Kevin C.
Yelp
For my last day in Paris, I planned to make daytime visits to the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower, having visited both in the evening hours. Waking up bright and early on a Sunday morning could have been problematic since it seemed like many patisseries and boulangeries were either closed or opened later on Sundays, but thankfully, the well-regarded Arnaud Delmontel boulangerie and patisserie is open early even on Sundays, and conveniently enough, there was one location just a couple of blocks away from my hostel. Arriving once again to a just-opened bakery and greeted with warm baked goods, I walked out with a Pain au Chocolat, a Croissant aux Amandes, and a baguette. Their award-winning baguette was perfect: a crisp, light crust with an airy, pocket-filled interior. Don't worry, I'm not fat enough to eat a whole baguette in one sitting along with a bunch of other pastries; I only ate half of it. See, self-control.
The gigantic Croissant aux Amandes was a bit sweeter and much more dense than Ladurée's, though I really enjoyed the fantastic outer layer covering the top, as it was entirely reminiscent of the topping you would find on a Chinese Bo Lo Bao (pineapple bun). I think I preferred this version of the Croissant aux Amandes, namely because it was so much more dessert-like and luxurious. The Pain au Chocolat was right up there with Julien's in terms of sheer amazingness, though I think Julien's benefited from being a bit warmer at the time of consumption.
All in all, everything was delicious, but the Croissant aux Amandes will be what I remember most fondly. Arnaud Delmontel is a great place to pick up a baguette or some baked goods, and I highly recommend it.