When temperatures hit 80°F (or higher) in Paris, ice cream cones topped with elegant scoops of noisette or framboise suddenly become Parisians’ favorite edible accessory.

People sat on benches eating ice cream outside Paris ice cream shop Bachir (left). A huge soft ice ice cream with two scoops being held by a person's hand in the sunlight (right).

My first summer in Paris, I followed my fellow students eagerly onto Île Saint-Louis hoping for a taste of the city’s famous Berthillon glace (ice cream en français). Sadly, we left empty-handed, deterred by the extremely long line in front of their salon.

Two scoops of ice cream fro mUne Glace à Paris beingheld up by a person's hand in the streets of Paris.
Une Glace à Paris

I did eventually end up tasting the storied sorbets at the original Berthillon, but not only. Self-proclaimed “ice cream addict” locals also chimed in with addresses from Montmartre to the Marais when I, in preparation for impending Parisian heat waves, begged for their favorites in the city. Would any of them measure up to, or exceed, Berthillon? I took upon myself the sticky-yet-refreshing and oh-so-sweet task of finding out.

The wood-paneled exterior of one Paris's Berthillon ice cream shops with a young woman standing outside, enjoying one of their soft ice creams.

Berthillon

Of course, I had to start my Paris ice cream adventure where it all began. There’s a reason why Berthillon is the ice cream of reference for visitors – the simplicity of their recipe and their artisanal fabrication from natural ingredients shines through, particularly in their inimitable passion fruit sorbet. If you are willing to brave the lines, small portions, and high ticket prices, well, Berthillon never fails in quality.

Two scoops of ice cream in a cone being help up by a person's hand (left). The blue exterior of Paris ice cream shop Une Glace à Paris (right).
Une Glace à Paris

Une Glace à Paris

One of the distinguishing marks of Une Glace à Paris is written on its powder-blue storefront – Emmanuel Ryon, one of the boutique’s co-founders, received the prestigious French Ice Cream Artisan of the Year title. Indeed, their combination of international (black sesame and matcha green tea) and local (mango, pistachio) flavors makes them a delicious crowd-pleaser for any palette!

An ice cream counter with cones stacked on top.

Glace Bachir

Who would have thought that one of Paris’ most famous ice-cream boutiques would be Lebanese? Glace Bachir serves up ice cream flavors that I had never tasted before, like rose petal and their special glace achta (milk & cream with pistachio). They also go the extra mile, adding a whipped cream topping and generous pistachio coating to their rich, fragrant creations.

The ice cream counter at Pozzeto ice cream shop in Paris with a vendor scooping out the flavors into a cone.

Pozzetto

Another Parisian favorite is Pozzetto, an authentic Italian gelateria whose specialties include their fleur de lait (crème fraîche) and their ultra-creamy noisette-chocolat. With their limited selection of 12 homemade gelatos and sorbets made in small batches with ultra-fresh ingredients, this is Paris’ answer to Rome’s ice cream supremacy.

A child holding an ice cream cone at Pozzetto in Paris while with her grandmother and big sister.

Glaces Glazed

Last but not least is Glaces Glazed, the funkiest ice cream shop of the bunch. Specializing in improbable flavor combinations like “Pump up the volume” (mango spiked with Espelette chili pepper) and “Mister Green” (Iranian pistachio with black sesame cream), their creations surprise and delight—especially after an uphill hike to Montmartre.

The blue storefront of Glaces Glazed in Paris.

After embarking on this wild ice-cream chase around Paris to find a contender to Berthillon, I realized that I was maybe barking up the wrong cone. Why choose one boutique when they could all co-exist in the city (and in my stomach) for different occasions and cravings? And if it just so happens that I’m pining for a refreshing Berthillon sorbet while my friend wants gianduja gelato at Pozzetto, the two are just a ten-minute walk from one another. It just goes to show – in Paris’ ice cream scene, there’s something delicious for everyone.

The exterior of Bachir ice cream shop in Paris with its stripy red and white awning.

Written and photographed by Diana Liu for HiP Paris. Looking to travel? Check out Haven In for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, France or Italy. Looking to rent long-term or buy in France or Italy? Ask us! We can connect you to our trusted providers for amazing service and rates.

WRITTEN BY

Diana Liu

Diana Liu is a Paris-based writer and photographer who is currently completing her Master in media and creative industries at Sciences Po. She co-founded ChopChicks in Paris, a blog and community dining experience that brings people together to discover the wealth of Asian restaurants and Asian culture in Paris. She’s written about food, fashion, art & culture, and French politics for Inspirelle, ChopChicks, Wheretoget Magazine, and other publications. See more of her photography on her Instagram @sheandhercat, and discover Paris’ best Asian restaurants and join her for dinner at ChopChicks in Paris.

6 Comments

  1. For me, Martine Lambert on rue Cler, is on par with Berthillon for the best ice cream in Paris. Made from unpasteurized milk and cream delivered daily from Normand dairy farms this ice cream is truly special.

  2. Us Parisians love the ice creams by Raimo Glacier coming with outdoor terrace and boutique on 59-61 boulevard de Reuilly in the 12th arrondissement www.raimo.fr No tourist crowds at this paradise for ice cream connoisseurs of all ages. Order online for home delivery if staying in Paris. Try their rose ice cream yes indeed made of roses

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *