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Where to Find the Best Macarons in Paris

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There are few things that feel more quintessentially Parisian than a box of colorful macarons. Delicate, elegant, and deceptively simple, these little almond meringue sandwiches have become one of the city’s most recognizable sweet treats. For a foodie who loves Paris, hunting down the best macarons is almost a destination in itself, whether you are picking up a beautifully packaged box as a souvenir or stopping for a single macaron with an afternoon coffee.

What makes the experience particularly enjoyable is that Paris offers more than one style of macaron. Some pastry houses focus on traditional flavors and refined textures, while others treat the macaron as a canvas for bold combinations and unexpected ingredients. The classic version has smooth shells with a slightly crisp exterior, a soft, almost chewy center, and a generous filling of ganache, buttercream, or fruit jam.

If you are planning a food trip to Paris, these are some of the best places to find exceptional macarons.

Ladurée: The Classic Parisian Experience

Ladurée is probably the name most travelers associate with Parisian macarons, and for good reason. Founded in 1862, the legendary pastry house helped turn the macaron into the glamorous confection that visitors recognize today. Its elegant boutiques and tea rooms make buying a box feel like part of the Paris experience rather than simply a stop at a pastry shop.

For a first-time visitor, Ladurée is difficult to skip. The macarons are beautifully finished, with delicate shells and creamy centers, and the selection includes familiar favorites alongside seasonal creations. Traditional flavors such as pistachio, rose, vanilla, chocolate, and salted caramel are good starting points for understanding the house’s classic style.

The Champs-Élysées location at 75 Avenue des Champs-Élysées is particularly convenient if you are already exploring the Arc de Triomphe and the famous avenue.

Best for: First-time visitors, classic flavors, beautiful gift boxes, and the quintessential Paris pastry experience.

Pierre Hermé: For Adventurous Macaron Lovers

If Ladurée represents tradition, Pierre Hermé represents experimentation. Pierre Hermé has earned a reputation for pushing French pastry in unexpected directions, and his macarons are where that creativity really shines.

One of the best-known creations is Ispahan, a combination of rose, lychee, and raspberry. Another favorite is Mogador, which pairs milk chocolate with passion fruit. These combinations demonstrate why Pierre Hermé is such an exciting stop for food lovers: the macarons are not simply sweet; they are designed around contrasting aromas, textures, acidity, and richness.

The boutique at 72 Rue Bonaparte in Saint-Germain-des-Prés is an excellent stop during a Left Bank food walk, while the Rue de Cambon and Avenue de l’Opéra locations are convenient for visitors exploring central Paris.

Best for: Creative flavors, foodies, adventurous palates, and anyone who wants to compare modern and traditional macarons.

Carette: Macarons With a Classic Tea-Room Atmosphere

Carette offers something slightly different from the large specialist macaron houses. Established in 1927, the historic tea salon is known for its elegant Parisian atmosphere and its pastries. Its macarons are noted for having a somewhat crunchier bite, with fillings ranging from fruit-based preparations to smooth ganaches.

The Trocadéro location is especially appealing to travelers for its proximity to the Eiffel Tower. After taking photographs around Place du Trocadéro, you can settle down for coffee and something sweet before continuing your sightseeing.

Carette also has a location at Place des Vosges, making it an easy addition to a Le Marais itinerary.

Best for: Combining macarons with coffee or tea, classic Parisian interiors, and sightseeing.

Fauchon: Elegant Macarons With Gourmet Flavors

For travelers who enjoy sophisticated French food, Fauchon is another name worth seeking out. The historic gourmet house is known for its luxurious approach to French gastronomy, and its macarons reflect that reputation.

Its collections go beyond the usual chocolate and vanilla combinations, with flavors that can incorporate fruit, flowers, tea, citrus, and other aromatic ingredients. Some collections have even been developed around Fauchon’s tea creations.

This is a particularly good choice if you are buying macarons as a gift. The presentation is polished and distinctly French, making a box of macarons feel much more special than an ordinary souvenir.

Best for: Gourmet gifts, elegant packaging, and sophisticated flavor combinations.

Chocolat Illèné: A More Unusual Macaron Stop in Montmartre

If your Paris food adventures take you beyond the major names, head toward Montmartre and look for Chocolat Illèné. Founded by Korean chocolatiers and pastry chefs Hyunsoo Ahn and Hyejin Cho, the shop brings a more contemporary and cross-cultural perspective to French pastry.

