Three new French bakeries open in Upper East Side ‘breathing new life’ into neighborhood

The French are invading the Upper East Side with their croissants, macarons and other sweet treats.

The neighborhood recently said, “bonjour,” to three French bakeries along Lexington Avenue in about a year’s time: Aux Merveilleux de Fred; Patisserie Vanessa, and Angelina.

“There seems to be a nouveau French emergence with the up-and-coming spots and it’s sort of breathing new life into the French ties that the neighborhood has had previously,” said UES resident and media salesperson Natalie Reichel, 34. “It’s also fun to be able to hop to new places and try the croissants and feel like I’m in Paris and judge how they compare to the motherland.”

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The bakeries fit right in with the French ex-pat contingent, which numbers around 60,000 in New York City. The area is home to French school Lycée Français de New York; the French Institute Alliance Française, which holds French language classes and programming and has one of the largest private French libraries in the country; and Albertine, the only bookshop in New York devoted solely to books in French and English.

Anthony Battaglia, COO of Angelina Paris USA, said the company opened Angelina Lexington — its second New York City outpost — in the neighborhood because the company “wanted to be closer to our Francophone and Francophile guests who knew Angelina back in Paris.” The tearoom is known for its hot chocolate and Mont Blanc dessert.

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Paola Rivero, an Upper East Sider, said there is mass appeal for French bakeries like Pâtisserie Vanessa because “you can have a pastry and a coffee and don’t have to have a meal.”

Real estate agent Fabienne Lecole left France 32 years ago, but has been able to live a very French lifestyle since moving back to the UES in 2021, she said.

“Where else could I start my day with the biggest smile due to the best croissant in town?” Lecole said. “I have Vanessa three blocks away with authentic French patisseries, that include cannelés and macarons. Around my corner is the new Aux Merveilleux de Fred, which I happily recently discovered, with devine chocolate croissants and meringue. And of course a few blocks south is Angelina with the best hot chocolate in town.”

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French patisseries are not just a draw for the French or for locals.

“People want to be transported,” said Marc-Antoine Silengo, co-owner of Pâtisserie Vanessa, known for its ladyfinger Charlotte cakes. “This is a slice of France — Provence.”

Frenchman Sammy Schott, who was visiting New York City from Australia, said Pâtisserie Vanessa felt “authentic,” and its Le Canele was “by far the best I had in two years.” That is because it had a crispy top and bottom and the middle was “squishy,” he explained.

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