With the budding arrival of Spring on 20 March, it's also the annual date of Macaron Day Paris.
Initiated in 2005 by Pierre Hermé, Macaron Day in Paris is always a charitable event organised by high-end pastry chefs throughout France, Europe and the World over who are all members of the prestigious Relais Desserts group.
UPDATE April 2022: With the exception of Pierre Hermé this year, all proceeds of macaron sales between at least 18-20 March 2022 went towards the Croix Rouge France in aid of the victims of the war in Ukraine.
€32 000 was raised - so a huge thanks to all who participated in the event.
This post was first published on 10th March 2016 and I've published various editions over the years to keep up with this annual charitable event. Welcome to the 2022 edition!
Guide to Macaron Day in Paris 2022
So between 18-20th March, if you're able to participate in Macaron Day Paris, please do help raise funds by buying as many macarons from the following participating patisseries around Paris. 100% of the sales go to La Croix Rouge to help victims of the war in Ukraine (with the exception of Pierre Hermé - see below.)
Moreover, donations to the Croix Rouge are welcome directly if you can't make it to any of the Relais Dessert pâtisseries below.
Christophe Roussel
Pastry chef and chocolatier star of France's west coast, Christophe Roussel also has a boutique in Paris's Montmartre. Just at the bottom of the hill known as the butte de Montmartre, find a most generous selection of macarons to choose from. Check out my post on Christophe Roussel's macarons and chocolates in more detail. I personally love his Salted Caramel coated entirely in dark chocolate and the 'plain' salted caramel from the Guérande; Passion Fruit and Vanilla, Coffee, chocolate and, above all, luscious lemon.
For Macaron Day, the pâtisserie is selling a box of 8 lemon macarons in the Ukraine colours for 14 euros especially for the event. These boxes are on sale as of Sunday 13 March.
- Â 5 rue Tardieu, 75018 Paris (Friday-Sunday: 10.15am-1.15pm/2pm-7.30pm)
Jean-Paul Hévin
As Chocolatier, all of Jean-Paul Hévin's macaron fillings are made with chocolate ganache, from intense chocolate ganaches to a combination of fruity ones. My personal favourites are Tana (Grand Cru ganache from Madagascar), Vanill'in (not too sweet), Crème Brûlée (plus one with coffee), Pistach'in, and Violette (infused with blackcurrant). If you love your chocolate extra intense, then you'll love the Super Amer.
For more on his boutique, see my article on Pâtisseries on rue du Bac, also known as Paris Pastry Street.
- 231 rue Saint Honoré, 75001 Paris (all boutiques Friday-Saturday: 10am-7.30pm. Closed Sunday)
41 rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris
3 rue Vavin, 75006 Paris
23 bis avenue de la Motte Picquet, 75007 Paris
93 rue du Bac, 75007 Paris
Lafayette Gourmet, 35 Boulevard Haussemann, 75009 Paris (Fri/Sat: 9.30am-9pm; Sun: 11am-8pm)
Arnaud Larher
A Meilleur Ouvrier de France, Arnaud Larher has worked with the greats, including Peltier, Dalloyau and Fauchon. Since 1997 he set up his own shop in Montmartre and since 2000 has two more boutiques to dazzle us.
Try his classic selection: my favourites are Mille Fleurs, Apricot, Madagascan Vanilla, Coffee (café Grand cru from South India) and Gianduja praline with hazelnut and milk chocolate.
- 93 rue de Seine, 75006 Paris (Fri 11am-7pm; Sat: 10am-7pm; Closed Sunday)
57 rue Damrémont, 75018 Paris (Fri-Sat: 10am-7pm; Closed Sunday)
53 rue Caulaincourt, 75018 Paris (as above)
LeNôtre
The legendary house of Gaston LeNôtre hasn't changed the macaron recipe since chef Guy Krenzer took over, using almonds from Valencia. Try the Madagascan Bourbon vanilla, intense raspberry (framboise), pistachio, chocolate and bitter coffee.
- 10, rue Saint Antoine, 75004 Paris (Fri-Sun 9am-8pm)
15, boulevard de Courcelles, 75008 Paris (opening times as above for all boutiques)
22, avenue de la Porte de Vincennes, 75012 Paris
61, rue Lecourbe , 75015 Paris
44, rue d'Auteuil, 75016 Paris
48 avenue Victor Hugo, 75016 Paris
121, avenue de Wagram, 75017 Paris
Sadaharu Aoki
Chef Aoki's Japanese-French pâtisserie offers spectacular macaron flavours such as Matcha Green tea, Black Sesamé, Genmaicha, Hojicha, and Yuzu.
For more details, see my post on pâtisseries on rue Saint Dominique and his tea salon in my Paris Tearoom Guide.
- 56 Boulevard de Port Royal, 75005 Paris (Fri-Sun 11am-1.30pm/2.30-6pm)
35 rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris
103 rue Saint Dominique, 75007 Paris
25 rue de Pérignon, 75015 Paris
Laurent Duchêne
A Meilleur Ouvrier de France, Laurent Duchêne is married to chef pâtissière Kyoko and so there are some Japanese influences including chocolate yuzu macarons. Other classics include cassis (blackcurrant), chocolat praliné, framboise, vanille and citron lemon.
- 2 rue Wurtz, 75013 Paris (Fri-Sat: 7.30am-8pm; closed Sunday)
238 rue de la Convention, 75015 Paris (Fri/Sat: 8.30am-7.30pm; Sun: 8.30am-1.30pm)
45 Rue Raymond du Temple, 94300 Vincennes (as above)
Pierre Hermé
Pierre Hermé is the exception this year for Macaron Day and is only participating in the event on Sunday 20 March. He has instead chosen to donate 10% of macaron sales to the Association Princesse Margot to help children and adolescents with cancer.
