It doesn’t get more French than a macaron. And when you’re wandering the streets of Paris, you’ll see them stacked in shop windows, in cafe counters and in the hands of gleeful locals.
The timeless confection is constructed by making two ‘shells’ from finely ground almonds, egg whites and sugar, and in Paris—a filling of ganache, buttercream or jam. They’re light, sweet, and devilishly delectable—and no trip to the French capital is complete without one (or a few).
These are 10 of the best places to find macarons in Paris in 2024.
Ladurée
14 Rue de Castiglione, 75001
Image credit: Ladurée Paris | Instagram
Probably the most famous sweet shop in Paris, and possibly the entire world, Ladurée is known as the creator of macarons. Founded in 1862, the confectioner now has more than 50 locations around worldwide, boasting classic flavours and the occasional twist. Some of Ladurée’s most popular flavours include orange flower, rose, lavender and iced mint.
Sadaharu Aoki
35 Rue de Vaugirard, 75006
Pastry chef Sadaharu Aoki has transformed the traditional macaron using ingredients inspired by his native Japan. While he still serves up some classic recipes, you can’t go to one of his five Paris shops without trying one of his more experimental creations. You’ll find macarons are filled with yuzu, matcha and black sesame, as well as wasabi-horeseradish, houjicha, genmaicha or umeboshi (Japanese salt plum).
Jean-Paul Hevin
72 Rue de Bonaparte, 75006
Image credit: Jean-Paul Hevin | Instagram
A high-end chocolatier with six stores in Paris and more locations around the world, Jean-Paul Hevin stocks some of the most delicious macarons in the city. Its first boutique opened in 1988, and since then has gained notoriety for its boundary-pushing confectionary, including cheese-flavoured chocolate appetizers and chocolate energy bars. Its macarons are filled with everything from mango and orange to pistachio marzipan and salted butter caramel.
Hugo & Victor
40 Boulevard Raspail, 75007
The macarons at Hugo & Victor are a bit of a rare breed. They’re natural, additive-free and organic, with colours from 100% plant-based colourants. The result is a more subtle sheen, but they still pack a punch, with intriguing flavours like pineapple and ginger, kaffir lime and Amarena cherry marmalade.
La Maison du Chocolat
225 Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, 75008
Image credit: La Maison du Chocolat | Instagram
La Maison du Chocolat, well-loved for its chocolates, cakes and pastries, has several locations across Paris. It also stocks around a dozen classic flavours of macaron, each filled with dark chocolate ganache, combined with everything from passionfruit pulp to Bourbon vanilla.
Fauchon
30 Place de la Madeleine, 75008
Founded in 1886 with over 100 stores around the world, Fauchon is a celebrated institution of French gourmet food. Having made the names of some of the world’s best pastry chefs, Fauchon’s iconic macaron gift boxes feature a vast range of flavours, including tart blackcurrant and violet, white chocolate and lemon ganache, and raspberry pulp. In collaboration with its own fragrant teas and legendary team room, Fauchon has also created a collection of five macaros infused with its own teas, including black tea, vanilla and citrus blends.
Carrette
25 Place des Vosges, 75003
Image credit: Carette | Instagram
Another popular Parisian macaron destination, Carette has multiple locations across the city, including Place des Vosges, one of the oldest and grandest squares in Paris. Established in 1927, this charming pastry shop and tea salon makes macarons with a crunchier bite than most, with fillings of tart jams and smooth ganache.
Pierre Marcolini
235 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001
There’s nothing wrong with going to a Belgian chocolatier for your Parisian macarons – especially when Pierre Marcolini makes them this good. The range of flavours include caramel with sea salt and “mild farm” butter, Bergamot oil and lemon zest, and natural Bulgarian rose extract. Of course, they’ve got editions packed with their own home-made chocolate, too.
Pierre Hermé
18 Rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, 75004
Image credit: Pierre Hermé | Instagram
Named “world’s best pastry chef” by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants guide, and France’s fourth most influential person by Vanity Fair, Pierre Hermé is probably within his rights to also claim the best macarons in Paris. His famous pastry shop boasts some of the most experimental flavours in the whole city too, with the likes of olive oil and mandarin, chocolate and nori seaweed, black garlic and balsamic vinegar, liquorice and saffron, and yoghurt and lime.
Chocolat Illéné
2-4 Rue Tholozé, 75018
Korean chocolatiers and pastry chefs Hyunsoo Ahn and Hyejin Cho set up Chocolat Illèné in Paris’ famous Montmartre district in 2015. Their rotating macaron menu of seasonal flavours includes some lesser known concoctions, including black sesame, soya milk and the aromatic flower mugwort (l’Armoise).
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