Paris has more great chocolatiers per square kilometre than almost anywhere else on earth. From historic maisons that have been making chocolate since the 18th century to cutting-edge artisanal ateliers using single-origin cacao beans, the city offers a complete education in what chocolate can be. Here are ten addresses that represent the best of it.
The oldest chocolate shop in Paris, founded in 1761, still occupies its original premises on the Rue du Faubourg Montmartre. The painted wooden façade, the gleaming jars, the smell of roasted cocoa — it is one of the most beautiful shop interiors in the city. Their pralines and caramels are legendary.
A modern, artisanal chocolatier in the heart of the Marais known for its remarkable single-origin bars and inventive flavour combinations. Edwart's approach is more perfumer than confectioner — each chocolate is designed around a specific aromatic concept. The packaging alone is worth the visit.
The three-star chef's take on chocolate making — precise and thoughtful. Alain Ducasse's atelier in Montmartre roasts its own beans on-site, producing some of the most intensely flavoured chocolate in Paris. The tasting boxes make extraordinary gifts.
One of France's most celebrated chocolatiers and a Meilleur Ouvrier de France. Hévin's chocolates are precise, elegant, and often provocative in their flavour pairings. His cheese-infused ganaches remain among the most discussed in the chocolate world.
Named the World's Best Pastry Chef by the World's 50 Best, Pierre Hermé is as celebrated for his chocolate as for his macarons. His signature Ispahan (rose, lychee, raspberry) translates into extraordinary chocolate form.
A small, passionate atelier on the Rue Saint-Paul in the Marais, dedicated entirely to single-origin chocolate. The range is curated and the tasting notes are written with the care of a wine list. An education in cacao geography.
Though better known for macarons, Ladurée's chocolate collection is equally impressive — beautifully boxed, perfectly made, and sold in one of the most beautiful interiors in Paris. The rose ganache and the salted caramel are exceptional.
The creator of the famous CBR — the salted butter caramel — and one of the most awarded chocolatiers in France. Maison Le Roux's Paris address brings Breton caramel mastery to the capital. The caramel truffles are extraordinary.
The original luxury chocolatier — Robert Linxe founded La Maison du Chocolat in 1977 and invented the concept of the chocolate boutique as a place of beauty and precision. Every ganache is a study in flavour balance. The Caracas and the Manon blanc are classics.
A chocolatier-sculptor who makes chocolate figurines of extraordinary skill alongside ganaches of equal quality. His shop on the Rue d'Assas is one of the most original in Paris. The chocolate sculptures make extraordinary gifts; the truffles are exceptional.
