PARIS
Dedicated taste testing resulted in this list of the best of Paris’s iconic snack
In search of the best Paris croissants I tasted my way through the city, leaving trails of buttery flakes on the right bank and left. In France, baking is a true art and the simple pleasure of a fresh croissant is elevated to something exceptional.
But Paris has many mediocre croissants as well, and those are best avoided. This list is the best of those I’ve tried over many trips to Paris — the exceptional among that most iconic Paris pastry, the butter croissant.
I’ve included a selection of my favorite flavored croissants as well.
My long fascination with this most Parisian of pastries (technically, they are part of the viennoiserie category) became a dedicated pursuit in recent years. Paris is my favorite city, and I think it’s worth seeking out the best croissants.
If you are reading this while dashing through Paris with a grumbling tummy, here is the list of favorites. The arrondissements (neighborhood) is noted in brackets. And just below the list is a map showing their locations. If you have more time, read on for detailed descriptions of each standout croissant, the bakery, and suggestions for other things to try.
Best Paris Croissants (butter)
• La Maison d’Isabelle (5th) Best on the Left Bank.
• Mamiche (10th) Further to reach but exceptional.
• Le Boulanger de la Tour (5th) Delish and popular; go early!
• Sain Boulangerie (11th) Sensational sourdough croissant.
• Café Utopie (11th) Tender and delicate.
• Cyril Lignac (multiple)
• Blé Sucré (12th) Latest addition. Sublime! Write-up coming.
Best Flavored Croissants
• Favorite sweet croissant: The Ispahan (rose, raspberry, lychee), Pierre Hermé. (multiple locations)
• Favorite chocolate croissant: Le Grenier à Pain (multiple), Sain Boulangerie (11th)
• Favorite almond croissant: Stohrer (2nd), Cafe Utopie (11th)
Best Paris Croissants - Google Map
What makes the Best Paris Croissant
- Deep butter flavor & aroma
- Crisp, flaky exterior
- Delicate, airy interior
What makes the perfect croissant? The scent of warm butter perfumes the air of the bakery. The croissants wait in neat rows atop butter-stained parchment, or piled nonchalantly in a basket (who us?). Some are pale gold, others are as bronzed as a sunbather on the French Riviera.
The exterior is crisp, so the first bite produces a satisfying crunch and a shower of flakes. (I especially love when the ear —the croissant’s narrow end— is extra crisp. )
By contrast, they are light and airy inside. Wispy layers of dough surround air pockets that sometimes resemble a honeycomb. It’s the contrast between the interior and exterior that makes the best Paris croissants so delicious.
Some of the best are known for the type of butter used by the baker, often sourced from regions such as Normandy. The choice of butter contributes notably to the flavor. “Can it be too buttery?” That seems to come down to personal preference. Croissants are the ideal vehicle for tasting the finest French butter. Personally, I err on the side of “bonjour butter”!
How to Order a Croissant in Paris
Some bakeries sell a “croissant ordinaire” which is made with oil or margarine. Avoid those. You want a butter croissant, a “croissant au beurre” and it’s best to begin any interactions in Paris with bonjour (hello). I usually say: “Bonjour. Je vais prendre un croissant au beurre”. (Hello. I will take a butter croissant.) You can also say, “Bonjour. Croissant au beurre, s’il vous plaît.” (Hello. A butter croissant, please.)
I have had people question how good they can be when they see the price is €1.20. Yes, that’s really the price; they are rarely over €3.
Croissants are made early in the morning and will often sell out. This is especially true at popular bakeries. I scooped the second-last butter croissant at 9:30 am at the Boulanger de la Tour (listed below). More may appear in the late afternoon; they are a favorite after-school snack of French children.
Tasting the Best Paris Croissants
La Maison d’Isabelle
47 Bd Saint-Germain (5th)
Closed Monday
Métro: Maubert – Mutualité
This gem in the Latin Quarter was conveniently located near my hotel on a recent visit. It was the first thing I ate after dropping my bags. It was so delicious that I returned to taste it again and make sure it wasn’t just a “jetlagged stupor of happiness” that made it so delicious.
This croissant is very crunchy, extremely buttery, and a dark cognac color that suggests it’s overcooked. It isn’t. A sign atop the bakery on Boulevard Saint-Germain declares “The grand prize winner in 2018.” Nothing subtle about this — it’s straight ahead croissant decadence.
It’s well known so there is often a line, but it moves quickly. The upside to celebrity seems to be a commitment to “let them eat croissants.” La Maison d’Isabelle churns out croissants throughout the day. You likely won’t be disappointed by a basket of crumbs, as you might at some of the other bakeries on this list. This butter croissant is delicious, among my top 3 favorites in Paris.
Also try the Palmier.
