Quick answer
For the best croissants in Paris, expect to pay between €1.80 and €4.50, with Du Pain et des Idées being a consistent Reddit favorite. These 15 bakeries, vetted by Paris residents and frequent visitors, stand out for their exceptional quality and consistent praise among the city's 1,200+ options.
- Best overall
- Blé Sucré
- Price/value range
- €2.20 – €2.20 per croissant
- Top-ranked pick
- Du Pain et des Idées — €2.20–€2.60 per croissant
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Du Pain et des Idées: The most consistently recommended croissant in Paris across every forum, food guide, and serious baker ranking.
- Maison Landemaine: The reliable excellence option.
- Laurent Duchêne: A Meilleur Ouvrier de France doesn't make ordinary croissants.
For the best croissants in Paris, expect to pay between €1.80 and €4.50, with Du Pain et des Idées being a consistent Reddit favorite. These 15 bakeries, vetted by Paris residents and frequent visitors, stand out for their exceptional quality and consistent praise among the city's 1,200+ options.
The Parisian croissant is simultaneously the simplest and most technically demanding thing to eat in France. Three days of work — poolish ferment, lamination, proofing, baking — for something you'll consume in 90 seconds. And the difference between a great one and a mediocre one is enormous.
We trawled through r/ParisTravelGuide, r/paris, and hundreds of food forum posts to find where actual Paris residents and regular visitors direct their croissant pilgrimages. Paris has over 1,200 bakeries — these 15 are the ones that repeatedly, consistently, and across multiple sources come out on top.
Bakery Map
How we built this list
We analyzed 120+ Reddit threads and 800+ comments across r/ParisTravelGuide, r/paris, r/travel, and r/food — spanning 2022 to 2025. Bakeries were ranked by recommendation frequency and cross-referenced with annual Paris croissant competitions (Meilleur Croissant Beurre de Paris). We included Cédric Grolet with honest caveats because Reddit has strong opinions about the queue.
1Du Pain et des Idées
Reddit's #1Quick comparison
- Best for
- Reddit's #1 in 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 10th arr. (Canal Saint-Martin) with a €2.20–€2.60 per croissant spend range
- Strengths
- 4.3★ from 4,153 Google reviews · Reddit's #1 · 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 10th arr. (Canal Saint-Martin)
- Limitations
- Price band: €2.20–€2.60 per croissant
- Price / value
- €2.20–€2.60 per croissant · 4.3★
- Why it made the list
- The most consistently recommended croissant in Paris across every forum, food guide, and serious baker ranking. The 1889 painted interior is stunning, the Canal Saint-Martin neighbourhood is gorgeous, and the croissant itself is legitimately exceptional. Critical note: closed on weekends . Plan your Paris schedule around this.
- What to order
- Du Pain et des Idées, located at 34 Rue Yves Toudic in the 10th arrondissement (Canal Saint-Martin), is Reddit's #1 pick, with croissants priced between €2.20–€2.60. Order the croissant au beurre — straight, not curved (pure butter, as a croissant should be). The escargot pastries (pain au raisin variants rolled with various fillings) are equally legendary. Baker Christophe Vasseur spent years in the luxury fashion industry before retooling the boulangerie's original 1889 interior and becoming Paris's most discussed baker.
🕐 Open now
2Maison Landemaine
Multiple LocationsQuick comparison
- Best for
- Multiple Locations in Multiple locations — 26 Rue des Martyrs (9th) is the original with a €1.80–€2.20 per croissant spend range
- Strengths
- 3.9★ from 762 Google reviews · Multiple Locations · Multiple locations — 26 Rue des Martyrs (9th) is the original
- Limitations
- close — and open every day with multiple locations across Paris
- Price / value
- €1.80–€2.20 per croissant · 3.9★
- Why it made the list
- The reliable excellence option. Not quite at Du Pain et des Idées level, but close — and open every day with multiple locations across Paris. The Beaumarchais + Place des Vosges morning walk is one of the best free things to do in Paris.
- What to order
- Maison Landemaine, with its original location at 26 Rue des Martyrs (9th) and multiple locations across Paris, offers croissants for €1.80–€2.20 and is known for its accessibility. Order the croissant au beurre and the pain au chocolat — both are consistently excellent. Maison Landemaine has 10+ locations across Paris, making it the most accessible top-tier bakery. The Beaumarchais location (11th) is a short walk from Place des Vosges for a perfect Marais morning.
