Experience a Paris Valentine’s day with chocolates to fall in love with, perfect for a romantic getaway in the City of Light. Whether sharing a chocolate or two with your loved one or picking out the ideal box of chocolates, Parisian chocolatiers know how to tempt us from their windows. Here's just a taste of what Paris has to offer your Valentine - from chocolates to pâtisserie.
Say it with Chocolate Hearts for a Parisian Valentine's Day
It's heart shapes galore around Paris. From heart-shaped chocolates or confectionary displayed in red-ribboned heart-shaped boxes to cakes that are Valentine inspired.
What a paradox. When I arrived in Paris in 1992 to start my adventure, Valentine's Day wasn't something the French celebrated. In fact, my Frenchman totally avoided it - and still does - believing it's a marketing gimmick.
So, where's that French romance? His argument is he doesn't need one day of the year to celebrate love.
My Frenchman has a point but he's also missing the point. I mean, we live in probably the most romantic city in the world. Today it's a different scene. In Paris Valentine's Day is thriving, just with a peek in their windows.
À la Mère de Famille
For chocolates and candies, head to the oldest sweet shop in France, À la Mère de Famille, with the original boutique in rue du Faubourg Montmartre (there are many). Try their chocolate filled hearts or special Valentine's collection of Calissons, the famous confectionary from Aix-en-Provence.
For more, see my article on the Best Sweet Shops in Paris.
Patrick Roger
Patrick Roger, Meilleur Ouvrier de France (aka MOF), the highest accolade given to French craftsmen, excels as a chocolate sculptor who thinks outside the box. You can discover his latest giant chocolate or metallic masterpiece in all of his Parisian boutiques. This latest one is abstract: you see what you want to see!
This year, his Paris Valentine hearts include shiny chocolates filled with caramel or almonds. If you love intense chocolate sensations, you'll enjoy his Parisian layered chocolate cake recipe.
Pierre Marcolini
Belgian chocolatier, Pierre Marcolini makes his own chocolate from cacao bean to bar and is a clever marketer with his hearts or coeurs at all times of year. I think that suits my Frenchman, for his all-year-around love theory!
Try flavours such as Bronte pistachio, apricot-passion fruit, kumquat-mandarin, yuzu-sesame, and hazelnut with summer truffle. Oh-là-là.
Patrick Chapon
Patrice Chapon is another chocolate maker who creates his tablets and stunning chocolates from bean to bar. His windows show off his famous chocolate yellow Smileys along with Valentine pink hearts and rather catchy-kissy red lips.
Don't miss his chocolat chaud, one of the best hot chocolates in Paris plus his choice of chocolate mousses. Try his 100% cacao chocolate mousse for something special.
Foucher
Maison Foucher, also in rue du Bac, has been there since the shop opened in 1819.
Their heart-shaped milk and dark praline-filled chocolates are perhaps for those with a sweeter tooth. Red fruit calissons (almond and candied melon confectionary) add a Valentine's red touch - as well as their chocolate disks of fruits and nuts, Mendiants.
For more, see my article on
rue du Bac - Paris pastry street.
It’s still hearts galore at Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse with a large heart to be enjoyed à deux: either a dark chocolate coconut-passion, or a milk chocolate praline.
Richart
Richart celebrates Valentines with their Amour Intense, Secret Garden and Declaration collections. They also produce the most exquisite macarons, famous for their mini macarons and savoury too - for more, see the best macarons in Paris.
Christophe Roussel
Also well known for his chocolate kisses, Christophe Roussel continues his seductive selection of kisses and sweet hearts in rue Tardieu.
If you're planning on a Valentine's weekend around Montmartre, this is your address for chocolates and macarons - plus a taste of hot chocolate to get you in the mood before climbing the Butte!
For more see my chocolate and pastry self-guided tour in Montmartre.
Pascal Caffet
Another Meilleur Ouvrier de France, Pascal Caffet is King of pralines, using hazelnuts from Piemonte. Try these chocolates, perfect for your Paris Valentine's day:
- Adam - a dark 70% Venezuelan chocolate with a heart of salted caramel ganache
- Eve - a subtle cherry blossom ganache dressed in white chocolate.
- Romeo - an Ivorian 40% milk chocolate with a crispy praline heart. Where art thee, my Romeo?
