When the weather is warm, one of the best things to eat in the French capital is a bit of glace, or ice cream. In a country known for its dairy, a good scoop can be an entry point into French flavors, from caramel au beurre salé (salted caramel) to cassis (blackcurrant). So here are some of the coolest (forgive the pun) places to get ice cream in Paris.
10 of the Best Ice Cream Shops in Paris
1. Berthillon
I recently asked Danny Meyer, the boundlessly innovative and successful New York-based restaurateur (Shake Shack, Union Square Café, The Modern, Gramercy Tavern, and 12 others) what his favorite ice cream shop in Paris is. Without hesitation he replied, “I’ve not found a scoop I like more than the caramel au beurre salé at Berthillon on the Île Saint-Louis. Strolling there is always a delight, and that scoop is like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.”
Ah, Berthillon! In 1954, Raymond Berthillon was working in his family’s café-hotel at 31 rue Saint-Louis en l’Île when he thought it might be a good idea to make use of an ice cream machine he’d purchased a few years prior. Turns out it was a really good idea. Still located at its original address, Berthillon serves up over a thousand liters of ice cream a day, and is the purveyor to over 140 restaurants and cafes. The list of flavors is too long to list here, but to give you a small taste, Berthillon’s best parfums include: caramel-ginger, spéculoos, praline amaretto, pistachio, and (drum roll here…) eight varieties of chocolate! The Berthillon Salon de Thé also serves tea, pastries, and tartines. Expect a line during July and August and, if the salon is full, you may want to get your Berthillon at one of the many cafes or scoop shops within a few blocks that serve it as well.
Address: 31 rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, Paris 75004
2. Le Bac à Glace
It was a true pinch-me-I-must-be-dreaming moment when I sat down with Julien Yoel, the third generation ice cream maker at Le Bac à Glace’s flagship ice cream shop and tea salon, for a tasting of six (of their more than 50) flavors. Nestled on the charming Rue du Bac in the tony 7ème arrondissement, this is a perfect pause if you’re in the neighborhood to visit the Musée d’Orsay, Musée Rodin, or Eiffel Tower, or if you plan to go shopping at La Grande Épicerie de Paris for edible goodies to bring home. Yoel explained to me that since being founded by his grandfather in 1955, their ice cream has always had less air, sugar, and fat than many other ice creams, and they’ve never gone in for gimmicky or trendy flavors. You won’t find crushed cookies or candy bars here. But you will find outstanding quality ice cream in satisfying flavors, from classics with a twist, to the truly innovative.
While the intensely dark chocolate sorbet is their bestseller, it’s easy to understand why the strawberry with rose extract, which couldn’t be more refreshing, is so popular. (There’s also a strawberry with fresh mint.) The tart lemon basil sorbet would make a great dinner palate cleanser, and the apricot with candied ginger would win over any stone fruit fan. For me, the “wow” factor of the halva ice cream, based on the sesame and pistachio confection popular throughout the Middle East and beyond, was off the charts. There’s a lovely outdoor terrace, and crêpes and other treats are also served. You can also enjoy their ice cream served from carts at Edwart Chocolat, star chocolatier Edwin Yansané’s shops, with locations in the Marais, on Rue Rivoli (near the Louvre), a short walk from the Arc de Triomphe, and in the hip Batignolles neighborhood.
Address: 109 rue du Bac, Paris 75007
3. Hugo & Victor
The ice cream served from a cart outside the elegant chocolate shop, Hugo & Victor, on Boulevard Raspail, is as exceptional as you might expect from from pastry chef Hugue Pouget, who won the dessert championship for France and has an impressive roster of collaborators. The eight flavors he serves, based on seasonal ingredients, are at once straightforward, yet reflect the inspired innovative touches I’ve seen from truly great chefs: caramel with beurre salé is what caramel should always taste like—pure and luscious. Chef Pouget’s soft spot for citrus (also reflected in his line of pâtisseries) is evident in his signature sorbet au pamplemousse (grapefruit), the most true to its namesake ingredient that I’ve ever tasted.
Luc, the extremely knowledgeable and affable boutique manager, explained the painstaking process of peeling the membranes from each grapefruit section, a process that explains why such pure grapefruit sorbet is hard to find, but also reflects the chef’s attention to detail. Another signature flavor, sorbet à la mangue (mango), with subtle hints of passion fruit, cinnamon, and vanilla, is made with 70 percent mango preserves from Stéphan Perrotte, named the best confiseur (or jam-maker) of France. Praline and verveine (verbena) are standouts, too. But the showstopper for me was the dark chocolate sorbet, which has the creamy mouthfeel of ice cream, and the dark chocolate taste that an admitted chocolate-fiend like me requires.
Address: 40 Bld. Raspail, Paris 75007
4. La Glacerie
If you’re shopping on this bustling street, you’ll find respite with the decidedly fine ice creams of La Glacerie. Founder David Wesmaël is one of the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (Master Artisans of France), the country’s highest culinary honor. The nougat au miel (nougat with honey) is a faithful yet creamy interpretation of the iconic chewy confection of the same name from Montélimar. For those who feel, like I do, that chocolate and nuts are among the world’s most perfect pairings, you’ll be delighted to discover the chocolat noisette (chocolate hazelnut). The salted caramel ice cream had just the right caramel notes, and tastes très français! Perennial favorites like mango, strawberry, raspberry, and vanilla are also available in cones or containers.
