Where to find amazing éclairs, chocolate and ice cream
by Maura Boughter-Dornfeld, Food Editor
No trip to Paris is complete without enjoying the desserts created in its famous restaurants and in hidden gem, neighborhood spots. These places add to the city’s magical sparkle (yes, that je ne sais quoi) that many cities strive for yet fall short of. French culture, food, language, and rhythm are so particularly unique that they provide experiences like no other. What are the best éclairs, chocolate and ice cream? Where can you find the best desserts in Paris? I visited in August 2022 and found new places to enjoy.
Coutume Café – This was one of my favorite expat-energized cafés. It has a little bit of everything for everyone. It’s the perfect match of cultures meeting to provide meals, snacks and coffee for all. 47 Rue de Babylone, 7th Arr.
La Mère de Famille – This is the chocolate spot to go to in Paris. Praline chocolates are hard to master, and La Mère de Famille simply has done so. We buy these for all of our friends and family as souvenirs. The quality of chocolate is unlike what most places offer these days. Try it and you will see! 35 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 10th Arr
Photo by Maura Boughter-Dornfeld
Glace Bachir – A newcomer to the dessert scene, this Lebanese ice cream shop is on every must-try list. It definitely deserves a try, given how unique and skillful the ice cream treats are here. There are many other places in Paris to have ice cream, but Glace Bachir’s two spots take the cake (or cone) for changing it up in a delicious way. 58 Rue Rambuteau (Marais) and 7 Rue Tardieu (Montmarte)
Les Gourmandises d’Eiffel – Okay, hear me out. Are there a million amazing patisseries across Paris? Yes. This is one of the BEST and is a perfect example of an underdog that only people in the neighborhood know about. It is next level and above the baseline of quality many other spots have. 187 Rue de Grenelle, 7th Arr.
L’Éclair de Génie – Epic éclairs, as you might have guessed. Just too good, and a must! Pricey: Yes. Perfectly crafted? Also, yes. This patisserie offers dynamic and modern eclairs. They are the perfect pairing, leaning into classical techniques and flavor profiles. These are so good! 14 Rue Pavée, 2nd Arr
Photo by Maura Boughter-Dornfeld
Ladurée – Simply put, it is the must-try cake/pastry/macarons place in Paris. Americans have managed to bring a few locations across the ocean to our world, but they are just not the same. Grab yourself 3-4 cake/pastry creations, a 6-pack of macarons, and go sit in Luxemburg Gardens and indulge. It is like nothing else you will find! Multiple locations.
Photo courtesy of Ladurée.
Want more suggestions about where to eat in Paris? Read Maura Boughter-Dornfeld’s The Best Restaurants in Paris. To explore the food scene on the Main Line, read about Autana’s Venezuelan cuisine and the Wayne Farmers’ Market.
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