Its macaron flavors can be considerably more adventurous than what you will find at traditional houses. Seasonal creations have included ingredients such as black sesame, soy milk, and mugwort, giving adventurous eaters an opportunity to taste something that feels distinctly different from the standard Paris macaron.

Best for: Curious foodies, unusual flavors, and travelers exploring Montmartre.

Pierre Marcolini Macarons phhoto via FB Page

Pierre Marcolini: A Chocolate-Lover’s Take

Pierre Hermé isn’t the only pastry name worth knowing if you are interested in chocolate-forward macarons. Pierre Marcolini, the Belgian chocolatier, also offers a sophisticated selection in Paris.

Expect combinations built around chocolate, caramel, citrus, bergamot, lemon, rose, and other carefully balanced ingredients. The result is a macaron experience that makes particular sense for travelers who naturally gravitate toward fine chocolate.

Best for: Chocolate lovers and travelers seeking something beyond traditional Parisian pastry shops.

Stohrer: For a Taste of Historic Paris

Stohrer is not primarily a macaron destination, but it deserves a place on a serious Paris pastry itinerary because of its history. Located at 51 Rue Montorgueil, the pastry shop is widely regarded as the oldest pastry shop in Paris and remains a popular stop for classic French sweets.

The interior itself is part of the attraction, with historic decorative details that give the shop an old-Paris character. If you are walking along Rue Montorgueil, it is worth stopping inside to browse the pastry counter and add macarons to a larger French pastry tasting.

Best for: History lovers, classic French pastry, and food walks through the 2nd arrondissement.

How to Choose the Best Macaron in Paris

The “best” macaron ultimately depends on the kind of experience you enjoy. A good macaron should have a delicate shell that gives way to a soft, slightly chewy interior, and the filling should provide a clear, balanced flavor rather than simply overwhelming you with sugar. The little ruffled edge around the base, known as the collerette, is also a familiar hallmark of a carefully made macaron.

If you prefer traditional, elegant flavors, start with Ladurée. If you enjoy bold combinations and creative pastry, Pierre Hermé is the more exciting choice. For a macaron-and-coffee experience with a beautiful setting, Carette is hard to beat. And if you want to explore beyond the famous names, Montmartre and other neighborhoods have plenty of independent pastry shops worth discovering.

Ladurée vs. Pierre Hermé: Which One Should You Try?

This is perhaps the most entertaining macaron debate in Paris.

Ladurée is the choice for travelers who want the classic Parisian experience. Its macarons tend to emphasize familiar flavors, delicate textures, refined presentation, and the romance of the historic tea-room tradition.

Pierre Hermé is better suited to foodies who want to be surprised. Its macarons place greater emphasis on creative combinations, aromatic ingredients, and complex flavor profiles. The Ispahan and Mogador are particularly good examples of this approach.

If you have enough time, don’t choose just one. Buy a few macarons from each and conduct your own Parisian taste test. Try the same broad flavor category—such as chocolate, vanilla, or fruit—from both houses and pay attention to the shells, sweetness, filling, aroma, and finish.

Tips for Eating Macarons in Paris

Macarons are small enough that it is tempting to buy an entire box immediately, but I recommend starting with individual pieces whenever possible. This gives you the freedom to sample different pastry houses throughout your trip without carrying around a mountain of sweets.

If you are buying macarons as gifts, ask the shop about packaging and storage, particularly if you still have several hours of sightseeing ahead. Macarons are delicate, and their texture is best preserved when they are handled and stored properly.

Another good strategy is to plan your macaron stops around sightseeing. Try Pierre Hermé while exploring Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Carette around Trocadéro, Ladurée while visiting the Champs-Élysées, and a more adventurous shop during a Montmartre food walk. That way, your macaron hunt becomes part of your exploration of Paris rather than another item on a checklist.

The Best Way to Experience Parisian Macarons

For me, the real pleasure of eating macarons in Paris is not simply finding the shop with the most famous name. It is interesting to see how different pastry chefs interpret essentially the same little confection.

One macaron might be delicate and floral, another intensely chocolatey, while another might surprise you with passion fruit, rose, sesame, or citrus. The contrast makes a macaron crawl through Paris surprisingly fascinating, especially for anyone who loves food and enjoys discovering the details behind French pastry.

So, if you are visiting Paris, leave a little room in your itinerary for dessert. Walk into a historic pâtisserie, choose a few flavors that catch your eye, find a nearby café or quiet square, and take your time. After all, some of the best memories of Paris are made one small bite at a time.