Bakery€€ÉcussonMon-Sat 08:00-19:30; Sun 08:15-18:00Walk-in onlyPastry, quiches and organic tartines
Maison L'Œuf bakes organic breads, quiches and sculptural fruit pastries on Rue du Faubourg de la Saunerie in Montpellier, open every day of the week.
Tip: Seven-day opening makes it the Sunday-afternoon pastry answer when the Écusson's counters are shuttered.
Worth the queue: Seasonal fruit entremets
Bakery€€ÉcussonTue-Sat 11:00-19:00Walk-in onlyPastry counter and tearoom bakes
Clara Jung bakes Tropéziennes, Paris-Brest and kanelbullar at her pastry shop on Rue du Palais des Guilhem, a quiet lane in the Montpellier old town.
Tip: Number cakes and larger pieces need pre-ordering; the kanelbullar usually sell out before the evening.
Worth the queue: Kanelbullar
Bakery€€Beaux-ArtsTue-Sat 08:00-13:00 and 15:00-19:00; Sun 08:00-12:30; closed MondayWalk-in onlyClassic French pâtisserie
Gabriel Créateur de Gourmandises works classic French pâtisserie on Boulevard Louis Blanc in Montpellier, tarts and entremets in short daily runs.
Tip: In January the frangipane galette is the reason locals queue here; Sunday mornings sell through fast all year.
Worth the queue: Galette frangipane in season
Bakery€€Les ArceauxDaily 07:00-19:00Walk-in onlyEntremets, flans and travel cakes since 1962
Maison Scholler has been a pillar of Montpellier pâtisserie since 1962, vanilla and pistachio flans at 7 euros beside entremets and travel cakes.
Tip: The Avenue de Lodève shop is the handy branch for the Arceaux market; a second Scholler bakes out in Aiguelongue.
Worth the queue: Vanilla flan
Café€ÉcussonMon-Fri 08:00-19:00; Sat 10:00-19:00; closed SundayWalk-in onlyArgentine pâtisserie
Station Sucrée bakes alfajores, brookies and dulce de leche pastries on Rue de l'Université in Montpellier, billed as France's first Argentine pastry shop.
Tip: The alfajores travel well and keep for days, which makes this the smart edible-souvenir stop in the old town.
Worth the queue: Alfajores
Bakery€BoutonnetMon-Sat 07:00-19:30; closed SundayWalk-in onlyOrganic long-fermentation sourdough
Au Rythme du Pain ferments organic sourdough slowly on Rue du Faubourg Boutonnet in Montpellier, its loaves also stocked by the La Cagette co-op.
Tip: Boutonnet has two serious bakeries on one street; try this one for levain and Aux Délices for the Sunday pastries.
Worth the queue: Long-fermentation levain loaf