Renaud's Bakery

Introduction / Overview

For residents and visitors in Southern California with a craving for authentic European craftsmanship, Renaud's Bakery in Long Beach offers a sophisticated taste of France. Founded by Chef Renaud Gonthier and his wife Nicole, the bakery is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to bring refined French pastries, croissants, and cakes to the California market, starting in 2008. The Long Beach location, conveniently situated inside the upscale Gelson's Market, operates as a retail bakery and coffee bar, delivering a daily dose of French 'savoir-faire' right to your shopping trip.

Renaud's Bakery distinguishes itself by focusing on traditional French methods and using only high-quality ingredients, committed to baking everything fresh every morning. Customers visiting the Long Beach shop can find a wide array of classic items—from flaky, buttery croissants and Parisian-style macarons to decadent signature cakes and tarts. The offerings are ideal for a quick indulgence, a refined breakfast, or acquiring a beautiful dessert for any celebration. While the brand also operates bistro locations in Santa Barbara, the Long Beach presence inside Gelson’s is dedicated to providing exquisite baked goods and a full-service coffee experience, perfect for a Quick visit while running errands.

The selection ranges from hearty Ham & Cheese Croissants for a savory start to the day to stunning Petit Gateaux (individual-sized cakes and tarts) like 'The Bomb' and 'Exotic,' ensuring there is a refined French treat to satisfy every palate.

Location and Accessibility

The Long Beach location of Renaud’s Bakery is strategically placed to serve the local community and those passing through the area, offering maximum convenience nestled inside a well-known grocery establishment.

Address: Inside Gelson's Market, 6255 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803, USA

The bakery operates within the Gelson's Market space, allowing customers to seamlessly integrate their pastry and coffee stop with their grocery shopping.

• Hours of Operation: Renaud's Bakery & Coffee Bar is typically open Daily from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, matching the core operating hours of Gelson’s Market and ensuring availability for both early morning coffee and after-dinner dessert.
• Parking: Patrons benefit from a Wheelchair accessible parking lot and the well-lit parking facilities provided by Gelson's Market, making stops easy and convenient.
• Accessibility Features: The location includes a Wheelchair accessible entrance, ensuring the shop is available to all members of the community.
• Ambiance: Though a grab-and-go counter within a larger market, Gelson's provides inside and outside dining areas, including a rooftop seating area with a fireplace, where customers can enjoy their Renaud’s purchases.

Services Offered

Renaud's Bakery provides an extensive menu of French pastries, baked goods, and café services, all prepared with French culinary standards:

• Breakfast Pastries: Includes a classic range of daily-baked items such as Plain Croissant ($5.25), Chocolate Croissant ($6.50), Almond Croissant ($7.50), Pain Aux Raisins, and savory options like the Ham & Cheese Croissant ($7.50). Mini versions of croissants are also available.
• Petit Gateaux & Individual Tarts: A selection of individual-sized desserts perfect for a single treat, including 'The Bomb' (a hazelnut and Nutella mousse creation), Chocolate Eclair ($7.00), Exotic cake (mango, coconut, passion fruit mousse), and Lemon or Raspberry Tarts.
• Whole Cakes & Tarts: Full-sized celebration cakes available for purchase, such as the Decadent chocolate cake (available in 6" from $36.00 and 8" from $54.00), Exotic cake, Bomb cake, and various large tarts and quiches (e.g., Full Quiche Lorraine for $60.00).
• Macarons: Authentic Parisian-style macarons in a variety of flavors, sold individually ($2.50) or in 6-Packs ($12.00) and 12-Packs ($24.00), with flavors like Pistachio, Salted Caramel, and Passion Fruit.
• Artisan Breads & Savory Items: Freshly baked items like the Baguette ($4.95) and specialty breads such as Large or Round Challah ($9.99), alongside savory Quiche options.
• Coffee Bar: A full menu of Hot and Cold Beverages including Espresso, Cappuccino, Café Latté, Signature Hot Chocolate ($7.00), Cold Brew Iced Coffee, and specialty lattes.
• Service Options: Focused on efficiency with In-store pickup and Takeout services for a quick and easy visit.

Features / Highlights

For California patrons seeking European-level quality, Renaud's Bakery offers compelling highlights:

• Authentic French Heritage: The bakery was founded by Chef Renaud Gonthier, whose background includes training at Europe’s finest culinary schools. The products are created following authentic and traditional French methods, often requiring a specific French 'savoir-faire,' ensuring an authentic European experience.
• Refined Ingredients: The brand prides itself on using quality ingredients, explicitly stating a commitment to avoiding hydrogenated oils and artificial sugars or sweeteners in their creations.
• Daily Freshness: Everything from croissants to cakes is created fresh every morning and displayed in beautiful showcases, emphasizing quality and presentation. The Long Beach location ensures a daily assembly of fresh products for its customers.
• Location Convenience: Being located inside the Gelson's Market is a major feature, providing a seamless shopping experience where customers can pick up high-end groceries and a gourmet French treat in one stop. Its proximity to the marina also makes it a great spot to grab items for a picnic or boating trip.
• Signature Desserts: The Decadent chocolate cake (featuring dark chocolate mousse and a flourless sponge) and the Hazelnut Bomb (with Nutella ganache and mousse) are signature, must-try items that showcase the chef's passion for fine pastry.
• Corporate Presence and Expansion: Renaud's is an established Southern California brand, with four bakery locations inside Gelson's Markets (Long Beach, Santa Barbara, La Cañada–Flintridge) and several bistro locations, signifying its recognized success and commitment to the California region since 2008.

Contact Information

For Southern California residents planning a visit, a quick coffee run, or an order, here is the essential contact information:

Address: Inside Gelson's Market, 6255 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803, USA

Phone Number: (562) 431-2122

What is Worth Choosing

Renaud's Bakery is an essential choice for Californians prioritizing authenticity, quality, and traditional French refinement in their baked goods. While the Long Beach location is a retail counter and not a full sit-down bistro, what it offers is the essence of a high-end French patisserie, focused purely on the product.

The bakery is worth choosing over competitors because it delivers a consistently high-quality French product line—from the perfect flakiness of a Plain Croissant ($5.25) to the artistry of their Parisian-style Macarons ($2.50 each). This high standard is achieved by maintaining European baking techniques and refusing to compromise on ingredients. For celebratory needs, having access to whole, custom cakes like the 6" Decadent chocolate cake (from $36.00) makes it the ideal local source for impressive, gourmet desserts.

However, local patrons should also be aware of customer feedback regarding potential service inconsistencies and hygiene concerns mentioned in public reviews. While the quality of the pastry is generally praised, the overall experience relies heavily on the staff. Customers seeking a truly French experience with a guaranteed high level of professional customer interaction should set expectations for a Quick visit and focus primarily on the exceptional quality of the baked goods, which are made by dedicated French bakers. The location inside Gelson's makes it a convenient and high-value stop for adding a touch of European elegance to your daily routine or special occasion.

Renaud's Bakery

Inside Gelson's Market, 6255 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803, USA