Apollonia Poilâne of Poilâne Bakery in Paris shares her favorite restaurants in the City of Lights.
Bread. It’s so hot right now. But no one owns the bread conversation quite like the French, and no bakery is as beloved as Paris’s 1932-founded Poilâne. Selling around 5,000 loaves of bread and baked goods daily, Poilâne supplies their bread to more than 2,000 Parisian restaurants and ships worldwide to 40 different countries.
Bread lovers the world over will be delighted that the mainstay Parisian bakery’s third-generation owner, Apollonia Poilâne, has penned a cookbook with recipes for Poilâne’s famous “hug-sized” sourdough, tarts, pastries, and butter cookies—which they claim are “all with simple, no-fuss.”
“I love getting my hands in flour and shaping the loaf,” says Poilâne. “You get the feeling you are giving life to the loaf through the energy you put into shaping the bread.”
Poilâne may be continuing her grandfather’s baking traditions, but she’s also an expert on the bread-forward food scene in Paris. She suggests “early morning cycling through the city—seeing the sun brightening the river Seine and buildings from various viewpoints,” and then hitting up one—or many—of these fine food establishments.
Apollonia Poilâne’s Favorite Restaurants in Paris
Bar de la Croix Rouge
“Bar de la Croix Rouge will provide the best St. Germain des Prés experience on the terrasse with a tartine of roast beef (their classic) or avocado.”
Au Sauvignon
“A family favorite and one of our first retailers. A classic French bistro around the corner from the bakery.”
Coutume
“A roaster and café with several great locations in Paris for a specialty coffee or a meal.”
Mary Céleste
“A Rive Droite (Right Bank) cocktail bar/small plates restaurant perfect for a moment with friends or lovers.”
Freddy’s
“A Rive Gauche (Left Bank) wine bar serving small plates and small-batch wines.”
Le Saint Sebastien
“A French contemporary restaurant with a focus on vegetables and small plates at the bar.”
Shu
“A kushiage spot—a Japanese restaurant specializing in fried (a.k.a. breaded) skewers—for an intimate dinner.”
Colchide
“A Georgian restaurant to go to with friends and share hearty plates.”
Mee
“A Korean bistro that is great for lunch and dinner alike.”
Le Cherche-Midi
“An Italian bistrot on my block where you can find me enjoying a fresh pasta plate.”