Six delicious ways to get acquainted with the City of Light
The perfect Parisian patisserie: Is it a grand establishment with centuries-old baking traditions? A nouveau spot that blends daring flavours and artistry? Or the neighbourhood gem that locals hope will remain their secret? With such a delectable question, the answer is simple: all of the above.
Ladurée
8th arrondissement
When it opened in 1862, Ladurée was one of the city’s only tea salons. Today, as the ubiquitous mint green bags around town attest, it’s the most popular. With magnificent belle epoque styling, the salon de thé owes a great deal of its following to the macaron, the pretty meringue cookie that is as iconic to the French as the cupcake is to Americans. But there are dozens of other douceurs to bite into, including religieuse cakes—puff pastry filled with cream and painted with pastelcoloured glaze—and the bakery’s own take on the cupcake—in French flavours, such as black currant-violet.
La Pâtisserie des Rêves
7th arrondissement
Philippe Conticini’s Pâtisserie des Rêves on Rue du Bac is unlike any other sweet spot in Paris. Against a candy-coloured backdrop of pink, green, and tangerine, glass domes descend from the ceiling, each protecting an individual cake that’s displayed on a central table like fine art. Conticini takes dazzling liberties withtraditional French desserts. The éclairs, for example, are enrobed in tubes of dark chocolate, while the rectangular Saint Honoré cake has swirling ribbons of crèmeChantilly. Of all the avant-garde creations, don’t miss the Paris-Brest, a ring of pastry piped full of hazelnut cream and liquid praline.
Stohrer
2nd arrondissement
Step across “Stohrer,” scrolled in gold on the turquoise-tiled floor of this patisserie on the Rue Montorgueil, and reverse time. It was founded in 1730 by Nicholas Stohrer, who was King Louis XV’s pastry chef. He also created the baba au rhum dessert when he splashed a dry Polish brioche with sweet Malaga wine. Don’t care for rum-soaked cake? You can leave the patisserie with French classics from raspberry tarts with perfectly aligned berries dusted with sugar to puit d’amour cake filled with vanilla custard.
Also Read: The 17 Best Vegan Restaurants And Patisseries In Paris, France
Pierre Hermé
6th arrondissement
If there is one patisserie that rivals Ladurée in macaron prowess, it is Pierre Hermé. Visit his original Saint-Germain boutique, and look beyond the Technicolour macarons—in flavours like lime and ginger—and admire the rows of gateaux behind the long glass partition. Decorated with shards of glossy chocolate, rose petals, or cherries, the cakes are almost too pretty to eat. But, as is the case with the Plenitude Individuel, a dark chocolate cake filled with chocolate mousse and accented with salted caramel, it would be a crime not to.
Blé Sucré
12th arrondissement
After stints as pastry chef at the acclaimed Bristol and Plaza Athénée hotels, Fabrice Le Bourdat went to the residential 12th arrondissement to open a small patisserie with his wife. The modest size belies Le Bourdat’s expertise and the massive selection of breakfast pastries, cakes, and breads. Many Parisians insist his flaky pains au chocolat are the best in the city, and nary a soul will dispute that his classic madeleines take top honours. Moist and airy sponge cakes, with a crackling layer of orange icing, madeleines are sweetly satisfying—especially when enjoyed across the street under the trees of Square Trousseau.
Must Read: 72 Hours In Paris | Travel and Food Guide
Paul Bakery
8th arrondissement
Paul Bakery a renowned institution on Avenue Franklin Roosevelt in Paris boasts a rich history that dates back to 1889 and has transitioned from an Italian trattoria to a quintessential Parisian tearoom. This bakery exemplifies the fusion of classic French patisserie with a touch of Italian influence. Located in the heart of Paris, it offers an inviting ambiance where patrons can savor freshly baked crusty baguettes, crispy croissants, sandwiches, a selection of delectable deserts including their signature chocolate eclairs. lovely palmiers and melt in your mouth delicious macarons – all crafted with traditional techniques and high-quality ingredients. The bakery’s evolution reflects its commitment to preserving culinary heritage while embracing a cosmopolitan flair, making it a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike.
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