It was a grey rainy, cold Paris day. We wandered around the 6th arrondissment, but with a purpose: I needed to try the Punitions (named as such because it is a punishment to have to wait until they are baked). Ever since I saw a story on CBS Sunday Morning about Lionel Poilâne (google it and watch it. trust me. Oh how I aspire to bake like he did) I needed to visit la boulangerie. Walking in I felt like I had a religious experience. I purchased two boxes of Punitions and two small bags of candies. (I did not try the breads, perhaps on another visit). The cookies are a simple butter cookie, but at the same time not so simple. They are absolute deliciousness embodied in a small, crisp, buttery cookie. The staff were very courteous and I will most definitely return whenever I'm back in Paris*. I only wish there was a Poilâne in NYC..... *There are two Paris stores and one in London. You can also order from them online. read more

Oh Poilane, I wish you would open in NYC! I've always had a thing for artisan bread and bakeries, and Poilane is as close you can get to perfection. There are only 2 locations in Paris - on Rue de Cherche Midi and Boul Grenelle, so after a lovely lunch at Cuisine de Bar (see other review), I would take 2 steps down the block and get a tartelette aux pommes, brioche, or some more of the famous pain Poilane for "later". There is usually a very stern madame at the register, and a flutter of other mesdames behind the counter helping out customers or straightening various goodies. In that very Parisian way, they write the price on the paper bag, always with a pencil, and off you go to pay the madame. On these trips, I fantasize that I am a jeune fille newly arrived and living in Paris, and Poilane is my local bakery. What a lovely daydream! read more

Cute bakery. Another one of Ina Garten's favorites, hence our visit. The croissants were small in my opinion, but very good. Not a lot of selection of other pastries when we went in, which was a little disappointing. Employees very friendly and prices reasonable! Not sure it's a must-visit spot though for croissants, but a good spot if you're in the area. read more

Now, I did not try the bread. I guess now I have an excuse to go back. However, the boyfriend and I were told to try the croissants. Let me tell you..... words cannot describe how utterly Divine this place is. To this day, I have never come across something so fluffy, light and delicious and I'm sure that day will never come. I consider myself lucky to have been able say that I have eaten here. Since I have been, they seem to have branched out with several more locations. Which to me, only says one thing, the secret of how wonderful this place is, is clearly no longer a secret. read more

We made a special trip to this neighborhood to try Poilane. When I told the boyfriend we were going to Poilane, he had already heard of it because there was a New Yorker article written about the daughter of the owners. She went to Harvard Business School to learn how to expand her parent's business. I tried a quarter loaf of the sourdough bread, a croissant, and got some marmalade for the boyfriend. You can get it sliced, but I like to slice it myself, so I kept it whole. The bread had a nice flavor, but the texture was less than desirable. It was sort of spongy--not a texture I like in my bread. The croissant was alright and had a nice flavor to that as well, but it wasn't so memorable that it made me want to return (Gontran Cherrier's butter croissant is #1 for me in that arena!). My boyfriend really liked the marmalade because the rind to jam ratio is excellent. I think it's good to try, but I wouldn't recommend coming to the neighborhood specifically for this bakery. The neighborhood has a lot of other cute shops and places to walk around though so it wouldn't be a wasted effort. Also, I did see Poilane's sliced sourdough in Monoprix (I guess that's the HBS graduate at work!), but I didn't try it since usually a product directly from the source is superior than something that is packaged, delivered, and sold off-site. read more

I wanted so badly to love this bread but it just did not blow us away and did not live up to the hype. I guess that is how it goes when your Dad is an amazing bread baker. However, given the dryness of the loaf, it is the perfect surface to have for a tartine, and plays nicely with toppings. Remember though, their specialty is bread, not pastry. That said, go for the bread and not the croissants, etc. which are disappointing. read more

Great tarte aux pommes Touristy Rustic I've heard to much about Poilane, but honestly, (I'm just going to say it), it's not that special. :\ The famous sourdough bread is good but not great. You can definitely taste all of the grains and sourdough leavening. Definitely worth one visit if you happen to be in Paris, but if you're here for the long haul, it's not worth visiting multiple times... and this is coming from someone who is staying literally upstairs from this location. I prefer la baguette tradition from a local artisan boulangerie. That being said, the apples tartes and apple hand pies are really good. The crusts are rich and flaky and apples are tart yet naturally sweet. I'm not a huge fan of apple, unfortunately, so this is not the best selling point for me as well! read more

