Best croissants in Chicago. Like going to France, but it's in Old Town. La Fournette's authentic French pastries and baked goods are phenomenal. Fresh, varied, and always delight. Be sure to try the regular croissants, almond croissants, pain au chocolat, beer bread, cheese bread, danishes (blueberry is my fave), beignets (raspberry, hazelnut!), the madelines, the macarons... the sandwiches, the quiches... I could list the whole menu. I almost did. I love everything there. It's just incredible to me how something can taste like being somewhere else, when we know so many things are different like the water or other ingredients and yet somehow, when I eat here, it's like being transported abroad. Family-owned and run by super friendly staff, that -- bonus -- are also generous and patient about speaking French with young students of the language and culture. Merci La Fournette for being our favorite bakery!

I don’t leave many reviews, but I wanted to take the time to acknowledge the quality of both the food and the service at La Fournette. We were hosting a pulled pork sandwich dinner on Sunday. I planned to get fresh brioche but unbeknownst to me, my local bakery is closed on Sundays. I called La Fournette and they were able to fill a same-day order for 30 brioche buns in a few hours. Their friendliness and willingness to help really stood out to me. I had never been there, and when I arrived I was pleasantly met with a beautiful, timeless, and clean bakery with the most pleasant folks running the show behind the counter. By the way, everyone thought the brioche buns were delicious! I’m actually glad my plan A was closed, because it led me to La Fournette. I’ll be a returning customer, for sure!

While in Chicago this weekend we were walking around trying to find something to eat for breakfast and stumbled upon this beautiful French bakery. Once inside, it was so welcoming and smelled delicious! The staff was great and took the time to answer our questions, being newbies to some of the pastries inside. We settled on some fruit/cheese danishes & an apple turnover. All were so good. The danish had a light puff pastry surrounding the inside (personal favorite the cheese one!) but that apple turnover was nothing to mess with! Unbelievable! The side had bits of granny smith surrounded by a thicker applesauce like texture, so so good. We've since left Chicago and already crave the day of our return to come here to get that again! So glad to have found this place!

This local bakery is a dream come true! A wide variety, efficient service, fresh smells and eats, authentic goods, all for a great price! I’ve tried cafes all around this area but the pastries are the best in value at La Fournette. Not only is everything delicious (pick up a baguette or half a loaf of sourdough!) but the history here alone is worth visiting. You can also order in advanced for larger parties and specialty items, especially around the holiday season; everything is yum! The coffee is simple, standard, so don’t expect a crafted drink with syrups. Highly recommend their classic croissant and apricot pastry! No matter what you get, ASK FOR IT TO BE WARMED!

Still my FAVORITE French bakery. New item to review, the Alsace Rock candy. Oh My Goodness this stuff is DELICIOUS. Hazelnut nougat/praline, feuilletine, dark chocolate and a crunchy coating...it does NOT get any better than this. Please make a visit and enjoy some of the magnificent treats at LA Fournette. This place is dangerous...dangerously delicious. Everything from the baguettes to the brioche are divine. The croissants are flaky and buttery. The quiche is filling. The nicoise is a perfect light lunch. I always feel like I am in France the minute I walk in the door. Friendly staff. Great service. Love this place.

Arguably one of the best, but at the same time simple quintessential, European style bakery for sour dough breads, baguettes ( beer crust is superior) croissant based pastry, also sandwiches for lunch. Very reasonable prices. Even the French language is spoken here. (By the way, Whole Foods store in Evanston close to Central st. carries some of their breads and maybe place in Winnetka Cafe Fleurette)
Service
Take out
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Croissants, Croque Monsieur, Baguette, Beignets

Unfortunately didn’t get the hype — the croissants were not buttery, beignets were pretty dry, and the quiche was a bit too moist (got soupy at the bottom of my container). The ingredients are quality and the hazelnut paste in the beignet was good, but I prefer La Boulangerie for French pastries or Mindys bakery for all around best in Chicago. I haven’t tried their bread and would definitely give that a go if I were to be in the area.
Service
Take out
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 3
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

