Oct 12, '13

Best Paris Pastry Shops: Past, Present and Future!

Gérard Mulot
Gérard Mulot

Paris is the place to go for the world’s best pastry. With so many prestigious pâtissiers present in the capital, choosing where to indulge can be a challenge. Classic addresses like La Durée, Fauchon or Lenôtre still have their place on any best-of list, but they are being joined by a new wave of chefs who are putting their own twist on traditional pastry. From Christophe Michalak’s quirky retro chocolates to Mori Yoshida’s elegant réligieuses, the next generation of pâtissiers promises to delight more than just the palate. Whether they live up to the reputation set by previous masters is a matter of taste. Here are a few of my favourite addresses.

La Tarte Tropézienne

La Tarte Tropézienne ( 3 Rue de Montfaucon 75006 Paris).
The famous Tarte Tropézienne, a sandwich of fluffy cream and sponge cake rounds topped off with chunky sugar crystals, is no longer reserved for southerners and beach-bound Parisians. The newest La Tarte Tropézienne shop is now just a metro ride away in the 6th arrondissement.

La Tarte Tropezienne ( I especially like the "baby" ones!)
La Tarte Tropezienne ( I especially like the “baby” ones!)

Aux Merveilleux de Fred

Aux Merveilleux de Fred  (94 Rue Saint-Dominique 75007 ; 29 rue de l’Annonciation 75016; 129 bis rue Saint-Charles 75015 Paris).
Aux Merveilleux de Fred takes its name from a decadent group of bons vivants who emerged immediately following the French Revolution. Les Incroyables et Les Merveilleuses favoured provocative dress, indulgent dining and a titillating social life. Frédéric Vaucamps takes a cue from them in his quest for delight: his cream-dipped meringues are decadent little marvels indeed. Six varieties are baked daily and hand-assembled right in the shop.

Aux Merveilleux de Fred in the 7th
Aux Merveilleux de Fred in the 7th
Aux Merveilleux de Fred meringues
Aux Merveilleux de Fred meringues

Pierre Hermé

Pierre Hermé ( Flagship store at 72 Rue Bonaparte 75006 + many other boutiques around Paris).
Once called the “Picasso of pastry,” Pierre Hermé is a master of his art and an essential starting point for anyone curious to taste the best of the sweet side.

© Pierre Hermé ( Pictures re not allowed at his boutiques)
© Pierre Hermé ( Pictures re not allowed at his boutiques)

Sadaharu Aoki

Sadaharu Aoki (35 Rue de Vaugirard  75007; 56 Boulevard de Port-Royal 75005; 25 Rue Pérignon 7015; 40 Boulevard Haussmann 75009, Paris).
Less is more, as they say, and that goes for pastry too. One of the world’s best pastry chefs, Sadaharu Aoki brings a Japanese sensibility to French classics, keeping things simple but using uncommon flavours. Macha plays a starring role: glazing éclairs, filling mille-feuilles and infusing macarons with vibrant green tea flavour. Yuzu, red bean and sesame revive old standbys like tartes, feuilletés and fondants.

Sadaharu Aoki pastry shop in the 7th
Sadaharu Aoki pastry shop in the 7th
Love this salted caramel tart!
Love this salted caramel tart!

Mori Yoshida

Mori Yoshida (65 avenue de Breteuil 75007 Paris).
More proof that Japanese pastry chefs are right up there with the French, young chef Mori Yoshida is among the best. Try the strawberry shortcake—it’s divine.
 
 

Mori Yoshida
Mori Yoshida
Japanese short cake with strawberries
Japanese short cake with strawberries

Pâtisserie Ciel

Pâtisserie Ciel (3 rue Monge 75005 Paris).
The speciality here is “angel cake,” a light-as-air blend of French and Japanese pastry traditions.

Pâtisserie Ciel boutique
Pâtisserie Ciel boutique
Angel cake with yuzu
Angel cake with yuzu

Gérard Mulot

Gérard Mulot (76 Rue de Seine 75006; 93 Rue de la Glacière 75013; 6  rue du pas de la Mule 75003, Paris).
An institution in Saint Germain des Près since 1975, Gérard Mullot is one of my favourite places for fruit tarts—pears, peaches or figs, any will do. In addition to pastries, macarons and chocolates, you can also stop by for a sandwich or hot dish from the takeaway bakery-café.