Picked up some delicious bakery goods to take home with me. I really liked the apple tart--not too sweet and the mini raisin bread rolls. They also have raisin bread loaves, but those are a little bit more dense then the rolls (not a bad thing if you like that). Yes, the store can be chaotic. When we got there we were the only ones in the store so it wasn't that bad, but while we were placing our order a lot more people came in and it got harder to maneuver around and point to what you wanted. The lady helping me spoke some English and was able to answer my questions. You point/tell the lady helping you want you want. She bags it up, totals it, and gives the total to the cashier and you pay the cashier. I have some of their large sourdough bread sitting in my freezer and I'll update on that when I eat it! I also picked up a bunch of croissants from their location near the Eiffel Tower the morning of my flight home to take home, but unfortunately those are not nice and crispy after about 2 days. I ate them anyway, toasted up in the the toaster over. I wasn't sure if the staff at that location spoke English, but either way I got by. read more

Very cute store. We got the individual apple tarts and the Punition cookies based on David Leibovitz recommendation. The apple tarts were not great and the cookies are on the dry and bland side. :( The packaging rocks though. read more

Poilâne - Punition cookies - Bakeries Near Me - Paris, 75

Outstanding bread.!!! Did you know that you can order from their website and get your bread flown to you in less than 48 hrs? read more

This bakery has a cafe right next to it. This review is for the cafe - Comptoir Poilâne Great coffee and great food. The best French toast you can find in the area. It's a small hole in the wall, so service might be a bit slow but worth the wait. Went here with my wife every day for breakfast during our honeymoon. read more

If you're in the hood then stop by...Poilane is the cream of the crop for a half mile in any direction... However, to me, I wouldn't go out of my way as every area seems to have a Poilan-esque top notch quality boulangerie to find. But, seeing as how this part of town is extremely popular with tourists with limited time as they may be staying nearby of just have it as their destination for the day, then a stop by here should be on your must do list. read more

Most impressive french toast ever. We also had a sandwich that was also delicious.The shop was newly and nicely renovated. The staff were more hospitable than most places we have been to paris. Highly recommended! read more

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Walked 32 mins to find this bakery and it was worth every step! I had their famous apple tart. The first few bites of this perfectly cooked apple tart were perfection! Still warm, with the right amount of sweet! I'll be craving this treat for months. read more

Croissant was fantastic. Chocolate croissant was even better! A great little bakery not too far from Lux garden.

This is my second time at Poilane. The first time I was a little underwhelmed, but I thought maybe it was because I only tried a few things. But this second time, I wasn't much impressed either. It definitely is good bread, but nothing out of the world. I liked the tarte des pommes because it wasnt too sweet and it was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Their croissant was good, and much better than the average. The bread was good but a little salty and not that soft on the inside either. I went to a restaurant a few hours later, and the bread they served was better, I felt. So Poilâne is worth visiting if you happen to be in the area, but not worth forming your trip plans around. read more

If you're in this neighborhood, you must stop at Poilane! It's all about the apple tart! I've tried the butter cookies and bread everyone raves about - I was not particularly impressed, but the APPLE TART - a must! read more

Visited the famous Poilane shop on Cherche-Midi after reading so much about it. We were able to buy a couple slices of the famous miche (around .30 euro each), and we also bought a small walnut wheat roll (1 euro). The roll was delicious, and the miche slices were very good too. Really cute shop with gorgeous breads, pastries, and sweets displayed. A must stop for bread lovers. read more

Yum. Yum. And Yum. I've enjoyed everything I've gotten here. The miche with its stylized "P," the apple chausson, tart au pommes, rolls and the incomparable punitons (butter cookies). Everything is top quality. The line moves quickly. You can buy the miche by the slice and take it to your apartment and make tartines, or buy a quarter, half or whole. The bread will keep for over a week but you might want to toast it after a few days. You will not be alone if you reach into you bag and tear off a corner of whatever you bought to munch on as you walk down Cherche-Midi. read more

Great croissants and turnovers. Loved this place. We went very early in the morning so there wasn't anybody but us in the store. Not far from Le Bon Marche read more

Nice environment, good service, great options on the menu and fresh ingredients. Vegetarian friendly. The savoury brunch menu with smoked salmon was a great pick! read more

Very good apple pastry. Definitely an experience. Came at the end of a very hot August day, so the setting wasn't ideal. The shopping in this area is phenomenal, in case you're traveling here wanting to know what's to do. read more

Poilâne - The one and only. - Bakeries Near Me - Paris, 75

Great bread and applesauces turnover. Visited twice during my one-week visit and I wish my waistline would have allowed me to go more often! read more

I have extraordinary luck and live on the same street as the famed Poilane Bakery. There are only 2 in Paris, and they are reknowned for their meticulousness, inside and out. Poilane is unlike any other bakery, they almost look too good to eat and their bread comes in oval form, not baguette shaped. The windows and displays look more like an artisan's museum than an actual boulangerie. Poilane has special themes that they imprint on their bread every several weeks or so- sometimes its fish and seashells, other times it grapevines and leaves. Whatever it is, it makes the bread look just as magnifique as it tastes. Do get the larger sourdoughs, they are fluffy with the right degree of sour and soft. And for extra treat, tarte aux pommes is crispy and sweet (not like some of the soury flakes I've tried in Paris). read more

If there is better sour bread in the world, I don't know about it. The reputation is deserved.

