The French Guys Brings Authentic French Baking to U Village With Seattle’s Most Talked-About Croissant

The bakery started the way many pandemic-era food businesses did, out of a home kitchen and into farmers’ markets. The French Guys began selling at markets across Seattle, including Queen Anne, Wallingford, Ballard, and the U-District, building a loyal following before opening their first permanent storefront on Capitol Hill in May 2023. The concept was straightforward: exclusively French products, made with traditional techniques, using a mix of locally sourced Pacific Northwest ingredients and imported French staples like butter and chocolate.

In June 2025, The French Guys opened their second location at University Village, marking a significant expansion for the brand. The U Village storefront offers the full French Guys experience, including pastries, breads, desserts, drinks, and savory entrees, with extended hours running daily from 8 AM to 6 PM. Renaud says the new location has been very busy since opening, with customers responding strongly to both the product and the space’s design.

For first-time visitors, Renaud recommends starting with two items: the pistachio and orange bloom and the pain au chocolat. Both reflect the bakery’s commitment to making only what they know best. “The idea is to make only a specialty from France,” Renaud said. “That’s the only thing we know and want to share with our customers.”

The French Guys U Village location is open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM at 2650 NE University Village Street. The Capitol Hill original remains open daily from 7 AM to 4 PM at 810 E Roy Street.