The Best Crepes in Paris

Looking for the best crepes in Paris? You’re not alone! Many people only experience this treat the first time they visit the French capital. But trust me, once you have your first crepe you will be hooked!

These thin pancakes originated in the Brittany region of France in the 13th century, and have been a staple of the country ever since. Crêpes were originally eaten during Candlemas, an event when Mary presented Jesus 40 days after his birth.

Known as the Fète des Chandelles or La Chandeleur (the French word chandeleur comes from the word chandelle meaning “candle”), today it is a festival of crêpes celebrated on February 2nd in France, Belgium, and the French-speaking part of Switzerland. (Also known to many as crêpe day!)

For the longest time, the best restaurants for this Breton classic were found in the Montparnasse area. Why? The Montparnasse train station was the point of entry for most of the people from Brittany.

French people from this region came to Paris by train and stayed in the neighborhood where they found other Bretons. From the mid-19th century through the 1960s they came to settle in Paris. And they opened up crepe restaurants.

Crêpes are some of the easiest foods to eat – they can be eaten plain, with everyday basic ingredients or gourmet toppings, and are often portable as you will often find them on the streets of Paris. You would find them (especially a Nutella crepe) in student areas like the Latin Quarter, at the marchés like Marché Bastille and Marché des Enfants Rouge, and at festivals.

French crêpes come in two main categories, sweet crepes, and savory crepes. Sweet crêpes are topped with anything from sugar (including powdered sugar) and butter to whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and jams, and everything in between!

Savory crêpes, also known as a galette, start with simple ham and cheese (often emmental, Gruyère cheese, or goat cheese) and can be filled with bacon, andouille sausage, and a green salad and meats. It is a very versatile dish!

What is a crêpe and how to eat it?

The word crêpe comes from the Latin word crispus, meaning curled. It reflects how the crêpes curl at the edges or can be stuffed and folded. Crêpes can be considered a thin American pancake but the main difference is the absence of baking powder (which helps the pancake batter to rise and become fluffy). 

Crêpes are made with the simplest of ingredients – flour, butter, eggs, salt, and water. The batter is poured and smoothened on a pan with a wooden scraper to make them as thin as possible. The heat adds a slight crisp to the edges of the crepe, which can be eaten plain or with sweet or savory stuffings. 

La crêpe is a very common food in French households as well. It is a traditional way for a French family to gather for a meal (especially with children). Unlike Americans, French people don't eat crepes for breakfast. They will have a galette for lunch or dinner, or a crêpe sucrée as a treat or for dessert.

[Growing up my family would make crepes that we would put peanut butter or strawberries in for a breakfast treat!]

What is the difference between a crêpe and a galette?

Crêpes and galettes both originated in Brittany and have similar ingredients. 

Galettes are made using buckwheat flour, are topped with savory ingredients like ham, fried egg, cheese, vegetables, or fish, and are served as a main dish. They have a darker hue and a slightly nutty flavor when fully cooked. Galettes are best enjoyed with apple cider, a perfect French pairing! The apple ciders are hard ciders and are served in a bowl of cider as is the French tradition.

Crêpes, on the other hand, are made with regular flour and are typically enjoyed as a sweet dessert. This is one of the reasons why they’re smaller than the galettes. Crêpes have a runny batter that is spread on a crepe pan to make them thin. They are often paired with dessert wines or even coffee and tea.

There are a number of excellent crêperies in Paris to choose from, each having a wide variety of delicious crêpe menus to try. So whether you’re in the mood for a dessert crêpe or a savory treat with egg and cheese, here are some of the best spots to find delicious crepes!

Where can you get the best crepes in Paris?

Breizh Café

At the top of everyone’s list is the trendy Breizh Cafe, a slice of Brittany in the very heart of Paris! Created by Bertrand Larcher, the crêpes here are made with high-quality ingredients and topped with a generous amount of tasty butter.

I first tried Breizh before they opened their Paris locations at the original restaurant in Cancale and it was magical. They have managed to keep the quality in their restaurants in Paris which is an accomplishment and they remain one of the best crêpes in the city and my personal favorite!