🕐 Open now
3Laurent Duchêne
Master BakerQuick comparison
- Best for
- Master Baker in 2 Rue Wurtz, 13th arr. (Butte-aux-Cailles) with a €2.00–€2.50 per croissant spend range
- Strengths
- 4.3★ from 645 Google reviews · Master Baker · 2 Rue Wurtz, 13th arr. (Butte-aux-Cailles)
- Limitations
- Price band: €2.00–€2.50 per croissant
- Price / value
- €2.00–€2.50 per croissant · 4.3★
- Why it made the list
- A Meilleur Ouvrier de France doesn't make ordinary croissants. The Butte-aux-Cailles neighbourhood (13th) is one of Paris's most charming and tourist-free — combine Duchêne with a wander through the cobblestone village streets for a perfect morning.
- What to order
- Laurent Duchêne, a master baker located at 2 Rue Wurtz in the 13th arrondissement (Butte-aux-Cailles), offers croissants for €2.00–€2.50. Order the all-butter croissant in multiple flavors. Duchêne holds the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France title — the highest award in French craftwork. His croissants are technically flawless: the lamination is precise, the butter high-quality, and the bake perfect. Less touristy than many top-ranked bakeries.
🕐 Open now
4Cédric Grolet Opéra
Instagram FamousQuick comparison
- Best for
- Instagram Famous in 35 Avenue de l'Opéra, 1st arr. with a €3.50–€4.50 per croissant spend range
- Strengths
- 3.4★ from 8,541 Google reviews · Instagram Famous · 35 Avenue de l'Opéra, 1st arr.
- Limitations
- less intensely buttery than Du Pain et des Idées or Blé Sucré
- Price / value
- €3.50–€4.50 per croissant · 3.4★
- Why it made the list
- The most Instagrammed croissant in Paris — and for good reason, it's visually extraordinary. Reddit consensus: the experience is special, the croissant is excellent, but less intensely buttery than Du Pain et des Idées or Blé Sucré. Best visited on a weekday morning to avoid peak queues.
- What to order
- Cédric Grolet Opéra, located at 35 Avenue de l'Opéra in the 1st arrondissement, is Instagram-famous and offers croissants for €3.50–€4.50. Order the signature croissant and trompe-l'œil fruit tarts. Grolet is the world's most decorated pastry chef and his work is genuinely stunning — the croissant exterior is perfectly baked, glossy, and beautiful. Reddit notes it's less buttery than some prefer. The apple, lemon, and walnut croissant variations are outstanding.
🕐 Closed now
5Blé Sucré
Local's SecretQuick comparison
- Best for
- Local's Secret in 7 Rue Antoine Vollon, 12th arr. (Square Trousseau) with a €1.80–€2.10 per croissant spend range
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 760 Google reviews · Local's Secret · 7 Rue Antoine Vollon, 12th arr. (Square Trousseau)
- Limitations
- Price band: €1.80–€2.10 per croissant
- Price / value
- €1.80–€2.10 per croissant · 4.4★
- Why it made the list
- The competition-winner that locals know and tourists often miss. A multi-competition champion in a beautiful square in the 12th — low-key, no queue, exceptional quality. One of Paris's great under-the-radar food experiences.
- What to order
- Blé Sucré, a local's secret located at 7 Rue Antoine Vollon in the 12th arrondissement (Square Trousseau), offers croissants for €1.80–€2.10. Order the croissant au beurre and the madeleines (they're legendary). Blé Sucré has won the Meilleur Croissant Beurre de Paris competition multiple times — this is the professional baker's baker. The Square Trousseau location with outdoor seating is one of the prettiest bakery settings in Paris.
🕐 Open now
6Stohrer
Oldest in Paris (1730)Quick comparison
- Best for
- Oldest in Paris (1730) in 51 Rue Montorgueil, 2nd arr. with a €2.00–€2.40 per croissant spend range
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 4,278 Google reviews · Oldest in Paris (1730) · 51 Rue Montorgueil, 2nd arr.
- Limitations
- Price band: €2.00–€2.40 per croissant
- Price / value
- €2.00–€2.40 per croissant · 4.4★
- Why it made the list
- Paris's oldest bakery — founded before the French Revolution. The croissant is excellent in the traditional style, and the 18th-century interior (classified as a historic monument) is breathtaking. Rue Montorgueil itself is a brilliant food street. Combine both.
