The 10 Best Macarons in Paris (And Where to Buy Them)

A Parisian pastry box has its own ceremony. The ribbon, the tissue paper, the little card, and then the macarons lined up like a paint chart: pistachio, rose, salted caramel, blackcurrant. Buying macarons in Paris is never only about the taste. It is about the house, the street, the box you carry back to your hotel as carefully as if it were glass.

The best macarons in Paris are found at Pierre Hermé for bold, perfectly balanced flavours, Ladurée for the classic experience, Jean-Paul Hévin for chocolate lovers and Sadaharu Aoki for Japanese-French finesse, with Arnaud Larher, Maison Mulot, Carette, Dalloyau, Lenôtre and Stohrer completing the list. Here is where to go and what to order.

How to choose a good macaron in Paris

Look before you buy. A good macaron has a smooth, gently shining shell, a fine regular foot and a filling you can see, generous but never oozing. The colour should match the flavour, and the shells should be the same size. Ask for a freshly filled batch if the shop has a counter, buy close to when you will eat them, and remember that macarons are always better the day after they are filled, so a box bought on Friday will be perfect on Saturday. If you are curious about where they come from, here is the real history of the macaron.

The 10 best macarons in Paris

1. Pierre Hermé

The house that turned the macaron into an art of flavour. Pierre Hermé builds each one like a perfume, with a head note, a heart and a finish, and his Ispahan, rose, lychee and raspberry, has become a classic in its own right. Try also the Mogador, passion fruit and milk chocolate, and the salted caramel. The Saint-Germain boutique at 72 rue Bonaparte, in the 6th, is the most charming, but there are addresses all over the city.

2. Ladurée

The historic name, and the house most associated with the double macaron. Its pastel boxes are the most recognisable gift in Paris, and the tea room on the Champs-Élysées, at number 75, was beautifully redesigned in 2025. Go for rose, vanilla, pistachio and the seasonal editions, and if you can, sit down for tea: the setting is half the pleasure.

3. Jean-Paul Hévin

A chocolatier first, and it shows. His macarons have deep, precise cocoa notes and a sweetness kept firmly in check, which makes them a favourite of people who usually find macarons too sugary. Choose the dark chocolate, the praline and the coffee. You will find him at 231 rue Saint-Honoré, in the 1st, and near the Luxembourg Gardens.

4. Sadaharu Aoki

French technique with a Japanese soul. Sadaharu Aoki brings matcha, black sesame and yuzu into the macaron with remarkable precision, and the colours alone are worth the visit. The boutique at 35 rue de Vaugirard, close to the Luxembourg Gardens, fits perfectly into a walk on the Left Bank.

5. Arnaud Larher

A Meilleur Ouvrier de France who opened his first shop in Montmartre in 1997. His macarons are inventive without gimmicks: try the Mille Fleurs, the apricot, the Madagascan vanilla or the gianduja. The original boutique at 53 rue Caulaincourt, in the 18th, is the perfect excuse to explore Montmartre away from the crowds.

6. Maison Mulot

A Saint-Germain institution at 76 rue de Seine, in the 6th, where the macarons share the counter with some of the most elegant pastries of the neighbourhood. The fruit flavours, lemon and raspberry especially, are fresh and well balanced. Ideal if you want a box of macarons and a cake for later.

7. Carette

Born in 1927 at the Trocadéro, Carette is pure Parisian elegance, with tea rooms at the Trocadéro and under the arcades of the Place des Vosges, at number 25. The lemon and salted caramel macarons are the ones to try, ideally eaten on a bench in the square.

8. Dalloyau

One of the oldest pastry houses in Paris, founded in 1802, and one of the first to sell macarons. The flagship at 101 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in the 8th, is an elegant stop between two boutiques of the luxury quarter, with refined gift boxes that balance floral, fruity and chocolate notes.

9. Lenôtre

The great school of French pâtisserie, founded by Gaston Lenôtre, which trained generations of pastry chefs. Its macarons are classic and reliable, and the pistachio, coffee and chocolate are the ones to choose. Lenôtre has several boutiques across Paris, so there is almost always one on your way.

10. Stohrer

The oldest pâtisserie in Paris, opened in 1730 on rue Montorgueil by Nicolas Stohrer, pastry chef to Louis XV's queen. Come for the history and the beautiful painted shop at number 51, in the 2nd, and leave with raspberry and passion fruit macarons, alongside a baba au rhum, the house invention.

A sweet walk through Paris

Macarons are fragile, so it is worth grouping your stops. On the Left Bank, Pierre Hermé on rue Bonaparte, Maison Mulot on rue de Seine and Sadaharu Aoki on rue de Vaugirard are all within a short walk, with the Luxembourg Gardens as a reward at the end. On the Right Bank, Jean-Paul Hévin on rue Saint-Honoré and Dalloyau on the Faubourg Saint-Honoré make an elegant pair, and Stohrer is a pleasant detour through the market street of Montorgueil. If you would rather taste your way through the city with a guide, our Best of French Pastry tour is made exactly for that.

How to take macarons home

Choose firmer flavours for travel: chocolate, coffee, praline and caramel resist better than delicate fruit fillings. Keep the box flat and away from the sun and heat, ask the shop for a sturdy box or a cool bag, and put them in the refrigerator as soon as you can. Kept cool, macarons stay good for around five days, and you can even freeze them.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find the best macarons in Paris?

Pierre Hermé and Ladurée are the two great references, with Jean-Paul Hévin, Sadaharu Aoki, Arnaud Larher, Maison Mulot, Carette, Dalloyau, Lenôtre and Stohrer also excellent.

Is Pierre Hermé or Ladurée better?

Ladurée is the classic, historic experience with iconic boxes. Pierre Hermé is more creative, with bolder and more complex flavours. Many visitors try both and compare.

How much do macarons cost in Paris?

Expect to pay roughly €2.50 to €3.50 per macaron in the great houses, a little less in a larger box.

How long do Paris macarons keep?

About five days in the refrigerator, in an airtight box. They are at their best one or two days after they are filled.

If you would love a day in Paris built around its pâtisseries, chocolatiers and secret addresses, I would be happy to design it for you. Tell me about your trip.