Snaffle's Paris: The French-Japanese Pastry Café That Has Permanently Closed

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Published by Caroline de Sortiraparis · Photos by Caroline de Sortiraparis · Updated on December 5, 2022 at 05:00 p.m.
Attention, flavor enthusiasts and fans of Japanese cuisine! The 12th district of the city now hosts Snaffle’s Paris, Europe’s very first shop of its kind. On the menu? A selection of Franco-Japanese pastries that take you on a delightful journey to the Land of the Rising Sun. Unfortunately, this tea room has now permanently closed.

Location permanently closed.

Every year, millions of visitors flock to Japan to experience a timeless voyage of discovery through a land of exoticism, where gastronomy overwhelms the senses. Key specialties include ramen, takoyaki and onigiri. On the sweet side, gourmets are not left out, with dorayaki, mochi and, of course, the famous Japanese soufflé cheesecake! It's precisely this specialty that Snaffle's Paris is showcasing in its very first store in Europe.

For the record, Snaffle's is a Japanese family business, based in Hakodate, on the island of Hokkaido in Japan, since 1998. After opening stores in Sapporo and Tokyo, then in Bangkok, the group decided to open its very first tea room on the Old Continent in April 2022. And it's in Paris, more precisely in the 12th arrondissement, that Snaffle's has chosen to tantalize the taste buds of gourmands. At the helm is Katia, whose older brother (former chef of Paris's Café de la Paix) works for Snaffle's in Japan.

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Nestling between Bastille and Gare de Lyon, Snaffle's Paris is a small tea room, with no more than a dozen seats available indoors. Weather permitting, Katia sets up a few extra tables on the terrace. But the most important feature of this charming tearoom is its window display, as enticing as it is colorful, and visible from the outside.

What's on the menu? Delicious Franco-Japanese pastries, including the must-have cheese soufflé. Produced by the company at a rate of 40,000 a day in Japan, this little soufflé cheesecake is THE house signature. As light as a cloud, soft and creamy at the same time, this famous cheesecake can be enjoyed at any time of day for an ultra-indulgent break. For the moment, three flavors are available at the Paris boutique: plain cheese soufflé, matcha cheese soufflé and strawberry cheese soufflé.

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Another Snaffle's Paris specialty? The Itchigo shortcake. This famous cake, very popular in the land of the rising sun, consists of layers of " sponge cake " delicately filled with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. The result? We love this airy, gourmet dessert, which can be devoured in just a few mouthfuls.

Proof of its success, Snaffle's Paris offers two other flavours of shortcake, one with chocolate, the other with chocolate and raspberries (exclusive to the Parisian store).

For the rest, we can't resist the temptation of sesame chou, a delicious chou with a rich, generous black sesame cream. You can also try banana praline chou, matcha opera, coffee cheese tarts or the surprising chiboust tartlet with camembert cream and raspberry confit. And don't forget the mille crêpes (strawberry, matcha or speculoos). Pastries made on the spot that very morning by Katia's younger brother.

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In the shop window, you'll also find dry cakes, such as the famous coconut, chocolate and melon meringues, direct from Japan. Many other products and ingredients come directly from the land of the rising sun, such as matcha and Japanese teas. Teas that go perfectly with the pastries on the menu. As for the rest, the store also offers a fine selection of hot and cold drinks, including the delicious matcha latte. For the perfect match, don't hesitate to ask Katia for advice.

And if you fancy one of the individual pastries in the window, you can order a larger cake directly from the store, to be shared with others.

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With the arrival of Snaffle's in Paris's 12th arrondissement, the Japanese family business is hoping to seduce and win over the taste buds of Parisians who love Japanese flavors, as well as visiting tourists and Japanese living in the capital, in search of their childhood memories. Snaffle's Paris has taken up the challenge, and is looking forward to surprising us in the coming months with new pastries and new, exotic flavours!

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.

Practical information

Location

20 Avenue Ledru Rollin
75012 Paris 12

Route planner

Prices
Pâtisserie: €2.2 - €6.2

Official website
www.snaffles.jp

More information
Open Monday to Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays

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