For most food lovers, France is an unfathomable source of delight. Even though most of the focus is on “Grande Cuisine,” we often forget that the country is one of the best places in the world when it comes to bread and pastry. The French capital is more than any other place filled with amazing addresses, at a time where quality and access are both easy to find. In our times of chain-processed food, it is good to know that you can still find exquisite hand-made stuff… even though most of the time good quality comes at a price. Out of dozens of excellent addresses, here are a few in Paris which are definitely worth a bite, and will enchant visitors, as well as Parisians.
Berko
This address is dedicated to our American clients… A pastry shop specifically focused on American cakes and pastries, which makes it a unique and original place in Paris. You will find cupcakes of many flavors and colors (for example, start thinking about how a smurf cupcake tastes), but also diverse cheesecakes, which come in very generous portions.
Website: http://www.berko.fr
Address: 23 rue Rambuteau 75004
La pâtisserie des rêves
One of the recent great names of pastry in France. Considered to be the top of the chart, although taste is subjective and you would have to try every place to have a definite opinion. The fact that they have expanded with 5 shops in Paris since the first opening in 2009 is a sign of success of its own. Great classic deserts are constantly redefined, and the atmosphere in the shops is somewhat like in a fairy tail.
Website: http://lapatisseriedesreves.com/fr/
Addresses:
93 rue du Bac 75007 19 rue Poncelet 75017 111 rue de Longchamp 75016 Centre Beaugrenelle, rue Linois 75015 36 rue de la Verrerie 75004
Ladurée:
Once a little tea house near Madeleine, do not let the outside gilding fool you: this place serves nothing but exceptionally good food and beverages. Ladurée has managed to adapt to the evolving city and market. Even after it was taken over by the Paul bakery chain, the brand has maintained its high quality standards and expanded distribution. My suggestion: the almond stuffed croissant… it has been legendary for decades.
Website http://www.laduree.com/fr
Addresses:
21 rue Bonaparte 75006 16-18 rue Royale 75008 75 ave des Champs Élysées 75008 Le Printemps de la maison, 64 bd Haussmann 75009
Le moulin de la vierge:
This ancient institution (origins go back to 1356!) is a traditional bread shop, long before the democratization of high quality pastry. A very unique old fashion bakery atmosphere, whichever of their shops you visit. It is an excellent pastry shop, too! Their sourdough bread and their mille-feuille are well known to Parisians in search of delight.
Website: https://www.lavierge. com
Adresses
10, place de Petits Peres, 75002 152, rue Montmartre 75002 64, rue St. Dominique, 75007 105, rue Vercingetorix, 75014 166 ave de Suffren 75015
Lenôtre:
A traditional classic! Upscale quality and tradition are two of their characteristics. Some Parisians consider Lenotre to be a snob trademark… but the fact is that the quality of their products has never dipped below excellent. Founder Gaston Lenotre died in 2009 but his successors have kept up his high standards (and prices). Anything from bread, viennoiserie, pastry, cakes and even ice cream, of which I highly recommend the vanilla flavor…a timeless, priceless experience.
Website: www.lenotre.com
Addresses:
10, rue Saint Antoine 75004 36, ave de la Motte Picquet, 75007 15, bd Courcelles 75008 22, ave de la Porte de Vincennes 75012 61, rue Lecourbe 75015 44, rue d’Auteuil 75016 48, ave Victor Hugo 75116 121, ave Wagram 75017
Pierre Hermé
Considered by many the greatest pastry chef of our times in France, he undisputedly has expanded the world of French pastry. His macaroons are considered some of France’s best, if not THE best. His creations become instant classics. The Ispahan macaroon, which is a combination of rose, litchi and raspberry, is to be tried without any further thinking!
Website: http://www.pierreherme.com/
Addresses:
4, rue Cambon 75001 72, rue Bonaparte 75006 185, rue de Vaugirard 75015
The Ispahan
Macaroons
D.A