The Best Macarons in Paris

Ladurée

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:29:58 +0200

Aug 14th, 2007 @ 4pm

Sofia Coppola used the pastels of Ladurée's macarons as a color palate for her film Marie Antoinette. Founded in 1862, the Ladurée house of pastry is more popular with Japanese and American tourists than Parisians. The Ladurée on the Champs-Elysée is a wet dream of a Paris tea salon, reincarnated by Jacques Garcia into an 18th-century style. The original Ladurée near the Madeleine has a an old-world charm, and the cheesy neo-colonial Saint-Germain-des-Prés location can be skipped. Beautiful pistachio-green jewelry boxes of macarons -- try the caramel with Brittany sea salt -- make lovely gifts, but macarons don't travel well.

Pierre Hermé

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:29:58 +0200

Aug 14th, 2007 @ 4pm

The most famous pastry chef in the world, Pierre Hermé has two sleek boutiques in Paris and is a superstar in Japan. His exquisite macarons change with the seasons. He once offered caviar version for Christmas. But one of his best-known creations is a rose-flavored macaron with rose cream, litchis, and fresh raspberries.

Dalloyau

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:29:58 +0200

Aug 14th, 2007 @ 4pm

Founded in 1802, Dalloyau is a favorite among Parisians for its incredibly light, delicate macarons in a range of flavors from Champagne to raspberry and lemon. There are six branches located throughout Paris.

Gérard Mulot

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:29:58 +0200

Aug 14th, 2007 @ 4pm

Pretty much everything is delicious at Gérard Mulot, a full-service boulangerie-pâtisserie and gourmet take-out with two locations in Paris. And the macarons are no exception. Savor classic flavors like pistachio or chocolate or the more exotic coconut, orange-ginger, or passion fruit.

Lenôtre

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:29:58 +0200

Aug 14th, 2007 @ 4pm

The Lenôtre name is famous the world over, and its boutiques scattered around Paris offer pastries and other delicacies, including some of the city's best macarons. If you want to learn the secret to making them yourself, Lenôtre offers macaron master classes in their cooking school on the Champs-Elysée.

L'Artisan des Saveurs

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:29:58 +0200

Aug 14th, 2007 @ 4pm

A restaurant and tea salon located in the 6th arrondissement, L'Artisan des Saveurs also has a take-out pastry section and is known for its inventively flavored macarons. Try surprising mini-macarons stuffed with dark chocolate ganache and flavored with grilled tea, or a licorice-and-raspberry version flavored with grilled cocoa beans.