The ten sugar stops on Rue du Bac
In the 7th arrondissement, there is one street where you can find some of the city’s top chocolatiers and patisseries in France. If Roald Dahls, fictitious character, Charlie Bucket, from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory lived in Paris, Rue du Bac would be the perfect place for him to reside.
Aside from its sugary sweet attractions, the street is pretty much typically Parisian. The huge gorgeous doors are ever-present. Quaint little coffee haunts can be found on a corner or two, a few restaurants with chairs spilling onto the pavement offer al fresco style dining seemingly all year round. A florist blooms on another corner and a postage stamp size of green space can be found breaking up the street and giving light relief for families. There are some fabulous independent shops too, a bit of fashion and an above average collection of homeware boutiques.
Affectionately called Rue du Sucre by the locals, Rue du Bac stretches from the River Seine, close to the Musee d’Orsay, all the way to the jewel in the Parisienne shoppers crown, Le Bon Marché. However, from the intersection of Boulevard Saint Germain, as one walks towards Sevres Babylon, it suddenly becomes apparent that this rue is paved with mouth-watering desserts. There is no doubt that it will take every fibre of your being to resist entering one of these havens.
Macarons, Chocolates, glazed pastries are displayed in the windows. Fashionable cakes, made with skill and embellished with creams, fruit, chocolate but with minimal design – offer a couture style temptation.
MLP has often strolled along this thoroughfare, adding pounds to the hips just by looking! Okay, admittedly there has been the occasional indulgence. Avoidance is the only strategy but it is challenging when you know what’s there.
Here are the cake makers that have given Rue du Sucre its unique title.
Eric Kayser
Eric Kayser can be found on many a street corner in Paris. A well-known patisserie offering up cakes and pastries, it also provides sandwiches and soups. The Kayser chain has mass-market appeal. The food is good, as you would expect from a Paris eaterie, but it lacks the intimacy of a small independent. It’s a great place to start the day with a croissant and an orange juice; or the perfect meeting place, but don’t expect anything special.
Eric Kayser – 18 Rue de Bac
Maison Galland
Here, you can just walk in and peruse a wide selection of cakes and pastries. Great place to buy your baguettes and scout for a late afternoon naughty indulgence. You won’t be disappointed. Maison Galland is not haute cake making. But what they do is give you a mouth-watering creation of typical French snacks, that are made with high standards in mind.
Maison Galland – 52 Rue du Bac
Chapon Chocolat
Okay, well Chapon is in a different league, partly because they are renowned for roasting their own cacao beans! Honestly, having tasted their award-winning chocolate, we can vouch for the unique flavour. When you walk in, there are bowls of chocolate mousse that you can try which are delicious; and you can take a scoop on a cone to accompany you on your walk along ‘sweet’ street. There’s a ton of chocolate on offer in every format you can imagine from bars to bonbons. Definitely, a place to stop.
Chapon Chocolat – 69 Rue du Bac
Boissier
A charming salon du thé where you can sample a wide selection of Boissier classics, such as their scented white chocolate or their sweetened chestnuts. But, their boiled sweets in a myriad of flavours are lovingly created and the taste is literally to die for. The vintage packaging is a nod to their long history. A very special place, Victor Hugo said it best. ” thanks to Boissier dear doves, happy at your feet, we fall, because we take the forts by the bombs, and the weak by the sweets “
Boissier – 77 Rue du Bac
Laura Todd Paris
What you see is what you get. Yummy cookies in a range of flavours. no doubt the kids will love this sweet stop!
Laura Todd Paris – 78 Rue du Bac
Des Gâteaux et du Pain
Yep, this is one of those Boulangeries, that looks like a designer shop from the outside and offers something a little special on the inside. Loved by the French, the bread and cakes are considered world-class. The pastries are light in texture and the cakes on offer stretch the imagination. Clare Damon the woman behind this store has been described as adding femininity to the boulangerie world. What does that even mean? Eyeroll! If you go, dive into the grapefruit tart it is definitely worth trying.
Des Gâteaux et du Pain – 89 Rue du Bac
La Pâtisserie des Rèves
There is something clinical about la Pâtisserie des Rèves, what with cakes seated under refrigerated domes, the excessive spaces between the cakes and the airiness of the shop. But, don’t let that deter you from venturing in. Alongside the cakes, which are very impressive to look at (and taste) the bread is also divine. The team behind this shop have been described as taking classics and adding their own twist and this is evident in the decor and their desserts.
La Pâtisserie des Rèves – 93 Rue du Bac
Angelina
As it states at the top of the shop, Angelina is over a century old, so they have had more than enough time to master their craft and master it they have. This adorable brand is a global sensation, a famous tea house and absolutely adored by the French. Their speciality is chocolate & cakes but their macarons are blissful too. On a cold day, it provides the perfect excuse to devour their delicious hot chocolate. Whilst in Paris its a must, they have many branches. Just stop by, even it’s just to admire their collection of treats.
Angelina – 108 Rue du Bac
Le Bac à Glace
If you fancy waffles and ice cream then this is the place to stop on Rue du Bac. With a tonne of delicious flavours and an assortment of accompaniments, the kids will love it. The seating area is super small so often you find a queue forming outside as people wait in line for a cone-to-go. But if you get a chance to take a pew, you can while away a slice of time indulging in their scrumptious desserts.
Le Bac à Glace – 109 Rue du Bac
Foucher Paris
Foucher offers a heady mix of chocolate bonbons, macarons, tablettes and mendiants. All of the above are packaged beautifully. With a history that dates back to 1819, it’s safe to say that they know what they are doing. Their sugar rush delights taste good and its a great place to source chocolate covered gifts for friends.
Chocolat Foucher- 134 Rue du Bac
So there you have it, the shops that make Rue du Bac the sweetest street in Paris. Oh and MLP has gotta make an honourable mention and add to this list is, of course, The Grand Èpicerie, 38 Rue du Sevres (on the corner of Rue de Bac). It’s the gorgeous food division of Le Bon Marchè and it does not disappoint! As soon as you walk through the door you are consumed by the spread of perfectly wrapped chocolates and designer cakes. Follow the smell of the oven baked bread and as you get deeper into the store, an extensive array of pastries and bread await! Not to be missed.
Enjoy your stroll down Rue du Bac, Paris lovers.
If you would like to see a few other streets that we love, check out a couple of street videos we shot. Rue Mouffetard, Rue Cremieux, A little known street in the 6th.
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Love MLP
Keepin’ it sweet
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