paris pastry
Sweet Paris
paris pastry
Sweet Paris
Paris Pastry
Paris sweet classics
Croissants, Crêpes, Macarons & Co…. How do the Parisian women manage to stay so slender with all these delicious treats? We haven’t uncovered that secret yet, but we’re here to introduce you to typical sweet French pastry (and a savory option…) that you must indulge in during your Paris holiday. We’ll also tell you where to find them best.
Furthermore, we have some facts for you that you probably didn’t know.
Bon appétit, enjoy the sweet life in sweet Paris!
Maybe...
try a Food tour
Our sweet
tips
TIP 1
BAGUETTE, CROISSANT & CO
Let’s start in the bakery. While there are now large bakery chains in France, such as Paul or La Mie Câline, and even the supermarket chain Monoprix offers delicious pastries, baguettes, and more, you definitely want to enjoy authentic French baking. So, it’s better to visit one of the numerous Boulangeries. Here, they guarantee on-site production because anyone who bakes pre-produced frozen dough from elsewhere cannot call themselves a “Boulanger.” The name actually comes from the “Boules,” the round loaves of bread that served as a staple food for the poor population in earlier centuries.
We love the lemon Madeleines, pastries, and olive-feta rolls from Bo & Mie (2 locations in Paris)! Generally, a queue in front of the shop is always a good sign, and if not, just follow your nose. 😉
The Éclairs are another typically French delicacy that isn’t exactly low in calories. Éclairs are a pastry made from choux dough, which is sliced open lengthwise and filled with a cream. This cream or pudding filling can be made from vanilla, chocolate, coffee cream, or even fruity variations. It has been a little treat here and there since our childhood!
The most famous French pastries today, the baguette and croissant, both originated in Austria and were imported to France by Marie-Antoinette after her marriage to Louis XVI. There are many legends about the origin of the baguette. The croissant allegedly represents the Turkish crescent moon. During the siege of Vienna by the Turkish army, enemy soldiers dug a tunnel under the city wall at night. However, Viennese bakers who were already at work noticed this and raised the alarm. The “Kipferl” thus became a symbol of victory over the enemies and in France, it became the “Croissant.”
If you want to enjoy your croissant in a truly royal manner, the best place to go is Pâtisserie Stohrer (4 locations in Paris). It’s the oldest pastry shop in Paris, founded by the official supplier to Louis XV. Even the Queen of England shops here when she’s in Paris.
Also, the Pain au chocolat is made from croissant dough. However, it’s shaped differently and filled with chocolate. Mmmhhhhmmmm
For a special baguette, we recommend the winner of the “Best Baguette in Paris 2020” award, Maison Julien (13 Rue Pierre Demours). The competition is held by the city of Paris every year, and the winner gets to supply the Élysée Palace for a year.
TIP 2
MACARONS & PRALULINE
Macarons (not to be confused with the French President Macron 😉 ) have gained some fame all over the world as well. You can even find them in McCafés! In Paris, six macarons cost €4.30, which is actually quite a reasonable price. But you’re not here to save money; you’re here to indulge!
One of the most well-known places for macarons is probably Maison Ladurée. Our tip: get a small box at Pierre Hermé (18 locations in Paris). A macaron here costs €2.50 (ouch!), but we promise you it’s worth it.
Here’s a recommendation that also makes a great souvenir for friends and family: Praluline. It’s a brioche with pink caramelized nuts, invented by chocolatier François Pralus in 1955. Very, very sweet and rich, but truly spectacular! The Pralusienne, created for the 50th anniversary in 2005, is additionally filled with vanilla cream and not as suitable for transport, so you may have to sacrifice yourself and eat it yourself… You can find both at the Pralus shop or the Pralus Boutique (3 locations in Paris).
TIP 3
THE CRÊPE
A crêpe is not a Pancakes. We know that every country has its own name and varaiation for these “much-loved” slices of dough. Even their shape and fillings vary traditionally.
But: A crêpe must be as thin as possible and have a sweet filling!
However, this wasn’t always the case because it evolved from the Breton galette, made from buckwheat flour and having a savory filling. The galette is still very popular today and is also found on the menu at crêperies. You should definitely try it; it’s a great choice for lunch or dinner!
In the 16th century, crêpes were served to weary pilgrims for sustenance. Light and round, they symbolized the sun, the light. This gave rise to the French holiday Fête de la Chandeleur (Candlemas) on February 2nd, when friends and family gather to eat crêpes. A special variant is the Crêpe Suzette, filled with orange segments or marmalade and flambéed with orange liqueur.
If you want to sample a variety, head to the lower part of Rue du Montparnasse, where we counted a whopping 11 crêperies (and enjoyed an excellent galette at La Crêperie de Josselin), but maybe you’ll find even more.
If you’re into manga-style and opulence, Princess Crêpe (3 Rue des Ecouffes) is the place for you. The shop is brightly colored, decorated with manga, and the staff wears a kind of Japanese dirndl. The crêpe is draped here like an ice cream cone and then filled to the brim with whatever your heart desires: fruits, ice cream, sauce, sprinkles, whipped cream…
Au P’tit Grec (2 locations in Paris) opened in 2019 and quickly gained a fairly large following. Greek crêpes? We’re not exactly sure how that came about, but we suspect it’s because most of the galettes contain feta cheese. 😉
Text and image rights: © Céline Mülich, 2021 – 2024
With the support of Anne Okolowitz