Created in 1910 to celebrate the cycling race between Paris and Brest, the Paris-Brest remains one of the most iconic cakes in French pastry. In Paris, it features prominently in many bakeries, tea rooms, and pastry shops, which either revisit the recipe or, on the contrary, respect tradition: golden choux pastry filled with hazelnut praline cream.
In its classic version, the Paris-Brest takes the shape of a wheel, a nod to its sporting origins. The choux pastry is filled with a generous amount of mousseline or praline cream, sometimes enriched with a pure praline filling. Sprinkled with slivered almonds and powdered sugar, it is melt-in-the-mouth, slightly crunchy, and intensely flavored.
But in the City of Light, pastry chefs are not afraid to break the rules, with XXL sizes, graphic presentations, lighter creams, and even variations with sesame, pistachio, or gianduja.
Ultimately, whatever the style, the essence of the dessert remains the same: a comforting pastry that combines nostalgia with unapologetic indulgence. So, here are some great placesto eat it!
Gareopains in Méré: the Yvelines bakery-pastry shop renowned for its numerous awards
Gareopains (or Gare o Pains) in Méré, Yvelines, has earned a string of accolades and is a delight for food lovers. Named the best croissant of 2025 and crowned for best pastry of 2024, this spot is well worth a visit—or a sweet pause. [Read more]
Nour Kandler's incredible Paris-Brest
Nour Kandler is an extremely gifted self-taught pastry chef who offers elegant creations and personalized workshops from her studio in La Garenne-Colombes, with pick-up in Paris Saint-Lazare. We fell in love with her delicious cakes and entremets, which combine aesthetic beauty and taste. Special mention for the classic and pistachio Paris-Brest. [Read more]
Jo and Nana Cakes: pastries and vegan tea time in a cosy vintage tea room
Just a stone's throw from the 12th arrondissement's Petite Ceinture, enjoy a moment of calm and indulgence at Jo and Nana Cakes, a plant-based patisserie where you can enjoy delicious sweets on the go, for tea time or brunch! [Read more]
Gonflé, Timothy Breton's delicious Paris bakery and patisserie
Say goodbye to Bara and hello to Gonflé, Timothy Breton's new bakery and patisserie in Paris's 10th arrondissement, a stone's throw from Gare du Nord. We're off to discover its delicacies. We tell you all about the redesigned and expanded offering, and the ambition to move into other locations. [Read more]
Julo's Paris-Brest
Looking for a creamy, gourmet Paris-Brest? Let's go to Julo's in the 10th arrondissement. [Read more]
Fana Bistrot's Paris-Brest
We'd like to take you on a tour of Fana Bistrot, a new bistronomic restaurant in the charming rue Ferdinand Flocon in Paris's 18th arrondissement. Fresh, seasonal cuisine, a crazy Paris-Brest, all in a modern bistro setting and a terrace with a view of the Sacré Coeur, it's sure to be a good time. [Read more]
Christophe Michalak's bakery, patisserie and chocolate shop Étienne Marcel, Paris 1er
Gourmet alert, Christophe Michalak has just opened his new boutique in the 1ᵉʳ arrondissement of Paris. Head to rue Etienne Marcel to discover this new gourmet spot, which for the first time brings together pastry, bakery and chocolate all in one place. [Read more]
Boulangerie Pâtisserie l'Équilibre, the best in French patisserie Paris 15e
L'Équilibre is the Boulangerie Pâtisseries that everyone flocks to in Paris's 15th arrondissement. With a baker and pastry chef who is a former palace sous chef, the pastries, viennoiseries and sourdough breads are as luxurious as they are gourmet, and at a more affordable price. We love the classic, excellently executed, all in a historic boutique. [Read more]
The Paris-Beirut of Ginko Pâtisserie
Patisserie Ginko takes us on a journey to Morocco with this Paris-Brest revisited with Oriental flavors. Pistachio and orange blossom for a beautiful delicacy, we love it. [Read more]
Bopain's low-sugar, gourmet Paris-Brest
