The enchanting fragrance of fresh croissants that envelops the streets early in the morning — nothing screams France more than this peculiar smell. Personally, it is the first thing I notice when I come back to the country, and the one I miss the most when I am away. It should come as no surprise, then, that I am constantly on the hunt for the best croissants in Paris.
After living in France for a while, going out to get a warm croissant in the morning becomes a decadent habit that fails to get old. After all, who doesn’t like to start the day with a buttery pastry and a steaming hot coffee?
Due to my obsession, I have done some due diligence trying as many croissants as I could possibly ingest from all around the city to identify the best the capital has to offer. And I am ready to disclose my findings of the best places to find a great croissant to you.
But first — we cannot utter the words “buttery croissants” without mentioning this year’s list of winners from the Paris baker’s union list of top-ranking croissants.
Above left: @boulangeriemamiche / right: Nicholas Doyle
Meilleur Croissant au Beurre du Grand Paris — The best butter croissant in Paris
We recently unveiled the winners of the best baguette in Paris. Just a few days later, le syndicat des Boulangers du Grand Paris (the association of Paris bakers) announced where to find the best butter croissants in Paris. There were 144 entrants and 119 croissants baked by bakers in the greater Paris area. Past winners have included Jean-Michel Carton of Maison Carton, located on boulevard de Denain just near the Gare du Nord and Isabelle Leday’s (formerly of Maison Pichard) La Maison d’Isabelle in the heart of the Latin Quarter on boulevard Saint-Germain.
What makes a good croissant?
Head into any bakery and you will find variations on the classic plain croissant: pain au chocolat, almond croissants, etc. This competition is very specific. Chefs that take part in the competition produce a croissant au beurre and must use Charentes-Poitou AOP butter. The jury evaluated the visual appearance, cooking, layers, texture, and above all, taste.
And this year’s list of the best croissants are:
- Eric Teboul, Chez Meunier – 185 rue de Crimée, 75019 Paris
- Thierry Rabineau, Boulangerie Moderne – 16 rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris
- Cyril Daniel. Boulangerie M. Jacques – 132 rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris
- Maxime Taranne, Boulangerie Alexine – 15 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010 Paris
- Thierry Meunier, Boulangerie Thierry Meunier Île Seguin – 58 rue Marcel Bontemps, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt
- Alexis Rouges, Boulangerie Rougès – 45 avenue de Saint-Ouen, 75017 Paris
- Frédéric Comyn, Boulangerie au 140 – 140 rue de Belleville, 75020 Paris
- Benjamin Turquier, Tout autour du Pain – 134 rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris
- Eric Thevenot, Boulangerie Vibrations Gourmandes – 101 Gd Rue Charles-de-Gaulle, 94130 Nogent-sur-Marne
- Jean-Yves Boullier, Le Moulin de la Croix Nivert – 39 rue de la Croix Nivert, 75015 Paris
- Florent Cadot, Le Grenier à Pain Vaugirard – 270 rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris
- Baptiste et Maxime Sohier Maison Sohier – 2 allée Christophe Colomb, 93160 Noisy-le-Grand
- Laurent Bergeron, Maison Bergeron – 112 rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris
- Nicolas et Magali Roquais, Boulangerie Magali Charonne – 35 rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris
- Thierry Soulet, Boulangerie Plutus – 204 rue des Pyrénées, 75020 Paris
- Frédéric Antunes, Boulangerie Au Fournil du Château – 8 avenue du Château, 94300 Vincennes
- Pierre Laigle, Boulangerie Cerise – 23 rue Michelet, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt
- Patrick Benichou, Boulangerie Liberté Vinaigriers – 39 rue des Vinaigriers, 75010 Paris
- Joël DEFIVES, Boulangerie Baptiste Batignolles – 17 rue des Moines, 75017 Paris
- Sami Kerchaoui, Maison Kerck – 76 rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris
And our favorite places in the French capital, for tried and true flaky croissants?
In no particular order, here are some of our favorite croissant spots:
Des Gâteaux et du Pain
If you find yourself on the south side of the city around Montparnasse, Claire Damon’s pastries are certainly worth a try. You can go for the classic croissant or try their delicious chausson aux pommes, which takes no fewer than six days to make. 63 boulevard Pasteur – 75015 Paris89 Rue du Bac – 75007 Paris
Mamiche
Cécile Khayat and Victoria Effantin put a modern twist on the classic French bakery when they opened Mamiche in 2017. Now, with two shops and a bustling delivery service, their boulangerie is a great place to satisfy your morning cravings in the city. Not only do they sell close to perfect croissants, but they also offer one of the best pain au chocolates.
