The Best Croissant in Paris: 33 Spots Worth the Early Alarm
Every boulangerie in town has a sign, a queue or a framed press clipping claiming the best croissant in Paris. Plenty of them still sell a pale, bready one that leaves no flakes on your coat, and the good batches tend to vanish by mid-morning.
So we compared Le Fooding, Time Out and dozens of other sources, with no paid placements, and kept 33 spots where the croissant is worth setting an alarm for, most of them cheap. Want the whole display case? Browse our bakeries and pastry shops, or plan a slow breakfast around one.
A neighborhood artisan bakery where hand-kneaded natural sourdough and exceptional viennoiseries are crafted daily with Label Rouge flours across three welcoming Parisian locations.
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The iconic Parisian salon de thé where the double-decker macaron was born, serving exquisite pastries and tea time in a Belle Époque setting on the world's most famous avenue.
A legendary artisan bakery in the 10th arrondissement where traditional bread-making meets exceptional craftsmanship in a beautifully preserved historic setting.
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An iconic Parisian café where literary history meets timeless French tradition on the most celebrated square of the Left Bank.
The oldest pâtisserie in Paris, where Nicolas Stohrer invented the baba au rhum in 1730, continues to craft legendary French pastries in a monument historique setting.
One of Paris's finest artisanal bakeries, crafting 100% homemade breads, viennoiseries, and pastries with organic flours and exceptional quality ingredients.
A Franco-British bakery and coffee shop championing artisan sourdough, specialty coffee, and eco-responsible practices across three Parisian locations.
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Celebrated chef Cyril Lignac's bustling pâtisserie on rue Paul Bert showcases artisanal French pastries that reimagine classics with modern flair.
A pioneering specialty coffee roastery and artisan bakery serving exceptional sourdough bread and carefully sourced coffee across three beloved Parisian locations since 2012.
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A beloved gluten-free bakery crafting exceptional organic breads and pastries with rice flour since 2014, proving that allergen-friendly can be utterly delicious.
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An artisan bakery in the 11th arrondissement where traditional French baking techniques meet creative pastry innovation, offering everything from naturally leavened breads to signature cheesecakes.
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Paris's most prestigious gourmet food hall, featuring seven restaurants and an unparalleled selection of fine foods from around the world in the heart of the 7th arrondissement.
A stylish neo-bistrot designed by Luke Edward Hall, serving seasonal French cuisine and natural wines from morning until midnight near Paris's major train stations.
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Award-winning Japanese pastry chef Mori Yoshida crafts exquisite Franco-Japanese desserts in the heart of Paris's 7th arrondissement, blending traditional French techniques with refined Japanese sensibility.
Crowned "Most Beautiful Market in Île-de-France" in 2018, this historic covered market brings together 35 permanent vendors offering the finest local produce and artisanal goods in the heart of Versailles.
A minimalist coffee shop in Montmartre serving specialty coffee from Dak Coffee Roasters and Kawa, with innovative pea milk beverages and homemade treats.
A modern Israeli bakery bringing the art of babka and Levantine pastries to Paris with artisanal craftsmanship and locally-sourced ingredients.
François Perret's elegant pâtisserie boutiques bring the legendary Ritz Paris savoir-faire to rue Cambon and rue de Sèvres with exquisite French pastries and signature madeleines.
Celebrity chef Cyril Lignac's dedicated chocolate haven in the 11th arrondissement, serving artisanal chocolates, decadent pastries, and the city's most indulgent hot chocolate.
A sprawling four-story brasserie at the foot of Montmartre, serving traditional French cuisine from breakfast to late night, crowned with a rooftop overlooking Sacré-Cœur.
A 400 m² artisan bakery spanning three floors across from the Louvre, crafting 100% homemade breads, viennoiseries, and modern pastries in a zen, contemporary setting.
Twice-crowned champion of Paris's prestigious Grand Prix de la Baguette, this Montmartre bakery crafts exceptional traditional breads with 100% French flour.
A contemporary artisan bakery in the heart of the Marais, crafting exceptional breads and pastries with organic flours and natural levain while offering vegan options and hands-on pastry workshops.
A traditional Basque bakery bringing the flavors of southwestern France to Paris, renowned for its signature gâteau basque with caramelized crust.
An artisan bakery crafting organic sourdough breads and inventive pastries in a retro-styled space designed by Nato Studio.
A trio of artisan bakeries where freshly baked miches, house-made pastries, and family-style dishes celebrate the craft of traditional French boulangerie with a warm, community-focused approach.
A dedicated coffee roastery in Paris's 15th arrondissement where artisan beans meet expert brewing techniques.
A luminous artisan bakery on Rue d'Amsterdam where ancient grain breads and zero-waste creativity transform traditional boulangerie into a committed culinary experience.
An artisanal pâtisserie near Buttes-Chaumont where traditional French techniques embrace multicultural influences, creating unique pastries with locally sourced ingredients.
A neighborhood artisan bakery in Paris 12 where traditional French baking meets creative weekend collaborations and homemade touches.
Meilleur Ouvrier de France Mathieu Viannay brings Lyon's legendary culinary heritage to Paris through his acclaimed bistronomic épicerie, where the iconic pâté croûte de la Mère Brazier reigns supreme.
A historic Saint-Germain-des-Prés institution crafting exceptional sourdough bread and pastries using traditional wood-fired ovens for over 90 years.
A beloved specialty coffee roastery and artisan bakery serving exceptional sourdough bread, house-made pastries, and expertly brewed coffee in the heart of the 6th arrondissement.
TimeoutFoodingHow to spot the best croissant in Paris
A great croissant shatters when you bite it, shows a honeycomb of airy layers inside and smells of butter, not oil. It should feel light for its size. If it bends instead of crackling, walk on. Every place below earned its spot in at least one guide we track, and each page lists what regulars actually order, so you know whether to grab a croissant, a pain au chocolat or something stranger.
Bakers who start at dawn
Du Pain et des Idées, in the 10th, opens at 6:45am in a beautifully preserved old bakery. Get the croissant, then the escargot pistache-griotte, a spiral pastry with pistachio and sour cherry. It closes on weekends, so don't plan a Saturday pilgrimage. In the 9th, Mamiche hand-kneads its sourdough, bakes with Label Rouge flours and turns out croissants, pain au chocolat and a chocolate babka that sells fast; it's closed Sunday and Monday. BO & MIE, near Les Halles, makes absolutely everything in-house with organic flours and opens at 7:30am (8am on Sundays).
Pâtissiers and coffee people
Some of the best croissants come from pastry chefs. La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac on rue Paul Bert opens at 7am; arrive early before the cases thin out, and add a Paris-Brest for later. Ten Belles Bread, a Franco-British bakery in the 11th, pairs its croissant with a serious cortado. For more choux and glaze, see our éclairs and macarons, and for a loaf to take home, our best baguettes.
Where to look, and when to go
The 11th and the 9th have the most croissants on this list, followed by the 18th, the 10th and the 6th. Staying nearby? Start with the 11th arrondissement or the 9th. Most spots are cheap, and the pricier ones are pâtisseries and salons de thé, like Ladurée on the Champs-Élysées.
Go before 10am: that's when the trays are full and still warm. Many bakers take one or two days off a week, often Sunday or Monday, so check the opening hours on each page or go straight to our bakeries open on Sunday. Prefer to sit down? Les Deux Magots serves breakfast and its famous hot chocolate on the Left Bank's most celebrated square; our café terraces have more tables for a slow morning. Then switch to the map and find the nearest flaky one.