lemiSay bonjour to the finer things in life. France is set to romance you with remarkable architecture, art, and fine dining
Let Them Eat Pastries!
Paris
Paris’s bevy of pâtisseries (pa-tis-ree, French for “pastry shops”) are among the best in the world. The city abounds with culinary masters, expertly translating art into flavorful, eye-catching confections. We hope your sweet tooth is ready, because we’re about to take you on a journey through the capital’s creme de la creme of pastry bakeries! Taste miniature pieces of heaven in the form of chocolates, macarons, mille-feuilles (mil-foy, vanilla or custard slice), and so much more.
Pâtissier (pa-ti-see-yeh, French for “pastry chef”) Jacques Genin crafts some of the city’s best chocolates, caramels, and pâtes de fruits (pat-du-frit, French for “fruit jellies”)! Visit his shop on Turenne to bring home a silver box of his masterpieces, or to splurge on a tea spread of delightful pastries. Genin makes an inimitable Paris-Brest, a dessert made of choux (shoo) pastry and praline-flavored cream. It’s unavailable in the salon, but you may order in advance to take it to-go.
- +33 1 45 77 29 01
133 Rue de Turenne, Paris, France
- https://jacquesgenin.fr/en
When celebrity chef Cyril Lignac isn’t gracing television screens, he indulges patrons with lavish sweets. His minimalist boutique on Rue de Sèvres compels you to focus solely on his range of classic and avant-garde pastries. His signature Equinoxe, a round grey Speculoos biscuit made with a light Bourbon cream and a caramel center, will have you fluttering with glee—and craving for more!
- +33 1 55 87 21 40
133 Rue de Sèvres, Paris, France
- https://www.cyrillignac.com/en
Pâtisserie Yann Couvreur only makes 50 pieces of its specialty treats a day, so you better come early to get your hands on them! Standouts here include the Madagascar vanilla flan, the meringue fruit pavlova, and the deconstructed mille-feuille. The shop doubles as a cafe, where delicious cakes are enjoyed over a steaming cup of coffee. They also have a breakfast and brunch menu of viennoiseries (ven-wa-seh-reez, French for “breakfast pastries”), a perfect start to a Parisian morning!
137 Avenue Parmentier, Paris, France
- https://yanncouvreur.com/
La Pâtisserie des Rêves literally translates to “The Pastry Shop of Dreams.” It’s an appropriate title, based on the feast of desserts that welcomes you to the store. Pastel hues backdrop bell jars displaying decadent pastries, including pâtissier Philippe Conticini’s famous Saint-Honoré (puff pastry with caramel and cream).
- +33 1 47 04 00 24
93 Rue du Bac, Paris, France
- http://lapatisseriedesreves.com/en
The “Picasso of Pastry” Pierre Hermé concocts confections that look as exquisite as it tastes. Here, he combines traditional French baking and bold, unexpected ingredients of the modern world. Whatever you pick is guaranteed to satisfy, but a box of assorted macarons are definitely a must. Enjoy unique flavors like rose petals, jasmine and wild strawberry, or even white miso and lemon!
- +33 1 43 54 47 77
72 Rue Bonaparte, Paris, France
- https://www.pierreherme.com/
Another go-to for superb macarons, Ladurée Paris is said to have invented the light pastry with a creamy ganache center. You’ll find multiple outlets all over Paris (and the world), but their flagship Champs Elysées (shahn-zey-lee-zey) branch deserves a stop. Housed in a Napoleon-style hotel, the cafe boasts a stylish setting that highlights the French art of living.
- +33 1 40 75 08 75
75 Avenue des Champs Elysées, Paris, France
- http://www.laduree.fr/en
Des Gâteaux et du Pain features pastry chef Claire Damon baking prowess. Choose from an array of breads displayed on one side of the shop, while a collection of tasty cakes await on another. Try the Lipstick Cerise, a treat made of crunchy brown sugar, almonds, pistachio cream, and stewed sour cherries. The Vert Absinthe (shortbread dough, topped with lime, mint cream, and green tomato jelly) is another showstopper!
- +33 6 98 95 33 18
63 Boulevard Pasteur, Paris, France
- https://www.desgateauxetdupain.com/
After working with Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse in Tokyo for a few years, pâtissier Olivier Haustraek returned to Paris and set up Boulangerie Bo. He maintains a great respect for his Japanese experience, often incorporating East Asian tastes into his concoctions. Splurge for a sampler of all the pastries; but for the budget-conscious, the eclair is the best introduction!
85 Bis Rue de Charenton, Paris, France
- http://boulangerie-bo.wixsite.com/boulangerie-bo
Living up to its name (which means “Eclair Genius”), L’Eclair de Génie is your one-stop shop for some of Paris’s best choux pastries. Chef Adam creates inventive eclairs, offering different variants every season. While it’s tempting to devour everything in-store, doing so may rack up quite a bill—so watch your appetite!
- +33 1 42 77 85 11
14 Rue Pavée, Paris, France
- https://leclairdegenie.com/
Behind Blé Sucré’s deceptively simple exterior, chef Fabrice Le Bourdat (the former pastry chef of three Michelin-starred Le Bristol) dishes out fantastic desserts! His madeleines (small sponge cakes) are constantly voted the best in Paris, while his mille-feuilles are in a league of their own. Drop by for breakfast to indulge in warm, buttery croissants, which are also praised by regular locals.
- +33 1 43 40 77 73
7 Rue Antoine Vollon, Paris, France
- https://blesucre.fr/
Du Pain et des Idées will convert any carb snob into a lover! The boulangerie offers exceptional loaves of bread, as well as an impressive selection of viennoiseries. Order their famous Escargots, a spiral pastry with fillings that change every season. Remember to take home their signature Pain des Amis, a wood-fired loaf made with specially-picked, farmer-ground heritage grains!
- +33 1 42 40 44 52
34 Rue Yves Toudic, Paris, France
- http://www.dupainetdesidees.com/en
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Step into the courtyard side of the 18th century building in Rue Saint-Honoré to discover the “chocolate cellar” of Jean-Paul Hévin. The chocolate-obsessed will love the chocolate pastries, and the remarkable displays of candy in all sorts of imaginative shapes. Those in-the-know may sample an adventurous spread of cheese-filled chocolates, which go perfectly well with wine as an apéritif (pre-dinner drinks)!
- +33 1 55 35 35 96
231 Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris, France
- https://www.jeanpaulhevin.com/en
One of Paris’s most beloved tea houses, Angelina is synonymous to decadence. Revel at the opulent Belle Epoque interiors as you sip on their legendary Angelina’s Hot Chocolate, paired with an assortment of dainty pastries. It is absolutely imperative that you try the Mont-Blanc, the cafe’s signature pastry made of meringue, whipped cream, and chestnut cream vermicelli!
- +33 1 42 60 82 00
226 Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France
- https://www.angelina-paris.fr/en
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