A couple of months ago, I wrote about my favorite restaurants and bars in Paris. Given that I had too many favorites to list, I decided to split up the post and make a Part 2, in which I share my favorite boulangeries, pâtisseries, and overall dessert places in town. For those with a huge sweet tooth, this one’s for you! C’est parti! 🙂

My Favorite Places to Eat and Drink in Paris (Part 2)

Favorite…boulangerie

Pistachio-chocolate escargot (July 2019)

Du Pain et des Idées (Canal St Martin/Gare de l’Est, 10ème arr.)— To be honest, any boulangerie in Paris (let alone all of France) is a solid choice to get your daily baguettes and viennoisseries to take home. However, Du Pain et des Idées stands out as my absolute favorite in town, its shop a historic beauty since 1875. It has won bakery awards for several years, and I always get their pistachio-chocolate or red berry escargots (similar to a pain aux raisins), which are hefty at 4€ each, but absolutely worth it. A return to Du Pain is a must!

Favorite…café

Admittedly, I’m not a huge coffee drinker, so I didn’t frequent a lot of cafes when I was in France. But a few did stand out to me to share:

IMG20180417113200Mont Blanc and hot chocolate (April 2018)

1. Angelina (Place Vendôme, 1er arr.)— Granted, this is more of an upscale tea room instead of your cozy, local café. Not to forget a tourist attraction. However, a pop inside for their famous hot chocolate is obligatory, as its thick and earthy taste makes you feel like you’re drinking ganache! The interior is also a golden beauty, as if you’re a 19th-century aristocrat enjoying a fancy afternoon tea (or hot chocolate). The food and drink aren’t cheap, but for the experience, it’s worth it!

20190521_142415Chai latte and lemon cake (May 2019)

2. Ten Belles (Canal St. Martin/Gare de l’Est, 10ème arr.)— I’ll be upfront and say that I did not appreciate the service during my visits here. Service aside, though, I really enjoy the lattes and dessert selections it has, including an incredible lemon cake that I still dream about today. The café draws a notable Anglophone crowd, including hipsters and students, and for a calm afternoon in a quieter part of town, Ten Belles is the perfect choice.

Favorite…chocolaterie

Week 3 Josephine Vannier chocolates 7-13-14Chocolates galore (July 2014)

Joséphine Vannier (Marais, 3ème arr.)— Tucked off to the side of the Place des Vosges, this small chocolate shop is easy to miss. But upon stepping inside, you’re hit with impressive chocolate sculptures of the Eiffel Tower and other Parisian landmarks. It’s a high-end chocolaterie with innovative flavors like chili, matcha, and redcurrant. My host mother during my Paris study abroad days recommended Joséphine Vannier to me, and in turn, I recommend it to you!

Favorite…pâtisserie

With “pâtisserie” being such a broad term for all kinds of desserts (éclairs, Opéras, macarons), I had to break them down by category to organize them all:

Week 5 Salted caramel and chocolate éclairs from FauchonSalted caramel and chocolate éclairs (July 2014)

1. Fauchon (Madeleine, 8ème arr.)— Located in the same square as the l’église de la Madeleine, Fauchon is all about its gourmet éclairs, and its vast display of just about any flavor you can imagine will leave even the most-decisive person undecided. I’m a huge fan of Florian Bellanger (pastry chef/co-owner) and his craft, so a pilgrimage here is a must. Éclairs are a heavy 6€ each, but with flavors like salted caramel or even the simple chocolate, the cost is nothing compared to the pure heaven you taste.

20150907_144045So many macarons… (September 2015)

2. Ladurée (Champs-Élysées, 8ème arr.)— Are you team Ladurée or Pierre Hermé? After trying both, I’m personally a fan of the former. I find Ladurée’s selections to be more expansive, including seasonal flavors that rotate every few months. I once had a peach-flavored macaron, and it was as fruity and ripe as a peach itself. If you don’t want to wait in line at the Champs-Élysées location (especially if you don’t desire to sit down in the tea room), you can visit the other, less-crowded branches in town to take some macarons to-go.

Week 4 Paris Brest (hazelnut ring pastry) from La pâtisserie des rêves! 7-24-14Paris-Brest: so good! (July 2014)

3. La Pâtisserie des Rêves (Courcelles, 17ème arr.)— I remember this pâtisserie used to be located on rue du Bac (at the Musée d’Orsay), but it appears it has since relocated. Like with Joséphine Vannier, my host mother had recommended this to me, and it certainly did not disappoint! Each dessert displayed at the shop is a delicate art piece in itself– honestly, they’re way too pretty to eat! You can’t go wrong with any of them, and given that they’re not cheap, choose wisely!

Week 2 Odette cream puffs (from left- fruits des bois, green tea, pistachio, caramel, praline, vanilla) 7-10-14Cute cream puffs (July 2014)

4. Odette (Saint -Michel/Odéon, 5ème arr.)— To be fair, I’m not the biggest fan of cream puffs, but I really loved Odette’s while wandering the bohemian Left Bank. They’re bite-size, but made extremely-well: there’s a slight crunch from the outer layer, which gives way to the explosion of silky cream inside– you could say that I never had a good cream puff until Odette! The praline and caramel puffs are solid, and for the non-cream puff lover, Odette will change your mind.

Favorite…ice cream shop

20170512_132307Flavors: rose, pistachio, chocolate (May 2017)

Glace Bachir (Beaubourg, 3ème arr.)— I went to Glace Bachir when it first just opened, about five years ago. The place wasn’t packed at the time, but now I’ve heard it’s quite popular– and well-deservingly so! What I really enjoyed was how many flavors I could fit into a cup; there were no limits, and for a set price, that’s what I call a good deal! This shop specializes in Lebanese-style ice cream, and I will say that the pistachio and rose flavors were my favorite. If you’re ever near the Centre Pompidou, definitely stop by for a scoop (or 10)!