32 Rue du Château d’Eau – 75010 Paris
Boulangerie Comptoir Gana, Paris 15e
If you want to experience a French bakery like a Parisian and avoid queues of tourists, make sure to visit this family-run boulangerie. No fuss, just a friendly local bakery producing fresh traditional pastries that are loved by locals. The best part? They also have some of the most delicious croissants I’ve ever tasted.
212 rue de la Convention, 75015
La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac
With various locations throughout Paris, La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac is always a good idea for croissants. The bakery’s namesake Monsieur Lignac is a French chef, television personality, and restaurateur. He’s been featured on one of my favorite series, Le Meilleur Pâtissier (the French version of “The Great British Bake Off”), and I’m a big fan of his croissants. His shops aren’t in the center of the city, but the Chaillot location isn’t too far from the Eiffel Tower.
2 rue de Chaillot, 75016
Laurent Duchêne
Usually, French croissants are always nature, meaning that it is extremely rare to find a croissant filled with something (chocolate, jam, cream, and so on) like an Italian cornetto would be. Award-winning pâtissier Laurent Duchêne (he was awarded the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 1993) changed that when he decided to bring chocolate into the picture. His chocolate croissant is not only beautiful to look at, but it’s also filled with delicious praline. Basically, dessert for breakfast.
2 rue Wurtz, 75013
238 rue de la Convention, 75015
Boulangerie Utopie
The best croissants are the ones that have a crisp outer shell and are deliciously soft and buttery on the inside. Boulangerie Utopie, in the 11th arrondissement, nails the balance and delivers some of the best pastries in the capital. You’re sure to find some buttery beauties at this popular bakery, as well as delicious baguettes.
20 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011
Stohrer
The oldest pastry shop in Paris, Stohrer is located on the rue Montorgueil in the center of the city. Nicolas Stohrer, King Louis XV’s pastry chef, opened the shop in 1730, and it’s been open and active ever since. Considered one of the best places for classic French pastries, it boasts the best almond croissant I’ve ever tasted.
51 rue Montorgueil, 75002
Best croissants in Paris, Fun Facts
There are several, but one of the most famous croissants can be found at the bakery Du Pain et des Idées, located at 34 rue Yves Toudic in the 10th arrondissement. While we do love this bakery, it’s not necessarily our favorite croissant. That said it is the ideal spot to check out if you’re near the Canal Saint-Martin. There’s no better place to find a cozy park bench — there are plenty to choose from right next to the canal — to enjoy les croissants and a hot chocolate for a true indulgence.
There are several best croissant competitions, but the Best Charentes-Poitou PDO Butter Croissant in the Grand Paris is the most well-known. As mentioned, it awards the best croissant in the Île-de-France region, where Paris is located. For candidates to qualify, they must make curved-shaped croissants, use Charentes-Poitou butter, and the viennoiseries must weigh between 45-65 grams (when cooked). The best bakers in the area compete — refer to the list above to discover the most recent winners.
If you’ve been on TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve likely seen videos of some seriously giant croissants circulating. You won’t see them of that size in all bakeries. If you want to try one, you’ll have to visit Philippe Conticini in the 7th, 3rd, or 16th arrondissements, where you’ll find a wide selection of your favorite baked goods, XXL style. It’s worth mentioning that most French people find them excessive… but those we know who have tried them have to admit that they are very tasty.
The only downside to living in a city full of the best bakeries? Far too many excellent croissants to choose from! Wherever you are in the city, whether you’re a local or it’s your first time here, make sure you start your day right! Refer to this list as you plan your next visit, and you can’t go wrong.
Related Links
- Need a coffee with your croissant? Read about How to Order Coffee in Paris
- Looking for more breakfast and brunch in Paris? Check out Artisanal Boulangerie & Brunch in Paris: Benoit Castel
- Think you can achieve pastry perfection? Try this croissant recipe by the New York Times
Written by Alessia Armenise for HiP Paris. Looking to travel? Check out Plum Guide and our Marketplace for fabulous vacation rentals in Paris, France or Italy. Looking to rent long or short term, or buy in France? Ask us! We can connect you to our trusted providers for amazing service and rates or click here. Looking to bring France home to you or to learn online or in person? Check out our marketplace shop and experiences.
WRITTEN BY
Alessia Armenise
Alessia is a writer and creative based in Paris. After a few years working in London, she moved back to Paris and now writes freelance for media and brands, specialising in eco-luxury, slow travel and sustainability. Her work has been featured in Stylist, Milk Magazine and Grazia France among others. She also runs a sustainability and slow living focused website called Pretty Slow and hosts a podcast called Pretty Good Business.
I don’t really like bread but I want to try to taste it. I might like it too