You know what, I have never ever found a country where the bread and cakes were just as delicious, scrumptious, beautiful, heavenly as France. Ok, I’m biased but really who doesn’t like a fresh croissant, a light and crunchy baguette, a sweet éclair or moka or bavaroise? See, told you I was right !

Heads up: there are going to be a lot of French words in this post because there are no equivalent in English for the delicious cakes we make.  Photos and words won’t do them justice so please, trust me and go try one of these wonderful addresses  that my friends kindly shared with us.

Where to get the best baguette in Paris

General tip: especially if you rent a flat in Paris during your stay (more on this on Thursday), the best way to guess which boulangerie is the best in the neighborhood where you are  is to look at which one has a long line of people outside of it on a Saturday or Sunday morning.  It means the locals have elected it to be the best for fresh baguettes and croissants for their weekend breakfast.

Du pain et des idées

M° Jacques Bonsergent or M° République

34 rue Toudic Paris 10è

Monday to Friday from 6h45 to 20h

http://www.dupainetdesidees.com/

 

Christophe Vasseur is currently considered as the best baker in Paris.

Stéphane Secco

20 Rue Jean-Nicot Paris 7è

M° : La Tour Maubourg

From Tuesday to Saturday 8h-20h30

 

This used to be the famous Poujauran bakery. Now owned by Stéphanie Secco, the bread is still delicious and the pastries too…

Liberté Patisserie Boulangerie

3 addresses

http://libertepatisserieboulangerie.com/les-adresses/

 

What a fab name for a French pâtisserie. This place has very good reviews and the interesting part is that you can actually see them preparing all the wonderful breads and cakes thanks to an open kitchen.

Bread and Roses

62, rue Madame, Paris 6è

M° Rennes ou M° Saint Placide

Monday to Saturday from 8h to 20h

http://www.breadandroses.fr/

 

My friend’s daughters really like this place. They have a few tables outside too so you can have your bread and eat it (!) right here and there.

Bruno Solques

243 rue Saint-Jacques Paris 5è

Monday to Friday from 6h30 to 20h

M° Censier Daubenton or RER Port Royal

 

A more original and pricey boulanger worth discovering.

Sweets, cakes and all sorts of delicacies

Gérard Mulot

76 rue de Seine Paris 6è

M° Odéon

http://www.gerard-mulot.com/

 

The best fruit tarts in Paris.  Their counter is always full of cakes, and part of the pleasure is just looking at them

La manufacture de chocolat

40, rue de la Roquette, 75011 Paris

Tuesday to Saturday, 10:30 am to 7 pm

M°Bastille

http://www.lechocolat-alainducasse.com/

 

My friend’s husband, Nicolas Berger,  opened this Alain Ducasse, whose pastry chef he was for many years, a few years ago.  It’s the only place in Paris where chocolate is made from beginning to end.  Chocolates galore. You have to go see it and of course buy some  treats.

Sébastien Gaudard

22 rue des Martyrs Paris 9ème

M° Saint Georges

http://www.sebastiengaudard.com/

 

We bought some delicious cakes there when we stayed nearby. I love the decor, which is very reminiscent of the 1950’s.  The chouquettes were delicious.  They have now also opened a TeaRoom in the Jardins des Tuileries.

Choux obsessed? There’s a shop for that

The new trend in Paris now is to open shops dedicated to only one kind of cakes.  So if you are a fan of “choux”, “éclairs” or “meringues”, here are the places you can indulge your fancy

• L’éclair de génie : several shops around Paris where you can try a wide variety of éclairs created by a renowned chef patissier, Christophe Adam.
• Odette Paris : only choux !
• Aux merveilleux de Fred: a North of France specialty of light meringue with whipped cream and several flavours. We have a shop near us in London and love it !  The brioches are delicious too.