Address: 13 rue du Temple, Paris 75004
5. Baltis
I learned from Nadim Kettaneh, co-founder of the Lebanese ice cream shop Baltis (which has two locations), that the word “sorbet” may come from the Arab word “shariba,” which means, “to drink,” a reference to the way shaved ice with fruit syrups was consumed in antiquity. Kettaneh talked me through a tasting of some of their 16 fabulous flavors (possibly the most smooth and creamy I tasted for this article). Among these, Baltis offers a Lebanese-inspired selection which includes: Thyme and Olive Oil, Toasted Pistachio, Halawa (Lebanese for Halva, the sesame and pistachio paste confection), and Mastaca (pistachio root). Among the more traditional ice cream flavors, the coffee is jaw-droppingly good, the vanilla uses real vanilla bean, and the chocolate is dark and rich. The orange blossom and dried fig sorbets were off-the-charts yummy.
Addresses: 27 rue Saint Antoine, Paris 75004/54 rue Tiquetonne, Paris 75002
6. Angelina
At Angelina you can enjoy tasty food and impeccable service in the sumptuous and perennially popular salon de thé on Rue de Rivoli, as Marcel Proust and Chanel did about a century ago. The reigning stars on the menu today are Angelina’s famous Hot Chocolate and the Mont Blanc, a Parisian-born meringue, whipped cream, and chestnut paste confection. Our terrific server Cassandre introduced us to the newest star born there this summer—Angelina’s Coupe Mont Blanc ice cream, a frozen dessert worthy of its celebrated namesake pastry. Rest assured that the traditional flavors are also superb.
Address: 226 Rue de Rivoli, Paris 75001
7. Charles Chocolatier
On Rue Montorgueil, one of the best foodie streets in Paris, I happened upon what turns out to be one of the best ice cream shops in town. Family run since 1910, Charles Chocolatier is known for making a wide variety of French artisanal chocolates (which happen to be vegan). Less known (except by their legions of loyal customers) is the fact that over the summer months they offer a particularly interesting and ample selection of homemade ice creams and sorbets. Scoops are generous, flavors robust, and textures oncteuex (thick and creamy). I was warmly greeted by Michelle and Lenny, who made the challenge of choosing from among the 22 flavors delightfully easy. Noteworthy flavors included: Creole (vanilla, rum, and raisin), Black Sesame, and Matcha ice creams, as well as the Chocolate Ginger sorbet.
Address: 15 Rue Montorgueil, Paris 75002
8. Glacier de Notre Dame de Paris
The guy behind the counter scooping the incredible ice cream at Le Glacier de Notre Dame de Paris is actually the owner Guy Arfi, former hotel receptionist-turned-guru of glace (ice cream). Hearing him speak in detail about the precise temperatures, environmental conditions, and ingredient measurements required for maximum quality, texture, and taste, it’s clear you’re in the presence of a truly passionate food science buff. His sorbets contain 75 percent fruit (sourced from his local greengrocers), and he is proud to use the absolute minimum amount of sugar necessary in all of his fantastic frozen desserts. The focus here seems is on the sorbets, with lemon, lychee, banana, and mango the most memorable.
Address: 20 rue Domat, Paris 75005
9. Angiolo
On your next trip to Paris, chances are that at some point you’ll find yourself in the Latin Quarter, whether to people watch at Café de Flore, take in a concert at the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, or shop and gallery hop through the narrow streets of rue Bonaparte and rue Jacob. In that case, a stop at the extraordinary Angiolo Laboratoire de Haute-Glacerie (laboratory of high-end ice cream) would be a must. Like Italian gelato, Angiolo ice cream has less sugar and a lower fat content than ice cream, resulting in a smooth frozen dessert that is lighter and airier than a lot of French glace. The ice cream bins in this sleek mirror-lined sliver of a shop pop out from hidden compartments, giving it a true James Bond villain’s laboratory vibe, but the awesome flavors they produce are pure goodness. Made with nuts harvested at the foot of Mount Etna, the Pistachio Volcano was the most spot-on pistachio ice cream I’ve ever tasted. (FYI—it’s not green, which would have been a give-away that food dyes had been used.) The Saint-Germain-des-Prés (caramel), La Nocciola (hazelnut), and Chocolat Grand Cru 72% (made with Valrhona chocolate) were also stand-outs.
Address: 180 Blvd. Saint-Germain, Paris 75006
10. Les Gourmandises
Les Gourmandises is a cozy spot that specializes in two of the best French foods in the world—freshly made crepes, and artisanal ice cream—which, together, could make for an insanely good meal. This eatery makes everything in-house using high quality and mindfully sourced ingredients like Italian pistachios, Tahitian vanilla, and Valrhona chocolate. They’re open until 11 p m, and offer cool flavors like Pear William, Cookie Caramel, and Tea Peach, served on seriously delicious cones (made from a “Secret” recipe that includes Tahitian vanilla). What’s not to love?
Address: 1 rue Saint Sabin, Paris 75011
Philip Ruskin is an External Lecturer (ESSEC Bus. School), Food Communications Consultant, writer, drummer and regular contributor to Frenchly. He loves to bike around his adopted hometown of Paris. Find him here, on Instagram. All photos by the author, except where indicated.
