The Parisian Gluten Free Patisserie/Bakery Showdown
If I asked you what the best part of Paris is, what would you say? The world class art museums? The views from Montmartre? A warm summer evening walking along the Seine? Well, for me, the best part is being able to visit a new gluten free bakery every single day for almost a week without repeating visits.
One of the biggest losses for me since going gluten free is the simple pleasure of walking into any bakery and getting a warm, freshly baked treat. I completely took it for granted until I realised just how few bakeries, cafes, and patisseries have any gluten free option. Not to mention how many have a sad, packaged bagel or flapjack as the only option you can have. I’m here to report that in Paris, you can have that little luxury, without compromising on outstanding pastries and baked goods. Additionally, you don’t need to travel outside of central Paris to find them.
My first visit to Paris in my gluten free life was in December 2019, and it was a milestone moment in my life. I had just moved to the UK and, after Instagram telling me repeatedly how great gluten free pastries are in Europe, I was keen to try it out for myself. That Paris trip was a spiritual awakening for me, and I want you to have the same experience I did walking into a patisserie and asking “je peux manger.. tout ça?”.
In this guide, you’ll find a listing of bakeries and patisseries in Paris that provide outstanding gluten free treats. Most of these are 100% gluten free, I’ll note the locations that are not.
Why should you trust me on this? Well, I’ve been gluten free for over a decade, visit Paris several times per year - it’s a quick hop from my flat in London - and I have a sweet tooth big enough to belong in the world record books. My partner and I typically go to Paris once a year to see family and friends, and on our trips I typically take one extra day to eat my way around the city. This insight comes from my personal neverending quest to find the best gluten free treats on the planet, and constant searching on Instagram to find more.
Am I missing anywhere? Let me know!
LA MANUFACTURE DU SANS GLUTEN
Their shop is small, but don’t let that fool you. La Manufacture du Sans Gluten has some of the best, if not the best, gluten free pastries in the entire city. Halfway up the hill in Montmartre, it’s easy to miss, and I can confirm as I walked by it several times on my first visit there. Look for a corner shop with a white circular logo in the windows, this is the spot!
What will you find there? In the shop will be a generous assortment of pastries, breads, sweet treats, and a limited selection of hot items. As this is a small shop, they will sell out of products as the day goes on, so I’d recommend going early for the best selection.
Inside the shop, you’ll find room for the pastries and not much else. It’s not an ideal place to sit with your pastry haul, but that being said, you’ll be in Montmartre, with plenty of benches, parks, and scenic views across Paris, so I’d recommend either eating your pastries at a nearby coffee shop or park. You won’t have any shortage of places to enjoy these.
What should you get there?
Croissants: Among the best I’ve had anywhere. Light, flaky, and buttery as should be. Like most gluten free croissants, these on the smaller end of the spectrum, though I don’t see that as necessarily a bad thing. Why? Achieving the lightness of a croissant with gluten free pastry is difficult, and smaller pastries mean you’re less likely to encounter the dense center you’re probably familar with. Plus, it’s a great excuse to eat more than one.
Pain au Chocolat: Similar to their croissants, the texture on their gluten free pain au chocolat is outstanding.
Baguettes: These have a great texture and consistency. A warm, tasty baguette, but gluten free. What a treat!
Hot items: We get it, you’re in Paris. You’re booked, you’re busy, and you have sights to see. If you arrive and any café foods are available, these make for a great on-the-go lunch.
Address: 2 Rue Androuet, 75018 Paris, France
https://www.instagram.com/la_manufacture_du_sans_gluten
100% gluten free
copains
Copains is normally my first stop every time I visit Paris. I’ll let these pictures of their shop speak for themselves. Seriously, can you believe all of this is gluten free?
Copains has a few shops around Paris With all of this choice, what should you get? Keep in mind, this is only a small selection of their range - I’ve never had a bad treat from there.
Léo: My favorite item on the menu, hands down.
Maina: Their babkas, they have multiple flavors though I’m fond of the pistachio
Florence: Their quinoa baguette
Conception: Their name for an apple tart
For what it’s worth, I’ve never spoken to anyone at Copains who was not comfortable speaking English, and this is the only shop on this list I can say that for.
The founders of Copains have work experience in fashion in Paris, and have created a truly beautiful series of boutiques selling beautifully presented pastries that would not look out of place hosting a Chanel pop-up. I highly recommend you visit one of their shops when you’re in the city.
Pictured: a happy boy (me) with a Copains baguette
Address:
90 Avenue Victor Hugo, 75016 Paris
61 Rue Legendre, 75017 Paris
60 rue Tiquetonne 75002 Paris
29 Rue des Blancs-Manteaux 75004 Paris
26 Rue Linois 75015 Paris
8 rue des Abbesses 75018 Paris
www.copains-paris.com
All locations 100% gluten free
NOGLU
Noglu has been around for right around a decade, and a comment I hear from a small number of people in the gluten free community that while it was groundbreaking when it opened, that it is past its prime. I’m here to tell you that’s not the case, and they remain a fantastic option for café food or a takeaway pastry. I know people who absolutely swear by Noglu’s croissants, but for me, I swear by their donuts and mini baguettes.
If you hail from around New York City and think Noglu sounds familiar, that may be because it is. Noglu has a shop on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and though many of the products are similar, the presentation is slightly different.
Croissants and pain au chocolat: These are admittedly not my favorite croissants in Paris, but they are reliably tasty. I’d opt for the pain au chocolat, as this has always hit right for me.
Donuts: Their donuts are absolutely fried to perfection. The icing is perfect - I swear this is what I want a donut to be.
