Our Top 5 Best Baguettes in Paris

Oh, baguettes. Who can resist the crunchy goodness of a still-warm, fresh-out-of-the-oven baguette when visiting Paris? Little boulangeries — and temptation — are on every corner.

Every Parisian has their own personal favorite bakery, one they love so much they nearly cry every August when it closes for vacation. That’s why it’s best to also have a good backup boulangerie.  

If you’re not sure where to get a good baguette in Paris, here’s my list of the five top boulangeries to go to in the City of Lights.

1. Best Baguette of 2020: Maison Julien Les Saveurs de Pierre Demours

13 Rue Pierre Demours, 75017 Paris

Every year a panel of bread experts, retired bakers, and members of the public come together to find Paris’s Best Baguette. The illustrious honor, officially called Le Grand Prix de la Baguette de Tradition Française de la Ville de Paris, recognizes the baker of the city’s best ‘baguette tradition’, a traditional type of baguette made from only four ingredients: flour, yeast, salt, and water.

Out of hundreds of entries, the winner is officially recognized as being the best in Paris and receives a cash prize along with a contract to supply France’s presidential residence, the Elysées Palace, with fresh baguettes daily for a year. 

This year’s winner just so happens to be one of the six bakeries next to my apartment, Maison Julien Les Saveurs de Pierre Demours. I often stop here to snack on a croissant after a trip to the market, and I can assure you, they make a very good baguette. But is it the best?

2. Consistently Acclaimed Baguettes: Le Grenier à Pain Abbesses

38 Rue Des Abbesses, 75018 Paris

Having won the accolade of Best Baguette in Paris twice, in 2015 and 2010, and being the only boulangerie to have won it twice, the Abbesses branch of the French chain Le Grenier seems to be keeping up its quality with lovely bread coming out of the tiny boulangerie on Butte Montmartre.

In fact, the bakeries in Montmartre seem to be on the ball when it comes to making the best baguettes, with six out of the last fourteen winners bake their bread in this hilltop Paris ‘hood. 

Looking for more ways to eat like a true Parisian? Enjoy a meal at one of the city’s bouillons, typical Parisian restaurants from the Belle Époque.

3. A Name That Can’t Be Beaten: Dupain

20 Boulevard de Filles du Calvaire, 75011 Paris

How can you resist trying the bread from a bakery called Dupain? And, the baguette tastes so good. As always, I opt for a tradition here. It’s well done, nearly black at the bottom, chewy in the middle and crunchy all round. And the lovely baguette is also made into even lovelier sandwiches, with both meat and vegetarian options. They’re a perfect lunch to take to the park.

4. Good Gluten-Free Bread & Pastries: Helmut Newcake

144 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
28 Rue Vignon, 75009 Paris
93 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris

For a long time, gluten-free bread tasted nothing like bread. I’m happy to say things are changing! When my mildly gluten-intolerant friend comes to Paris, she can’t help but indulge in a fresh baguette, but if you have a serious intolerance, it’s best not to take the chance. Instead, head to Helmut Newcake.

This gluten-free bakery in Paris has three different locations spread across the city, so finding tasty French staples sans gluten isn’t as tough as you may think. Along with good gluten-free baguettes, they also make some irresistible gluten-free pastries, cakes, and other indulgences. 

Find more gluten-free options in Paris.

5. Black Baguettes: Utopie

20 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011 Paris

Located in the hip Oberkampf area, Utopie is a small boulangerie-patisserie making great sandwiches, yummy little cakes, fresh croissants, and maybe the most unusual baguettes in Paris.

Utopie bakes black baguettes. That’s right, the bread is black, both inside and out. The black color of their untraditional baguette tradition comes from activated carbon, baked into the bread for its reported purifying and detoxing properties.

The bread itself doesn’t taste any different and this turned out to be one of my favorites in my hunt for the best baguette, due to its delicious chewiness. Plus, and it is a huge plus, this baguette is a guaranteed conversation starter at any dinner party.