It may be the most obvious choice for macarons in Paris, but it’s far from being the only one – even McDonald’s McCafé does them! But if that shows anything, it’s that all macarons are not created equal. Some just aren’t worth the calories, or occasionally the ridiculous queues.
So, this is my guide to where to find the best French macarons in every conceivable colour and flavour, including: sweet, savoury, metallic and two-tone. You definitely won’t want to miss out on the macaron ice cream sandwiches either!
Ladurée: instead of queuing on the Champs-Elysées, try another branch (or brand)
Whenever I go to Ladurée, there is one variety of macaron that I always ask for… the Fraise Bonbon, filled with strawberry-flavoured marshmallow and sprinkled with sugar. Unfortunately, they rarely seem to have it – it’s clearly a popular choice! Of course, I’ve already decided what I’m going to try next time and that’s the pretty pink heart-shaped Thé Josephine.
You can buy boxes of macarons pretty much anywhere, but Ladurée does have some of the best, especially if, like me, you’re a fan of all the limited-edition collaborations. There’s been Hello Kitty, Mickey Mouse and Barbie, not to mention Lanvin, Marni, Christian Louboutin and John Galliano, among others. Can’t wait to see what they come up with next…
Pierre Hermé: you’ll find a fair few in Paris, including one near Ladurée on the Champs-Elysées
The patissier behind the eponymous stores comes from Alsace and makes all kinds of cakes, chocolates and confectionery, just like Ladurée. However, Pierre Hermé excels at making some of the more unusual macarons around, including savoury (truffle, caviar…) and floral varieties. Plus, summer is an excellent time to pop in for some of his macaron ice cream sandwiches!
Lenôtre: plenty of these in Paris, as well as one in Cannes
These little cafés and patisseries have some of the best examples of popular flavours like raspberry, coffee and salted caramel. They also do an excellent café gourmand, comprised of tea or coffee and various miniature desserts (macaron included) – the perfect pick-me-up when you’ve been on your feet for hours and need a caffeine hit and a little something sweet to keep you going.
Café Pouchkine: several in Paris, including one at Printemps department store
Technically, this café is Russian rather than French, but they do make some excellent macarons. As well as all the classics (strawberry, chocolate, pistachio, vanilla), you can find Russian-inspired flavours, as well as yoghurt macarons. Café Pouchkine’s macarons are some of the most intriguing to look at, coming in dark, metallic and even two-tone shades depending on the flavours available.
The best bit about all of these expert macaron makers is that they’re constantly innovating – there’s always something new to try. Whether inspired by trends such as cocktail flavoured confectionery or seasonal ingredients, you never know what you’re going to get… but you certainly can’t go far wrong!
Eleanor of Angleterre 