I met Goni through the Francophiles Anonymous Facebook page and had the pleasure of meeting her in Paris. Goni recently completed a cooking and pastry course at the Cordon Bleu and is currently doing an internship at the Dessance restaurant. During her studies, Goni visited quite a few gourmet restaurants and the best patisseries in the City of Lights. So when we met, I asked her to give some recommendations on patisseries and restaurants for the Francophile community. Of course, she happily agreed and this is what she had to say:
Patisseries that are a must (all of them!):
Sadaharu Oki– A Japanese confectioner that I personally admire, makes desserts with wasabi, yuzu, and matcha tea. I haven't eaten a single thing he makes that I didn't like... He combines French pastry with Japanese pastry perfectly.
Flash of Genius– So of course you will visit the Marais (the Jewish Quarter) and when I am there, after I eat at the buffet I always indulge in an eclair from Christophe Adam, his eclairs are like paintings, each one is a work of art and they are delicious to a level that the palate cannot bear, and beyond that, in the summer he has eclair ice creams (I haven't tasted them yet, but very soon!).
laduree– One of the famous pastry shops in Paris, the largest branch of which is on the Champs Elysees. Even if you have sneakers and a T-shirt on, you will feel like royalty. I recommend planning your trip to the Champs Elysees by eating a little before, taking the right side (from the direction of Concorde), crossing by the Arc de Triomphe, and then sitting there for a few good hours with coffee (or excellent chocolate) and macaroons, which are a must, and dessert, which is a must, or even a meal (the food is amazing but a bit expensive).
If you happen to get to the Louvre, in front of the security line, meaning underground, there is a place called La Maison du Chocolat This is simply the most delicious chocolate I've ever eaten. I recommend buying a small box of pralines and snacking on them in line, and another box as a gift for yourself in Israel when you get homesick for Paris...
angelina – If you come in the winter, you must stop at Angelina on Rivoli Street and drink the most famous hot chocolate in France, thick, rich and amazing (if you come to the Palace of Versailles, there is also a branch of the pastry shop there). Don't forget to ask for whipped cream if they don't bring it to you, sweet, cold white clouds that enrich your drink and make you happy.
Pushkin Cafe – A pastry shop that combines French desserts with Russian flavors and does it perfectly!!! Everything there is so delicious, impressive and amazing that it's hard to eat because of its beauty.
Huge and well-designed: bedroom, spacious living room and 2 utility rooms. A winning location in the heart of things.
Luxury and authenticity in a historic building. Quiet, elegant and within walking distance of the main attractions.
A perfect nest for a couple or couple + child. Super-central location in a classic Parisian building.
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Recommended restaurants in Paris
All expensive restaurants, even Michelin ones, offer a cheaper lunch menu than the evening menu and there is usually some kind of deal. I recommend going for lunch without anyone else than Robuchon! The chef whose mashed potatoes earned him a Michelin star comes with every main course (even with rice). He has a vegan menu, he has a branch in Saint-Germain and the Champs-Élysées, the lunch menu ranges from €40-80 depending on the number of courses you choose to take (I went for two starters, two main courses and a dessert… like the French).
Chateaubriand Restaurant – A small restaurant with authentic food, everything is delicious and original and amazing and not that expensive (relative to Paris, right? It's not Michelin). You have to make a reservation 10 days before arrival and hope there will be a place, if not, you can just arrive around 21-22:00 PM for the second round, wait a bit but they will let you in.
Clown creperie – My favorite creperie in Paris, located in Saint-Germain, recommends ordering a galette, then a crepe, and accompanying the entire meal with the traditional semi-sweet apple cider. Francophile's note: If you arrive in the evening, you are invited to have a glass of wine in a magical atmosphere atGeorges Che'” which is located opposite.
Frenchie – A cool, young and small restaurant, you have to book in advance (try a lot because they never answer) or get there on the first night here and try to book for sometime while you are still here, they are simply excellent, I really have nothing more to add besides that… If you didn’t manage to book or there is no space, there is a wine bar opposite the restaurant that serves tapas that is really cool and also belongs to the same chef. And if that doesn’t work either, then opposite it is Frebchie to go, which is his little sandwich restaurant, delicious in an unreasonable way and there is a really fun atmosphere and there is a hundred shekel bill taped to the wall so it is worth coming! By the way, they call him that because he worked with Jamie Oliver (the naked chef) and that’s what he called him.
Looking for more recommended restaurants and patisseries in Paris?
- You are welcome to enter. To the Paris restaurants page On my website and find a variety of recommended restaurants and even get a discount of up to 50% on the menu.
- Want to read about excellent patisseries? I highly recommend the article by Ruth Ofek, a lawyer and baker with the grace of God: A trip to Paris – six days of culinary delights.