This bakery was phenomenal. You could almost walk past it but please stop on in and get a bite. The chocolate twist was divine so delicious and the almond paste gave it a wonderful flavor. I had a hot panini made with turkey that was divine. The bread was so crunchy and the melted cheese was heaven in the mouth. I sat in silence at how good it was.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Chocolate Twist

I wanted to try the almond croissant here and sorry to say it was awful there’s flaky and there’s brittle. It completely fell apart! The inside taste good but the bulk of the croissant was dry, brittle and went to waste. I miss Le Pain Quotidien so much, now their french styled pastries were amazing!
Service
Take out
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 1
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 2
Recommended dishes
Croissants, Almond Croissant and Chocolate Croissant, Bakery

INCREDIBLE!!! The Almond croissant was better than the ones I have had in Paris. Such a great solid texture of layered heaven. What was really nice is I could imagine myself in Paris while I was eating the croissant. Such a treat on a very ugly February Chicago day. Wish I had taken a photo to show you, dear reader. Thank you La Fournette. I also have purchased the Cheese bread and the Turkey panini. Can't wait to each them with my homemade mushroom soup.

Amazing bakery with very friendly staff. They are good at social distancing and only let three parties in the store at a time. We've had the cheese bread, pretzels, brioche, and the flambeé. All were delicious. Look at those pretzels right in the front of the case. So good! The flambeé was so perfectly think and crispy with just the right amount of ham and cheese. Definitely check this place out. I will be back to try all the rest of their options.

This is, hands down, my favorite bakery in town. Their almond croissant is delicious. I’ve also had their ham and Gruyère baguette and it’s wonderful. The staff are super friendly.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Croissants, Assorted Macarons, Baguette, Ham and Cheese Sandwich, Almond Croissant and Chocolate Croissant

Fantastic food, service and ambiance! On a cold afternoon in Old Town stumbled in for a late lunch. After much deliberation (and patience from behind the counter) I ordered the savory crepe of the day. The crepe was perfect - hot crepe filled with egg, cheese, onion, tomato, bacon and ham!! Would definitely come back to try a sweet crepe next time. In case you like to know more about your coffee, I learned that they brew Intelligentsia coffee.

Some of the staff is very rude. They rush you around. It's almost like they are annoyed to be here and to attend to you. Very rude short brunet girl with a pony tail, threw my bad at me. Rude and busy guy with curly hair. So rude. They don't explain their system to you, they just rush you down the line. Screaming, "next, next"! Horrible experience. There was two pleasant women, one brunet with glasses and another with short blonde hair.

Such a lovely atmosphere!! Employees are delightful. I had a pistachio pastry with a latte to go and it was delicious! My friend enjoyed his almond milk latte with a hazelnut beignet. I definitely recommend visiting if you find yourself in the area!
Service
Take out
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Croissants, Beignets, Bakery

opened a wonderful bakery. I recommend the croissants, my favorites with almonds, chocolate. delicious fresh bread, a baguette with delicious grains. and the most delicious macaroons I tasted in Chicago
Service
Take out
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Croissants, Assorted Macarons, Apricot Danish, Baguette, Bakery

The Saucisson Sandwich was ripe with good flavor, no surprise. What did take me back at first were the nuts within. However, they really came around for me and I loved the crunch and nutty flavor. The 5 stars are owed truly due to the authenticity and freshness of the baked goods and, big and, the chocolate milk was the best I’ve ever had. Freshly mixed ganache with whole milk, optional skim or almond too. Truly a treat.

I have visited for years and La Fournette is the only French bakery in Chicago comparable to any in France. The Miche loaf sets the standard for a perfect sandwich base or paired with any delicious spread, which LF also has. Try the framboise jam. * Buy a whole Miche loaf and anything else you crave. You won’t make any mistakes here. And if you need a small gift for anyone you care for the macaroons are perfect.

