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You are here > Chocolate in Paris
Chocolate in Paris ... how devilishly delightful!
 To
know more about chocolate in Paris, I thought I should research the
'masters' - the Maitres Chocolatiers in Paris, and to look for chocolate tours.
Have
you heard of the annual Salon du Chocolat? No? Me either, until I
started to look for a yummy chocolate shop to visit in Paris. I found
out more than I bargained for! There is a five-day chocolate
festival which enticed 120,000 visitors in late 2006, which had
presentations ranging from "A Geopolitical History of Chocolate" to
"The Role of Soil in the Gustatory Expression of Terroir," - and I must
admit I'd never heard of wonderful (if not bizarre) French title of
"chocologue". The show is also held annually in New York and Tokyo and
from all accounts appears to be an orgy of chocolate consumption During
my internet search and questions from friends in Paris, I soon
discovered that the best chocolates in France are attributed to
Monsieur Robert Linxe and his salon La Maison du Chocolat. In 1977 Mr.
Linxe opened his first chocolate shop on the Avenue de Madeleine. A
tip I discovered in my research is that the word 'bonbon' is the term
used for art for small chocolate confections. There is evidently
a Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat, an invitation-only group of 150
chocolatiers, financiers, stylish fashion folk and others. They gather
to eat and talk about ... yes, you guessed it ... chocolate. The club
publishes a useful guide to chocolatiers. Chocolate cafés 
There
is a wealth of wonderful chocolate shops and chocolate cafes in Paris -
here is a small taste :-) As I visit more, I'll write about them
here and share my findings with you. If you visit any places you'd like
to share, please do! Simply scroll to the bottom of this page and fill
in the little form. Hot Chocolate - Chez Angelina This
wonderfully grand Viennese cafe was founded by Antoine Rumpelmayer in
1903, a former favourite with Proust, Coco Chanel and George V. If you
love your hot chocolate, and would dream of it being served with cream
on a silver tray, then you must try Angelina's. Taste the tempting
pastries, or buy something gorgeous to take home and enjoy later -
you'll be glad you visited one of my favourite places! Chez Angelina : 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Tel: +33 (0) 1 42 60 82 00
Metro: Tuileries  Another of my favourite places for hot chocolate is La Charlotte de l'Isle, a wonderfully cluttered, eclectic charming little cafe on the Île St.-Louis
24 rue Saint-Louis-en-L'Isle, 75004 Paris
Metro: Pont-Marie, Sully-Morland
www.la-charlotte.fr Cacao et Chocolate Cacao
et Chocolat is a delightful shop on Ile St Louis, which sells
chocolates worldwide from their website in English. When you see
the amazing chocolate fountain in the window, you'll know you've found
the right place. Allow plenty of time to browse and taste! Cacao et Chocolat | 63 rue St.-Louis-en-l'Ile, 4e, Paris, 75004, France
Tel: +33 01-46-33-33-33
http://www.cacaoetchocolat.com Chocolate on Water | Route du Cacao | Chocolat-sur-Seine! Walk down memory lane: There used to be a wonderful Chocolate barge, run by Pascal Guerreau
[a former racing car driver obsessed by chocolate]. You used to be able to find
the barge moored on the Seine, by the Bibliotheque Nationale and next
to the nightclub barge for Batofar. Whilst whiling away some delicious
tourist-free time on the chocolate barge, you could wander around the
little chocolate museum, visit the lovely tropical hothouse (with its
own cocoa tree!) and pop into the chocolate boutique. 
