Introduction: Best bakeries in Paris
David Lebovitz, a long-time Paris resident and pastry expert, shares his favorite bakeries in Paris. Whether you’re in the mood for classic croissants or experimental pastries, his recommendations will guide you to the best spots in the City of Light.
Boulangeries vs. Pâtisseries
In Paris, the distinction between a boulangerie and a pâtisserie is essential. According to Lebovitz, “A pâtisserie creates chef-style pastries like gâteau St-Honoré, whereas a boulangerie offers baker-style pastries like madeleines.” This guide covers both types of establishments.
David Lebovitz: The Expert
David Lebovitz, a former Chez Panisse pastry chef, has lived in Paris since 2003. He is the author of nine books, including My Paris Kitchen and The Sweet Life in Paris. His award-winning blog and newsletter provide recipes, dining tips, and recommendations for Paris’s vibrant bakery scene.
Paris’s Evolving Bakery Scene
Lebovitz has observed significant changes in Paris’s bakery landscape over the past decade. He notes, “Younger bakers are more experimental, incorporating seeds and grains into traditional pastries like brioche.” Despite these innovations, he often craves the classics, such as buttery croissants and palmiers.
Lebovitz’s Top Bakery Picks in Paris
1. Best Pastry: Jacques Genin
Jacques Genin’s Paris-Brest is Lebovitz’s top pastry pick. This dessert, inspired by the Paris-Brest bicycle race, features pâte à choux filled with praline mousse. Genin’s version is exceptional, made to order with hazelnut praline cream and roasted Piedmontese hazelnuts. Other must-tries include the mille-feuille, pâtes de fruits, cream puffs, eclairs, and famous caramels.
2. Best Croissant: Tout Autour Du Pain
Lebovitz praises Benjamin Turquier’s boulangerie, Tout Autour du Pain, for its perfect croissants. “You can taste the really good butter; it’s the perfect croissant,” he says. Turquier, a multiple award-winner for his croissants and baguettes, also makes an exceptional pain d’épices, a French spice cake with hints of orange marmalade.
Bread Tip: Ensure you buy from a boulangerie rather than a dépôt du pain, where bread is made elsewhere. Boulangeries follow the 1993 Le Décret Pain, ensuring fresh, handmade bread with only four ingredients: flour, yeast, water, and salt.
3. Best Instagram able Desserts: The French Bastards
The French Bastards, a trendy bakery founded by three friends, offers both classic and inventive pastries. Lebovitz’s favorite is their tangy lemon tart with a tender pâte sucrée crust. Other popular items include babka, cruffins, caramelized croissant waffles, and seasonal Saint-Honoré cakes.
4. Best Babka: Boulangerie Mamiche
Mamiche, co-owned by Victoria Effantin and Cécile Khayat, is renowned for its babka, a brioche dough twist with bittersweet chocolate. Lebovitz also recommends their seedy pain de mie aux grains and pain Suisse, a croissant dough filled with chocolate chips and pastry cream.
5. Best Fresh Chocolate Pastries: Plaq
Plaq, an artisanal bean-to-bar chocolate company, offers delectable fresh chocolate pastries. Lebovitz’s favorite is Le Fondant Ultra Chocolat, a rich baked chocolate ganache. Plaq’s chocolate chunk pecan cookie and gluten-free buckwheat cookie are also noteworthy.
6. Best Gluten-Free Bakery: Chambelland
Chambelland, co-founded by Nathaniel Doboin and Thomas Teffri-Chambelland, specializes in gluten-free products made with fresh-milled flour from their own mill. Lebovitz recommends their lemon tart with a crispy rice flour crust and pain de sucre, a thin loaf rolled in orange flower syrup and sugar.
7. Best Tarte Tatin: Bertillon Salon de Thé
Lebovitz’s favorite tarte tatin, a caramelized apple tart, is served by the slice at Berthillon’s Tea Salon. Located on Île St-Louis, Berthillon is famous for its ice cream, which perfectly complements the tall, well-caramelized tarte tatin.
Conclusion: Best bakeries in Paris
David Lebovitz’s guide to the best bakeries in Paris offers a mix of traditional and modern pastry experiences. From classic croissants to experimental delights, his recommendations highlight the city’s vibrant bakery scene and ensure that visitors savor the finest pastries Paris has to offer.