Great bakery, nice to stop in for a bite. Good amount of seating. Also outdoor seating.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 3
Recommended dishes
Croissants
Parking space
Difficult to find parking
Parking options
Paid street parking
Parking
Don't drive here if you can avoid it.

Fantastic bakery in Old Town. I haven't had lunch here, but I've stopped in for baguettes and pastries a few times. Quality is great and the chocolate croissants are delicious. I love that greetings are in french and that for a brief moment, it feels like you're in France. Some evenings near closing time, they have a "buy 1 pastry, get 1 free" offer. Look for a small sign in the window.

located in old town district in chicago, this french bakery is a must stop. The Alsace cookies are their signature, which was very excellent and I ate the whole bag myself over two days, but the almond croissant didn’t taste fresh, not flaky and crispy as you expect a croissant. Quiche was very good and good coffee too. next time I will try their baguette, it smelled and looked great.

The pastries were good but not anything to write home about. Especially not for the price. If you’re in the neighborhood it’s worth a stop, but not really worth a longer trip than that.
Service
Take out
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 3
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Croissants, Assorted Macarons

First of all, Intelligentsia coffee is served here - YES!! And as for the croissants - OMG YES! Made fresh each day and perfectly flaky and buttery, with fillings like hazelnut (Nutella) and pistacchio, almond, chocolate (and so many others I’ve yet to try). It gets a bit chaotic on the weekends because it’s Wells Street and this place draws them in, but well worth it!

La Fournette French bakery in Old Town is one of my favorite places in Chicago for bread and pastries. Lately I have been enjoying their multi-grain baguette and their hearty “beer” bread! Both are delicious and you can taste the freshness and the great ingredients without being laden with preservatives. The staff is also very helpful, efficient & friendly.

I finally decided to try this place on my day off and no regrets! This is a family owned place and the owners are from France. They offer a wide variety of french pastries and bread/ baguettes as well. I tried their cheese danish, raspberry beignets, chocolate twist, and brioche. Delicious and will plan on coming back. They have an outdoor seating area as well.

Best Almond croissants and tuna fish sandwich with micro greens sandwich. So lucky they are close by.
Service
Take out
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Croissants, Assorted Macarons, Chocolate Croissant, Apricot Danish, Baguette, Hazelnut Beignet

Absolutely love the bakery. Their almond croissant and apricot danish are next level! Prices are fair and staff are very nice. I highly recommend stopping by if you are in Old Town. They also deliver on food apps, and the delivery has always been great. I've stopped here dozens of times over the years and everything is so consistently great!

This is a basically good French bakery in Chicago, one of the better ones. The only complaint is they didn't have much of a selection of pastries. They had a few basics but not many. Their real strength is in bread, so they are more like a boulangerie than a pâtisserie. Still, that's a minor quibble. They are quite good and worth visiting.

It’s official, La Fournette macarons are more expensive than Laduree Paris. They also charge extra for a simple box else they will pack them in a ziploc type bag. Their pricing is completely out of control. Their macarons are worse than most local bakery shops in Paris/ London but they are still the best in Chicago, hence the rating!!

Great breakfast spot. I love their Quiche Lorraine, beignets, and croissants. The staff are all very kind and the interior space is nice. The format is counter serve and there is not a lot of seating, but I’ve never had an issue finding a spot as most people are taking things to go. Highly recommend for a quick breakfast in old town.

What's not love about a French bakery. The latte was excellent. I'm a little picky about my croissants and these ones were good. Did not need to be heated to appreciate, but nowhere near perfection. Good service, nice atmosphere for eating in and a real bakery with an excellent selection of over the counter products.

The crepes are amazing. The pumpkin beignets are fun. Coffee is great. The only negative was when we got up to leave and order pastries to go, the cashier rudely said we had to bus our own table. Since it was our first time, feel they could have said in a kinder tone. There was no signage saying that is protocol.

