides a meringue surprise, and the signature fruity tartlet changes colour with the seasons. There is delicious bread on offer with thick, golden crusts from natural sourdough and rye, focaccia, brioches and buttery croissants. The coffee is excellent and there’s always a dash of absinthe to go around. If you don’t feel like queuing, they do deliver!
Address: 63 Boulevard Pasteur 75015
Since 1730, Stohrer has been working its French pastry magic in the historic shop on Rue Montorgueil in the 2nd Arrondissement.
This namesake shop is where Nicolas Stohrer is credited with creating the Baba Au Rhum, a quintessentially French dessert that is typically formed from a small yeast pastry soaked in liquor and covered in cream. The oldest pastry shop in Paris, it was founded by King Louis XV's pastry chef, Nicolas Stohrer and his wife, Marie Leszczyńska, the daughter of the King of Poland, in a listed building that was signed by a pupil of Paul Baudry – who worked on the decor of the Opéra Garnier. Over the centuries, wafts of freshly baked pastries have come from the doorway onto the semi-pedestrianised shopping street.
Navy in design with opulent décor completed by a gold sign and an unchanged interior and exterior in a location that’s known for independent bakeries, cheese shops, delicatessens, and chocolate shops. Stroher invented a form of modern sweet food trade by bringing together in one place expertise and trades that didn’t exist until then. Serving an assortment of savoury quiches and salads alongside a pastry case full of sweet delights, you'll find classic French pastries executed to perfection éclairs, lemon tarts, and a host of others. In 2017 the Dolfi family took over Stohrer and a new chapter began. Faithful to tradition and dedicated to the Stohrer spirit they maintain an exceptional standard with a team of talented pastry chefs.
Address: 51 Rue Montorgueil, 75002
La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac
La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac occupies the corner of rue Paul Bert in the 11th Arrondissement and is one of Cyril Lignac's earliest locations. Pastry Chef Benoit Couvrand embarked on an adventure and created La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac as a local shop, a real place of life for the inhabitants of the district. It's modern and compact and has all of Lignac's signature creations. Keeping the focus on bread, focaccia, sourdoughs, baguettes, brioches and pastries. Cyril Lignac invented and reinvented pastries to create 55 recipes, revisiting classics, small sweets, and seasonal cakes while showcasing classic Parisian repertoire.
Working with emotion to offer pastries that are both delicious and modern. You’ll find bread, chocolate, and pastries. In the heart of the life of the inhabitants of the district, the elegant shops offer seasonal cakes and desserts. Cyril Lignac’s chocolate shop La Chocolaterie is located across the street from this store, and once you’ve got your pastries you can grab some chocolate bars and a slice of chocolate marble cake right here. Whatever you do, don’t leave without Oursons Lignac’s chocolate-covered marshmallow bears.
Address: 24 Rue Paul Bert, 75011
La Pâtisserie du Meurice par Cédric Grolet
La Pâtisserie du Meurice par Cédric Grolet is right in the centre of all things Paris, across from the Tuileries and the Louvre on Rue de Rivoli and across from Jardin des Tuileries. Charles-Augustin Meurice opened his first hotel in 1771, then moved to Paris in 1815, establishing Le Meurice on the newly-completed Rue de Rivoli in 1835, where it's been ever since. La Pâtisserie du Meurice par Cédric Grolet has its home here after Grolet joined Le Meurice in 2012, having spent years refining his skills in pastry, chocolate and ice cream in kitchens across Franc. The pastry boutique is dedicated to creating wonderful cakes.
Here you’ll discover the simple pleasures of freshly-baked Madeleines and brioche Bundt cakes, alongside innovative creations such as the legendary ‘trompe-l’oeil’ sculpted fruit. ‘Beauty brings them in, but taste brings them back’ says Grolet, recognised as the World’s Best Pastry Chef. Beautiful pastries deserve a beautiful home. To create the boutique, Cédric worked with Ciguë architects to design a space that was modern, chic and perfectly captured his creative vision. The materials they chose – enamelled lava, Hainaut blue stone and blown glass bells – bring an ultra-modern touch to the space. He shares his bold and beautiful creations here. The doors close when the last dessert of the day has been snapped up.
Address: 6 Rue de Castiglione, 75001 - also at Le Meurice, 228 rue de Rivoli
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Jacques Genin
Jacques Genin is located at 133 Rue de Turenne. A spaceship-like boutique and tearoom, Jacques Genin is a laboratory of excellence, producing ethereal caramels in a range of brilliant flavours, plus gorgeous chocolates and other only-in-Paris delights.
Within this huge temple of good food selling caramel, chocolates, fruit jellies and pastries, Jacques Genin also sells delicious ice creams all summer long. Self-taught and considered a genius of flavours and one of the best chocolate founders in the world, Jacques Genin works in his workshop in the heart of Paris and gives his touch of nobility to caramels, pastes of fruits and nougats. The production is entirely artisanal and carried out in our Parisian workshop in the heart of the Marais. The ingredients are selected for their aromatic power, subtlety and their purity. Sugar is kept to a strict minimum. Additives, preservatives, aromas and flavour enhancers are banned from our workshop. From caramels to fruit jellies, via marshmallows, a cream puff or a raspberry in the shop, so many promises of a caress for the palate. Passion fruit caramels, mango pâte de fruits, nougat, mille-feuille to order, hot chocolate with whipped cream. You can’t go wrong.
