11 Special Desserts in Paris I’d Go Out of My Way to Eat

You really don’t have to work hard to find a good pastry in Paris. There seems to be a boulangerie around every corner, and I’ve had plenty of delicious pastries and treats just by popping into whichever one happened to be nearby.

But every once in a while, I come across a dessert that’s SO good I can’t stop thinking about it. These are 11 pastries and sweet treats I’ve tried in Paris that were memorable enough that I’d happily go out of my way to eat them again.

1. Millefeuille from Ritz Comptoir

Ritz Paris Le Comptoir is an upscale pastry shop adjacent to the famous Ritz hotel, with a small but exceptional selection of French pastries and desserts. Everything we tried here was great, but the millefeuille was easily the highlight.

A traditional millefeuille is made with three layers of flaky puff pastry, with pastry cream sandwiched between them and usually a layer of icing on top. But the version at Ritz Le Comptoir is completely different from any I’ve had before.

It’s long and narrow, with a U-shaped puff pastry crust that wraps around a generous line of cream filling and a layer of caramel on top. Oh my goodness, I could eat this dessert every day of the week. The pastry was so tender, and the combination of that delicate, buttery crust, smooth cream, and caramel was phenomenal.

Ritz Comptoir is most well-known for their filled and glazed madeleines, which we also tried and enjoyed, but the millefeuille is what I’d come back for.

Address: 38 Rue Cambon, 1st arrondissement

2. Kouign Amann from Blé Sucré

Blé Sucré is a no-frills boulangerie in the 12th arrondissement, and honestly everything I’ve tried here has been excellent, especially their croissants and croissant aux amandes.

But the real reason to come is their kouign amann (pronounced queen ah-mahn), which is seriously one of the most decadent pastries you can eat in France. Kouign amann is a regional pastry from the Brittany region of northwest France, and the name means butter cake in Breton.

A basic yeast dough is folded repeatedly with layers of butter and sugar and then baked until the edges are lightly crisp and the whole pastry is caramelized. The inside is soft and chewy, and everything tastes like butter in the best way possible.

It’s hard to find kouign amann at all in Paris, much less a good kouign amann, but Blé Sucré makes a fantastic version. Once you’ve picked one up, walk across the street to Square Trousseau where you can enjoy your haul at a park bench.

Address: 7, Rue Antoine Vollon, 12th arrondissement

3. Trompe-l’œil Desserts from Cédric Grolet

Cédric Grolet has become a huge social media sensation (he has millions of followers on Instagram) thanks to his incredible trompe-l’œil desserts. These intricate creations look just like real fruits on the outside, but inside they’re elaborate pastries with all sorts of fillings and textures.

His lineup includes peaches, apples, raspberries, mangoes, and plenty of other fruits, although he’s also made some fun creations like peanuts and popcorn.

I’ll be honest, with all the hype surrounding these desserts, I half expected to be a little let down. But I was absolutely blown away.

I ordered the raspberry, one of my favorite flavors. It’s maybe a bit less realistic than some of the other creations simply because it’s so much bigger than a real raspberry. The peach, mango, and apple are much closer to their actual size and truly could be mistaken for a piece of fruit.

Still, the raspberry design was very pretty, and the combination of flavors and textures was insane. There was a thin, crackly outer shell, followed by a creamy vanilla bean layer and a luscious raspberry center with chunks of real fruit suspended in a smooth, lightly sweetened, almost jammy glaze.

Even though it’s a decently sized dessert, it felt surprisingly light. I ate the whole thing myself with no problem and was kind of wishing I had another one after. 🙈

These desserts are definitely pricey, generally around €18 to €25 each. They’re also extremely popular, and lines outside the shop can get long. You can order ahead for pickup, but you’ll need to do so at least a day in advance, and pickup slots can fill up too.

Address: 6, Rue de Castiglione, 1st arrondissement. Note that there are multiple Cedric Grolet locations around Paris, but La Pâtisserie du Meurice par Cedric Grolet is the one that sells these fruit-shaped desserts.

4. Chocolate Mousse from Chapon et La Chocolaterie

Chapon is a Parisian chocolatier with several boutiques around the city, but I visited Chapon et la Chocolaterie de l’Église, tucked just behind Saint-Sulpice church in the 6th arrondissement.

The shop is especially known for its chocolate mousse bar, where you can choose from several different varieties of mousse made with chocolates from different parts of the world. The options vary in cacao percentage, and the mousse is scooped into little takeaway cones, almost like getting a serving of ice cream.

I tried one of the less intense varieties, but even that had a wonderfully deep chocolate flavor. The mousse was thick and rich, yet somehow still light and fluffy. So delicious.

Address: 34 Rue Saint-Sulpice, 6th arrondissement

5. Flan from La Panifacture

La Panifacture is a tiny boulangerie that specializes in handmade organic breads and artisanal pastries. The shop has a cozy, unpretentious feel to it, and everything in the display case was drool-worthy.

I came for the flan pâtissier, a classic French pastry made with a thick vanilla custard filling baked inside a pastry crust. It’s a fairly simple dessert, but when it’s done well, it’s absolutely delicious.

And La Panifacture’s version was incredible. The crust was so satisfyingly flaky and crispy, with lots of thin, buttery layers that crumbled in your mouth. The custard was thick, smooth, and creamy, just lightly sweetened. I loved the contrast of textures between the crispy pastry and soft custard.

