Visiting Paris: Where to Eat the Best Croissants

It does not matter if this is your first trip to Paris, or your tenth, there is something every visitor to Paris must have. What is it? A croissant. Yes, the buttery, flaky French pastry lighter than air and as wonderful as a walk along the Seine in the springtime. In other words, if you do not get a croissant when visiting Paris, there isn’t a reason to visit! All kidding aside, croissants are available all over Paris, but not every shop selling them will give you a good croissant. In order to find the best croissants in Paris, visit some of the following places.

La Patisserie by Cyril Lignac

Cyril Lignac is one of the most well-known food celebrities in France and even hosts his own television show. In 2011, he partnered up with pastry chef Benoît Couvrand and together brought about La Patisserie. Some expect the pastries sold from this shop to be hyped up, but you will quickly find that they are delicious, especially the croissants. They have been described by critics as some of the lightest croissants in Paris and most customers wholeheartedly agree. Croissants from La Patisserie by Cyril Lignac are crunchy on each end and doughy in the middle–the best combination for the perfect croissant.

Au Levain du Marais

Au Levain du Marais is an institution in Paris, and anyone who is into the pastry scene in the city will likely agree. People come from all over the greater Paris area to gain access to the pastries, breads, cakes, and croissants being sold in this store. Part of the reason people like Au Levain du Marais is due to the organic flour used in the pastries. This pastry shop is highly reviewed by patrons, and they describe the croissants as “the best I’ve ever had in my life,” ” the best croissants[…]in Paris, and maybe all of France” and “everything I’ve always wanted in chocolate croissant.” Don’t miss your chance to have one of the best croissants in Paris; stop into Au Levain du Marais.

Blé Sucré

By 7:00 a.m. when the doors open, a line has formed made of people itching to get their hands on some of the delightful offerings, including croissants, from Blé Sucré. You might be wondering what makes these croissants different than the others. The answer is the crusty, hard surface of the pastry. Most croissants are served warm, have brittle, flaky ends and a doughy middle. The croissants from Blé Sucré, though served warm, have a crunchy exterior across the pastry. Once the crust is broken, the warm, fluffy centre is exposed, and you will taste one of the best croissants in Paris. The secret? A bit of sea salt in the dough.

Du Pain et des Idées

Many know Du Pain et des Idées for their hearty, rustic breads, but they are certainly gaining a reputation when it comes to their artisan croissants. These croissants are larger and denser than other croissants found in the area, which makes them unique and adds a new definition to an old idea. The croissants are baked on a stone at Du Pain et des Idées, which gives the pastry a more crusty feel. Though this pastry shop has tried something a bit different with their croissants, it has certainly worked in their favour.

It would be a travesty to be in Paris and not allow yourself a croissant. There are so many wonderful pastry shops and bakeries in the city putting their own spin on this classic French decadence, including the shops listed here. If you are going to be in Paris, do yourself a favour and indulge in a croissant from one of the above shops. Better yet, try one from all of them. You will not be disappointed.

 Do you have a favourite croissant shop in Paris?