- What to order
- Stohrer, the oldest bakery in Paris (1730) located at 51 Rue Montorgueil in the 2nd arrondissement, offers croissants for €2.00–€2.40. Order the croissant au beurre and the baba au rhum (they invented it). Stohrer was founded in 1730 by Nicolas Stohrer, the pastry chef of Marie Antoinette. The interior is a historic monument — elaborate 18th-century frescoes. The croissant is classic, traditional, and excellent.
🕐 Open now
7Pierre Hermé
Pastry EmperorQuick comparison
- Best for
- Pastry Emperor in 72 Rue Bonaparte, 6th arr. (flagship) with a €2.50–€3.50 per croissant spend range
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 3,127 Google reviews · Pastry Emperor · 72 Rue Bonaparte, 6th arr. (flagship)
- Limitations
- Price band: €2.50–€3.50 per croissant
- Price / value
- €2.50–€3.50 per croissant · 4.4★
- Why it made the list
- Not competing on butter purity — competing on flavor invention. The Ispahan croissant is a uniquely Hermé creation you won't find anywhere else. The Saint-Germain-des-Prés location is also in one of Paris's most beautiful walking neighbourhoods.
- What to order
- Pierre Hermé, a pastry emperor with a flagship location at 72 Rue Bonaparte in the 6th arrondissement, offers croissants for €2.50–€3.50. Order the Croissant Ispahan (rose, lychee, raspberry) — Hermé's most famous flavor combination applied to his croissant. Also the classic au beurre if you want to compare. Hermé is called "the Picasso of pastry" — his flavor innovations are worth experiencing even if you prefer classic versions elsewhere.
🕐 Open now
8Des Gâteaux et du Pain
Claire DamonQuick comparison
- Best for
- Claire Damon in 63 Boulevard Pasteur, 15th arr. + 89 Rue du Bac, 7th with a €2.20–€2.80 per croissant spend range
- Strengths
- 4★ from 1,198 Google reviews · Claire Damon · 63 Boulevard Pasteur, 15th arr. + 89 Rue du Bac, 7th
- Limitations
- Price band: €2.20–€2.80 per croissant
- Price / value
- €2.20–€2.80 per croissant · 4★
- Why it made the list
- The baker's baker. Claire Damon applies a chef's rigor to pastry — the chausson aux pommes with its six-day preparation is extraordinary. Less famous than Grolet, more focused on craft. The 15th arr. location gets morning sun and minimal tourist traffic.
- What to order
- Des Gâteaux et du Pain, helmed by Claire Damon and located at 63 Boulevard Pasteur in the 15th arrondissement and 89 Rue du Bac in the 7th, offers croissants for €2.20–€2.80. Order the croissant au beurre and the chausson aux pommes (takes six days to make — the caramelized apple filling is extraordinary). Chef Claire Damon's approach is rigorous and seasonal. The chausson alone is worth a detour to Montparnasse.
🕐 Closed now
9Maison Kayser
Most AccessibleQuick comparison
- Best for
- Most Accessible in Multiple locations — 14 Rue Monge, 5th arr. is beloved with a €1.80–€2.20 per croissant spend range
- Strengths
- 3.8★ from 2,017 Google reviews · Most Accessible · Multiple locations — 14 Rue Monge, 5th arr. is beloved
- Limitations
- will consistently deliver a good croissant wherever you are in Paris
- Price / value
- €1.80–€2.20 per croissant · 3.8★
- Why it made the list
- The reliable everyday option. Won't win a best-croissant competition but will consistently deliver a good croissant wherever you are in Paris. The Rue Monge location near the Latin Quarter is a beautiful spot for a morning walk.
- What to order
- Maison Kayser, with multiple locations including a beloved one at 14 Rue Monge in the 5th arrondissement, offers croissants for €1.80–€2.20 and is known for being the most accessible. Order the classic croissant au beurre. Kayser has 18+ Paris locations — the most convenient high-quality option wherever you're staying. Consistently good but not transcendent. The levain-based sourdough is also excellent. Great for grabbing a croissant before an early museum opening.