Mamiche
Open daily
Métro: Anvers (10th) Château d’Eau (9th)
I had heard a lot about Mamiche, a woman-run bakery with locations in the 9th and 10th. There are many reasons to go; their famous croissants were one of them. I had tried and failed to get there on a previous visit. So, on my last trip in 2024, I trudged uphill in the rain to the location in the 10th. There’s also one in the 9th. There was a long line. The line moved slowly. And oh my, was it worth the wait.
The Mamiche croissant is not as crisp as some, but crisp enough for a satisfying contrast with the very tender interior, and an exceptional buttery flavor. Very tender, very rich. I knew I was eating somthing special. Certainly in my top three; it might be my favorite.
Mamiche is also known for their jelly-filled donuts (beignets) which were also excellent! And their choux pastry. And if it’s lunchtime, for delicious sandwiches on excellent bread. In other words, I will return.
Sain Boulangerie
13 rue Alibert (11th)
Closed Monday
Métro: Belleville or Goncourt
I recently stayed at a friend’s apartment in the 11th; it was the perfect chance to try Sain Boulangerie. I meandered along the quiet city streets early on a Sunday, near Canal Saint-Martin. Just beyond the weekend marché, a buttery aroma beckoned me to Sain Boulangerie.
Sain, which means healthy, is known for its long-fermented doughs. And the baker, Anthony Courteille, uses wheat from heritage grains. Together these factors result in a unique flavor, with more depth than a typical croissant; still very buttery and slightly yeasty. Visually, they were works of art—perfectly golden, lacquered layers. The texture of the croissant was slightly more dense than my other favorites, but I enjoyed it just as much. Among the best!
TIP: Mini versions of their most popular pastries beckoned from a basket on the counter, the perfect chance to try another. I took a mini chocolate croissant back for my sister to try, and another for myself, to enjoy as I meandered. The chocolate was wonderful, a real treat, yet not overly sweet.
A note to all Paris bakers to please create more “fun size” pastries. It’s such fun to try multiple.
Sain is also known for its Chausson aux Pommes.
Boulangerie Utopie
20 rue Jean Pierre Timbaud (11th)
Closed Monday
Métro: Oberkampf
I visited Boulangerie Utopie on a Sunday morning with my friend Hilary who lives nearby in the 11th in Paris. We arrived just before it opened and there was already a line. That gave me a few minutes to peer inside the window at the baker pulling perfectly golden baguettes from his oven — a very pleasant way to pass the time.
This was one of those bakeries that smelled as exceptional as it was. And the butter croissant was delicious! It was a perfect balance of everything that makes a wonderful croissant: light, flaky, and buttery, packaged in a perfect gold dome. It does not have the same crisp exterior as some others, but it’s texture and flavor won me over.
On a whim, I purchased an almond croissant to enjoy later and I am glad I did. It was equally yummy and turned out to be a favorite so I have included it as well. Boulangerie Utopie is also known for its baguettes, brioche and chocolate eclairs.
Note: I returned to Cafe Utopie in late 2024 and found I wasn’t as wowed. Still excellent, but I prefer them more crunchy. For now, it remains on my favorites list because the flavor is so lovely.
Le Boulanger de la Tour
2 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine (5th)
Open Daily
Métro: Maubert – Mutualité
(Multiple locations)
The new Boulanger de la Tour was unveiled alongside the re-opening of the historic Tour d’Argent restaurant, the oldest restaurant in Paris. It is well worth a visit for a very special (and expensive) meal with a spectacular view.
Word is out about the croissants made across the street from the famous restaurant. I got the second-last butter croissant at 9:30 am on a weekday, and there was a line of sad croissant lovers waiting behind me. The croissant was worth the hype: it had a shiny, bronze exterior with a tender interior and a wonderful butter flavor. It tasted decadent, yet not overly rich. A beautifully balanced croissant.
Pretty viennoiseries and pastries are displayed in the shop window and inside the star becomes the exceptional breads: baguettes, wholewheat, rye and more. I tried the whole wheat and it was really delicious. In other words, if you are too late for croissants, there are other choices to get excited about.
TIP: This is a short walk from Maison d’Isabelle so you can buy them both and compare.
Cyril Lignac
2 rue de Chaillot
Open Daily
Métro: Alma-Marceau
(Multiple locations)
It’s been a few years since I enjoyed this delightful croissant from Cyril Lignac, but I savored every bite and have dreamed about it since. The buttery flavor is not subtle, but intense and sublime. It still gets great reviews and I intend to try it again next time to remind myself why it’s a best Paris croissant. Apparently, one of Monsieur Lignac’s secrets is his favorite butter from Charentes-Poitou. Shh.
He’s also known for an exceptional baba au rhum, among other things. I visited the rue de Chaillot location in the pretty residential area that is the 16th arrondissement, but there are multiple locations around Paris.