Mini baguettes: The chorizo and cheese is my personal favorite.
Café fare: Their hot food menu is very, very good!
Can’t make it to their shops? Good news - Noglu is on Uber Eats! Pro tip, though - don’t order too early if you want croissants or pain au chocolat. These are delivered usually after they open from their offsite kitchen, and won’t be fulfilled if you order too early.
Address:
15 Rue Basfroi, 75011 Paris (11th Arr)
69 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris (7th Arr)
Le Pont Traversé - 62 Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris (6th Arr) - some Noglu pastries stocked here
1260 Madison Avenue, NY 10128, New York City (Upper East Side)
All locations 100% gluten free
HELMUT NEWCAKE
Helmut Newcake holds a special place in my heart - they sold me the first gluten free eclair I ever had. They briefly closed during the pandemic, and I know I wasn’t the only person who was holding my breath waiting for a reopening announcement. Now that the height of the pandemic is behind us, they’re reopened, with a big caveat. They’re only open on Saturdays from 10am to 5pm (as of time of writing in March 2024). Their website has functionality to preorder one of their many pastries and baked goods, and I highly recommend doing this if you’re planning to visit. Preordering means you avoid disappointment on the day!
What to get there? I have not been since 2019 when they had a wider range of hours, and most things I purchased that day are no longer on their menu. The one thing that stood out to me, though, is still on the menu..
Eclairs: These eclairs were a milestone for me, and literally caused me to cry on a random street in the middle of Paris. I cannot recommend them enough.
Note that at this time (March 2024), they have not resumed croissant sales.
The eclair that changed my life
Address: 30 Avenue de Friedland, 75008 Paris
www.helmutnewcake.com
100% gluten free
BOULANGERIE CHAMBELLAND
Where to begin with Chambelland? Their pastry selection is outstanding, but most know them for their breads. They have two shops, both with an incredible selection of sweet and savoury items. There is plenty of seating inside to enjoy your pastries, too!
What should you get there?
Eclairs: No matter which flavor of eclair they currently have on, you want to get it. I’m personally partial to their vanilla ones.
Sweet bread: When you walk in, you’ll see a row of rectangular bread sticks - not quite the breadsticks that Americans know - with a variety of sweet flavors. Trust me when I say you want these.
Quiche: If they have a quiche on offer when you’re there, don’t miss it!
Do note: Chambelland does not stock pastries like croissants or pain au chocolat - you’ll have to find those elswhere.
Address:
14 Rue Ternaux, 75011 Paris
43 Rue Brochant, 75017 Paris
Both locations 100% gluten free
YUMMY AND GUILTFREE
This spot, admittedly, pushes the definition of a bakery or patisserie. They only sell waffles though as this is my blog, I’ve decided this is absolutely close enough! :) Yummy & Guiltfree’s waffle only menu means they’ve been able to refine their craft, and they make waffles that are delicious. The menu has a wide selection of both sweet and savoury options for toppings.
What should you get there? I’d recommend getting one savoury waffle and one sweet waffle. This is the way. Bring a friend and an appetite!
A waffle a day keeps le docteur away!
Address: 3 Rue du Temple, 75004 Paris
100% gluten free
wild & the moon
This spot isn’t my favorite for baked goods, but it is a reliable option in Paris. Wild & The Moon is a 100% gluten free and 100% vegan café that, while they specialise in smoothies, juice, and hot items, there are a few baked goods behind the counter. A great stop for a quick bite or snack!
Address:
92 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris
4 Rue du Helder, 75009 Paris
55 Rue Charlot, 75003 Paris
25 Rue des Gravilliers, 75003 Paris
138 Rue Amelot, 75011 Paris
All locations 100% gluten free
Bakeries and pastry shops I have yet to visit
If you can believe it, I am still subject to the same limits of time and physical limitation on the number of calories I can consume in a day like the rest of the world. The listings below are of bakeries and pastry shops that I have heard are wonderful, but that I have not yet had the chance to visit. If you have time (and stomach space) to visit these when you’re in Paris, please let me know how they are, and what you recommend ordering!
MAISON PLUME
Maison Plume is gluten, dairy, and refined sugar free. I’m not the biggest fan of sugar free pastries, though their pastries genuinely look like works of art, and I’m looking forward to trying them this year.
Address: 61 Rue Charlot, 75003 Paris, France
100% gluten free
LA PONT TRAVERSE
A small café with warm café fare and pastries (that I think are from Noglu, but have not been myself to confirm). The shop looks like a super cute café!
Address: 62 Rue de Vaugirard 75006 Paris
100% gluten free
CLEMENTINE OLIVIER
A proper boulangerie specializing in bread loaves, with a small selection of cakes, muffins, and bread-adjacent baked goods.
Addres: CAP 19, 13 Rue Georges Auric, 75019 Paris, France
100% gluten free
ERIC KAYSER
Eric Kayser is a breadmaker with several locations around the city of Paris. They supposedly have bread, cookies, and premade sandwiches complete with separate baking and preparation areas. I’m unsure if their gluten free options are available at all locations.
Address: too many to list here! Check out their website.
NOT 100% GF but celiac safe protocols are followed
LAND & MONKEYS
A 100% vegan bakery chain that has a few gluten free options as well.
Address:
86 Boulevard Beaumarchais 75011 Paris
158 Rue Roquette 75011 Paris
2 Rue Turenne 75004 Paris
NOT 100% GF
DIAMANDE
A pastry shop right in central Paris that allegedly has some gluten free options. I’m investigating what options these are.
Address: 4 rue Sedaine 75011 Paris
NOT 100% GF
