Paris self-guided chocolate and pastry tour

The 6th would cover many options and you could get to Rue Monge (the 5th) for a Aux Merveiileux de Fred location and also Rue Varenne for a few others of your choices. With that I would also add in Hugo and Victor and Jean Paul Hevin. I have just returned from 12 days in Paris and am currently enjoying a caramel from Le Roux and JP Hevin’s chocolate Advent calendar so I can speak from some recent experience:). I have to admit though that the chocolate part is a bit more manageable as they keep for some time. I had several patisseries I wanted to get to but I can only eat a small amount at a time so some will wait for the next visit. (Sigh).

Claire, I didn’t know Fred had another location - good to know!

I was going to include Hugo and Victor, but my list was getting ridiculously long, lol

JP Hévin’s site is heavenly - yum!

I think I went to Henri Le Roux’s shop as part of a tour a few years ago - soooo good

My problem will be carrying the chocolates and pastries with me in June, when it’s likely sunny out, lol. I’ll have to make a pit stop at my hotel to drop the bags off, lol

Thank you!!!!!

I think Fred has a few locations to choose from:) I quite like Hugo and Victor so I would add them back to your list::)). My chocolate eating life started as an infant 64 years ago when my Dutch/Belgian mother put bits in my mouth to melt so finding good chocolate at destinations is always one of my goals. Happy exploring and eating!

It’s back on my list, Claire!

Ah, I have no such excuse - I just love to eat too much, lol

12 days in Paris - wow …you must have had an incredible time

Thank you !

I bookmarked this thread so fast....

Yes it was a lovely visit. I have been fortunate enough to visit many times before which helps with developing a good list of chocolatiers!

Mary, I don’t blame you:)

Well this would take you out of the 6th (into the 7th), but if you are serious about this, you simply must make Débauve.& Gallais part of your tour.

https://debauve-et-gallais.com/

Kim, I’m adding them - just looking at their products is making me drool, lol…ahd I love the little tasting ritual, which I’ll have to try out!

Paris has the most beautiful chocolate shops - even just to look at, they’re gorgeous

Claire, I have no doubt!

Thank you!!!

Yeah that is the thing - Débauve and Gallais being so historic, their space is absolutely a little jewel box.

Just one note, you should ne able to find Maison du Chocolat in several arrondissements, in case one is more convenient for you.

When we visited in 2015 I had a list of the supposed 10 best chocolate shops (found on the Internet). We didn’t plan our trip around them. Instead, when we were visiting sites in that area we’d stop in. Other than one shop in Rue Claire that was closed each time we went by it, we made it to all on the list, plus a couple others.

Kim, noted! I think many of these shops have multiple locations, which makes it easier….

On another board, someone recommended
Cyril Lignac, Chocolaterie Chapon, Edwart, and patisseries de Yann Couvreur..

I also saw RAVES for Mamiche & Maison d’Isabelle

Have you been to any of these?

Thanks!!

Jamie, I think that was smart…but in this case, I’m planning on doing a self-guided tour…that will be my main activity for part of the day. But I have no intention of criss-crossing the city - that’s why I lumped these shops in their arrondisments. Some are out of the way, but even if I do just two of them, I wouldn’t do them the same day

Whatever I plan outside my tour, I will note locations - if any shop is located near where I’m going to be, I’ll visit it then.

Sounds like you had a wonderful & delicious time!

Betsy...you know we are going to want an exhaustive trip report on this venture, lol!

I'm just curious as to how you are thinking about doing this. Will you choose the same items at each location for a comparison or go with whatever their specialty is? I'm asking because last year I did a "local" (hahahah) taste test of patisseries near my hotel in my usual neighborhood. I bought lemon tarts from them all to compare and now usually just go back to the one that had the best lemon tart! I was surprised that my winner was the local one, not the more well-known chain one. Much richer and tangier lemon flavor!

I'm excited for you!

Pam, and I’ll give it to you!

Wherever I end up, I’m going to try either their specialties (assuming they appeal to me) or just whatever I’m in the mood for …but I’d like to buy some for later….and for my return to London, lol

Oh how fun - and delicious!

It turns out that there’s a well-reviewed patisserie on Ile Saint-Louis, where I’m staying. So I can certainly compare this shop to more famous ones!

As far as boulangeries and patisseries are concerned, I didn't see Du Pain et Des Idees on your list. Well worth a visit IMO.

Greg, I did have it at one point - I removed it because of some mixed reviews…I’ll put it back on

I changed my reservation so I now have 3 nights in Paris - more time to splurge on yummy patisserie and chocolate !

Thanks!

Hi Betsy,

Thanks for this post, I’m definitely bookmarking it! Yum!
You may be interested in reading David Debovitz book; ‘The Sweet Life in Paris’ ;-)

@Pam,
Please let us know the name of the pastry shop with the best lemon tarts!

One source for a fabulous lemon tart (as per Paris By Mouth and I believe another taste tester) is Arnaud Larher. He has a few locations including in the 6th on Rue de Seine.

Priscilla, you’re welcome! I may add to it from time to time!

I’m going to buy the book now!

Claire, I’ll check him out! I’ve run into his name in my research, but I figured my list is getting unmanageable, lol

David Lebovitz is the best source for your research. He's a pastry chef himself -- worked for years at Chez Panisse - and puts incredible effort into his research and reviews. On top of that, his writing style is delightful.

Kim, his blog is fantastic !

Someone on another board told me my list of chocolatiers was fine, but patisseries was boring, lol…I took mostly from David’s blog, lol…and chose the ones that most appealed to me. I know I’m not even going to get to half, but I’ll be curious what exciting patisseries he has in mind, lol