Address: 104, Rue Saint-Maur, 11th arrondissement

6. Fig Tart from Du Pain et des Idées

Du Pain et des Idées is a beautiful historic boulangerie near Canal Saint-Martin, best known for its chocolate-pistachio escargot pastry. But the pastry I’d come back for is actually the fig tart. It’s only available seasonally, generally from midsummer through October, when fresh figs are in season.

The tart had a handmade, rustic appearance, with fresh figs piled on top and beautifully toasted edges. The pastry base was flaky and buttery, the figs were juicy and full of flavor, and everything was topped with sliced almonds and a light crumble. The combination was SO GOOD.

Address: 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 10th arrondissement

7. Hot Chocolate from Angelina

Angelina was the first place I ever tried chocolat chaud in Paris, and I’ve been back at least half a dozen times since. Their famous hot chocolate is still one of my favorite versions in the city (and I’ve tried a lot!)

Their signature drink is chocolat chaud à l’ancienne (old-fashioned hot chocolate), and it’s incredibly thick and rich, almost like drinking melted chocolate. It’s served in a ceramic pitcher with a matching teacup and a little pot of whipped cream on the side, which you can spoon into your drink to make it even creamier.

The flagship Angelina café on Rue de Rivoli is also a beautiful place to enjoy it, with an elegant historic dining room that dates back to 1903. It’s right across from the Jardin des Tuileries, near the Louvre.

Angelina is extremely popular, so don’t be surprised if there’s a line outside. I’ve sometimes waited 20 to 40 minutes to get a table, although arriving first thing in the morning can help.

There are also a few other Angelina locations around Paris that are generally much less busy, if you don’t care about being in the beautiful dining room.

Address: 226 Rue de Rivoli, 1st arrondissement

8. Choux from Odette

Just a block from the Seine in the Latin Quarter, Odette is a little pâtisserie in an adorable 17th-century building.

Odette specializes in choux à la crème, little French cream puffs with light, airy pastry shells and creamy fillings. They’re such a delightful treat, and not something you come across all that often in Paris. Odette makes a large variety of flavors, so I’d recommend getting an assortment to try a few different ones.

You can take them to go or head upstairs to the small tearoom, where you can enjoy your pastries with a beautiful view toward Notre-Dame.

Address: 77 Rue Galande, 5th arrondissement

9. Ice Cream from Berthillon

Berthillon is practically a Paris institution when it comes to ice cream. This family-run shop has been making ice cream and sorbet on Île Saint-Louis since 1954, and it’s become one of the most famous ice cream shops in the city.

They make an enormous variety of flavors, from classics like vanilla, chocolate, and salted caramel to fruit sorbets like raspberry, passion fruit, and wild strawberry (fraise des bois), one of their longtime specialties.

The ice cream is wonderfully creamy, and the fruit sorbets are packed with flavor. They use natural ingredients, and you can really taste the quality.

There’s almost always a line outside the shop, but it usually moves pretty quickly. You can grab a cone to go or sit down for one of their more elaborate ice cream desserts in the tearoom. Personally, I think it’s the perfect treat to enjoy while wandering the little streets of Île Saint-Louis.

Address: 29–31 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, 4th arrondissement

10. Croissants Framboise from BO&MIE

One of my favorite variations on a classic French pastry is the croissant framboise, or raspberry croissant. It has beautiful red raspberry layers rolled through the flaky, buttery pastry, with a sweet raspberry filling inside. It’s such a fun twist on a traditional croissant – two of my kids liked it so much they decided it’s their favorite French pastry.

You can find raspberry croissants at various boulangeries around Paris, but they’re definitely not a standard item. They’re one of BO&MIE’s signature pastries, and the bakery makes an excellent version.

BO&MIE has several locations throughout Paris, so there’s a good chance you’ll be near one during your trip.

Address: Multiple locations, but a central one is 91 Rue de Rivoli, 1st arrondissement

11. Giant Macaron from Au Petit Versailles du Marais

I love French macarons, but I REALLY love the giant stuffed versions, with their fluffy cream filling and fresh fruit. I usually see them made with raspberry macaron shells, stuffed with cream and fresh raspberries, although I’ve also had versions with pistachio macaron shells and raspberries.

Like the raspberry croissants, these oversized macarons aren’t particularly common in Paris, but you can find them at various pâtisseries around the city. I’ve had quite a few really great versions, so I’d recommend trying the dessert whenever you come across them.

However, if you’ve struck out, or just want to make the experience extra special, head to Au Petit Versailles du Marais. They make a wonderful giant macaron, AND you get the chance to visit one of the most beautiful bakeries in Paris.

Address: 1 Rue Tiron, 4th arrondissement

Final Thoughts

Of course, there are still SO many pastries and desserts in Paris that I haven’t tried yet, and I’m always adding new places to my list. If you’ve had an especially amazing dessert in Paris, I’d love to hear what it was and where you found it!

Still Planning Paris?

I’ve got plenty more food recommendations to share! These guides might be of use:

• 15 Unwritten “Rules” of Dining Out in France – What to know about French restaurant etiquette, from ordering to paying.
• My Favorite Restaurants in Paris – 18 places I’ve personally eaten at and loved, from traditional French bistros to beautiful restaurants with memorable settings.
• 15 Prettiest Cafés in Paris – Beautiful places to enjoy a coffee, pastry, or meal, from historic dining rooms to flower-covered cafés.
• 10 French Menu Terms Visitors Often Misunderstand – A guide to French food terms that don’t always mean what English speakers expect.

If you want everything in one place, my Paris travel guide page pulls together neighborhood guides, attraction and museum guides, foodie recommendations, and travel tips in one hub. Give it a look!