The Ultimate Paris Cookie Guide (according to me)
A passionate, sugar-fueled deep dive into the Parisian cookie scene.
I’ve been threatening to drop some niche Paris guides for a while now, and well—here we are. If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I looooove a cookie. Always have, always will. And lately, I’ve noticed something magical happening: Paris is having a cookie moment.
When I say I’m a cookie girl, I mean it. This is not a phase. So before we get into my Paris picks, a bit of background on my cookie credentials:
Origin Story: The $250 Cookie That Started It All
I was raised on the legendary Neiman Marcus $250 cookie—or at least the myth of it. If you somehow missed this 90s/early-2000s internet lore, here’s the gist: a woman eats a cookie at a Neiman Marcus café, asks for the recipe, and is told it’ll cost “two-fifty.” She assumes $2.50, agrees, and later finds out her credit card was charged $250. Enraged, she leaks the recipe online as revenge.
Neiman Marcus says the whole thing is an urban legend, but my mom got her hands on the recipe—and that’s what mattered. I grew up believing we had unlocked some elite, slightly scandalous cookie secret. I felt special. I felt powerful. I felt full.
The American Cookie Trifecta That Raised Me
When I moved to the U.S. in 2001, I was introduced to Famous Amos—the backbone of American public school snack culture. Little did I know, these mini chocolate chip cookies were started by Wally Amos in 1975, with a $25,000 loan from none other than Marvin Gaye. Iconic, tbh.
There was also my Entenmann’s soft-baked phase, which involved microwaving the cookies for 30 seconds and eating them with a glass of whole milk. Oh! to have the stomach of a pre-teen again.
And, of course, Mrs. Fields—because I, too, was hanging out at a mall for fun before malls started disappearing.
Breakups Taste Better with Cookies
Flash forward to 2015. I was living in New York, broke, going through a breakup, and working as a lifestyle writer. My survival toolkit included Seamless delivery, bodega sandwiches, and Insomnia Cookies—the ultimate heartbreak snack, delivered warm until 3 a.m. Their M&M cookie carried me through some dark nights (emotionally, and literally, thanks to the late-night delivery window).
Eventually, I graduated from Insomnia to the grown-up stuff: Levain, of course. And Maman’s cookies, Oprah-approved and flaky in all the right ways.
Present Day: Searching for Comfort in Paris
Now I’m in Paris, still a cookie girl, still looking for that same joy, comfort, and unnecessary caloric intake in a baked good.
And while I’m still eating my way through Paris’s sweetest corners, I’ve pulled together a starting list of the best cookies I’ve tried so far—because a girl never forgets her first (or fifth) perfect bite. I’m not including my friend Alanna’s cookies, though they’re definitely in my top 3, because:
Not everyone is lucky enough to have an Alanna in their lives who shows up to social events with a Ziploc full of homemade cookies.
I have no idea what recipe she uses, and honestly, I’m not sure I want to know. Some things are meant to be gatekept.
So, let’s get to it!
Puffy (8e, 9e, 15e and 16e)
Levain’s French Cousin
I recently wrote about them in my March recap, but here’s a little taste:
Puffy’s cookies are CHUNKY. Like Levain’s, they’re so big they’re almost tall. Packed with chocolate, nuts, and a gooey, chewy center, they’re the closest thing to Levain I’ve found outside of New York.
What to order: Honestly, they’re all great. I love their peanut butter cookie, and lately I’ve been very into the white chocolate macadamia. But if you’re craving a more classic flavor, go for the double chocolate and hazelnut.
Union Boulangerie (9e and 11e)
A New Favorite
Paul’s sister told me about this place, and every time I’ve tried to go, the cookies have been sold out. Last time, the woman working there told me to come early—they go fast. So I did... and finally got my hands on one. HOLY HELL.
They quickly became one of my favorites. They offer two kinds: chocolate chip and chocolate chip with hazelnuts. I personally preferred the regular chocolate chip. They’ve got just the right amount of chunky chocolate, a sprinkle of flaky salt on top, and they’re soft enough in the middle to gently fall apart after every bite (a compliment).
What to order: IMHO, the classic chocolate chip is far superior.
Le Pain Retrouvé (9e)
Hidden in Plain Sight
This spot is solid across the board. Everything they make is good. Somehow, Paul and I once ended up with a cookie here—which is surprising, because when you walk in, it’s the breads and pastries that steal the spotlight. But don’t sleep on their cookies.
