Café
Café de Flore
A Saint-Germain café dating from around 1887, famed as a haunt of Apollinaire, Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir and home of the Prix de Flore.
Du Pain et des Idées
Christophe Vasseur's bakery near the Canal Saint-Martin, founded in 2002 in a historic shop and known for its Pain des Amis and escargot pastries.
At a glance
- Type
- Artisan bakery
- Area
- Canal Saint-Martin, Paris, France
- Price
- $ · Budget
- Official site
- dupainetdesidees.com
Good to know
- Specialty coffee
- Small table area
- Historic shopfront
Why we recommend it
Du Pain et des Idées is a bakery on the corner of Rue Yves Toudic in the 10th arrondissement, founded in 2002 by Christophe Vasseur, who left a career in fashion to become a baker. It occupies a historic bakery shop from the late 19th century, with its painted glass ceiling panels, mirrors and old wooden fittings preserved, and it has become one of the best-known bakeries in Paris for both its bread and its pastries.
The emblematic loaf is the Pain des Amis, a large rustic round with a thick, dark, golden crust and a moist, open crumb, sold by weight. The bakery is also known for its escargots, spiral pastries made with laminated dough in flavours such as pistachio and chocolate, and for seasonal fruit pastries, chaussons and viennoiseries. Specialty coffee is served, and there is a small table area inside, with a banquette, for those who want to eat on the spot.
The bakery suits food lovers, early risers and anyone staying around the Canal Saint-Martin, as well as visitors putting together a picnic. Queues are common, especially in the mid-morning, so arrive early for the widest selection of pastries and the best chance of a table. The shop is popular with locals as well as visitors, and some items sell out by the afternoon.
Opening days have changed over the years, and the bakery has traditionally closed at weekends, so check the official website or social media before you make a special trip. Allow about 15 minutes for a takeaway visit or half an hour to sit down with a coffee. Card payment is generally accepted. Bakery queues in Paris move quickly, so have your order ready when you reach the counter.
The nearest metro station is Jacques Bonsergent on line 5, about three minutes' walk away, and République, served by five metro lines, is a little further south. The Canal Saint-Martin, with its iron footbridges and locks, is just a few streets east and makes an excellent place to eat your pastries by the water. The independent shops and cafés along the Quai de Valmy and the Rue Beaurepaire are within a short walk.
Du Pain et des Idées FAQs
When was the bakery founded?
In 2002, by Christophe Vasseur.
What is the signature bread?
The Pain des Amis, a large rustic loaf with a thick golden crust.
What pastries is it known for?
Its escargots, spiral pastries in flavours such as pistachio and chocolate, plus seasonal fruit pastries.
Is there seating?
Yes, there is a small table area inside, though space is limited.
Is it open at weekends?
It has traditionally closed at weekends, so check the official site or social media before visiting.
Does it serve coffee?
Yes, specialty coffee is served.
What is the nearest station?
Jacques Bonsergent, on metro line 5.