I was really craving croissants and after seeing all the amazing reviews this place has, I decided to try it out. These by far are the best croissant I have had in a very long time. They are delicious!!! The cheese danish was amazing too. Can’t wait to go back and try every single one of them. Highly recommend.

It’s a real French bakery. Of course it’s amazing. People who live near by must know they live near a jewel of a bakery. Yum!!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Croissants, Bakery

The raspberry beignet and the chocolate croissant were both amazing. The staff was very pleasant too. I’m giving it a lower rating only because we couldn’t find a place to sit nearby and enjoy them hot with our coffee. We had to eat it on the go and that was disastrous in this unforgiving March weather.

Friendly folks with a great variety of baked goods. Took public transportation here from Edgewater cause I wanted to try their sourdough, but it wasn't so excellent that made it worth the trip. I'd go here often for other goods if I lived in the area, but not worth a long trip to get there.

went to la fournette for the first time today and it was lovely! got an almond croissant and it was delicious! this place very authentic and reminded me of the french bakeries i went to while visiting france! thanks to the sweet ladies who helped me choose what to get! i will be back soon

Amazing bakery, everything I tried was delicious. I had one of the savory crepes, the almond croissants (my favorite), quiche and bread. I don’t think it’s possible to choose something bad on their menu. I suggest trying as much as possible. Next time I can’t wait to get some macaroons.

La Fournette is my favorite bakery in Chicago! The croissants are amazing and they offer a great selection of espresso drinks and breakfast foods. The vegetable quiche is my favorite. If you’re looking for fresh baked bread or a delicious breakfast, this is a great spot to check out!

La Fournette is simply quality. Amazing croissants, great specialty bread, and a lot of other treats that I have not yet had a chance to sample but I cannot wait togo back for. The macaroons looked especially enticing, so that’s something to look forward to on my next visit.

This is the best bakery I’ve been to outside of France itself. The staff is SO KIND and are always willing to give you advice on what to get (though you can’t go wrong)! The beignets are to DIE FOR and the bread is just so good that words are not enough. I love this place!

I have been coming to La Fournette for the past few years and it's never a miss. The hot ham and cheese croissant is incredible and one of my favorite things on the menu. The staff is always very kind and work quickly to ensure you get your food even when there's a crowd.

While many French bakeries have come and gone in Chicago La Fournette is the stronghold for some of the best baguettes and croissant in the city. Authentic and not Americanized French baked goods. One unique bread is the baguette with saucissons sec. Really un merveille!

Came around 10:30 while visiting the city on a Saturday. Most items were gone except croissants, a few danishes and some prepackaged items. Definitely go early if you want something particular. Chocolate croissant - 8/10. Almond croissant - 9/10. Madelines - 6/10.

Grabbed myself a cappuccino, savoury ham, cheese, and tomato crepe and a beignet for breakfast. Friendly staff and quick service. I’ve grabbed a loaf of the cheese bread on several occasions. You also can’t go wrong with their flavoured madeleines and macaroons.

Your coffee was so good, the sandwich was hearty, delicious. However we received such an attitude and the worst customer service by this woman. I would love to have your coffee and enjoy your bread again. Hope the management find out about her. Nasty attitude.

Simple - outstanding pastry! Although not cheap, totally worth a visit. The puff pastries are innovative and very flaky! Coffee is very good as well. Grab a couple of things and enjoy sitting outside. Perfect addition to a wonderful neighborhood!

Fresh baked sourdough bread is easier to digest and when made with rye flour is even better. La Fournette has a nice selection of breads and bakeries at their nearby neighborhood location. Get there early, as they are open from 7 AM to 2 PM.

Very authentic French Bakery. The pastries are some of the best I've had in the city (it's all about the croissant, and they've perfected it). The breakfast omelettes are simple and delicious. I highly recommend making a stop at this place!