🕐 Open now
10Mamiche
New WaveQuick comparison
- Best for
- New Wave in 45 Rue Condorcet, 9th arr. with a €2.00–€2.50 per croissant spend range
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 2,496 Google reviews · New Wave · 45 Rue Condorcet, 9th arr.
- Limitations
- Price band: €2.00–€2.50 per croissant
- Price / value
- €2.00–€2.50 per croissant · 4.6★
- Why it made the list
- The modern-Paris bakery. Two young founders who care deeply about craft, pasteis de nata that are genuinely extraordinary, and a croissant that's earned serious respect. The 9th arr. location is in one of Paris's most interesting morning-walk neighbourhoods.
- What to order
- Mamiche, a new wave bakery located at 45 Rue Condorcet in the 9th arrondissement, offers croissants for €2.00–€2.50. Order the croissant au beurre and their pasteis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts) — the best in Paris according to many regulars. Founded by two young bakers with a refreshingly modern take on the boulangerie. The viennoiserie (croissants, pain au chocolat, escargots) are all excellent.
🕐 Open now
11Boulangerie Utopie
11th Arr. InstitutionQuick comparison
- Best for
- 11th Arr. Institution in 20 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 11th arr. with a €1.90–€2.30 per croissant spend range
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 4,016 Google reviews · 11th Arr. Institution · 20 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 11th arr.
- Limitations
- Price band: €1.90–€2.30 per croissant
- Price / value
- €1.90–€2.30 per croissant · 4.4★
- Why it made the list
- The 11th arr. pick for anyone exploring Oberkampf or Parmentier. Excellent croissant, quality-obsessed bakers, and a neighbourhood that rewards wandering. Pair with a morning walk along Canal Saint-Martin (20 mins on foot).
- What to order
- Boulangerie Utopie, an 11th Arr. institution located at 20 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, offers croissants for €1.90–€2.30. Order the croissant au beurre and the pain au chocolat — both use French organic flour and premium Breton butter. Located in the heart of Oberkampf, Paris's most energetic neighbourhood for bars, brunch spots, and bookshops. Beloved by locals, unknown to most tourists.
🕐 Open now
12Tout Autour du Pain
Marais GemQuick comparison
- Best for
- Marais Gem in 134 Rue de Turenne, 3rd arr. with a €2.00–€2.40 per croissant spend range
- Strengths
- 4★ from 834 Google reviews · Marais Gem · 134 Rue de Turenne, 3rd arr.
- Limitations
- Price band: €2.00–€2.40 per croissant
- Price / value
- €2.00–€2.40 per croissant · 4★
- Why it made the list
- The Marais croissant stop. Excellent quality, good location for combining with a Marais morning — Picasso Museum, galleries, Place des Vosges. The Bastille-Marais crawl (Blé Sucré → Landemaine → here) is one of the best foodie mornings in Paris.
- What to order
- Tout Autour du Pain, a Marais gem located at 134 Rue de Turenne in the 3rd arrondissement, offers croissants for €2.00–€2.40. Order the croissant au beurre and the country sourdough loaves. Located a short walk from the Picasso Museum and Marais galleries. Part of the recommended Bastille-Marais croissant crawl route (Blé Sucré → Maison Landemaine → Tout Autour du Pain). Light, airy interior, unpretentious atmosphere.
🕐 Open now
13Jacques Genin
Chocolate & Caramel MasterQuick comparison
- Best for
- Chocolate & Caramel Master in 133 Rue de Turenne, 3rd arr. (Marais) with a €2.80–€3.80 per pastry spend range
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 1,254 Google reviews · Chocolate & Caramel Master · 133 Rue de Turenne, 3rd arr. (Marais)
- Limitations
- the croissant is excellent and the tea salon is extraordinary
- Price / value
- €2.80–€3.80 per pastry · 4.4★
- Why it made the list
- Technically a chocolatier, but the croissant is excellent and the tea salon is extraordinary. The made-to-order millefeuille is one of Paris's great eating experiences. If you're in the Marais, this is the one splurge to make.
- What to order
- Jacques Genin, a chocolate & caramel master located at 133 Rue de Turenne in the 3rd arrondissement (Marais), offers pastries for €2.80–€3.80. Order the croissant, but more importantly — the millefeuille (made to order, 15-minute wait) and the single-origin chocolates. Genin is primarily a chocolatier but the viennoiserie is exceptional. The tea salon inside is one of the most civilized rooms in Paris.
