Whilst most people might think of Italy as the European capital of ice cream, neighbouring France is also a strong contender in the fight for the title. Paris not only offers a vast selection of traditional French ice cream parlours, it is also home to a select few gelaterias offering the best of both countries. Mix in a handful of the most celebrated pastry chefs in the world creating gourmet ice cream and I think Paris might just win the battle. Below is a guide to the Top 10 Ice Cream Parlours in Paris showing you where to find the best ice cream, gelato and sorbet in the city.
Berthillon
It has become bucket-list worthy to try an ice cream from Berthillon, particularly so if visiting in the summer months. The original shop is located on Île St Louis, but there are dozens of glaciers dedicated to famous Berthillon ice cream on the island and elsewhere in the city. Best enjoyed strolling through the cobbled back streets of the idyllic Île St Louis or sitting on the banks of the Seine with an accordionist playing classic French songs in the background.
31 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, 75004 Paris
Grom
Grom serves the best ice cream outside of Italy. Using the purest ingredients and highest quality milk, the gelato served at Grom is seriously thick and creamy. They offer a vast array of flavours sticking to their Italian roots with options such as Sicilian lemon and ricotta, stracciatella and tiramisu. Expect to spend a long time choosing as every flavour sounds and tastes divine.
81 Rue de Seine, 75006 Paris
Martine Lambert
The sweet and very popular rue Cler hosts an abundance of great boutiques selling all kinds of French delicacies. You’ll find cheese mongers, fresh fruit and vegetable markets, chocolate boutiques and the wonderful Martine Lambert ice cream parlour. Grab a delicious ice cream and enjoy it whilst taking in all the charms of this pedestrianized street and make your way to the Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars, a mere five minute walk away.
39 Rue Cler, 75007 Paris
Pozetto
Pozetto is a truly authentic gelateria in Paris serving classic Italian flavours such as hazelnut and pistachio. Located in the heart of the bustling Marais neighbourhood, it’s the perfect accompaniment for exploring the area and wandering its cobbled backstreets and charming squares.
39 Rue du Roi de Sicile, 75004 Paris
Pierre Hermé
Pierre Hermé is renowned for his inventive macaron flavours but he also applies the same level of genius, expertise and innovation to his ice cream creations. They are only available in the summer months but trust me they are worth waiting for. The divine ice cream is sandwiched together between two meringue shells creating the most delectable hold-in-your-hand ice cream. Favourite flavor combinations include rose, litchi and raspberry and separately passion fruit, orange and cream cheese.
39 Avenue Opéra, 75002 Paris
Amorino
Amorino may be a chain ice cream parlour, but that’s not to say it’s not worthy of mentioning. The array of flavours are vast, the ice cream is delicious and what’s more they make your ice cream into a pretty and very Instagrammable flower shape. Another bonus is that you can choose up to five flavours no matter how few scoops you have. A favourite of mine is the Speculoos flavor, based on the traditional spiced, short crust biscuit.
4 Rue de Buci, 75006 Paris & various other addresses
Ladurée
During the summer months Ladurée serve their little pots of ice cream. Staying true to their feminine aesthetic, they come in the prettiest pastel green and gold paper cups and are as adorable as they are delicious. On offer are the same variety of flavours as their macarons with classics such as raspberry, blackcurrant, pistachio and salted caramel.
21 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris & various other addresses
Angelina
Angelina is more famously known for its deathly rich hot chocolate but it also serves everything from traditional French pastries to creamy ice creams and fruity sorbets. Here you’ll find a flavor you won’t find anywhere else in the city, the Mont Blanc, inspired by their most famous pastry combing chestnut with chantilly cream.
226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Éclair de Genie
The éclairs served at l’Éclair de Genie are no secret to sweet tooths in Paris, a testament to which is the perpetual long queue out the door. It was another stroke of genius to create an iced version of this celebrated French pastry and it has become a big success to existing fans and new comers.
14 Rue Pavée, 75004 Paris
Pedone
Pedone has been creating traditional French ice cream since 1959 and continues to do so with as much passion as when the company first emerged all those decades ago. An ice cream parlour has recently opened inside the department store, Galeries Lafayette, where homemade ice cream is churned right before your very eyes. I would recommend the pure Sicilian pistachio or the grand cru chocolate by Valrhona.
Inside Galeries Lafayette 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris
Photography by Faye Bullock.
