The pastries were fantastic but I'm a little bit concerned about the health standards. Pastries are…read moreon a shelf directly below a cable tray with birds perched. Bird droppings could easily fall onto the food. If you look at the cash register in that area it's covered with a white and brown dust. Obviously from birds feathers. I don't know how this passes muster at the health department check.

One popular image of France is walking down the street with a loaf of baguette. Yes, French bread…read moreis delicious, and during our trip we tried to sample as much as we could. And this one little bakery is the one we keep returning to. The bread is simply divine, with the best texture and flavor, and made on site with organic and fresh ingredients. There are many varieties, wish we had time to try them all, and my favorite is one with chocolate. My only complain is that it's take out only. There is not even space where you can stand to eat, and they don't sell any coffee or drink. The counter is a mere foot or two from the door, enough space to place your order, and behind the counter you see the production facility, and that's all there is. Baking is all they do, all they focus on, and they sure do a mighty good job of it.

Very cute bakery. Most of the bread is organic and looked absolutely delicious. The sandwich bought…read morewasn't great, but they have a bunch of choice and it's definitely a good bakery where locals go to buy their daily bread. Would definitely recommend and go back. The boulangère is very nice too!

A very understated, traditional style bakery on busy Cours Portal in the Chartrons quartier of…read moreBordeaux, offering an array of freshly baked breads. You'll find the "traditional" baguette (my favorite) still warm, displayed amongst a variety of baguettes and freshly baked breads. The breakfast pastries (as we Americans like to call them) are divine. Simple, delicious and always fresh. The "pain aux raisin" is a favorite along with the traditional croissant and the heavenly almond croissant. Get there early and you'll see all the fixin's for the sandwiches freshly prepared and waiting for your selection. I've never indulged in their dessert style pastries though they too look inviting. I'm too busy shoving bite size pieces of warm baguette into my mouth to give it more thought. Lucky me, this little jewel is located just at the end of my street! I've experienced warm baguettes at all times of the day. You will not be disappointed if you pop into Le Pain d'Elise!

This bakery is the oldest in the city and it is amazing. The items I bought were some of the best…read morebaked goods I've ever had.

I woke up earlier than the rest of the group so rather than waste the morning in the tiny double…read morebed I was sharing, I decided to check out the neighbourhood. There weren't a ton of restaurants that popped up near us on Yelp but Au Pétrin Moissagais had good reviews and most importantly, croissants! I arrived in minutes and was greeted with the wonderful smell of fresh bread. The place was cozy and boasted various baskets of baked goods throughout the room. I turned to the woman behind the counter with my best: "Bonjour parles-tu anglais?" In return, she gave me her best "no." Determined not to leave empty handed I smiled and pointed to these puff pastry things behind the counter, and like a child, confidently held up three fingers. Next I stopped in front of what appeared to be chocolate croissants (no signage) and held up 2 fingers. You get the drill... When it came time to pay I had successfully ordered 3 puff things, 2 chocolate croissants, 3 plain croissants and 3 pieces of brioche. My total? €12. Five minutes later I was back at the apartment with my spoils. The puff things were filled with lightly sweet cream and were just delicious. The chocolate croissant was perfectly buttery and flaky and gone in no time. The brioche definitely needed butter (if only I knew the French word for that) but still fresh and tasty. I was so happy to have found this place and at €12 for 11 baked goods, it was a steal. If you are staying nearby this place is a must try. Merci!

I didn't understand the love of canelés until I had one in Bordeaux where they originated. Now they…read morehold a special place in my heart next to macarons and kouign amanns! I fell in love with the amazing contrast of caramelized chewy outside and the fluffy, eggy center. Not to mention they taste like the best vanilla cake with a hint of rum. There are two main canelé producers in Bordeaux with many outlets around town - La Toque Cuivrée and Baillardran. Having tried both, I preferred La Toque Cuivrée slightly more for their stronger rum flavor and better outside chew. It's also nice that the price is a third of the other brand. Both brands make canelés in a small, medium, and large size. After many taste tests (and some more for good measure), I found that the medium size had the best ratio of outside chewy crust and soft inside. Baillardran had notable visible specks of vanilla bean in their largest size and prominent vanilla flavor, but La Toque edged them out with their superior rum taste. Either way though, you can't go wrong. Now if I only I could find this level of Canelé in the US!

This small window-store bakery on the Promenade of Saint Catherine is a great place to grab some…read moreCandelés de Bordeaux. -- Food -- This bakery has a very small selection. They mostly sell Candelés de Bordeaux with a few other pastry items on the side. The candelés were great! They are small sweet pastries with a crunchy sugary shell and a chewy center. Definitely a must try when visiting Bordeaux! We were able to get a box of 8 medium sides candelés for 4 euros. -- Service -- This is a walk-up window bakery. They do not have a public area inside or seating. They do accept credit cards and speak enough English to make a purchase without any issues. -- Location -- The bakery is located on the Promenade of Saint Catherine, near the Apple store. It is a great location for people staying near the many tourist areas or if you're shopping on St Catherine.