Bakery€ZolaTue-Sat 07:00-19:30; Sun 07:00-13:30; closed MonWalk-in onlyShort supply chain boulangerie-pâtisserie
BARA bakes near Parc de Procé in Nantes with dairy from local farms, its own range of breads, the Tourt'O lin loaf and a house gâteau nantais.
Tip: The shop collects prizes at regional baking competitions; Sunday closes at 13:30, so go early for the fullest counter.
Worth the queue: Gâteau nantais
Bakery€Île de NantesDaily 07:00-19:30Walk-in onlyOrganic levain breads and low-sugar pastry
Barnabé bakes organic levain breads and low-sugar pastry on the Île de Nantes, one of four shops the house runs across the city, open every day.
Tip: Unsold bread goes to local charities at the end of the day; the flours are milled nearby and the pastry skips colourings.
Worth the queue: Pain au levain
Bakery€GraslinTue 14:00-19:00; Wed-Sat 10:00-19:00; closed Sun-MonWalk-in onlyFully vegan bakery and patisserie
Délice Végétal is the fully vegan bakery two sisters opened on Quai de la Fosse in Nantes, organic where they can and sandwiches beside the cakes.
Tip: Pistachio rolls and hazelnut chocolate cakes go first, and several Nantes coffee shops buy their pastries from here.
Worth the queue: Pistachio roll
Bakery€€Île de NantesTue-Sat 08:00-19:30; closed Sun-MonWalk-in onlyLevain breads and Asian-leaning viennoiserie
Maison Arlot Cheng bakes levain breads and pastries near Les Machines de l'Île in Nantes, its gâteau nantais soaked in rum under a crisp glaze.
Tip: The gâteau nantais sells at about €3.40 a slice; soups, focaccia and pies fill the same counter at lunchtime.
Worth the queue: Gâteau nantais
Bakery€€DecréTue-Sat 09:30-19:00; closed Sun-MonWalk-in onlySeasonal entremets and chocolate
Esthète works seasonal fruit into precise entremets on Rue Mercœur in Nantes, with a chocolate counter, a tea salon and its own gâteau nantais.
Tip: The gâteau nantais runs about €3.40 for one and €19.80 for six shares; figs and elderflower drive the late summer card.
Worth the queue: Gâteau nantais
Bakery€€GraslinMon-Fri 10:00-19:30; Sat 09:30-19:30; Sun 09:30-12:30Walk-in onlyChocolate-led patisserie
Vincent Guerlais keeps his Rue Franklin shop in Nantes stocked with chocolate work and a soft gâteau nantais finished under a white chocolate glaze.
Tip: The Franklin shop opens Sunday morning until 12:30, and the house also keeps a stall inside the Talensac market hall.
Worth the queue: Gâteau nantais