This is not that mind blowing at all. I prefer Eric Kaiser any time and their staff is much nicer. This place is really a tourist trap since they got all the free publicity from Ina Garten. I stay right around the corner and there are better places and staff. read more

Just tried the bread, and it's everything I ever wanted/dreamed of in a bread: slight crunchy crust but oh so moist, airy, yet doughy interior. read more

Continuing with breakfasts in the 6th and greeted with a lovely butter cookie the best croissant and pane au chocolate that my mouth has yet to experience were delivered by the skilled team at Poilâne. A small storefront well deserving of its considerable accolades our early wake-up call was rewarded by a room chockablock full of warm yeasty breads and stellar customer service that delivered a croissant featuring the perfect balance of crisp shell and fluffy interior alongside a similarly textured pane au chocolate with its core still slightly soft. With lunch and dinner plans for the day I'm remiss to say that we did not order any of their famous breads but instead finished our sampling with a warm tart full of caramelized cinnamon apples juxtaposed against a crispy golden shell. read more

I am skeptical of any bakery whose bread is sold in Monoprix, and although Poîlane was pretty good, it isn't mind-blowing good or worth a trek across town. The sourdough was flavorful and yeasty but I found the crust a bit too hard while the inside was too spongy and dense. The rye was just not very good and suffered from the same textural issue - maybe these breads are best when served sliced as the base for a tartine, but they weren't that great on their own in miche (loaf) form. The tarte de pomme had a cool braided shape and the crust was exceptionally buttery, flaky, and delicious - I definitely recommend trying one of those instead of their famous sourdough. I also sampled some raisin bread, which was very good. If you're looking for brown bread in loaf form, pain des amis from Du Pain et Des Idées is your best bet. I'll travel across Paris for that stuff, but not Poîlane sourdough. read more

Let's be honest here--the bread is not that good. I'm not sure what everyone raves about, but maybe it's just me. The customer service is dicey at best if you speak perfect French, but I've seen English customers wring their hands trying to get someone to notice them. Personally their are a million great bakeries in Paris, and 10 other places I'd stop in the 6th before going to Pain Poilane. It's good, but save your time and effort for something else. read more

Excellent dining experience. Food was delicious, service excellent and best of all was the view of the Bellagio fountains. I will return next time in Vegas. read more

The hype is real and true. Do not miss the apple turnovers, wow!

Tarte aux pommes and sugar cookies, best thing ever.

3.5. Only tried the croissant which was good, but nothing out of this world. I might give the place another try for its bread if Im in the area again. read more

Simply the best. Amazing decor and vibe as you walk in. All the bread and pastries are out on display and you have a personal helper with you to pick out and package your purchase. I walked by on my first attempt to find it but was pleasantly surprised when this highly acclaimed bakery was the cute little shop I had just passed by. The apple turnover and apple tart were to die for. Especially the packaging and service!! read more

Love the chandelier covered in bread. The punitions was great, not so sweet and the miche wasnt strong sourdough flavor. Wish the service would have been friendlier read more

For my last meal make it the sables cookies, the apple tart and croissants from Poilane. Quality ingredients and time honored methods produce a consisently superior product. The flaky croissants au beurre just melt in your mouth. If I win Powerball I will have their goods delivered weekly! read more

Food: Way way over hyped. Service: They need to take customer service 101. Very rude from the moment we walked into the store. Ill be willing to forgive their baseless snobbery if it wasnt for the rock hard and tasteless bread. One single bite in my stomach, the rest in the garbage. Skip this place for any of the thousand boulangeries nearby. read more

I blame poilane for my Paris weight gain! Everything here is really good. The bread is fantastic. You can get it by the slice. Or, you can get a cube that stays good for a couple of days (if you can keep it that long!!). Their pastries are awesome. The chocolate croissant was one of the best things I ate in Paris. Their apple tarts were also really great. They have amazing butter cookies, too. read more

went to the small shop. not as large a selection by quality was top notch.