Address: 133 Rue de Turenne, 75003
Boulangerie Utopie
Boulangerie Utopie is a pâtisserie and boulangerie in the 11th District, near the Oberkampf station, that is extremely popular with both locals and tourists alike. Although from the exterior it may look like a regular neighbourhood bakery, this spot has been crowned the best bakery in France. A bread bakery also offers an assortment of pastries. The interior of the shop isn’t huge but their products are varied and very creative—one of their popular items is a charcoal baguette.
Even with their huge popularity, they continue to innovate: every weekend they have a special bread, viennoiserie, and pastry. Delightful sandwiches and pastries lined up like jewels in the display case. Take your time to pick between the tangy and sweet sourdough croissant and the thyme and lemon cheesecake. You can’t go wrong no matter what you choose. Either way, don’t leave without a loaf of bread for the road.
Address: 20 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011
Yann Couvreur Pâtisserie
Yann Couvreur is a household name in Paris and Yann Couvreur Pâtisserie in the 10th Arrondissement is where he continues to hone his talent. A pastry prodigy, Yann’s passion for pastry is self-discovered. He started his career taking an internship in the pastry shop across from his father’s bookstore, falling in love with the craft and going on to train in the kitchens of the Trianon Palace, and working under some of France’s best chefs. He later left the subdued world of Parisian palaces to settle in Goncourt and create the boutique he had dreamed of.
A free spirit at heart, here Yann sculpts his tailormade pastry according to his philosophy, which is centred on respect for the product and the purity of the flavours. His excellent viennoiserie includes croissants; roulés in flavours like pistachio, coconut, and rose praline. The Hautes-patisseries include lemon meringue tarts, rich chocolate eclairs with his signature dessert Mille-feuille with Vanilla, and especially good meringues. Bear in mind that only 50 millefeuilles are made daily, so get there early. And don’t leave without something with the brand's fox logo on it—it makes for a charming keepsake. The mascot of the store, the fox represents a free and wild spirit, similar to Yann’s own and references a fox he’d encounter most evenings in the forest where he lived as a child, and with whom he felt a strong affinity. That connection is something he carries forward today.
Address: 137 Ave Parmentier, 75010
Sadaharu Aoki, Paris
Sadaharu Aoki, Paris is located in the 9th Arrondissement. a few blocks from Jardin du Luxembourg, the largest public park in the city. The most French of Japanese pâtissiers, Sadaharu Aoki is known for using traditional Japanese ingredients and flavours in French-style pastries. His style is defined as a ‘combination of minimalistic aesthetics with rigorous French techniques’. Born in Tokyo and trained in both France and Japan, Sada – as he’s known to his peers, blends the best of both worlds in his beautiful shop, which resembles a jeweller's rather than a bakery.
Matcha-flavoured macarons, traditional chocolate and vanilla cakes, and the use of red bean paste. His simple yet original treats have subtle flavours and varied textures – and are perfectly balanced. Inside the stylish store, you’ll find beautifully colourful cakes and pastries lined up in display cases. There is a seating area for those who would like to get a taste of the confections right away. Chef Aoki's trademark is infusing his pastries with finely powdered green tea, well worth a try.
Address: 35 boulevard Haussmann, 75009
Bontemps Paris
Bontemps Paris is a gem of a tea room housed inside an old printing house in the 3rd Arrondissement in a magical space with a rustic terrace. Step through the door to discover an enchanted and retro pastel world where all your senses will be carried away. Porcelain crockery, sandstone tiles, hanging lamps, bouquets of flowers and delicious cakes that change with the seasons. Bontemps Paris’ speciality is the low sugar, light, shortcrust pastry with a delicious hint of delicate sale and is available in various sizes.
Shortbread, seasonal tarts and timeless chocolate tarts will also meet your every confectionary desire. All the cakes are made on-site using raw materials of excellent quality with no artificial preservatives. Only natural colour and flavourings. Attached to our Patisserie du Marais, the Bontemps restaurant "le Jardin Secret" is located at the end of a small country courtyard and will offer you a real enchanted break.
Address: 57 Rue de Bretagne 75003
Pierre Hermé
Created in 1997, the Maison de Haute Pâtisserie by Pierre Hermé opened in the heart of the Saint-Germain district in 2001. His idea was never to open a pastry store, but rather to create a luxury brand that revolved around pastries, and from that, the term Haute-Pâtisserie was born. The Rue Bonaparte flagship pastry house is famous for serving croissants, tarts, cakes, macarons, and even breakfast. Known fondly as the Picasso of pastry, Hermé excels at everything he does, but there are naturally stand-out items, his croissant with rose and raspberry, Vanille shortbread tart and the rainbow-coloured macarons in every imaginable flavour among them. Heir to four generations of Alsatian bakers and pastry chefs, Pierre Hermé began his career at the age of 14 with Gaston Lenôtre. Later credited with perfecting the art of the macaron and high-end pastries, Pierre Hermé has outposts of his acclaimed pastry shop all over town.
The flagship store is mostly done up in black, contrasting the illuminated display and its inviting yellow aura. The minimal design allows the pastries to remain the heroes. The cakes, ice creams and chocolate assortments are designer beautiful. There is soft cake to share, and a collection of emblematic Fetish flavours such as Ispahan, Mogador, Infiniment Praliné Noisette and Infiniment Citron. The chocolates are creamy, crunchy and voluptuous, paying tribute to Pierre Hermé special relationship with this material and how he sources unique products for their creations.
Address: 72 Rue Bonaparte, 75006
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