Real Parisian bakers who ran a patisserie in Paris for 19 years before landing on King Street — and it shows in every shatteringly crisp, butter-soaked layer. This is a no-frills neighborhood bakery where French expats queue for the closest thing to home, and the almond croissants have a cult following for good reason. Skip the fancy café scene; come for the genuine article.
Parisian bakers with 19 years of craft deliver croissants so shatteringly crisp and buttery that French expats queue for a taste of home.
Arrive early on weekend mornings — the full selection sells out fast and the queue gets long with regulars and French expats.
Paris in Hammersmith — proper croissants from real Parisian bakers
If you've been mourning the absence of a proper French bakery in west London, Patisserie Sainte Anne is your answer. The owners ran a patisserie in Paris for 19 years before relocating to Hammersmith, and it shows — these are not London interpretations of French pastries, they're the genuine article. The croissants are the headline act: shatteringly crisp on the outside, pillowy and buttery within, and widely regarded as among the best in the city. The almond croissants have a cult following, and the pain au chocolat is equally strong.
Beyond the viennoiserie, they do a proper French breakfast — baguette and coffee, or a pastry and coffee — that's simple but exactly right. The display counter is stacked with éclairs, tarts, and gateaux that look like they belong in a Saint-Germain shop window. They've also built a reputation for bespoke birthday cakes, with multi-tier creations that have become a local go-to for celebrations.
The space is small and functional rather than fancy — this is a neighborhood bakery, not a destination café. You'll be rubbing shoulders with the regulars, many of whom are French expats who clearly know this is the closest thing to home. Mornings get busy, especially on weekends, so arrive early if you want the full selection. At 4.4 stars across 759 Google reviews, the consensus is clear: this is one of Hammersmith's quiet culinary treasures.