You could
see your very own hot chocolate (from a choice of five on the menu)
being made in the chocolate laboratory before you head upstairs to the
tearoom. Far from the madding crowds and overpopulated tourist areas,
you'd be sure to be delighted. Prices were reasonable, and if you wanted
to stay onboard, you could even order a light savoury lunch. There were 50 different chocolate ice creams and 20 varieties of cake. It used to be open Wed-Sun 10am-8pm Old
location: La Route du Cacao | Quai de la Gare, 75013
Paris | Opposite the Bibliothèque Nationale de France
Tel: +33 (0) 1 53 82 10 35
Metro: Quai de la Gare Chocolate SchoolsLearning at Lenôtre To
see beautifully crafted cakes, pastries and chocolates you must visit
Lenôtre's. Parisien chic, each one is perfect. Wild varieties to choose
from including coriander, Jeanne d'Arc cherry liqueur, Miroir Cassis
(Blackcurrant caramel), pistachio and Romeo. Lenotre's chocs are
sweeter than Hevin's or Linxe's. For true chocaholics, Lenôtre offers
morning (and week-long classes) - but remember, it takes four hours
for Lenôtre's 'gâteau tout chocolat' (all chocolate cake) to be crafted
and designed into something which really does look too good to eat. Ecole Lenotre | 48 avenue Victor Hugo, 75116 Paris
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 02 21 21
Visit www.lenotre.fr
Metro: Victor Hugo Ritz-Escoffier
For
cookery courses with a Ritz chef and a translator, visit the
prestigious Ritz-Escoffier school for amateur and professional
gastronomes. Book yourself in well in advancefor a chocolate class, are
they fill rapidly. Ecole Ritz Escoffier | 15 place Vendome (student entrance: 38 rue Cambon, 75001 Paris)
Tel: +33 (0) 1 43 16 30 50
Visit www.ritzparis.com.
Metro: Concorde/Opera/Madeleine Chocolate FactoryChocolate Factory | Nestlé After
visiting a few handmade chocolate salons, you might like to visit the
historic Menier chocolate factory (built 1860-1922), just outside of
Paris in the Ile-de-France region. Now owned by Nestle, the former
factory opens to the public for free visits on Heritage Day (Journée du
patrimoine), 9am-5pm. The highlight is the colourful ceramics of the
Moulin Saulnier, the largest of the eleven factory buildings. Siège Social de Nestlé France SA
7 Boulevard Pierre Carle-Noisiel, 77446 (Marne la Vallee)
From Paris: RER (direction Chessy, Noisiel stop  Chocolate Salon
Salon du Chocolat - Oct-Nov each year This
is the absolute highlight of the chocolate lover's year, and heaven for
those who've never been before. Over 100,000 chocoholics, and
chocolatiers arrive from all over the world, visiting the Carrousel du
Louvre for chocolate tastings, chocolate sculpture, chocolate fashion
shows, chocolate workshops and chocolate awards. If you're in Paris late in the year, this is an absolute MUST SEE! Carrousel du Louvre | 99, rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Visit www.chocoland.com Useful Links
www.croqueurschocolat.com
www.choco-club.com Quick list to print and keep in your pocket: Angelina, 226, rue de Rivoli
(33-1) 42.60.82.00, First Arrondissement
Métro: Tuileries. La Charlotte de l'Isle
24, rue St.-Louis en l'Île, Fourth
(33-1) 43.54.25.83.
Métro: Pont Marie, Cité. Michel Chaudun
149, rue de l'Université, Seventh
(33-1) 47.53.74.40.
Métro: Invalides, La Tour Maubourg. Christian Constant
37, rue d'Assas, Sixth
(33-1) 53.63.15.15.
Métro: Rennes, St.-Placide. Pierre Hermé
72, rue Bonaparte, Sixth
(33-1) 43.54.47.77.
Métro: St.-Sulpice. Pierre Marcolini
89 rue de Seine, Paris
01 44 07 39 07 Richart Design et Chocolat
258 bd St Germain, Paris
01 45 55 66 00 Cacao et Chocolat
36 rue Vieille du Temple, Paris
01 42 71 50 06 63 rue St.-Louis-en-l'Ile, 4e, Paris, 75004, France
01-46-33-33-33 Jean-Paul Hévin
231, rue St.-Honoré, First
(33-1) 55.35.35.96.
Métro: Concorde, Opera, Tuileries.
Other locations http://www.jphevin.com La Maison du Chocolat
8, boulevard de la Madeleine, Ninth
(331) 47.42.86.52
Métro: Madeleine. Other locations http://www.lamaisonduchocolat.com Octave
138, rue Mouffetard, Fifth
(33-1) 45.35.20.56.
Métro: Censier/Daubenton Le Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat
http://www.croqueurschocolat.com If
you have any other favourite chocolate places you think should be on
this list, please click the Contact button in the menu to let me know.
Enjoy your chocolate experiences!
Would you like to ask a question about chocolate in Paris, or offer suggestions?
If you'd like to provide a tip, or tell a story of your visit to Paris, please do! Simply fill in the form below - thanks!
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