Bakery¥Mon-Sun 09:00-19:00Walk-in onlyTruffle-laced breads and pastries
Truffle BAKERY in Tokyo's Sangenjaya turns French butter-bread into a luxury product with imported truffle. The white truffle salt roll is the queue-builder.
Tip: Buy the truffle salt rolls warm before noon; the black truffle egg sando is the lunch order. Cash and IC cards.
Worth the queue: White truffle salt bread
Bakery¥Daily 09:00-22:00French boulangerie with Viron Retrodor flour
Viron in Tokyo's Shibuya imports flour direct from the Viron mill in France and bakes Baguette Retrodor to French spec. Upstairs is a sit-down brasserie.
Tip: The takeaway counter is downstairs, the brasserie upstairs; share a croque-monsieur with a glass at lunch.
Worth the queue: Baguette Retrodor and croissant
Bakery¥Wed-Sat 08:00-19:00, Sun 08:00-18:00, closed Mon and TueWalk-in onlyOrganic wild-yeast bread
Levain in Tokyo's Tomigaya has baked organic wild-yeast bread since 1984, one of Japan's earliest naturals. Domestic wheat, on-site cultured levain.
Tip: The pain de campagne and the melange fruit loaf are the morning order. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays; cafe opens 11:00.
Worth the queue: Pain de campagne
Bakery¥Daily 08:00-20:00Walk-in onlyFrench boulangerie
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.
Worth the queue: Baguette Monge with liquid levain
Bakery¥Daily 08:30-22:00French boulangerie-brasserie
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
Bakery¥Tue-Sun 08:00-19:00, closed MondayWalk-in onlyFrench boulangerie
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