With influences from Bretagne (Bertrand’s hometown) and Japan, the cafe has a modern vibe with pale wood decorations. From traditional ham and cheese crêpes to special dessert crêpes, the cafe has ample choices for all customers. Bonus, the cafe is also open on Sundays and is one of the best places to get authentic Breton crêpes!

Breizh has vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

Breizh Locations:

• Montorgueil: 14 Rue des Petits Carreaux, 2nd Arr
• Le Marais: 109 Rue Vieille du Temple, 3rd Arr
• 1 Rue de l'Odéon, 6th Arr
• Canal Saint-Martin: 112 Quai de Jemmapes, 10th Arr
• 23 Rue Paul Bert, 11th Arr
• Passy: 4 Impasse des Carrières, 16th Arr
• Batignolles: 31 rue de Batignolles, 17 Arr
• Abbesses: 93 rue des Martyrs, 18 Arr
• Crêperie Little Breizh: 11 Rue Grégoire de Tours, 6th Arr

Bernadette

One of the most charming crepe places in Paris serving carefully selected vintage ciders and mouth-watering crêpes, Bernadette was created in memory of the owner’s grandmother, who instilled in him traditional values. The happy and friendly Bernadette restaurant has inventive recipes with locally sourced ingredients and locally brewed ciders and beers. Another reason it is often considered to have the best crepes in Paris!

Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.

Address: 2 bis Rue Neuve Popincourt, 11th Arr

La Crêperie de Josselin

One of the most highly regarded crêperies (what crepe restaurants in Paris are called), La Creperie de Josselin is an institution in Paris and often cited as having the best crepes in Paris. Located on a street filled with other crêperies, Josselin welcomes you with an old-world charm and mouth-watering Breton-style crêpes, served alongside Breton cider.

With a large selection of sweet and savory crêpes, Josselin is a hit with locals and tourists alike. It has efficient service and is a stone's throw from the Montparnasse train station.

Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.

Address: 67 Rue du Montparnasse, 14th Arr

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A few more places to get French crepes in Paris

The good news is that on your next Paris trip, you will find that there are plenty of options for getting your fix of Parisian crepes! With the top ones mentioned above plus the list below, there is at least one in every arrondissement!

[Except for the 1st! I have yet to find a good one in the 1st arrondissement, but happy to hear suggestions if someone has one!]

If you hang out with locals, you will observe that everyone has a good crêperie in their back pocket and all will claim theirs as having the best crepes in Paris. The only way to find out is to start your own research!

• Chez Alain Miam Miam (26 Rue Charlot) in the 3rd Arr
• Mad'eo (19 Rue de Picardie) in the 3rd Arr
• La Droguerie Du Marais (56 Rue des Rosiers) in the 4th Arr
• Au P'tit Grec (68 Rue Mouffetard) in the 5th Arr
• Les Crêpes de Louis-Marie (1 Rue de l'Arbalète) in the 5th Arr
• Crêperie des Pêcheurs (27 Rue Saint-André des Arts) in the 6th Arr
• Au Ducs de Bourgogne (30 Rue de Bourgogne) in the 7th Arr
• Crêperie Au phare de saint Lazare (35 Rue du Rocher) in the 8th Arr
• Caramel Sarrasin (47 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre) in the 9th Arr
• Lucette Fait des Crepes (4 Rue de Milan) in the 9th Arr
• Kasha (9 Rue des Récollets) in the 10th Arr
• Lulu la Nantaise (67 Rue de Lancry) in the 10th Arr
• Tanguy (15 Rue de l’Échiquier) in the 10th Arr
• Chez Imogène (25 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud) in the 11th Arr
• Bretons (56 Avenue de la République) in the 11th Arr
• Krügen (58 rue de la Fontaine-au-Roi) in the 11th Arr
• Mamie Tevennec (41 Rue Faidherbe) in the 11th Arr
• La Crêperie Bretonne Fleurie de l'Épouse du Marin (67 Rue de Charonne) in the 11th Arr
• Les Embruns (8 Rue de Lyon) in the 12th Arr
• Blé Noir (15 Boulevard de Port-Royal) in the 13th Arr
• Ti Jos (30 rue Delambr) in the 14th Arr
• Crêperie Le Petit Plougastel (47 rue Montparnasse) in the 14th Arr
• Crêperie Mad'eo! (14 Rue de Cadix) in the 15th Arr
• Brutus (99 rue des Dames) in the 17th Arr
• Fricotin (85 bis Av. de Wagram) in the 17th Arr
• Crêperie Brocéliande (15 Rue des Trois Frères) in the 18th Arr
• La Cantine Bretonne (22bis Rue de l'Ourcq) in the 19th Arr
• Au ti breizh (5 Pl. Auguste Métivier) in the 20th Arr

