I naively thought I could list my top 10 favourite patisseries in Paris but there are too many great places to choose from so I decided to share my top 12. All are located in fantastic neighbourhoods ideal for a city break in Paris.
Tracking Down the Best Pastry Shops in Paris
Here are my recommendations for patisseries in Paris where you can pick up dessert for a picnic in the park, by the Seine or to savour in your apartment.
Aux Merveilleux de Fred
Aux Merveilleux de Fred is without a doubt my favourite cake shop in Paris (and Lille where they originate). Le Merveilleux is their specialty and the only reason to visit in my opinion. Layers of meringue and cream are rolled in chocolate flakes to make one of the lightest desserts you’ll find anywhere.
Neighbourhood: Passy
Rue de l’Annonciation
75016 Paris
Metro: La Muette
Boulangerie 140
Located a little off the beaten path in the trendy Belleville area, Boulangerie 140 is great for their tasty raspberry, orange or chocolate chip financiers.
Neighbourhood: Belleville
10 rue du Jourdain
75020 Paris
Metro: Jourdain
Comme à Lisbonne
If you want to experience a little bit of Portugal while in Paris, head to Comme à Lisbonne in the heart of the Marais where they sell hot out of the oven Pasteis de Nata. It’s almost impossible to resist a second helping of these warm custard tarts. I used to live one block away from this shop and still believe it’s the best location for a stay in Paris.
Neighbourhood: Le Marais
37 rue du Roi de Sicile
75004 Paris
Metro: Hotel de Ville or Saint-Paul
Lenotre
Lenotre was always my go to patisserie for special occasions. They have stunning family sized cakes or individual servings if you want to try a couple of different cakes. For a chocolate/meringue hit try the Feuille d’Automne or for something a little lighter the tarte au citron. They have many locations around Paris but I always went to the one in the 16th arrondissement when I lived in Paris.
Neighbourhood: Auteuil
44 Rue d’Auteuil
75016 Paris
Metro: Michel-Ange Auteuil
Julien
Julien is one of my favourite bakeries for breakfast in Paris and I’d highly recommend the praline brioche. If you arrive in the afternoon pick up a sandwich and eclair for a quick picnic at the Jardin du Luxembourg.
Neighbourhood: Latin Quarter
54 Rue Notre Dame des Champs
75006 Paris
Metro: Notre Dame des Champs
Ladurée
One of the best known patisseries in the world, Ladurée is most famous for their macarons and rightly so. No foodie going to Paris should skip Ladurée! You can try traditional macaron flavours like chocolate, coffee or raspberry or more unusual flavours like Lily of the Valley or black pepper.
Neighbourhood: 8th Arrondissement
75 Avenue des Champs Élysées
75008 Paris
Metro: George V or Franklin D Roosevelt
Meert
Also originating from Lille in northern France, Meert make delicious chewy salted butter caramels and their famous Flemish stuffed waffles. Depending on the season you can get the waffles flavoured with pistachios, raspberry or choc-orange but I’d recommend starting with the traditional vanilla waffle.
Neighbourhood: Le Marais
16 rue Elzévir
75003 Paris
Metro: Saint-Paul
Sugarplum Cake Shop
Known for their American style triple layered cakes, Sugarplum Cake Shop is a great place to relax after a weary day of sightseeing and in one of the best foodie neighbourhoods in Paris.
Neighbourhood: Rue Monge
68 rue du Cardinal Lemoine
75005 Paris
Metro: Cardinal Lemoine
Georges Larnicol
Kouignettes seems to have taken over the cupcake craze in Paris recently. Shops all over the city are selling the mini versions of the traditional Breton butter cake Kouign Amman. At Georges Larnicol you can help yourself to countless flavoured Kouignettes including cherry, raspberry, pistachio, pineapple, apple and chocolate and well as the origin plain buttered version.
Neighbourhood: Saint-Germain-des-Prés
132 Boulevard Saint-Germain
75006 Paris
Metro: Odéon
Pralus
Pralus isn’t a patisserie but I’ve included it here as they produce one of the most amazing sweet brioche type breads filled with candied almonds and hazelnuts. The Praluline isn’t like anything I’ve had elsewhere and it’s worth taking a detour to their Marais shop to pick up a loaf of the sweet, nutty bread.
Neighbourhood: Le Marais
35 rue Rambuteau
75004 Paris
Metro: Rambuteau
Synie’s
The cupcake craze in Paris has finally come to an end but if you’d like to indulge in one of America’s greatest treats while in Paris you can’t go wrong with Synie’s. I’d recommend the sunny orange flavoured cupcake or the rose et violette. As a bonus, Synie’s is located just down the road from the famous Grande Epicerie at Le Bon Marché where you can shop your foodie heart out.
Neighbourhood: 7th Arrondissement
23 rue de l’Abbé Grégoire
75006 Paris
Metro: Sèvres – Babylone or Saint-Placide
Angelina
I’m always in two minds whether to recommend Angelina’s or not as it’s not great value for money but they have le chocolat Africain, the most famous hot chocolate in the world, and their classic cake the Mont Blanc. Angelina’s is housed in a beautiful salon just opposite the Tuileries garden making it hard to resist after a visit to the nearby Louvre Museum.
Neighbourhood: 1st Arrondissement
226 rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris
Metro: Tuileries
Which are your favourite patisseries or cake shops in Paris?
