There are few things that make a traveler in France feel more like a local than leaving the corner bakery with a warm baguette peeking out just enough from the end of its long paper bag that you can’t be blamed for tearing off a crusty piece to nibble as you walk. Finding the best bakeries in Bordeaux when you’re not a resident is a challenge, though, given that any city or town of any size throughout the country has at least a few (if not dozens) of boulangeries to choose from.

Visitors to a sizable city like Bordeaux would be forgiven for feeling more than a little overwhelmed at the bakery options, so here’s a selection of just a few of the best boulangeries in Bordeaux.

It’s by no means comprehensive, and every local you meet will have their own personal favorites, so let this list be your starting point for your bread explorations. And if you’re compelled to do some comparison research of your own, we suspect you aren’t the first—or last—to tackle such a delicious task.

Bon appetit!

Where to find the best bakeries in Bordeaux

Au Pétrin Moissagais

There’s no place like Bourdeaux’s oldest bakery to begin a boulangerie tour of the city. The oven at Au Pétrin Moissagais (Cours de la Martinique, 72) was built in the 1760s (you can see it at the very back when you walk in), and the whole cave-like shop feels similarly old.

The recipe for their bread is historic, too, coming from a time when people bought bread every couple of weeks rather than daily. Fresh bread had to last a lot longer, so the crust was intentionally made much thicker than it would be today. Au Pétrin Moissagais still makes bread in that tradition.

La P’tite Boulangerie Notre-Dame

Opposite the Église Saint-Louis des Chartrons sits La P’tite Boulangerie Notre-Dame, a popular bakery that makes a variety of breads as well as pastries, cakes, and other sweets. You can also sit down for a light meal, with menu options like sandwiches, quiches, and crêpes.

There are a few other locations of La P’tite Boulangerie in Bordeaux, as well as a couple outside the city. The small chain began in nearby Cap Ferret.

Maison Perrin

The original location of Maison Perrin, which is now a small chain, was its Bordeaux storefront. The family-run shop was founded by a couple, one a baker and the other a pastry chef, so the menu at Maison Perrin covers a lot of ground.

In addition to a variety of beautiful breads, they also make gorgeous pastries, tarts, chocolates, and even ice cream. And there’s also a selection of sandwiches, quiches, and other items in what they call the “coin salé” (literally “salty corner”) portion of the menu.

Maison Lamour

There are two Maison Lamour locations in Bordeaux, both of which emphasize a regional and seasonal menu. Most of the ingredients that go into the baked goods are French, and many are from the region around Bordeaux.

This is another shop that makes a wide range of items spanning both the boulangerie and patisserie categories. There are pastries, chocolates, and ice cream, not to mention a wide variety of breads.

The “snack” menu includes sandwiches and wraps as well as salads, so you can enjoy a meal before you order one of their exquisite desserts. Or order a few things to go and enjoy a picnic nearby.

Bakery Art Gallery

Not so long ago, finding gluten-free bakeries in France might have seemed like a fool’s errand. Today, not only are there many bakeries that have some GF items on their menus, there are some that are completely gluten-free.

Bakery Art Gallery is the first entirely GF bakery in Bordeaux. The menu features breads, pastries, cakes, quiches, and sandwiches, and they also have a small grocery section with GF goodies to take home. And, as the name implies, Bakery Art Gallery is also an art gallery with contemporary art exhibitions.

Marché des Capucins

Big indoor food markets are a bit like catnip for traveling foodies, and Bordeaux’s enormous Marché des Capucins is no exception. It’s the city’s biggest market and one of the oldest in the country. And, while it’s worth a visit even if you don’t have a fridge to fill with groceries, it’s also a fantastic place to go for a snack or casual meal.

There are three boulangeries inside the vast Marché des Capucins where you can pick up fresh bread or pastries, but it’s the lone patisserie that earns the market a mention on this list.

Maison Seguin comes from the town of Capiteux near Bordeaux, and it’s where one of the region’s special pastries was born. The puit d’amour, or “well of love,” is a bite-sized base of choux pastry topped with a creamy meringue that’s quickly caramelized on top. The market’s outpost of the shop brings in a limited number of the puit d’amour (and they’re not even available every day), so try to get one before they’re gone.