We all know crepes, a French iconic food par excellence, together with the famous baguette and the well-known escargots. In this article I will take you with me on a journey to discover 4 crêperies you absolutely must try in Paris.
A boast of French culinary tradition, the origins of this food date back to the 12th century in Brittany, a northwestern region of France. The rocky terrain of this area made it difficult for almost any kind of cultivation, with the only exception of buckwheat.
In the past, in fact, white flour was considered a novelty that not many people could afford. Therefore, the most suitable option was to use buckwheat, also known as “ble noir” (dark wheat) and more easily available in the area. This is where galettes, or savory crepes, are born, distinct from the well-known sweet crepes.
In Paris, in particular, thanks also to the strong presence of a Breton community, it is possible to try all kinds of crepes, from the simplest to the most substantial, to the most refined and gourmet. So, whether you want a buckwheat galette or a sweet crepe with Nutella, you can let your imagination run wild.
Therefore, I will tell you about the 4 crêperies that I had the opportunity to try in Paris. Yes, I know what you’re thinking “it must have been a really tough sacrifice to eat crepes for four days in a row.”
So, after sacrificing myself (a sacrifice that required a week of diet) for scientific purposes, I have below a ranking that you will find at the end of the article, divided into sweet and savory crepes.
- Les Crêpes de Louis-Marie.
I arrived in Paris almost at dinner time, so after checking in and freshening up, my main goal was to get dinner
I found these crêperies through google and a bit curious about the photos and a bit encouraged by the reviews, I ventured into it. It is a small crêperie almost hidden from the main street, with tables outside and a very cozy interior in the center of the 5th arrondissement. Both sweet and savory crepes were very good, all enriched by a friendly and kind staff.
What I ordered:
I ordered a galette with confit onion, goat cheese, and honey, while for dessert a Nutella crepe. The savory crepe was very good and flavorful and as a lover of goat cheese I can only recommend it.
Location
1 Rue de l’Arbalète, 75005 Paris, France – V arrondissement
2. Le Crépuscule
I found this very small crêperie, like the last time, almost by accident. I was wandering near the Eiffel Tower in the hope of finding a place to eat. Let’s just say that the idea of having dinner for four nights in a row with crêpes was born right here. After trying two crêperies, I then thought of searching for small, unknown gems on the web. Le Crepuscule is exactly that: a small gem. It’s a small place but super welcoming, typically French, with all the tables attached (to leave and even go to the bathroom the owner would come to help by moving and re-fitting the table) and only the owner serving. Among the things that struck me was the possibility of creating your own galette with 3 ingredients of your choice, not bad, right?
What I ordered:
Here I also ordered a galette with goat cheese, but this time with bacon, tomato, and an egg, concluding the meal with the (phenomenal) crêpe with Nutella. In any case, both the galette and the crêpe were very tasty, but if I had to express a judgment, I would say that the Nutella crêpe is the best I have ever eaten (small spoiler ahah but please continue reading for the final ranking!)
Location
18 Rue Amélie, 75007 Paris, France – VII arrondissement
3. Le Chalet du 8ème
I found myself in the Champs-Élysées area and decided to venture into one of the streets near les Galeries Lafayette. It is a very quiet and welcoming restaurant, with dim lights and wooden walls, aimed at recreating the typical environment of a mountain chalet.
What I ordered:
I decided to try a different galette, with chicken, cheddar cheese, bacon, tomato and onion. Although it was not definitely a light and digestible choice, I have to say that the taste was very good and the consistency perfect (it was crispy enough, which I really appreciated). I also ordered a sweet crepe with Nutella whose taste was not bad. Unfortunately, however, the consistency, on the other hand, was different from the others tried.
I had the impression that the crepe had been cooked a long time before – maybe by mistake – and then reheated again. I would like to be wrong about this, but I still don’t want to penalize this good crêperie.
Location
8 Rue du Commandant Rivière, 75008 Paris, France – VIII arrondissement
La Crêperie de Josselin
This is a beautiful and characteristic crêperie located in the heart of Paris, in the Montparnasse district. The interior is cozy and reminiscent of a classic Parisian bistro.
One of my goals was definitely to visit the Montparnasse district, but also to try one of the crêpes in this historic place. I loved it deeply, and I have to say that the crepes were up to expectations. If you are around Paris you must absolutely come here.
What I ordered: At my last stop and last crêperie of the week, I decided to try the classic complete galette, with eggs, ham and cheese which, I have to say, I really appreciated. Here too I tried a Nutella crêpe that I would absolutely order again.
Location
67 Rue du Montparnasse, 75014 Paris, France – XIV arrondissement
My final ranking
This is my final ranking. We have now reached the most important part of this article, the final ranking that will see one of these crêperies triumph. As I said, I decided to make two different rankings to distinguish sweet crêpes from savory ones, although I have to say that I appreciated every place for its cuisine and characteristics. But enough with the talk:
-For you sweet lovers, here is the ranking of the four crêperies that I preferred based on the sweet crêpe with Nutella:
The undisputed 1st place goes to Le Crepuscule: the crêpe was both filled and covered with Nutella. I swear that I still dream of this crêpe weeks later.
Runner-up and following: (2nd) La Crêperie de Josselin, (3rd) Le Chalet du 8ème, (4th) Les Crêpes de Louis-Marie
-For you savory lovers, in anticipation of trying one (or more) of the incredible galettes, here is my ranking:
I decided to award the 1st place to Le Chalet du 8ème: the galette was not only delicious in taste, but also, according to my preference, brittle at the right point, a characteristic that distinguished it from the other crêperies in the competition.
Runner-up and following: I decided to award the second place, on a par, to all the other crêperies since I really appreciated each of the galettes that I tried. So, whether you decide to try Les Crêpes de Louis-Marie, Le Crepuscule or La Crêperie de Josselin, you will still make a good choice, I assure you!
Let me know if you have any suggestions or if you maybe know a crêperie that I haven’t tried and that I should definitely include in my next trip to Paris.
If you’re instead planning your trip to the French capital, on the blog you will also find other articles and useful tips on Paris.
To find out more, here are other articles :
Discover the City of Love: A 5-Day Paris Itinerary
The 10 Most Beautiful Quotes About Paris
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