Arlette et Colette, a bakery located at 63 rue Voltaire in Levallois-Perret, has been named the best bakery in Île-de-France for 2025 by the M6 television show La Meilleure Boulangerie de France, according to reports by Top Santé and Marmiton. The win during the regional episodes broadcast on March 14, 2025, has sent customer traffic surging and propelled the owners toward the national finale in May 2025.
How Arlette et Colette Won the Île-de-France Title
To secure the regional title, co-owners Louis and Hugo defeated a rival artisan from Asnières during the show’s Île-de-France competition week, as reported by Top Santé. The decisive creative challenge required bakers to reinvent pastis, a traditional Marseille anise-flavored spirit, into a Parisian-style creation. The duo responded with the “Classico,” a brioche featuring a pear, vanilla, and lemon compote, light whipped cream, and fresh pear pieces. Chef Michel Sarran awarded the pastry a 9.3 out of 10 score, sealing their victory.
According to Marmiton, the jury also praised the bakery’s Iranian pistachio praliné for its complex textures, alongside their seasonal fruit tartes, fondant flans, and specialty absolu lines. The victory advances the team to the national finale of the competition, which is scheduled for May 2025.
Background of Founders Louis and Hugo
Co-owners Louis and Hugo, both 34 years old, met fifteen years ago while completing their training with the Compagnons du Devoir, according to Marmiton. After working across France and internationally, they launched their business venture in March 2020 during the first COVID-19 lockdown. They named their enterprise Arlette et Colette as a tribute to their respective grandmothers.
Following their first Paris location opened in 2020 and a second shop on rue Lebon in the 17th arrondissement in 2022, the partners opened their Levallois-Perret storefront in August 2024. Today, the business operates three addresses within a two-kilometer radius and employs forty-eight staff members, allowing the owners to travel between shops in under fifteen minutes.
Surge in Customer Demand Following M6 Broadcast
The television exposure triggered a dramatic rise in visitor volume at the Levallois-Perret shop, located just behind the town hall near the Anatole-France metro station. Hugo noted to Marmiton that the impact of the broadcast was immense, drawing customers from significant distances.
On the day following the March 14 broadcast, the bakery opened exceptionally and served customers who had traveled up to 80 kilometers to try their apple-lemon-basil tart, selling more than one hundred units in a single day, as detailed by Top Santé. The shop also opened specially on Saturday, March 22, to accommodate the influx of visitors offering congratulations.
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