Walking around Paris is the ultimate test of will power. Nearly every block has a beautiful boulangerie spewing out the sweet, sweet aromas of freshly baked bread. The treat for the nose is quickly matched with a treat for the eyes: glass cases and wooden baskets filled with baguettes, croissants, chouxs, among other delicacies begging for a nibble.
I lustfully gazed into each window. “But THIS could the be best croissant I’ve ever had….”
To make matters worse, I didn’t see a single classic croissant for more than €1.50. How can a Frugal Foodie possibly resist?!
One croissant a day. That was the boundary I set. And I’d like to give myself a well earned pat on the back for adhering to said boundary.
I quickly realized something: you have to try pretty hard to find a bad croissant in Paris. Each daily croissant was buttery, baked bliss. But of course, I wouldn’t be doing my foodie due diligence if I didn’t rank them….
Here is my ranking of the 5 croissants in Paris we had the pleasure of enjoying.
DISCLAIMER: Many boulangeries gracing “best croissant in Paris” lists were closed for summer holiday. So instead of seeking out the “best” croissants, we took more of a “stumble upon” approach. I don’t have the intel for any sort of “best croissant in Paris” list. Rather, this is just the rundown of the croissants I happened to try.
5. Maison Louvard
The Texture: The croissant had a nice crunch and hardness to the top with a decent, not great, flake factor.
The Flavor: While it tasted perfectly fine, it wasn’t quite as buttery as other croissants on this list. Which is why it has earned the #5 spot on this Paris croissant ranking.
The Experience: Maison Louvard is both a boulangerie and bistro, meaning they make their breads and pastries in house but also have food. It has elevated, yet homey decor, and the staff were incredibly accommodating and nice. It’s the birth place of the famous “crookie” (read about my take on an NYC crookie HERE, Maison Louvard review to come…) But the hype has clearly died down, and there was no line.
The Cost: €1.30
4. Boulangerie La Parisienne
The Texture: Solid flake-factor with solid-layers.
The Flavor: Beautiful buttery flavor without being too rich.
The Experience: Quick, efficient service and the people were helpful. There are a few locations around the city, we went to the one near the Jardin du Luxembourg. I’d recommend picking up some treats or sandwiches and taking them to the park to eat!
The Cost: €1.30
BONUS TIP: The chocolate chip cookie is outstanding! It’s thick and loaded with chocolate with a nice gooeyness. Nuts add extra flavor and texture. A must try.
3. Boulangerie Utopie
The Texture: Lovely, soft layers with a brioche-like quality.
The Flavor: Buttery deliciousness!
The Experience: Boulangerie Utopie won a “best baguette in Paris award” at the annual “Grand Prix” for baguettes in Paris. (Not sure what that is…. but it sounds delightful.) So it’s no hidden gem, meaning we did wait in line for around 10 minutes. For a sunny, beautiful Saturday, I’m shocked the line wasn’t longer. The bakery is small, but efficient. And the line moved quickly without feeling rushed
The Cost: €1.30
2. Urban Bakery
The Texture: This croissant had a great flakiness with a light crunch on the top.
The Flavor: Epically buttery.
The Experience: It’s a modern shop with a glass window that lets you see the baker at work. Quick, yet helpful service.
The Cost: €1.30
1. Les Saveurs De Parmentier
The Texture: It had beautiful layers, with a just flakey enough top.
The Flavor: Perfectly buttery and rich. The type of flavor that has set my standards on what a croissant should taste like.
The Experience: Les Saveurs de Parmentier was bright and clean with subtle antique notes here and there. The two ladies working were kind and helpful, and weren’t frustrated with our lack of French in the least bit.
The Cost: €1.25
Eating croissants in Paris taught me a few things…
1. The top croissants in NYC (according to the ever allusive “they”) are mega-flakey and will leave a mess all over your pants. Classic Parisian croissants, however, have soft layers with just a bit of flakiness.
2. The flavor of croissants in Paris is sensational. They are sophisticatedly buttery, and somehow manage to be rich without being too heavy.
3. Croissants with coffee is a staple of Parisian life. Something that really stood out to me about the cafe culture was that I hardly saw anyone nibbling their croissant while scrolling on their phone. Rather, they were wrapped up in conversation or reading a book.
4. Simple is often best. Parisian boulangeries may have almond croissants and pan au chocolate. But you’ll rarely see huge, stuffed croissant creations topped with tiramisu cream or stuffed full of strawberries and cream.
5. Paris hospitality get a bad rap for poor customer service. But we didn’t have a single negative experience. As a kind reminder, “different” isn’t necessarily good or bad…..
There was one huge negative to eating croissants in Paris…
I may never be able to bring myself to pay for croissants in NYC again.