- Dark Favourite - 70% dark chocolate topped with a heart, containing a praline mix of Valencian almonds and Piemonte hazelnuts.
For more, see my article on Pascal Caffet in Paris.
Falling over heels in love in Paris? Jean-Paul Hévin and Georges Larnicol will have you swooning over their chocolate stiletto shoes.
There’s something for every budget - from the cutest of mini boxes to more decadent assorted arrangements to say I love you.
Valentine's Pâtisserie in Paris
Most chocolatiers and Pâtissiers in Paris make special valentine's cakes for something truly special. This year, the general theme is extra raspberries (framboises), even if not in season.
For a complete making of one, see my article on the pâtisserie, Baisers Sucrés with Sweet Kisses in Paris Valentine Creation where creative pastry chef couple, Kévin Bézier et Gnagalé Sissoko make some of the best Valentine's chocolates in Paris.
Pascal Caffet makes a frozen Valentine's dessert for two, the Cocooning: 70% dark Venezuelan chocolate mousse and biscuit, red fruits and Bourbon vanilla crème brûlée.
Ladurée continue with their rose macarons in heart-shaped boxes, bien sûr. Be inspired with your own at home with my round-up of pink macarons.
The Most Famous Valentine's Pastry in Paris
Pierre Hermé has a consistent Valentine’s Day pastry with his famous Ispahan macaron of rose, raspberry and litchi. For the really sweet-toothed, try his Ispahan croissants topped with freeze-dried raspberries and sugary glaze.
For a healthy, low-sugar Ispahan inspired dessert with the same flavours,
make your own Mini Macaron Trifles.
Discover Hermé's Vénus macarons with quince and rose. Not in Paris? Make your own apple rose, with my recipe for Apple Rose Tarte Tatins. This year, his Valentine dessert is based on his Solene macarons with mango and lime, available only as of 12 February.
More Chocolate in Paris at the Chocolate Museum
As Valentine's Day usually falls during the French school mid-term holidays, don't forget there's the Paris Chocolate Museum (links to my article on it). Learn all about the history of chocolate (Choco Story) plus finish off with a talk and tasting.
Looking for more inspiration for a Paris Valentine's Day?
Choose from 40 Valentine Dessert Ideas.
Not all chocolatiers are necessarily attracted to a Valentine theme in Paris. Instead, they are preparing for their collection for Easter - see my guide to French Easter Chocolates in Paris.
This post was first published 9 February 2016 but now being updated.
None of this post is sponsored.
Summer
All this chocolate is making me hungry ?
summerdaisy.net
Thomasina
Jill, this is an amazing article and well done you that it is featured in the "Bonjour Paris" magazine. How can any city compare with these Parisian Valentine treats and the window displays are fantastic. I wish I could go round them all.
Jill Colonna
Thank you Thomasina. Yes, there's such a huge choice that I'd love to go around them all too - here is only a selection, can you imagine? Have a lovely weekend.
Betty
Jill, It's so much fun seeing so many of the lovely Paris chocolate shops! I am certain Paris is even more special at Valentine's Day (how would it even be possible??). I feel as if we have gone out shopping together for the afternoon and now it is time for a nice tea or hot chocolate! Thank you for this lovely virtual tour!
Wishing you a lovely day,
Betty
Jill Colonna
Thanks Betty! Yes, it is a lovely day to receive encouraging comments and I certainly could do with finishing all that off with a pot of tea... next time you come over!
Parisbreakfasts
What a complete rundown on the Paris Valentine scene! I shot and ran and didnt ask questions. Maybe we can do this together next year? Though I did fall victim in a too many places to their smallest box of chocks. Impossible to resist Paris chocolate.
Jill Colonna
Next year? Why not à deux. But I don't run, remember? You'll have to tell Bear to slow down for me!
Christina | Christina's Cucina
Mon Dieu! How can, or do you choose? That is chocolate heaven! I think I'd have to do a "taste-off"! Have you done one yet?
My choice is easy here in LA: Teuscher chocolates in Beverly Hills. See how simple that is?
Jill Colonna
I think that's why I stayed in Paris for so long Christina - that way I can take my time to taste them all, with moderation as the French say so often. Don't tempt me again with Beverly Hills. Would love to return again soon!