Fournée Bakery

Arriving early on a Sunday morning is a tactical necessity here. I managed to secure street parking directly across from the shop. Because it was Sunday, the metered spots were free, which felt like a massive win given how notoriously restrictive parking is around this area. The retail space operates on a micro-footprint, but the kitchen utilizes it to output a staggering, world-class lineup of laminated pastries and artisan sourdoughs. A formidable queue had already materialized by the time the doors unlocked, but the front-of-house team cleared it with impressive, rapid-fire efficiency. The indoor staging area for guests waiting to order is exceptionally tight, meaning it gets congested immediately as the first morning tickets drop. Ham and Cheese Croissant: A savory laminate featuring premium rosemary ham and melted Manchego cheese. While the outer shell didn’t offer as many distinct shatter-layers or the extreme, brittle crunch of other regional benchmarks I've audited recently, the flavor balance was undeniably superb. Canelé de Bordeaux: An absolute triumph. It delivered a flawless, sustained crunch from the deeply caramelized wax-and-butter crust, yielding to a perfectly soft, custard-like interior. The vanilla-rum top notes lingered beautifully on the palate—exceptional execution. Morning Bun: Lighter than most traditional iterations, providing a balanced, delicate sweetness that pairs excellently with morning espresso or tea. The base of the bun features a brilliant, sticky caramelization that introduces a remarkably satisfying chew. Rhubarb/Apple Fruit Tart: Visually stunning and structurally elite. The shortbread bottom crust was firm enough to support the weight of the slice on my fingertips without collapsing or growing soggy under the jammy fruit layer. Classic, comforting, and elevated by a perfect streusel crumble topping. Fougasse (Weekend Special Loaf): This specific limited-edition weekend bake is a must-buy. The architectural, ladder-cut flatbread features a resilient, chewy outer crust, giving way to a beautifully proofed, tender interior with sophisticated, mild aromatic flavors inside. A true special-occasion treat. The Standout — Paris-Brest: The crown jewel of the morning. Beyond its immaculate, wheel-shaped aesthetic, the choux pastry was crisp, and the piped praline cream filling was absolutely fabulous. It is a masterpiece of technical pastry work and an absolute mandatory order. The Verdict: Having conducted extensive sweeps of elite Bay Area bakeries recently, their standard croissant might not take my personal top spot for lamination density, but their overall repertoire is unmatched. From high-hydration artisan breads to complex French Viennoiserie, their variety is spectacular. I also highly appreciated the careful, thoughtful packaging at the counter, which ensured that every delicate layer and crust of this substantial haul arrived home completely undamaged. It is incredibly easy to see why this institution commands a loyal following. Absolutely essential dining—give them a try.

Best bakery in the area and early morning lines are not just hype. Amazing bakery, get there early as they run out of everything quickly and lines form before they even open at 7am. Best croissant in the bag area, incredible and picturesque baguettes and levain. Parking can be tricky

Located in front of the Claremont Hotel Fournée Bakery is a cute, small artisan bakery serving up sweet and savory baked goods, sandwiches and bread. The store is all retail and there’s no seating available. I only got some almond chocolate croissants so that’s all I can comment on. From the photo, the croissant is actually surprisingly dense and not puffy, but taste wise very good. Strong almond flavors and not excessively sweet. I quite like it. Parking in this neighborhood is always a bit challenging so you might have to drive around a bit.

Pasteries: 3/5 Service: 3/5 Ambiance: 3/5 Portion to Price: 3/5 Overall: Standard fare pasteries. The extended review... Pastries: 3/5 - I was in the area and of course if I see a bakery I have to give it a try. I got a little slice of cake one of the croissants it was pretty standard fare. Service: 3/5 - Standard service. Ambiance: 3/5 - A grab and go type of place. Portion to Price: 3/5 - Standard fare pricing for a bakery.

One of the best bakeries in Berkeley.The Traditional Croissant is perfect with a beautiful crunch and buttery taste. For a savory croissant, we got the veggie one.I wasn’t the big fan of savory croissants.But it was still delicious. Just love it!