I love all the breads here! Everything is so fresh, tasty and smells soooo good! We usually picked up some bread and leave in the car and go shopping. The car smelled AMAZING everytime we got back and made us sooo hungry!!! This is one of

Always a great place to go for fresh wonderful French food, pastries and various drinks/coffees. Be aware that most fellow customers do not follow their COVID rules on the door and window. I blame my fellow customers for their disregard,

One bite of anything from La Fournette, you will be in bliss. Your tastebud is completely satisfied. So awesomely tasty that you don’t want to go elsewhere for ur breads, pastries , croissants,… The apricot danish/tart is my favoritest!

I want to start by saying that coming to this bakery has been one of the best experiences I've had in awhile. Being there is something cathartic. The owner is a wonderful person with amazing passion that you can see in her smile. The

Very cozy bakery/cafe. Pastries were amazing and I’d love to come back for their breakfast and lunch products. Coffee is very bitter, I’m not sure if it is the taste that they are going for, but I felt they were grinding too fine or

Nice bakery with authentic french style bread. Large menu with various items and good coffee too. Interior is a little small to seat down, but that’s the only drawback. Perfect to grab quick lunch and enjoy traditional bakery treats.

Best Bakery in Chicago? Probably. Sourdough, ham sandwich and Tarts (if you are lucky enough to get one, specially apricot) are excellent. Baguettes? wish it was a little bit more crispy outside but still the best I found in Chicago.

Love this bakery and the folks that own it. Chef Pierre Zimmerman is a master and has created a great bakery in Chicago. Every time we go to Chicago (have a daughter that lives there) we get up early to go to La Fournette for fresh

Easily the best bakery in Chicago! Their almond croissant, lemon pound cake, and blueberry danish are my favorite pastries! And you can’t go wrong with their baguettes! Most high-end restaurants in Chicago serve their baguettes!

I haven’t been to France yet, but I could see why people say it’s very authentic. When I visited, I heard multiple people speaking in French and it smelled so good when walking in. The croissants were very tasty - worth a stop!

Great spot in Old Town. Coffee was delicious and I had an apricot danish that was unbelievable. La Fournette was recommended highly to me and I would recommend it highly to everyone else. Looking forward to stoping here again.

Love the baguettes, rustic Pavé bread which lasts really well. Spritz coffee cookies pair perfectly with a coffee. My absolute favourite for lunch is the ham and cheese sandwich, tiny little pickles in it make it perfect.

A genuine piece of France here in Chicago that bakes wonderful French breads, baguettes, croissants, and other pastries. Just eating a croissant or a slice of bread brings memories of France rushing forward in your mind.

Although it looks like a nice bakery, the pastries we bought there today were old. Worst part were doughnuts - probably 2 to 3 days old and tasting like papers. Nice ambiance and good location for people watching though.

This is one of the best bakeries in Chicago! Many excellent breads a d pastries. Truly exceptional baguettes! It is open until 2pm but they often run out of inventory around noon; that is how good their goods are!

My Husband and I love France especially the town of Elsace ❤️ when my hubby found you for my Croissants recently......my Search in America is over!!! Thank you for bringing the authentic tastes here to us!!

The best breads by far in the city of Chicago. Attitude of the staff is hit or miss. Sometimes you get a warm greeting in French the moment you walk in the front door and other times absolutely nothing.

These are not beignets... it’s literally an overpriced, glorified sugar donut... pic 2) hazelnut beignet. Couldn’t even try it cause it just doesn’t look or smell appealing Pic3) yeah idk what that is.

I'm visiting from Seattle which has its fair share of French bakeries. I have to say, La Fournette is the closest to the real thing that I've had stateside. The foodstuffs and the coffee are AMAZING.

We were visiting Chicago and bought a baguette, Pistachio Madeleines, and a coconut cookie. They were wonderful tasting! They were also beautiful! Next time I hope to get a picture of the baguettes!