Bopain, freshly opened, is the neighborhood bakery and patisserie in Paris's 12th arrondissement that combines good produce and savoir-faire. At Bopain, everything is homemade, like this gourmet Paris-Brest with decadent praline. [Read more]
Gourmet Paris-Brest from Bulle Boulangerie
Imagine a Paris-Brest on a choux pastry base, a chou topped with praline and nestled on top of a mountain of hazelnut-praline cream - we love it. [Read more]
Boulangerie l'Essentiel's Brest bets
L'Essentiel now has 4 bakery-pastry shops in Paris that combine tradition and modernity. With no concessions on quality and taste, and regular awards for their breads, these 4 addresses have what it takes to seduce the most demanding in terms of sourdough breads, viennoiseries and gourmet pastries, including this Paris Brest that we can't get enough of. [Read more]
Jolie Miche's Paris-Brest
Traditional in appearance, this Paris-Brest is a real mouthful. With its homemade praline in the center and hidden caramelized hazelnuts, it's as gourmand as you could wish for. [Read more]
Le Paris-Brest de Frappe
Frappe is the name of a new bakery and patisserie that opened this year in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Solenn Le Squer and Thomas Padovan offer us an ultra-gourmand Paris-Brest, a must-try. [Read more]
Paris-Brest Atelier Gato: caramel, nuts and gourmet goodness from Nicolas Haelewyn
Succumb to the caramel and walnut Paris-Brest from Atelier Gato, Nicolas Haelewyn's pastry shop and tearoom in Versailles. [Read more]
Zest's Paris Brest
Zest is the name of the Boulangerie-Pâtisserie run by Cyril Gaidella, Champion de France du dessert 2017, which is delighted to be opening in Neuilly-sur-Seine, just outside Paris. Come and discover its sourdough breads, homemade viennoiseries and delicious, gourmet pastries. If you're looking for a generous Paris-Brest, this is the place. [Read more]
Michael Bartocetti's giant Paris Brest at La Galerie
In the mood for a sweet treat or a dessert that's well worth the detour? We're off to discover Michael Bartocetti's crazy, ultra-gourmand Paris-Brest at the Galerie du Georges V. [Read more]
Jeffrey Cagnes' Paris-Brest
Jeffrey Cagnes has finally opened his own patisserie-chocolaterie. We're off to discover this atypical Paris-Brest that has everything to please gourmet lovers. [Read more]
Boris Lumé, the ultra creative bakery and pastry shop in Montmartre
Boris Lumé is a bakery that delights Parisian sweet-tooths with creative pastries from two locations in Paris's 18th arrondissement. If you're a fan of local nuggets, this is the place to go. [Read more]
Paris-Brest from Le Bon Pâtisserie
As its name suggests, this Paris-Brest is very good! Choux pastry, hazelnut almond praline cream and homemade praline are the ingredients of this beautiful home-made pastry. [Read more]
Philippe Conticini's Paris-Brest in Paris
Philippe Conticini is undoubtedly the king of Paris-Brest, and we're off to discover these treasures in his Paris boutiques. [Read more]
Bo&Mie's Paris New York
Let's head for the USA with this 'Paris New-York' by Nicolas Wikart and his team! For this variation on Paris Brest, Pecan Nuts - the flagship product of US patisserie - replace hazelnuts! The program features a BO&MIE choux pastry dough, a light pecan cream and a mini chou at its heart. [Read more]
Laurent Duchêne's Paris-Brest
t's obvious that we've adopted the Paris-Brest finger food style. Gourmet goodness and praline are on the menu for this delicacy. [Read more]
Big-Brest from Pâtisserie Cédric Grolet at Le Meurice Paris
We've fallen for the Big Brest with its flowing praline heart, which comes in different versions according to the season. [Read more]
Tomo's Paris-Brest, the Franco-Japanese pastry expert in dorayaki
Tomo is THE Franco-Japanese patisserie in Paris where you can devour dorayaki, those delicious airy Japanese pastries. Don't miss the Paris-Brest revisited version. [Read more]
Find the location of all these places by clicking on the map at the bottom of the article.
