Recently updated on October 1st, 2025 at 05:21 pm
More than just a pastry, the croissant is the king of the bakery and an icon of France. So where better to try these flaky, buttery treats than the French capital? Paris is a pastry lover’s dream and no trip would be complete with a croissant (or two, or twelve…). You’ll be amazed by all the charming pâtisseries and boulangeries where the smell of freshly baked goodies wafts through the air, and it’s impossible to resist the call to find the very best croissants in Paris.
Honorable (and ever-so-haunting) mentions
We regret to inform you that the ultimate Paris itinerary is forever changed, thanks to the sad closure of two of the city’s best bakeries: Maison Pichard and Café Pouchkine.
Maison Pichard made arguably one of the best traditional croissants in the city and did so for over two decades using Pamplie butter. The elegant Café Pouchkine, once located on Place de la Madeleine, lured Parisians in with its Belle Époque decor, Charente-Poitou butter, and laid-back vibes.
While these two icons are shuttered, there are still plenty of other places to find the best croissants in Paris.
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Du Pain et des Idée
Located just steps away from the stunning Canal St Martin, Du Pain et des Idées is the perfect stop for a croissant break on your walk around the River Seine. Founded by chef Christophe Vasseur in 2002, this little bakery has a gorgeous interior that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
But the croissants are the real stars, with a crunchy, golden crust brushed with top quality butter. Grab a few and be sure to check out their famous escargots – snail-shaped pastry filled with chocolate, raisins, pistachio and all kinds of flavours. The hardest part is choosing just one!
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Laurent Duchêne
Holding the prestigious title of “Meilleur Ouvrier de France,” Laurent Duchêne is one of the very best places in Paris to buy your croissants. The title is awarded only to the best craftsmen in France, so you know you’re in for a very special treat here. There are two locations in the 13th and 15th arrondissement of Paris, and it’s always worth the trip.
You’ll instantly fall in love with the airy, flaky, buttery layers of their generous croissants, and they have other flavours like the beloved chocolate and praline croissant. If you want to try something new, look for the whimsical creations like the choux pastry decorated with pistachio and praline ice cream, made to look like a fairytale woodland scene. It’s all so magical and melt-in-your-mouth.
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La Maison d’Isabelle
Set in the heart of the Latin Quarter, La Maison d’Isabelle is all about whipping up baked creations with organic French butter and flour. The result? Award-winning croissants that are delightfully fluffy, flaky and melting with butter. Even though they won the top prize in 2018 for the best croissant in Paris, their famous croissants are still just €1 each, so you know you’re getting the best on a budget! You also have to try their baguettes, raisin-laced pretzels and traditional cakes, all sold at reasonable prices… Bon appetit!
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Des Gâteaux et du Pain
Des Gâteaux et du Pain is famed as one of the best bakeries in the city, so you just know you’re getting one of the best croissants in Paris too. It’s a decadent yet delicate creation, full of rich butter and airy layers that just melt in your mouth. It’s also made with top-notch ingredients, like preservative-free flour, creamery butter, and a dash of Guérande salt crystals.
There are two locations in Paris, with one in the 7th arrondissement near the Eiffel Tower and one in the 15th arrondissement near the Montparnasse train station, so you’re never far from this bakery’s amazing croissants. You also have to try the chocolate couronnes, gorgeous lemon cakes, and delicious tarts and cupcakes that are like works of art.
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Stohrer
It doesn’t get much more classic than Stohrer. Set on Rue Montorgueil, Stohrer is the oldest pâtisserie in Paris. It was founded all the way back in 1730 by Nicolas Stohrer, King Louis XV’s pastry chef! With centuries of baking wisdom behind them, today they are famed for making the best almond croissant in Paris. You’ll fall in love as soon as you sink your teeth into the lovely layers filled with almond cream and dusted with icing sugar.
It’s definitely one of the bigger and richer croissants out there, with an almond cake-like, doughy interior, and it’s the perfect afternoon treat on your Paris adventures. Still not satisfied? Stohrer is also famed for their classic French treats like lemon tarts, éclairs and champagne truffles.
Blé Sucré
With a flaky, crispy exterior and a deliciously soft center, the croissants at Blé Sucré receive rave reviews on the regular. It’s located along Square Trousseau, which is so close to Maison Doucet that you can finish one just in time to scarf down the other.
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Le Grenier à Pain
Le Grenier à Pain is a chain of bakeries found around Paris, Angers, Rennes, and Ploërmel, but don’t assume that opening multiple storefronts has diluted their passion. Some visitors are absolutely over the moon about the pain au chocolat and have compared the classic croissant to biting into buttered air.
Boulangerie Utopie
A sourdough croissant with AOP butter for just over one Euro: Boulangerie Utopie keeps it simple without compromising quality. Every croissant, pastry, and loaf of bread is born from a long sourdough fermentation process, then baked using all raw materials to ensure the perfect balance of accessibility, affordability, and astounding taste.
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Mamiche
“Ugly but good” is far from an insult at Mamiche: that’s how you know each croissant and cookie is handmade with purpose rather than mass-produced by a machine. Paris is no lazy city, so set your alarm clock because Mamiche is known to sell out of its limited stock daily.
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FAQ
What is a croissant?
A croissant is a crescent shaped French Viennoiserie and the quintessential French pastry. It’s yeast-based dough that’s been rolled and layered with butter. You need not venture far through the French capital to find the best croissants in Paris; simply venture to bakeries like Maison Landemaine.
Where did croissants originate?
Although the croissant is as French as the Mona Lisa and Eiffel Tower, it’s got a Viennese heritage. The kipferl was first baked in Vienna, Austria, as far back as the 13th century. It didn’t come to France until the 19th century, when in the 1830s, an Austrian named August Zang opened a Viennese bakery in the French capital.
Nearly a century later, French baker Sylvain Claudius Goy altered the recipe to use lamented yeast dough instead of brioche dough, thus creating the first French croissant. Since then, renowned bakers like Cyril Lignac and Pierre Hermé have perfected the pastry.
When is National Croissant Day?
National Croissant Day is celebrated annually on January 30th, though you can celebrate the iconic French pastry any day of the year. During National Croissant Day in the US or UK, keep your eyes peeled for specials or deals at artisan bakeries.
What makes a good croissant?
What makes a good croissant is subjective but there are a few hallmarks: a crunchy crust and a soft center. And most importantly, the butter. Many bakeries sell croissant ordinaire, which is a croissant made with a margarine, and the croissant au beurre, which is made with high-quality (like AOP) butter. If you ask what is the perfect croissant, most will tell you that the best croissants in Paris are always croissant au beurre.
How long do croissants last?
Croissant shelf life depends on what ingredients it’s made with, but most croissants made with raw materials will only last one or two days. A croissant made with artificial ingredients or preservatives might last up to four or five days.
What do people eat with croissants?
You can eat whatever you desire with a croissant, adding eggs to make it a breakfast sandwich or smothering it with chocolate for a mid-morning treat. Jam or a fruit spread is popular, too; just remember that croissants are made with butter so there’s no need for an extra spread.
What is the correct way to eat a croissant?
While this handheld pastry seems as simple to eat as a donut or bagel, you’ll want to refrain from chomping down on a croissant in the same way. Instead, use your fingers to tear off bite-sized pieces and enjoy it bit by bit.
Do you know where to find the best croissants in Paris? Let us know in the comments below!
Author Katie Birtles is an experienced traveler and content writer with a focus on food and drinks.