Tart with peaches
Tart with peaches

Christophe Michalak

Christophe Michalak ( 60 rue du Faubourg Poissonnière 75010).
Creativity is on the menu here. That’s no surprise, considering Michalak’s Plaza Athenée pedigree. He brings a designer’s eye to pastry, presenting traditional desserts with imagination. First and foremost a pastry school, the Faubourg Poissonnières location does offer a limited selection of takeaway items: two cheesecake verrine options (try the pear and praline), chocolates in fun retro shapes like a VHS cassette, and a cake of the day made with the freshest ingredients. If you want to know his secrets, sign up for a Masterclass.

The newly opened Christophe Michalak’s pastry school
The tart of the day available for take away

La Pâtisserie des Rêves

La Pâtisserie des Rêves (93 Rue du Bac 75006;111 Rue de Longchamp 7016; 19 Rue Poncelet 75017, Paris).
Considered a major influence on contemporary culinary tradition, both in France and abroad, Philippe Conticini knows how to keep us dreaming. If you’re wondering, he’s the man behind those verrines that changed the way we eat classic sweet and savory dishes. Despite his many awards and celebrity status, Conticini is not pretentious about his talent: his work at La Pâtisserie des Rêves is all about making good taste  accessible to all, even the youngest gourmets in training. This dreamy pastry shop has all the classics, with a touch of something extra that puts them over the top. The Saint Honoré is everything a pastry should be: crispy, crunchy, creamy, airy. The éclairs aren’t just glazed with chocolate—they’re lovingly rolled up in it! And the Paris Brest? You’ll have to sink your teeth into it to find out the secret at its center.

La Pâtisserie des Rêves
La Pâtisserie des Rêves

Café Pouchkine

Café Pouchkine (64 Boulevard Haussmann  75008 Paris ).
This temple to Franco-Russian cuisine dedicates a corner of the 18th century-inspired café to the elaborate creations of pâtissier Emmanuel Ryon. For something a little different than the average éclair, try the traditional Russian cake with honey, Medovick .

Le Café Pouchkine
Le Café Pouchkine

L’Éclair de Génie

L’Éclair de Génie (14 Rue Pavée  75004; 53 rue de Passy 75016, Paris).
These are no ordinary éclairs. Christophe Adam features ingenious creations with flavours like Iranian pistachio (with a hint of orange), caramel popcorn and citron yuzu. As for the chocolate truffles with such filling like yuzu or salted caramel, they are to die for!

Boutique in the 3rd
Boutique in the 3rd
L'Éclair de Génie's chocolate truffles
L’Éclair de Génie’s chocolate truffles

La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac

La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac  (2 rue de Chaillot 75016; 24 Rue Paul Bert 75011, Paris).
Something of a celebrity thanks to his appearances on French cooking shows like “Yes chef !” and “Get Chef’d”, Cyril Lignac is following other big names—think Alain Ducasse—into pastry. With the support of Benoit Couvrand of Fauchon fame, Lignac is adding his personal touch to classic pastries. It’s nothing fancy; simplicity reigns and seasonal fruits are priority.

La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac
La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac

Toraya

Toraya (10 Rue St-Florentin 75001 Paris).
One of the oldest pastry shops from Japan opened its branch in Paris in 1980. Here you can have various premium Japanese teas, snacks, desserts or take away such traditional sweets like traditional rice mochi cake filled with azuki bean paste.

Toraya tea salon
Toraya tea salon
Dessert at Toraya
Dessert at Toraya

Angelina

Angelina (226 Rue de Rivoli  75001; 108 rue du Bac 75007 ,Paris)
Famous for the Mont Blanc, an impressive mound of meringue and chantilly wrapped in chestnut cream, this Rue de Rivoli institution has just opened a new take-away shop on the Left Bank.

Jean-François Piège

Jean-François Piège (In front of  Thoumieux restaurant, 79 Rue Saint-Dominique )
Save room for this Michelin-starred chef’s upcoming foray into the pastry, which will open in December. Everything will be made on-demand insight of the counter. With so many prestigious chefs opening pastry shops in Paris these days, it will be difficult to decide where to go first!
 

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