Located in Paris’s 3rd arrondissement at 42 Rue Réaumur, near Arts & Métiers metro station, Ernest & Valentin is a celebrated artisan bakery and pastry shop. Founded in 2012 by brothers Bradley and Logan Lafond, the shop honors their grandfathers—Ernest and Valentin—through traditional recipes and high‑quality ingredients sourced from trusted suppliers . In 2015, it was awarded Best Bakery in Île‑de‑France on the M6 TV show, quickly earning a dedicated following.

The interior is charmingly traditional, featuring a visible bakery area where clients can watch the breadmaking process, reinforcing trust and transparency in their craft. The bakery offers a wide variety of breads—baguettes, country loaves, Nordic breads, brioches—alongside butter viennoiseries made with Normandy butter (croissants, pain au chocolat, pain aux raisins, praline brioche), all baked fresh each morning.

On the pastry side, Ernest & Valentin offers generous and creative treats: house‑made custard flans (vanilla, pistachio, gianduja), tarts (pistachio, lemon, passion‑raspberry), apricot‑verveine cheesecake, and Paris‑Brest versions. Seasonal innovations include pistachio‑chantilly tarts and cake with apricot‑verveine or coconut mango compositions.

Savory options include sandwiches and salads available individually or in set menus. Offerings range from bagnats (tuna, chicken), vegetarian burgers with sweet potato patties, fougasse (goat cheese, chorizo), fresh wraps and quiches, with vegetarian, vegan or gluten‑free options available on request.

The atmosphere is lively and welcoming. The clientele includes locals, office workers and visitors to the nearby Musée des Arts et Métiers. Every morning, the enticing scent of fresh viennoiseries drifts out into the street. Staff are generally professional and friendly, although service can vary during peak times, especially for Too Good To Go reservations.

The signature baguette, dubbed “Ernestine,” is a sourdough baguette known for its crust and lift, though some reports suggest it has become more neutral or slightly sweet compared to earlier versions.

Practical information: open Monday to Friday from 7 am to 8 pm, Saturday from 7:30 am to 8 pm, and Sunday morning until about 6 pm (more recent data indicates Sunday opening). The shop is wheelchair accessible, accepts credit cards, offers take‑away only, and no on‑site delivery.