The Best Croissants in Paris

The humble, yet elegant croissant is an iconic French food loved by Parisians and adored by all who visit the City of Light. The best croissants in Paris are typically croissant au beurre, which have straight ends with a flaky delicate crust and pair perfectly with a cup of black coffee.

Croissant ordinaire have curled ends, which tells you that they are made from other fats like margarine. Yet in Paris, these croissants are anything but ordinary. They’re preferred for sandwiches, snacks, and creative pastries. 

With all the stunning boulangeries and patisserie worthy of adding to your guided Paris food tour, you can easily feel overwhelmed. To make it easier for you, I put together some of the big-name places and secret smaller gems to help you find the best pastry shops in Paris. 

Pierre Hermé

Photo credit: Pierre Hermé

Pierre Hermé is a well-known eponymous café with multiple locations in Paris. However, I’m looking for a croissant breakfast with a perfect cup of coffee. I’m partial to Pierre Hermé on Rue Bonaparte.

The interior ambiance employs a minimalist design with clean lines and a warm inviting feeling. There’s a little bit of a library or bookstore vibe that sort of invites you to eat quietly, speak in hushed tones, and perhaps enjoy a leisurely read of the newspaper.

The croissant au beurre has a rich creamy flavor that comes through in every crispy bite. I love how it’s a perfect accompaniment to the strong black coffee they serve.  

Pierre Hermé €€€ – 72 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris, France– Open daily from 10:30 AM – 10:30 PM.

La Maison d’Isabelle

In 2018 La Maison d’Isabelle was awarded the title of the Best Butter Croissant in Paris by Appellation d’Origine Protégée. That alone makes it a must-stop destination when searching for your favorite Parisian croissant.  

La Maison d’Isabelle is in the Latin Quarter of Paris, which gives it a uniquely cozy charm. It’s arguably a small boulangerie that has a constant miasma of freshly baked bread emanating from it. It desperately needs a terrasse, but the service is fast enough that you’re not going to get stuck waiting in line.

When I had a chance to sample the buttery, delicious croissants at La Maison d’Isabelle, I ate one on the street corner for a quick breakfast. Then I also ordered one of their fragrant baguettes for my walking tours of the nearby Sorbonne campus and the Pantheon.

La Maison d’Isabelle €€ – 47 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75005 Paris, France – Open Monday to Saturday 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM Sunday 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Du Pain et des Idées

Photo credit: Du Pain et des Idées

Du Pain et des Idées in the 10th arrondissement of Paris has a rustic charm that endears it to locals and tourists alike. Its vintage mirrors, wood shelves, and classic tile floors give it an interior ambiance that speaks to what Paris was like a century or so ago.

I admit to being caught moaning with enjoyment while eating one of their flaky croissant au beurre, after 10 am. This is a sure sign, advertising to the locals that you are a full-blooded tourist. I didn’t care, as I didn’t want to miss the opportunity.

Of course, croissants aren’t the only thing Du Pain et des Idées does at a high level. Their escargots are some of the best you’ll find in Paris if not all of France. Despite the somewhat familiar name, there are no snails in this artisanal pastry.

It’s a spiral-shaped pastry made from the same buttery flaky croissant dough that’s simply spiraled in a way that looks like a snail’s shell. While they offer a variety of flavors including pistachio-chocolate, and praline, I adored the lemon-pistachio escargots the most. The lilt of the lemon kept my palate perfectly awake, as a counterpoint to the black coffee I was also enjoying.

Du Pain et des Idées € – 34 rue Yves Toudic 75010 Paris, France – Open Monday to Friday 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM. Closed on Weekends.

Hugo & Victor

Photo credit: Hugo & Victor

Hugo & Victor has a well-earned reputation for putting innovative spins on pastries. They use a deft hand to infuse traditional techniques with modern flair, to create deliciously interesting pastries and chocolate treats. 

Their pain au chocolat is one of the best in France, if not all of Europe. You might have even seen them in one of the Paris food culture features during the Olympics. Yet even before it got any screentime, Hugo & Victor was beloved by locals and tourists when they needed to scratch the itch for a chocolate fix.

I loved how the pain au chocolat here uses the same buttery, flaky dough of a traditional croissant au beurre with a hint of chocolate lilt. Then it’s infused with a rich, dark chocolate filling that is the definition of decadent.

Hugo & Victor €€ – 40 Boulevard Raspail, 7th arrondissement – Open Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

La Pâtisserie des Rêves

Photo credit: La Pâtisserie des Rêves

There’s some tongue-in-cheek levity to La Pâtisserie des Rêves starting with the fact that the name translates to “The Pastry Shop of Dreams.” Yet this isn’t just a boastful hubris on the part of pastry chef Philippe Conticini. Playful sophistication is woven into every square millimeter of this patisserie.

The interior is bright, with a zephyr breeze that wafts through the door carrying the odor of the rich pastries displayed under elegant glass domes. Each is carefully arranged in a way that gives it an ethereal quality. While tempting you to indulge your sense of smell and taste.

While La Pâtisserie des Rêves is famous for their Paris- Brest and Tarte Tatin I think they are one of the best bakeries for almond croissants. The exterior is a rich golden color that’s somehow a shade more vibrant than a traditional croissant.

With the first crisp bite, I knew I was getting into something special. Then the smooth nutty flavor of the almond paste painting my tongue rewarded me with a depth of flavor I didn’t know I needed until that moment. It was so good; that I ordered another one. This time topped with powdered sugar and slivered almonds.  

La Pâtisserie des Rêves €€€ – 93 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France – Open Monday to Friday 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Saturday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sunday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Cédric Grolet Opéra

Photo credit: Cédric Grolet Opéra

Cédric Grolet Opéra is a viennoiserie that takes an innovative yet refined approach to classic pastries. This starts with their open concept kitchen which allows you to watch them painstakingly craft pastries and perfect croissants.

It’s also very close to Palais Garnier, the famous opera house close to the setting for the Phantom of the Opera book and play. With this in mind, you get the sense that pastry chef Cédric Grolet styled the elegant interior.

There’s a bit of showmanship on display in the form of delicately decorated tarts and occasionally some stunningly vivid fruit sculptures. This gives you the sense that you’re dealing with true pastry artisans, not just Boulanger craftsmen.

I stopped at Cédric Grolet Opéras for a weekday breakfast of coffee and croissant. Despite being there early the limited seating was already at capacity. So, I stood outside tearing apart the delicate layers of the croissant and following up each buttery morsel with a gentle sip of strong black coffee. 

Cédric Grolet Opéra €€€€ – 35 Avenue de l’Opéra, 75002 Paris, France – Open Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Saturday 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Sunday: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

Conclusion 

Finding the best croissants in Paris is a fun adventure that’s well worth the undertaking. The city is rife with croissants au beurre that are perfectly crispy, and rich with buttery flavor. A great breakfast in the City of Light, or just a nice snack while touring the city. 

There are also some great specialty croissants to try in Paris. Including chocolate croissants often referred to on pastry shop menus as pain au chocolat. They offer everything you want in a crispy croissant, infused with the decadence of world-renown French chocolate. 

Whatever your taste is, you’re sure to find your new favorite croissant in Paris somewhere on this list.