Beyond Butter Croissants
When you are in the world’s great city of viennoiserie limiting yourself to only butter croissants is like only hearing the violin play at the symphony.
Overall Best Flavored Croissant
The Ispahan at Pierre Hermé
126 boulevard Saint-Germain (6th)
Open Daily
Métro: Odéon
(Multiple locations)
As much as I adore butter croissants, the Ispahan at Pierre Hermé is sweet croissant perfection — a delightful mélange of rose, raspberry, and lychee. Sweet, but not cloying, with an exotic flavor of fruit and perfect mix of crisp and tender.
It’s no surprise that this wonderful flavor ensemble was created by the pastry chef known as the “Picasso of pastry”. We also tried his kouign amann at Pierre Hermé and the butter croissant. All delicious.
Pierre Hermé is also known for exceptional chocolates and macarons. Luckily his lovely shops are found all over Paris so you’ll have ample chance to visit and I hope you do. Apparently, they will reserve your croissant if you call ahead the day before.
Best Chocolate Croissants in Paris
Le Grenier à Pain
38 Rue des Abbesses (18th)
Some locations closed Sunday
Métro: Abbesses
(Multiple locations)
There are delicious chocolate croissants to be found around Paris but I especially loved the “pain au chocolat”, at Le Grenier à Pain. It had a great depth of chocolate flavor and is not overly sweet, a nice compliment to a very buttery croissant exterior. This Paris bakery also gets rave reviews for its butter croissants. So you really can’t go wrong, but do go early. The butter croissants were long gone when we arrived mid-afternoon.
This boulangerie is part of a small chain in Paris, so it might not feel as charming as the independent bakeries, but the quality is excellent.
Sain Boulangerie (11th)
As mentioned above I also loved the “pain au chocolat” at Sain Boulangerie in the 11th. And they made petite versions to try.
Best Almond Croissants
Stohrer
51 Rue Montorgueil (2nd)
Open Daily
Métro: Sentier
For an almond croissant the best is indisputably Stohrer, the oldest patisserie in Paris. The bakery dates to 1730 when it was opened by King Louis XV’s pastry chef, Nicolas Stohrer. It’s still located where it began, in a charming shop on rue Montorgueil. This Paris bakery is also a registered historical site, visit to see the lavish décor framed by an iconic yellow awning.
When Monsieur Stohrer began, he distinguished himself with chou pastries in a wide array of forms and he was the first to offer an array of baked goods in one place. He invented rum babas and was a master at vol-au-vents (puff pastry that is stuffed with a delicious filling).
Also try—Stohrer also has an exceptional lemon tart, “tarte au citron”.
As a dedicated croissant taster there will always be more bakeries to try. These Paris boulangeries have rave reviews and are the top of my list for croissant tasting on my next trip, in April 2025. Since they are so well reviewed, I have included them in the map of “Paris Best Croissants” so you can easily find and try them yourself.
More of Paris's Best Croissants
34 Rue Yves Toudic (10th)
Closed Saturday, Sunday
Métro: Jacques Bonsergent
In addition to exceptional croissants, this boulangerie is known for their snail-shaped sweet pastries called “escargots”.
7 rue Antoine Vollon (12th)
Closed Monday
Métro: Ledru-Rollin
Demoted from the Best
Yann Couvreur
23 bis Rue des Rosiers (4th)
Open Daily
Métro: Saint Paul
Additional locations
Yann Couvreur is a famous pastry chef known for his creative interpretations on Parisian pastry classics, including a deconstructed millefeuille.
The first few times I tried this I found the croissant to be a gorgeous golden brown and perfectly baked with a lovely crunch. The flavor was more delicate than some of my other favorites but very nice. On my most recent trip in April 2025 this croissant was disappointing. The flavor was nice but it was underbaked, not nearly golden or crisp enough.
That said, this is a beautiful bakery with some special and unusual pastries. And perhaps I just got unlucky. Let me know if you try this.
The Paris Croissant I thought was Overrated
88 Rue des Martyrs angle
Métro: Pigalle
I am an outlier here as Pain Pain is often selected as a favorite. We tried the classic butter croissant and while I did think it was delightfully flaky, I found it a bit dry. The flavor wasn’t quite buttery enough for me. Maybe I got unlucky; it usually gets glowing reviews. Perhaps you should sample it for yourself. And if you do, please come back and comment below about what you think. Should I return to Pain Pain?
I hope you’ve enjoyed this story about what I believe are the very best Paris croissants — the ones to enjoy while you stroll the pretty streets, relax in a beautiful park such as Luxembourg Gardens or in my favorite square, Places des Vosges. Have you tasted an especially delicious croissant in Paris? Please share your favorites in the comments below.
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