Common Crêperie Menu Items

Once you find the perfect location for your authentic French crepe meal, you might wonder which galette or crepe to select and which crepe fillings to pick! While there are endless possibilities, these are some classic French crepes you will find in most restaurants.

Popular Savory Crêpes – Galettes:

• Nature: plain buckwheat galette (Blé noir or sarrasin which is the type of flour) salted butter and (beurre salé)
• Jambon, emmental: ham and cheese
• Œuf, jambon: egg and ham
• Œuf, emmental: egg and cheese
• Complète: Sunny side up egg, ham and emmental cheese (Œuf, jambon, emmental)
• If you see the word complète next to a menu item, it means there is an egg on top
• Forestière: Mushrooms, pancetta, emmental cheese and crème fraîche (kind of like a cream cheese) (Champignon, lardon, emmental, crème fraîche)
• Nordique: Lettuce, smoked salmon, crème fraîche, and lemon (Salade, saumon fumé, crème fraîche, citron)
• La Truite: Smoked salmon, leeks, crème fraîche, lemon and salad (Truite fumée, poireaux, crème fraîche, citron, mesclun)
• Provençale: Sunny side up egg, ham, emmental cheese, tomatoes and herbs (Œuf, jambon, emmental, tomates, herbes de Provence)
• Paysanne: Sunny side up egg, pancetta, onion, emmental cheese, and potatoes (Œuf, lardons, oignons, emmental, pommes de terre
• Poireaux crème curry: leek curried crème fraîche
• Andouille: smoked pork sausage
• Oignons confits: onion jam
• Quatre (4) Fromage: 4 cheeses, usually emmental, raclette, plus a bleu and 4th cheese like Camembert, goat, etc.
• Landaise: Smoked duck breast, potatoes, emmental, and crème fraîche (Magret de canard fumé, pommes de terre, emmental, crème fraîche)
• Popeye: Sunny side up egg, spinach, emmental cheese and crème fraîche (Œuf, épinards, emmental, crème fraîche)

Popular Sweet Crêpes (Dessert Crepes):

• Beurre: butter
• Beurre sucre: butter and sugar
• Miel: honey
• Caramel au beurre salé: caramel and salted butter
• Chocolat (or Nutella) et chantilly: chocolate and whipped cream
• Confiture: jam
• Compotée de pommes: apple compote
• Glace: ice cream
• Crème de marron: chestnut cream
• Various forms of fresh fruit or fruit flambéed with rum, Calvados, or Grand Marnier

Crepe Tours and Classes in Paris

I don't know of any crepe food tours (that would be awesome!) you can do a tour that includes a crepe or learn how to make a crepe in a cooking class during your visit.

Bringing Paris with You: Making Crepes at Home

If you are looking to make perfect French crepes once you get home from Paris then look no further than Bon Appétit magazine for their basic crepe recipe and basic buckwheat recipe. Julia Child taught America to make the perfect French crepe and you can do it too!

How about you? Have you been lucky to have authentic crêpes in Paris? Who do you think has the best crepes in Paris? Have you ever made this French classic at home? Ever had a crepe party? Have any unique crêpe recipes to share? Do you prefer sweet, savory, or salty crêpes? Do tell!

AUTHOR BIO

Andi Fisher

I am married to a French man, lived in France for 3 years, and have been to Paris more than 50 times. I am always a tourist so the information, tip, and tricks I share are created to help you!

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