French Patisserie Opens On Upper East Side Street Corner

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The most recent addition to the Upper East Side's array of French patisseries comes with a global footprint.

Aux Merveilleux de Fred, the brainchild of Frédéric Vaucamps, a pastry chef from the north of France, has opened a bakery on Lexington Avenue and East 87th Street — their third location in New York City.

Founded in Lille, France in 1997, Vaucamps said he chose to name his debut shop after his flagship cake, the 'merveilleux,' which is a traditional dessert from the North of France and Flanders, according to their website.

Aux Merveilleux de Fred specializes in producing four core products: meringue, croissants, brioche, and waffles. Its namesake, the merveilleux cake, combines meringue, whipped cream, and chocolate and can be ordered in a variety of sizes and flavors.

In 2023, Eater ranked Aux Merveilleux de Fred's croissants as the third best in all of New York City, saying they are “shaped like a well-worn armchair, but extremely buttery and done to a perfect shade of reddish brown.”

Since 2003, Aux Merveilleux de Fred has expanded, establishing various outposts across France. Simultaneously, since 2009, Vaucamps has been venturing into esteemed cities globally. Of its approximately 53 locations, 37 are in France, six in Belgium, five in London, three in Switzerland, two in Canada, with the three in New York City.

Consistency takes precedence in each location, with uniform product offerings, all crafted in-house daily. The goal is for every patron, whether in New York, London, or Lille, to encounter the same unparalleled quality, Vaucamps said.

To learn more, check out Aux Merveilleux de Fred's Instagram page here or click here for their website.