Favorite…crêperie

Crêpes are the ultimate street food in Paris: you’ll see hundreds of stalls at just about every corner, with vendors making and selling them within minutes. These thin pancakes are usually sweet (with the savory versions called galettes), but for the sake of this post, I’ll list my favorite crêpe and galette places in town:

Week 5 Bjorn crêpe at Creperie Framboise! (saumon fumé, fromage de chèvre) 7-29-14Smoked salmon with goat cheese galette (July 2014)

1. Framboise (Faubourg St-Honoré, 8ème arr.)— Unlike your usual, takeaway crêpe stand, Framboise is a sit-down, dine-in affair. That said, the crêpes will be more expensive than if you were to order elsewhere. All the same, the spot offers an international spin on their menu, with flavors inspired by Mexican, Thai, and Nordic cuisines. I got their Scandinavian-inspired galette, with smoked salmon and a surprisingly-crispy batter despite the weight of ingredients inside and on top of it. Honestly, the raspberry (framboise) crêpe for dessert was lackluster, but for the savory side, Framboise hits home.

20170512_122254Honey-goat cheese galette (May 2017)

2. Au P’tit Grec (Sorbonne/Panthéon, 5ème arr.)— This is a popular spot that attracts visitors, locals, and nearby university students for lunch and dinner. It’s important to get here before they open at 11h, because there will always be a line out the door if you arrive any later! Their galettes are hefty, all the while being very affordable at about 5-6€. I especially love their honey-goat cheese galette, which is the perfect marriage of sweet and savory, not to forget very filling despite being vegetarian. Highly recommended!

3. Random crêpe stand (Montmartre, 18ème arr.)— For the life of me, I cannot remember exactly where this stand is, as it’s lumped in with the dozens of others in Montmartre. Any case, I came to this crêpe stand with a friend after bar-hopping– my friend wanted a crêpe, and although I wasn’t craving one, I ended up getting an incredible strawberry-marron (chestnut paste) that hit all the spots. The owner/crêpe-maker didn’t speak much English nor even French, but somehow, we chatted with him, and it was this exchange of food and conversation that made this random crêpe stand such a memorable one.

**Life pro tip** If you’re ever unsure what kind of crêpe to get, you cannot go wrong with either Nutella-banana or strawberry-marron!

What are some of your favorite places to eat in Paris (if you’ve been)? Let me know, and bonne journée! 🙂

— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

67 thoughts on “My Favorite Places to Eat and Drink in Paris (DESSERT EDITION)”

  6. Yum! I’ll take one of each, please. They look beautiful and delicious, especially the Paris Brest dessert. I agree – can’t go wrong with a Nutella-banana crêpe. Thank you for sharing!

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  7. Those éclairs look divine! Like you, I’ve tried both Ladurée and Pierre Hermé. I found Ladurée a bit underwhelming – the flavours weren’t quite as interesting as those I had from Pierre Hermé (whose lychee-rose flavour is the stuff of dessert dreams).

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  9. Oh lord, Paris and its coffee and pastry scene is where it’s at. I also approve of goat’s cheese, which I rarely have but always feels like a treat. A great selection here Rebecca, and everything so beautifully presented.

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  10. It’s so difficult to decide on a favourite anything in Paris because of the vast array of foodie excellence in pretty much every arrondissement. And, just when you’ve decided on a favourite somewhere even better opens.

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  17. Good desserts are indeed quite common in Paris. I agree about Angelina, the hot chocolate is excellent and the decor is an experience. On the other hand, Fauchon and Ladurée live a bit too much on their reputation without really adding value. Enjoy in moderation.

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  19. I am drooling! The eclairs at Fauchon look amazing. Look at that gleen. I have to say in my younger days travelling in France, I didn’t once stop for cafe and coffee. How I have been missing out. I did however, make my first stops in the Latin Quarter to get a nutella crepe. Good life tip.

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    1. Fauchon’s éclairs are absolutely beautiful…and absolutely expensive! The taste was worth it, though, haha. I’m not a huge coffee drinker, so I didn’t indulge in many cafés in France…but I hope to return to check it out and perhaps order a latte! And you can never go wrong with a Nutella crêpe while in town!

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  20. In Paris, bread is an art form and everyone has opinions about the best artists. There’s a boulangerie — or a bread bakery — on practically every corner in the City of Lights, and about as many kinds of bread to choose from – classic, crusty golden baguettes; pain de seigle rye loaves; and buttery, flaky brioche. I was in Paris once for three days and ended up spending most of my time eating my way around its many boulangeries chasing after traditional boules, baguettes, and brioche. Thanks for sharing and have a good day. I hope your summer is going well 🙂 Aiva xx

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    1. Yes, the French are very particular about their breads, to the point that anything made outside of their country doesn’t hold up! It’s incredible you spent practically the whole time just eating through Paris’s boulangeries…I’m sure you now have your favorites!

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    1. I’ve heard of Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower, but I never went there. I can imagine it’s an excellent place for a special event, though! I likewise hope to return to Paris next year. Fingers crossed for both of us!

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  23. Omg so many amazing things to try in Paris!! When I lived there as a student I rarely indulged in restaurants and going out but couldn’t skip the occasional dessert and pâtisserie… 😋 a place that I loved was called “La maison de la Chantilly”, they had an amazing pavlova! Now I can’t wait to go back and try ALL the places you mentioned 😍😍

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