Patisserie in Paris Region
- What to see and do
- Local specialities
- Pâtissiers
Delicious bakery smells waft across every street of Paris Region
The best of French patisserie in Paris Region
They’re a childhood favourite. They trigger comforting memories after a hard day’s work, make great offerings on special occasions and oblige you to linger in the pleasure of eating them. French patisserie is the stuff of dreams, making our mouths water and enticing us inside the pastry shops of Paris Region.
Aaaah Paris. The city of gastronomy and love. Love for patisserie, no doubt. The word “patisserie” conjures images of Paris-Brest, strawberry cream cake, tarte tatin, eclairs, Saint-Honoré gâteau and other great French classics. But it also refers to the pastry shop. There are patisseries all over the streets of Paris and Paris Region An ode to French gastronomy, they can be enjoyed in so many ways, as a snack at one of Paris Region’s cafés and tearooms, or for a meal at home. What are you waiting for? Check out all the naughty-but-nice addresses in Île-de-France! Sit down and savour delights like none you’ll find elsewhere.
Paris and France, rulers of the patisserie world?
France is hard to beat when it comes to cakes and pastries. You only have to look at the figures. Here, this culinary art is cultivated and mastered to perfection. For pastry chefs, Paris is an unlimited playground, much to the delight of the city’s food lovers.
Paris Region and its top pastry chefs
Cédric Grolet, Christophe Michalak, Pierre Hermé and Sébastien Vauxion are all French pâtissiers who live out their passion in Paris Region. Their iconic pastry shops have made patisserie a whole art. And even certain French luxury brands have followed suit. Louis Vuitton and Dior have both opened cafés in the capital. The perfect place to enjoy luxury pastries.
The world’s best pastry chefs are French
But don’t take our word for it, just look at the facts. While Guy Savoy had the honour of winning the “World’s Best Restaurant” award, Nina Métayer won the UIBC title of World’s Best Pastry Chef. Meanwhile, the association Les Tables du Monde elected Sébastien Vauxion the World’s Best Pastry Chef. But that’s not all. France has also won the Bakery World Cup. Difficult to match such a list of achievements. Year after year, similar results are achieved. Cédric Grolet won the title in 2018, Cyril Lignac in 2012, Christophe Michalak in 2005, Pierre Hermé in 2016 and Jessica Préalpato in 2016.
The crème de la crème of patisserie is French
We’re not biased, honestly, but can you think of any better cakes and pastries than French ones? Betweenparis-brest, madeleines, gâteaux, macarons and saint-honoré, the choice is overwhelming. But one thing’s for sure, they’re all French. Between Viennoiserie, gâteaux and other cakes and pastries, France truly excels in the art.
In the tearooms, cafés and restaurants of Paris, you can delight in all the very best that French patisserie has to offer. Many pastry chefs revisit the classics enhancing their creations with a personal twist.
Exploring Paris and the region to try the great classics and the pastry chefs’ own creations
Tearooms in the Marais district
Amid the bohemian atmosphere of the typically Parisian streets in the Marais district, you’ll find some of the capital’s most beautiful tearooms. Many are intimate and tastefully decorated, ideal for savouring those elegant pastries. They make the perfect place for a gourmet break after exploring the district.
Pop into one of Yann Couvreur’s patisseries, for example, to try one of his delicious creations.
From Saint-German-en-Laye to the 15th arrondissement for brunch
Pastries are a key ingredient of brunch, an institution in Paris Region. The 15th arrondissement of Paris abounds in bakeries and cafés serving brunches that combine crusty pastries, spongy cakes and delicious tarts with savoury dishes.
If that doesn’t satisfy your appetite, pop into Jeffrey Cagnes’ pastry shop. Flouting convention, this pastry chef in the 17th arrondissement takes great pleasure in transforming Paris-Brest cakes into gazelle horns**.
The crème de la crème in the heart of the 6th arrondissement
The 6th arrondissement of Paris is well-known for its mouthwatering patisseries, where the window displays are full of delights created by the best pastry chefs in the capital. From the traditional French bakery to the refined window displays of famous chefs, each shop creates a unique experience, between the trompe-l’œil creations of pastry chef Cédric Grolet at the Opéra patisserie in the 2nd arrondissement, and Christophe Michalak’s patisserie in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Treat yourself to the ultimate pleasure of visiting them all.
Heading west of Paris to taste the first ever Paris-Brest cake
There’s a patisserie in Maisons-Laffite that is proud to have invented the Paris-Brest. Behind this creation is Louis Durand. The recipe remains a well-kept secret, but they say this is the best in Paris Region.
Living on love and patisserie in Paris Region
The region’s local residents have a passion for cakes and pastries, as you can tell by the abundance and quality of the patisseries. Every district and town of Paris Region has its own gems and go-to places that sell both the eternal patisserie classics and the latest trendy creations.
The culinary world never stops evolving, and that goes for patisserie as well. Young talents continue to emerge, bringing new innovations that flout convention to enhance the French patisserie scene. Partnerships between chefs, merged genres and the experimentation of new flavours are the latest trends shaping the future of patisserie in Paris Region.
It’s also in Paris, at Saint-Germain-des-Prés, that you’ll find the best culinary activities such as patisserie classes. Who knows, cookery classes at Ferrandi or the Ritz Escoffier school could bring out the future pastry chef hiding within you!
Also to be discovered
- Copyright images: © Marie FIORUCC, © Filadendron