With an infinite gourmet choice of his macarons, anyone who has tasted them is bound to have their favourites. He has two collections: Signature and Infiniment®. From his signature collection: Ispahan (rose, raspberry, lychee), Mogador (milk chocolate-passion fruit), new flavours include café Marocain (coffee with spices) and Jardin des Carmes (lemon & lemon balm). From his Infinement collection: Infinement caramel, pamplemousse (grapefruit), orange, and Madagascan Vanilla.
- 4 rue Cambon, 75001 Paris (Friday/Saturday 11am-7.30pm; Sunday closed)
39 avenue de l'Opéra, 75002 Paris (Friday-Sunday 10am-8pm)
4 rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris (Friday & Saturday: 10am-8pm; Sunday 10am-7pm)
18 rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, 75004 Paris (as rue de Bretagne)
72 rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris (as rue de Bretagne)
126 blvd Saint Germain, 75006 Paris (10am-8pm)
53-57 rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris (as rue de Bretagne)
Publicis Drugstore, 133 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris (Friday-Sunday: 11.30am-8.30pm)
89 boulevard Malesherbes, 75008 Paris (as rue de Bretagne)
Lafayette Gourmet, 35 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris (Friday 10am-8pm; closed Sat; Sunday 11am-8pm)
185 rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris (as rue de Bretagne)
58 avenue Paul Doumer, 75016 Paris (as rue de Bretagne)
More About Relais Desserts
For more about the prestigious pâtisserie group in France and around the world, visit Relais Desserts. Thanks to all of you who participated, the wonderful news is that €32 000 was raised this year.
Thomasina
These photos are amazing Jill. I absolutely love macarons - all flavours - and one day I hope to make it to Paris for Macaron Day.
Jill Colonna
Thanks Thomasina - I do hope so too, as it's a wonderful initiative munching on macarons for a good cause.
Betty
What a fantastic blog post, Jill and you know I am eating up every word. I don't know when or if we will ever be able to do this, but, in the meantime, we are quite seasoned armchair travelers and are so appreciative of reading like this to help us to imagine we are there with you.
Jill Colonna
It's a great pleasure to share this, Betty. I think we're all the more sensitive now to armchair travel after the last couple of years. Have a lovely weekend and happy birthday to your Victor.
Christina Conte
Oh to be in Paris in the spring on Macaron Day! Maybe next year? Lucky for those who can enjoy it this year! Hope this is over soon!
Jill Colonna
Well, it has been quite dramatic since I posted this, since our First Minister announced a 3rd lockdown starting 20 March to 18 April! It has been quite a marathon to pin down the powers at be to find out if it IS going ahead and even during the best of times, it's difficult to get any news about the event each year.
Luckily, as patisseries will still be open during confinement around Paris, the good news is that Macaron Day is going ahead.
June S
Can't believe I'm going to be in Paris that weekend. Can't wait for the tour Jill.
Jill Colonna
Jings - I never answered you! How times have changed - would do anything for you to be able to come over this year. I'll buy a few macarons in Paris Saturday and zoom with you x
Betty
Oh Jill! What fun to read about Macaron Day, even after the fact! So many fun flavors to try and for such a good cause! I do so hope to be in Paris for this special day some year.
Thank you for the great macaron-hunting inspiration!
Betty
David
Oh, I wish I were there to participate! (Is there any way to make a donation from afar?) What a wonderful way to raise funds! And so pleased to see so many wonderful shops participating.
Jill Colonna
David - have a look at the Relais Desserts website and they have a list of your nearest participating boutique for Macaron Day.
Jamie
*swooooon* How I wish I was in Paris! This is most definitely the complete list! And sadly I can't even be in Nantes for Vincent Guerlais' macarons. I must either make my own or try those of the local Chinon pastry chef. Perfect list! And I LOVE Carol's drawings!
Jill Colonna
Thanks for popping in Jamie. Yes, there's still more happening for Macaron Day outside of Paris - even in our Banlieue we have Grandin participating too from Saint Germain-en-Laye. Hope you manage to find the time from your busy hotel schedule to take part in Relais Desserts in Chinon.
Thomasina
I love Carol Gillot's maps. I love macarons - absolutely all the flavours I can get. I love Paris too and I wish I could be there for macaron weekend. Thank you Jill for all the macaron information.
Jill Colonna
Glad to be of help - and even if you can't make it for Macaron Day, hope you come soon to taste them for yourself in Paris and become Mad About Macarons 😉
Liz
What a terrific cause---and excuse to buy lots and lots of macarons (well, donate and get free macarons :)). If you happen to see Mardi, give her a hug from me---and a big one for you, too!!! xo
Jill Colonna
Thanks Liz. It's a lovely thought to enjoy macarons and give to a good cause at the same time. Hugs back to your side of the pond!
Monique
I wholeheartedly agree that Carol should paint the 2017 map!
Love her art.
Jill Colonna
Glad we agree, Monique. Hoping it happens for 2017!
Parisbreakfast
What a fabulous rundown on all the best stops for JOUR DU MACARON day marathon.
You're pictures are lush.
And THANKS for showing the map Jill!!
You're a carlin' girl!!
Jill Colonna
Love so much your map, Carol, but dear to the heart is the one you did in Teatime in Paris, bien sûr. Talented girl!
Mardi (eat. live. travel. write.)
My plans for the 19th and 20th are sorted!!
Jill Colonna
Glad to be of service, Mardi - enjoy yourself next weekend!