Hugues Pouget opens his new authentic patisserie and viennoiserie in Paris's 6th arrondissement.

After more than fifteen years delighting Paris’s food lovers, Hugues Pouget, France’s 2003 dessert champion, is opening a new chapter with a first, self-named shop at 50 rue du Cherche-Midi, just a short stroll from Le Bon Marché in the 6th arrondissement. This new address represents a genuine turning point for the chef, who cut his teeth alongside Guy Savoy and in Paris’s grandest hotels, from Le Bristol to the Carlton in Cannes. “I wanted freshness, I craved renewal, I needed to move forward,” the chef tells us, remaining in the same neighborhood, just two streets from his former location.

Let us take you to an intriguing new patisserie that fits perfectly with the district’s vibe. Rue du Cherche-Midi feels like the heartbeat of authentic Paris, with its characterful shops, old-school bistros, and a certain sweet ease that nearly evokes provincial life right in the capital. For this fresh chapter, the chef aimed to mark a real break. "I’m fed up with black, I wanted to do things differently," says Hugues Pouget, who was after something more reassuring and genuine. He therefore tasked the Yann Montfort agency with embracing the Parisian codes: "the Haussmann ceiling, the old mirrors, the floor mosaic, the brass as at Café de Flore, the red banquettes."

The shop’s interior leans into the hallmark elements that evoke the feel of classic Parisian bistros. Light-wood tones, brass accents, and red banquettes craft an atmosphere that’s both warm and contemporary. "All these distinctly French, very Parisian cues are exactly what visitors adore about Paris," says the chef. From the street, the storefronts lure you in, with these creations showcased like real gifts.

If you’re after a solid spot to rediscover the great classics of pastry, this will win you over. Forget the ultra-original creations and focus on the French favourites. "Often customers would tell me: your cake is amazing, it’s very original, it’s delicious, but for this weekend I want a mille-feuille. Or friends would say: you can’t make an apple tart the way you know how," recalls Hugues Pouget, who has listened to his customers.

So you’ll find the flan at 5 euros, the tarte au citron meringuée at 5.50 euros, the religieuse au café at 6.50 euros, the mille-feuille, the Paris-Brest coming soon, the mango tart at 7.90 euros, or the Mont-Blanc-style chestnut box at 7.50 euros. "These are the French people’s favorite cakes: flan, the lemon tart, the coffee religieuse," insists the chef. We’re in the higher end of the price range in the neighborhood, but it isn’t excessive either.

The renowned financiers and cakes that put the pastry chef on the map naturally take pride of place, just as the tiger-striped tigrés—new to the house—should quickly win over the neighborhood regulars. To keep things fresh, a pâtisserie du marché in a limited edition arrives each month to complement the permanent lineup of around ten must-try creations. This seasonal creation follows the rhythm of the arrival of seasonal fruits.

On Sundays, the spotlight turns to layer cakes, those generous desserts perfect for families and big celebrations, arriving in March 2025. "A little layer-cake vibe, vanilla-raspberry and chocolate," says the chef. "People kept asking me: don’t you have a big cake for a birthday? So we’re going big—tall, about 18 cm, one-of-a-kind. And that will be the Sunday cake."

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The other pleasant surprise at this spot is the arrival of the viennoiserie and the savory brioche line. "I used to make a bit of viennoiserie, but just a touch. Now the goal is really to offer more variety," explains Hugues Pouget, who aims to become the "pâtissier for all moments of the day." From breakfast to afternoon tea and even during lunch break, there are gorgeous croissants, pistachio croissants, apple turnovers based on croissant dough, raisin buns, and beautiful flaky brioches. On the savory side, don’t miss the swiss folded pastry with cheddar and chorizo, the ham-bechamel version, the homemade quiches that melt like custards, the tomato and truffle pizzettes, or the sandwiches on Vienna bread with indulgent fillings like tuna, mayo and confit onions.

While the place clearly sells baguettes, this isn’t a bakery. You won’t find any specialty breads here—this is more of a pastry shop with a selection of viennoiseries.

The chef’s chocolates are getting a complete refresh, with a brand-new range. "Two years ago, I did a lemon–verbena ganache, and people said: no, I want vanilla, caramel," the chef recalls. So the focus shifts to chocolate candies that soothe and console: vanilla, caramel, cherries in liqueur. "Things people love—comforting, traditional, authentic, but extraordinarily well made," sums up Hugues Pouget, who has rewritten every one of his recipes for this new chapter. "You know what, I rewrote everything. The pastry, the savory, it’s all been rewritten, including the chocolate," he confides.

A regular customer even praised him in a way that sounds like a challenge: "I’ve been coming here for 15 years. I helped bake the wedding cake, the cake for my godchild’s baptism and first communion. But we only come here for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and birthdays." It’s exactly this sense of closeness that the chef is aiming for: to be the everyday go-to as much as the place for grand occasions.

The boutique Hugues Pouget welcomes you from 8am to 7pm every day at 50 rue du Cherche-Midi in the 6e arrondissement, accessible via the Saint-Sulpice metro station (line 4), Vaneau or Sèvres-Babylone (lines 10 and 12). For more, head to the official Hugues Pouget pastry site.