Alicia Llera
March 29, 2016 at 8:38 pmmmmm, delicious! I think it is very interesting to see this, because is a different post. Here you can see a lot of flavors of ice cream and also the photos are very good. I wish I could get inside the screen to enjoy them! The descriptions are so real that makes my mouth water.
Thanks for this post, I hope to be able to prove them!
Love, Alicia xxx
Selma TLBC
March 26, 2016 at 7:16 amThere is also Gelati d’Alberto in the rue Mouffetard: their ice cream is delicious, they have a great range of flavours and they serve them in the cutest flower shape 🙂
Caty @ Eat Breathe Explore
March 24, 2016 at 5:28 amOh man now I’m depressed that I didn’t try hardly any of these! Looks amazing!
Miles of Happiness - Marie
March 22, 2016 at 10:36 amOk, so you’re know teaching me stuff about my own country… This is crazy! I’ll be back in Paris soon and will definitely try one of them.
xxx
Melvina Duka
March 22, 2016 at 8:24 amI remember going to Pedone back in July of 2014 when I was in Paris. I can still taste the sweetness of the pecan and coconut ice cream I ordered. I can’t wait to go back to Paris to try out all the other places you recommended. Great list! x Melvina
Pat
March 22, 2016 at 4:42 amThese all look amazing – can’t wait to try some of them when I get there in June!
Caoilin Young
March 21, 2016 at 7:42 amThis is such a cute and original post! xx
inna
March 19, 2016 at 11:35 pmYumm! gonna go hunting some good gelato 🙂
the Andwich one looks amazing
Gonna go to Italy soon to have a nice gelato tour ! 🙂
x
Inna
S
March 19, 2016 at 11:21 pmI should admit I am an ice cream junkie and I can easily eat ice cream during the coldest winter days. I loved the gelato in Italy and I had no idea there are Grom shops at other countries as well.
The laduree and the sandwich ice cream look amazing!
conor rees
March 19, 2016 at 9:36 amI always seem to read food articles when Im most hungry 🙁
Mckenzie
March 19, 2016 at 9:07 amIn Nice there is an amazing gelato place called Cesar Milano. It is so good it is life changing! Its on Avenue Jean Médecin. If you are ever in Nice you must go there! It is by far the best gelato I have ever had in my entire life! They have lots of great flavors like oreo and my personal favorite their bahia flavor which tasted like kiwi’s.
Joyce
March 19, 2016 at 8:22 amYuummm, I absolutely love ice cream and Pedone!
Tips4Trips
March 19, 2016 at 5:27 amI take note 😉
Jenni Ylinen
March 19, 2016 at 4:28 amWhat a brilliant post! I’ve gone to Amorino a couple of times because their rose shaped cones are just so gorgeous, but I’ll have to check out some of the others on this list on my next trip to Paris! xx
Julez
March 19, 2016 at 4:11 amIce cream is my weakness!! Going to Milan in a few weeks so hoping the ice cream is as good there!
Ashley
March 18, 2016 at 10:15 pmThat’s so cool that they have an eclair ice cream! Didn’t know that Laduree and Angelina had ice creams too!
Gabi @ Books & Trips
March 18, 2016 at 8:39 pmYummy, I am craving ice cream so bad right now! I’d love to try at least one of these places in Paris one day!
Lily Heise
March 18, 2016 at 6:26 pmNice list! Pierre Hermé’s ice cream sandwiches are to die for and few people know about them! I’d also add to the list lesser-known Raimo, which is the oldest ice cream maker in Paris, dating back to 1947, more details on it here
Yujung
March 18, 2016 at 5:09 pmThey all look so amazing and delicious!!
Sally
March 18, 2016 at 3:17 pmOh wow, I’ve never seen so much variety of ice cream before! Usually it’s just the cone/cup and the ice cream. Now I know I NEED to visit Paris, ice cream is of my most favourite things ever! Lovely pictures too! x
Sally –
CestLaVibe
March 18, 2016 at 1:23 pmNice pics! Paris has such an amazing dessert scene.
May Simpson
March 18, 2016 at 12:06 pmooooooh, yum! this is making me want to dribble a little bit!
Paris is the very last of our stops on our interrail trip this year but I’ll be 100% sure to go to one of these…
Pierre Hermeé ice cream looks absolutely AMAZING!
Great post, very unique – I like it!
Great to show that there is still possibility of initiative out there, I’m finding it hard to find great/new content to read up on as I’ve just started my travel blog tonight – your blog is the first I’ve seen to stand out!
Thanks for this post, I look forward to the brain freeze in June!
Love, May x