Maison Kayser Tokyo Omotesando is the French boulangerie chain's flagship below Tokyu Plaza. Eric Kayser's liquid-levain Baguette Monge baked through the day.
Tip: Open daily 08:00-20:00. The croissants and Baguette Monge are baked in three batches; arrive by 11:00 or 16:00.
Address: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Viron Marunouchi in Tokyo is the French boulangerie-brasserie that imports French Retrodor flour. The hand-shaped baguette is Tokyo's reference baguette.
Tip: Bakery counter and seated brasserie are on the same ground floor. Order baguette by 14:00 for the freshest batch.
Worth the queue: Baguette Retrodor with French flour
Boulangerie Bigot in Tokyo's Minami-Aoyama is the original Tokyo branch of Philippe Bigot's lineage, baking croissants and pain au chocolat since 1985.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Counter sells out by 15:00; the croissant counter opens at 08:00.
Worth the queue: Croissant au beurre and pain au chocolat
Ginza Kimuraya in Tokyo has baked Japan's original sakura anpan since 1869, the Yon-chome corner the Meiji Emperor was once served from. Salt-cured blossom.
Tip: Open daily 10:00-21:00. The original sakura anpan and the koshi-an sweet bean version are the canonical picks.
Worth the queue: Sakura anpan
Le Pain Quotidien Shibakoen in Tokyo is the Belgian organic-bread chain's park-side cafe under Tokyo Tower. Communal table, organic sourdough, vegetarian.
Tip: Walking distance from Tokyo Tower. Lunch tartines and breakfast plates are the value play.
Worth the queue: Organic sourdough tartines
Dean and Deluca Roppongi in Tokyo Roppongi Hills is the New York deli's flagship across the Hillside corner. Bakery shelf, deli counter and cafe seats.
Tip: Open 10:00-21:00 daily. The seeded sourdough and the salt-baked cookies are the takeaway picks.
Worth the queue: Sourdough and seeded loaves
Pierre Herme Paris Aoyama in Tokyo is the French patissier's Asia flagship on Aoyama-dori. Macarons, the Ispahan, and a viennoiserie counter for croissants.
Tip: Three-floor flagship; the cafe second floor is the calmer seated option. The Ispahan rose-lychee macaron is the canonical.
Worth the queue: Ispahan macaron and croissant