They’re crunchy and sturdy on the outside, soft (but not raw) in the middle, and made with dark chocolate chips and toffee hazelnuts. A delightful surprise.
What to order: They only have one kind—but while you’re there, try anything else they make. You won’t be disappointed.
Oobatz (11e)
Home of the Pizzookie
I already wrote a love letter to the Pizzookie, which, in my humble opinion, is one of Oobatz’s best creations. If you missed it: Oobatz is a pizza restaurant in the 11th (and one of my favorites), and for dessert they serve a warm cookie—the Pizzookie—with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
It’s perfect. It’s €14. It’s worth every cent.
What to order: There’s only one Pizzookie, but if you want to change it up, ask for their cheesecake ice cream instead of vanilla. Trust.
Le Comptoir de Madeleine (9e)
The Madeleines I’ll Never Stop Recommending
Since I live in France, I had to include a proper French cookie. Even though most French people would classify them as “cakes” I think of madeleines as cookies. I’ve loved madeleines ever since I thought Starbucks’ packaged ones were the real thing. (They are not.) Once I had a fresh one in France, my entire worldview shifted.
Le Comptoir de Madeleine is an unassuming little bakery with takeout window service in the 9th—and in my opinion, they make the best madeleines I’ve ever had. Yes, I’ve tried that fancy hotel’s madeleines (I won’t be name-dropping here, but DM me if you’re curious). They were dry and overpriced. I’ll never stray from my window spot again.
What to order: They rotate flavors, so always ask about the madeleine du moment—it’s usually delightful. I personally love their caramel madeleine. It strikes the perfect balance between crunchy, spongey and gooey.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
L'arpaon (18e)
A cookie for dessert kind of place
I went to this neo-bistro (read: hip, cute spot) last fall and had a great meal, but the surprise star was the cookie on the dessert menu. It was amazing. That said, menus in French restaurants change often, so I’m not sure if it’s still available. If you go, let me know!
Dear Jane (2e)
An Unexpected Surprise
While wandering through the 2nd arrondissement, I stumbled upon this tiny, cozy café called Dear Jane. The smell alone pulled me in. According to their Instagram, they specialize in chewy, thick American-style cookies.
I panic-ordered the regular chocolate chip and the pain d’épices cookie. Both were delicious. I regret not trying the double chocolate or salted caramel flavors—they looked incredible. Good thing I can go back.
Echo (2e)
The Crème Brûlée Cookie
My friend Leah (BUY HER ART) told me about this one. Echo, one of my favorite brunch spots in Paris, apparently did a crème brûlée cookie collab with Boneshaker Donuts.
I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but from what I’ve seen online, it looks amazing. I’ll DM them to see if it’s still on the menu and will report back.
Cojean (all over the city)
Deceptively Delicious
Another Leah gem. I used to go to Cojean for lunch all the time back when I had a corporate job in Paris, but somehow never tried their cookies. Leah says it’s “deceptively delicious.” So naturally, it’s now on my must-try list.
Pierre Hermé (all over the city)
If You Must Have a Macaron, Skip Ladurée
Actually—do whatever you want. But if you were to ask me, I’d skip Ladurée. Mainly because it’s an international chain you can now find in most major cities (and yes, even some airports).
If you’re craving a macaron because you want to feel like it’s 2010 again and you just discovered Tumblr—go for it. But if you want something genuinely good (and a little less basic), head to Pierre Hermé instead.
Not only are the textures perfect, but the flavor combos are actually interesting. I’m obsessed with the Mogador—a passion fruit macaron filled with silky chocolate ganache. Unexpected, but it works.
Cédric Grolet Café (2e)
Controversial Pick
If you’ve had access to Instagram in the last five years, chances are you’ve seen a Cédric Grolet pastry video during your routine doom scroll. I’ll admit it—I was fully obsessed when I first moved here.
Now? I think he’s mostly overrated. However, his cookies are actually so good. They’re ridiculously expensive, but for the low, low price of €35 (lol), you can get what’s basically a cookie-pizza hybrid: a giant round made up of different cookie slices.
I’ve already given this man far too much money, but I might just cave for this cookie slice situation.
The search continues, so I will updating this list as I go. Let me know if you try any of these.
Wow I did not expect a double reference in this most sacred of guides!! I hope my recs pull through