Jim

Hey folks, a quick thanks for all the advise.

We leave Monday!

Anyway, one last question: Can anyone recommend their favorate chocolate shop in Paris? The last time I was there I was turned on to the fact that Paris is a great city for chocolate, but didn't know one shop from the rest.

Thanks in advance.

Answer

I think this store was called Cacao and Chocolate. There are two branches in the 4th and 6th eme - both were on main streets in each arrondisement. They have wonderful chocolates in very unique boxes (wooden/carved) and also a small dessert bar. Yummy. I'll look through my files for the addresses.

Betsy

Jim, so a search of the archives. There have been many chocolate posts in the past. My absolute favorite is Jean-Paul Hevin. There are a couple of stores; I'm familiar with the one in the 7eme. They're closed on Monday.

pam

Do a search here, there are many other shops which have wonderful reviews. Here are just a few.

1st arrondisement
Fouquet
22, rue Francois

Jean Paul Hevin
231 rue St Honore

Charles Chocolatier
15, rue Montorgueil

La Fontaine au Chocolate
201, rue St Honore

Godiva
many - don't have addresses but one on rue Castiglione near Place Vendome, another on Blvd Madeleine

6th arrondisement
Christian Constant
37, rue d'Assas

Debauve et Gaillais
36, rue des Sts Pierres


Le Maison du Chocolat
19, rue de Severes

7th arrondisement
Puyricard
27, ave Rapp

Richard Design et Chocolate
258 Blvd St-Germain

Michel Chaudun
149, rue de l'Universite

Debauve and Gallais
30 rue des Saints Peres

8th arrondisement
Le Maison du Chocolat
225 rue de St Honore

9th arrondisement
Le Maison du Chocolat
8 Blvd de la Madeleine

16th arrondisement
Au Duc de Praslin
116 Ave Victor Hugo

jim

Thanks all!

Thanks especially to Pam. Sometimes a search gets too many results to weed through (especially at work), so I really appreciate you following your suggestion with such a great list.

Chocolate + jet lag + Paris = euphoria.

xxx

Also if possible and you go on a daytrip to Brussels, try the chocolate there. I find the chocolate is better.

Betsy

Pam! Had no idea you were such a chocophile A trait we share, for sure.

clairobscur

Just to point out that Debeauve et Gallais is rue des saint PERES, not pierres. Just in case someone would search for the shop...

Sue

Godiva chocolate is owned by Campbell Soup co.; do you really want to buy it in Paris?

Chocolate

I'm not sure how much chocolate you want to buy, but keep the VAT refund in mind. For this reason, we buy chocolate at the grande magasins (read: department stores) as part of shopping sprees that add up to the VAT cash refund, another discount. They all have areas where you can buy very good chocolates. One disappointment: chocolate sold in a decorative tin under the Maxim brand. The chocolates had bloomed (melted and reformed with an unappetizing white crust).

elaine

pam mentioned my personal favorite
La Fontaine au Chocolat.
Everything from truffles by the pound to inexpensive chocolate bars, and they have some inexpensive gift items to take back as gifts or souvenirs.
They also wrap beautifully, for no extra charge.

Ashley

Anything Belgian! It's worth the daytrip to Brussels to buy big sacks of Leonidas. You can also order them in the states from www.Leonidaschocolates.com

elvira

Christian Constant is one of my favorites; there's also a chain called Jeff de Bruges (aka "Jeff Bridges" to my sister) scattered about the city.

And Galeries Lafayette has a chocolate section....

Sarabeth

Whatever you do...go to La Maison du Chocolat and Puriycard...in my opinion, the 2 best chocolates in the world...be prepared to pay through the nose...but worth it..i'll be hitting those 2 places when we go in July!!!!

Bob C

Rick Steves has a chocolate post.
http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti33.html

mBrown

La Maison du Chocolate is outstanding. If you dont want to spend that much try

Maiffret
102 av des Champs Elysees
75008

or

97 rue Claude Decaen 75012

This is a small company. They only have 4 stores in France.

http://www.maiffret.com/

francesca

The biggest sensation these days is Hermé on rue Bonaparte. In addition to the chocolates, he has pastries made out of flowers and other exotic ingredients. La Maison de Chocolate is devine, try there chocolate sorbet. La Bac a Glaces on rue du Bac near Bon Marché also has fantastic chocolate sorbet. Skip the chains, you can find them at home/in the airport.