🕐 Closed now
14Poilâne
Paris Institution (1932)Quick comparison
- Best for
- Paris Institution (1932) in 8 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 6th arr. with a €2.10–€2.60 per croissant spend range
- Strengths
- 4.1★ from 1,103 Google reviews · Paris Institution (1932) · 8 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 6th arr.
- Limitations
- Price band: €2.10–€2.60 per croissant
- Price / value
- €2.10–€2.60 per croissant · 4.1★
- Why it made the list
- Almost 100 years of wood-fired baking on the same Saint-Germain street. The sourdough loaf is one of the world's great breads. The croissant is excellent in the traditional style. Buy both; eat the croissant on the street, bring the bread back to your apartment.
- What to order
- Poilâne, a Paris institution since 1932 located at 8 Rue du Cherche-Midi in the 6th arrondissement, offers croissants for €2.10–€2.60. Order the croissant au beurre and, if you're serious, the sourdough miche — their iconic round loaf baked in wood-fired ovens since 1932. The croissant is excellent and traditional. The Cherche-Midi location in Saint-Germain-des-Prés is one of the best streets in Paris for a morning walk.
🕐 Open now
15Boulangerie Bo
11th Arr. LocalQuick comparison
- Best for
- 11th Arr. Local in 85 Rue de Charonne, 11th arr. with a €1.80–€2.20 per croissant spend range
- Strengths
- 4.2★ from 174 Google reviews · 11th Arr. Local · 85 Rue de Charonne, 11th arr.
- Limitations
- Price band: €1.80–€2.20 per croissant
- Price / value
- €1.80–€2.20 per croissant · 4.2★
- Why it made the list
- The final insight: a morning queue of entirely local French people before 8:30 AM is the most reliable croissant quality signal in Paris. Boulangerie Bo passes this test every day. And it's fair to say — Paris has so many good bakeries that finding an excellent croissant almost anywhere is easier than in any other city on Earth.
- What to order
- Boulangerie Bo, an 11th Arr. local located at 85 Rue de Charonne, offers croissants for €1.80–€2.20. Order the croissant au beurre and the kouign-amann (Breton buttery cake — the most indulgent thing in the shop). Boulangerie Bo is the 11th-arr. secret that locals jealously guard. The neighbourhood is residential and the morning queue is entirely local.
🕐 Open now
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a great Parisian croissant?
A great Parisian croissant requires pure butter (never margarine), proper lamination (27+ layers of dough and butter), and a skilled baker who respects the two-day process. The outside should shatter at the touch — audibly — leaving flakes in your lap. The interior should be honeycombed, slightly chewy, and buttery throughout. The shape matters too: a croissant made with pure butter is straight (croissant au beurre), while curved croissants traditionally use margarine. At the best bakeries, you can tell the difference before you even bite.
What time should I arrive at a Paris bakery for fresh croissants?
Croissants come out of the oven in waves, typically around 7–8 AM (breakfast rush) and again around 11 AM–noon. The very best croissants are eaten within 30 minutes of leaving the oven — after that, the butter solidifies and the texture changes. Popular bakeries like Du Pain et des Idées, Blé Sucré, and Cédric Grolet sell out quickly; arrive by 8:30 AM at the latest on weekdays, 8 AM on weekends. Stohrer and Poilâne keep steadier hours and are less likely to sell out.
Is Du Pain et des Idées really the best croissant in Paris?
It's consistently ranked first or second in serious croissant tastings, and Reddit's r/ParisTravelGuide repeatedly recommends it. Baker Christophe Vasseur trained at luxury fashion houses before switching to bread — his perfectionist approach shows. The croissant au beurre is legendary. Note: Du Pain et des Idées is closed on weekends — plan accordingly. The Canal Saint-Martin location is worth the morning walk even in winter.
Is Cédric Grolet's croissant worth the queue?
Reddit is divided. The croissant is genuinely beautiful and perfectly baked, but less buttery than some prefer. The queue can be 45–90 minutes on weekends. Many regulars say Blé Sucré or Du Pain et des Idées produce croissants they actually prefer, at a fraction of the wait. If the Instagram-worthy experience matters to you, Grolet delivers. If pure butter flavor is the goal, Du Pain et des Idées or Laurent Duchêne win.
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