Bakery€Hauts-PavésMon-Tue 06:45-19:30; Thu-Fri 06:45-19:30; Sat 06:45-18:30; Sun 06:45-13:00; closed WedWalk-in onlyOrganic grain breads and crusty baguettes
La Petite Boulangerie was founded by a Meilleur Ouvrier de France baker and works organic grains at Place Saint-Félix in Nantes, café tables included.
Tip: It closes on Wednesday, opens at 06:45 the rest of the week and keeps a tea salon beside the bread counter.
Worth the queue: Pain bio au levain
Bakery€Hauts-PavésMon-Fri 07:00-19:00; closed Sat-SunWalk-in onlyOrganic levain breads and AOP butter viennoiserie
Pains, Beurre et Chocolat bakes organic levain loaves and AOP butter viennoiserie near the Saint-Félix canal in Nantes, and it trades on weekdays only.
Tip: The gâteau nantais here is heavy on rum and needs ordering ahead; the shop shuts entirely at the weekend.
Worth the queue: Gâteau nantais to order
Bakery€BouffayMon-Fri 07:30-19:30; Sat 08:00-19:00; closed SunWalk-in onlyOrganic breads and prize-winning croissants
ArnO bakes organic breads and prize-winning croissants on Rue de Verdun in the old quarter of Nantes, with everything made on site each morning.
Tip: It stands a minute from the château, which makes it the practical breakfast stop before the ramparts open to visitors.
Worth the queue: Croissant
Bakery€Hauts-PavésMon-Sat 07:30-19:30; closed SunWalk-in onlyNeighbourhood sourdough and viennoiserie
Oldü bakes at Pont du Cens on the northern edge of Nantes, a quarter boulangerie whose gâteau nantais keeps the rum discreet and the crumb moist.
Tip: The gâteau nantais is among the cheaper ones in the city at about €2.90, with four, six and eight share formats to order.
Worth the queue: Gâteau nantais
Bakery€€Hauts-PavésTue 11:00-19:00; Wed-Fri 09:30-19:00; Sat 09:00-19:00; Sun 09:00-17:00; closed MonWalk-in onlyHerb and spice led patisserie
Rosemary is the pastry salon two sisters run on Rue des Hauts Pavés in Nantes, classics rebuilt with herbs and spices and cut back on sugar.
Tip: Weekend brunch runs about €28 a head and needs booking; the gâteau nantais carries a rosemary note that is theirs alone.
Worth the queue: Gâteau nantais scented with rosemary
Bakery€Hauts-PavésWed-Mon 06:30-19:30, Sunday to 13:30; closed TueWalk-in onlyBoulangerie-pâtisserie of the Breil quarter
Maison Juhel took the prize for the best gâteau nantais in 2022 and still bakes it on Boulevard Robert Schuman in the north west of the city.
Tip: It opens at 06:30 six days a week and closes on Tuesday, but Sunday is a morning service only, finishing at 13:30.
Worth the queue: Gâteau nantais