Paris’s oldest sweet shop, founded in 1761 and still operating in its original location, is a marvellous little store that hasn’t changed much over the past 250 years. Here, chocolate lovers will find ice cream in several enticing flavors, among them chocolate sorbet, chocolate-mint, and chocolate with candied orange and a hint of vodka. Of … Continue reading A la Mère de Famille
Stepping into La Charlotte de l’Isle is like entering a warm and cosy chocolate dream filled with unexpected delights. Founded in 1972, this curiosity shop of sorts is still run by the same owner, a chocolate artist who creates chocolate figurines, cakes and other goodies in her magical kitchen. Part tearoom, part chocolate shop, the … Continue reading La Charlotte de l’Isle
The store on rue Royale dates back to 1862, when founder Louis-Ernest Ladurée opened a bakery, which, following a fire in 1871, he transformed into a pastry shop. Louis-Ernest’s wife, Jeanne Souchard, hit upon the idea of combining a café with the pastry shop, and one of Paris’s first tea rooms was born. The company’s … Continue reading Ladurée
Michel Richart’s beautifully decorated jewel-like chocolates come in neat white boxes that bring out the rich colors and textures of their precious contents. His clean, minimalist “designer” boutique, in the upscale part of the Boulevard Saint-Germain, showcases the special “collections” that he brings out every year. Reflecting the “design and chocolate” concept, they feature dazzling … Continue reading Richart
The multi-talented Belgian chocolatier Pierre Marcolini set up his first shop in Paris in 2003. In his “haute couture” boutique on rue de Seine you’ll find more than 60 varieties of bonbons infused with exotic scents and flavors that will take your taste buds around the world. For example there’s Baies Roses,”a bitter ganache flavored … Continue reading Pierre Marcolini
Pierre Hermé’s tiny, ultra-chic showcase boutique on rue Bonaparte is filled with spectacular pastries, cakes and hand-made chocolates. Small gem-like macarons in a rainbow of colors are especially popular. It’s hard not to be tempted by such mouth-watering treats. Chocolate lovers owe it to themselves to try Carrément Chocolat, a rich, sublime square of alternating … Continue reading Pierre Hermé
You never know what to expect in the windows of Patrick Roger’s chocolate shop in Paris. This chocolate artist — named Best French Chocolatier in 2000 — never ceases to surprise and amaze with his life-sized chocolate sculptures and eccentric window displays. Giant easter eggs, a life-sized cacao farmer, chocolate astronauts walking on the moon, … Continue reading Patrick Roger