Good coffee. Pastries were hit or miss. Croissant was pretty good. Beignets aren’t beignets - just donuts with a butter wash and sugar sprinkled on top. Prices are too high for what you get.

Delightful French bakery in old town. Often visit just for coffee, the pastries and food are tasty as well. Next time of year is December when the make champagne bread for New Years.

Fresh bread the whole family loves, delicious pastries, and the sandwiches are some of the best I’ve ever had. Coffee is outstanding too. This is one of the best bakeries in Chicago.

Fantastic authentic French bakery with excellent selection and amazing service. Regular customer frequenting once or twice a week and very happy. Merci and keep up the good work!

The website says the assorted macaroons are $1.80ea but in the store they’re $18.99 per 6 or $38.99 per 12. And honestly they are not good. I’ve tried better ones. Not worth it.

A delight!! This cafe is an absolute gem. Fabulous coffee, bread, treats and staff. I’ve also used them to cater for events and for gifts; they handle orders with such love.

Absolutely delicious and wonderful selection! They have sandwiches and quiche made fresh every day, as well as sandwich loaves and bottles, pastries and cookies. Yummy!

This French bakery is wonderful. Very friendly staff & delicious food! We love getting the quiche (which they warm for you) & the almond croissant or any other pastry.

Loved the almond croissant and the veggie quiche. People here are super friendly. The indoor seating was closed but there are a limited number of tables outside.

Excellent pastries and good coffee. Service is good, and their outdoor seating is nice although a bit cramped. One of the better options in this neighborhood.

My husband and I love love their pastries and bread. Best bakery in the city! Everything is supper delicious freshly made. Definitely will be loyal customers.

Good sandwich. Real french staff. The place is kept cold and has uncomfortable seating. I would have stayed all day and spent more if it was more comfortable.

I am a French teacher and my students had a wonderful experience sampling many of La Fournette's delicious pastries. MERCI BEAUCOUP! I highly recommend …

My favorite place to go for Bread. You might call ahead and ask them to put something on hold for you, otherwise you risk everything being sold out.

Delicious bread (wheat sandwich bread is how wheat bread should taste), best croissants, great staff and service. Cannot leave without a baguette.

Wow, amazing ham and cheese croissant. Had it with a little Grey poupon mustard and it may have been one of my favorite bites of the year.

A warm and welcoming place to get a coffee and french croissants ☕️ oh, don’t forget to grab a fresh toast bread to go …

I gotta be honest, the three cheese panini is disgusting however, I love their miche sourdough bread and ALL of their pastries. …

I like their pain de Mie and brioche. Their cookies are nice,too. Staff are not so friendly nor nice overall but they do their job good.

Wish I had discovered this place earlier. It has the best croissants! Their hours are a bit tough to make though since they close early.

I visit my son once a year. Finally I managed to come when the bakery is open. Chocolate croissant and a beignet. Absolute perfection.

Great sourdough! Still cannot top the sourdough I had in Copenhagen… but still yummy quality bread :) 1/2 is plenty…! Eat it fresh!

After looking over their selection we opted for the almond croissant and apple turnover. They did not disappoint! We will be back.

I miss Europe so much and this place is exactly what I need in the morning! Very nice, friendly staff. Amazing food and coffee!

Good coffee and pastry. Great french onion soup. Macarons however lacked flavour in cookie and filling and were a let-down.

Only had the French onion soup and it was a success. Everything else looked delicious as well, too bad couldn't try it all.

Must go! First time visiting and both the chocolate and almond croissants were so fresh and delicious. Will be back soon.

I have been on a quest to find the best cheese danish in the city of Chicago. La Fournette still holds the crown.

Great place. Very very busy very fast and friendly. Food made fresh daily. Huge variety of pastries and options.

Absolutely wonderful pastries. So fresh, flaky and made beyond perfect! Couldn’t recommend this place enough.

The most authentic French bakery in all of Chicago. Their baguette & pastries = chef’s kiss!!! Perfection!!!