The warmer months in Paris call for ice cream, gelato and sorbet. Not surprisingly there are plenty of fantastic Parisian ice cream parlours to satisfy your cravings! The best ice cream in Paris is found in iconic establishments known for their long-standing excellence, and in pop-up shops where customers happily join the long line to taste handmade ice cream.
My journey to discover the best gelato, sorbet and ice cream in Paris, was filled with inventive flavour combinations that were simply delectable. Looking for a classic chocolate ice cream cone? Artisanal ice cream expertise in Paris produces creamy classic favourites that are drop-to-your-knees delicious.
Follow along on this tasty trip through different neighbourhoods for the best ice cream in Paris. And gelato. And sorbet. It’s a delicious journey!
Best Ice Cream in Paris
1. Berthillon
The Berthillon family has been making sorbet and ice cream on Ile Saint-Louis since 1954. Raymond Berthillon started the sorbet shop, and today, Berthillon ice cream and sherbert are created on the premises with the same recipes. Pistachio, coffee, and hazelnut are my favourite flavours but it’s hard to resist the sorbets made with seasonal fruits including passion fruit, pear, rhubarb, and melon.
Find the iconic storefront on charming Ile Saint Louis. Have a seat at the Berthillon Café or order your ice cream at the counter and wander down the steps to sit by the banks of the Seine River. It’s the perfect addition to a summer day in Paris.
One of my Parisian friends is confident that the Berthillon is the best ice cream in Paris. You be the judge. Have a tasting fiesta. Is the famous Berthillon the best ice cream in Paris?
- Location: 29-31 rue Saint-Louis en l’île, 75004 Paris
- Hours 2024: Wednesday to Sunday 10 AM to 8 PM; Closed Monday and Tuesday.
- Vegan-Friendly Sorbets
2. La Glace Alain Ducasse, Manufacture à Paris
Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse had already won me over with his artisanal chocolates. His ice cream, I knew would be delicious.
There were 8 flavours to choose from on the day I was there. The young man behind the counter answered all my questions and passionately shared his knowledge of the flavours, and the orange turbines used to make the ice cream with the freshest ingredients.
He was more than accommodating in giving me samples. The problem with the samples? Every flavour is to die for. Grapefruit and Vermouth. Peruvian Chocolate. Three Vanillas. Pralines, Hazelnut and Hibiscus. Pistachio with morsels of pralinated pistachios. Swoon.
A hard choice, I decided on one scoop of Citrus Sorbet made from lemon, clementines, kumquats and kumquat marmalade. My second scoop was the Peruvian chocolate.
The entire experience was heavenly. Beat the summer heat and head to the 11th arrondissement and have a drop-to-your-knees ice cream in Paris experience!
- Location: 38 rue de la Roquette, 75011 Paris
- Hours 2024: Wednesday to Sunday 12 to 2:30 PM & 3:30 PM to 7 PM; Saturday open until 8 PM; Sunday open until 7:30 PM; Closed Monday, and Tuesday.
3. Folderol Ice Cream Shop And Wine Bar
When I first heard of Folderol, I knew I needed to go. An ice cream parlour and natural wine bar all in one? Two of my favourite things! Simply enticing.
I arrived on a Friday evening and Folderol was buzzing. One glance tells the story. People gathered about, happily sipping wine accompanied by ice cream.
With one preliminary sample of the olive oil ice cream, I was blown away. Olive oil ice cream and a glass of a Gamay rosé. The entire experience exceeded expectations. Is this possibly the best ice cream in Paris? Head to the 11th arrondissement and try one of the best ice cream in Paris experiences.
- Location: 10 rue du Grand Prieuré, 75011 Paris
- Hours 2024: Wednesday to Sunday 4 PM to 11 PM; Closed Monday and Tuesday.
4. Glace Bachir
You’ll see the lineup before you notice the cute red-striped awning. An invitation to savour Lebanese ice cream – 100% Lebanese and 100% certified organic ingredients. The Achta ice cream and pistachio crunch gets me every time. It’s delectable!
What is Achta ice cream? The speciality of Glace Bachir is made with pistachio beans, milk flower, and orange blossom. It’s a truly unique flavour and well worth trying.
Glace Bachir is a multigenerational family business that originated in 1936 in a small village in Lebanon. In 2017 they opened their first Paris ice cream parlour in the Marais near the Georges Pompidou Centre.
- Location: 58 rue Rambuteau, 75004 Paris (le Marais) and 7 rue Tardieu, 75018 Paris (Montmartre)
- Hours 2024: Daily 12:20 PM to 10:30 PM
5. Le Bac à Glaces
A stroll up rue du Bac in the 7th arrondissement would not be complete without a stop at Le Bac à Glaces where homemade Parisian ice cream has been created since 1955. The family business, which spans three generations, creates fabulous fresh and unique flavours on-site using natural ingredients and less sugar than most other brands. Inventive flavours include green tea matcha, caramel and ginger, and raspberry and rose. Traditional flavours such as pistachio ice cream and vanilla ice cream are, of course, available. Creamy ice cream and refreshing sorbets don’t disappoint at Le Bac à Glaces.
Get there early in the summer months or risk a “Sold Out” sign! The ice cream parlour has plenty of room to sit and enjoy your treat. The antique ice cream scoops lining the walls add to the authentic atmosphere in this famous Parisian ice-cream parlor.
Read more about Rue du Bac.
- Location: 109 rue du Bac, 75007 Paris
- Hours 2024: Daily 11 AM to 7 PM
6. La Tropicale
Can homemade ice cream in Paris be any more exotic? At La Tropicale, exotic flavours and ingredient combinations will have your taste buds humming. Whoever comes up with the flavour combinations is a genius. Bergamot and Coriander. Mandarin and Timut Pepper. Pumpkin Orange. Coffee and Kumquat. It’s 100% tropical, as the name indicates!
La Tropicale dishes out a refreshing and divine experience!
You can see this ice cream in Paris being made in the small kitchen by the counter. La Tropicale has ample seating inside and a few outdoor tables as well.
Add La Tropicale to your list of things to do in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. It’s close to the Promenade Plantée, so grab a dish of ice cream and go strolling!
- Location: 38 rue de Prague, 75012 Paris
- Hours 2024: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 10 AM to 5 PM; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10 AM to 7 PM; Closed Monday.
7. J J Hings Ice Cream Paris
We saw the long line first. Ice cream lovers reading the handmade sign attached with masking tape to the window. Small batches of handmade ice cream. Real seasonal fruits. A little shop by Canal St Martin. The unique flavors of ice cream and sorbet were intriguing. It had all the elements of a fun ice cream in Paris experience. We joined the queue!
Fig sorbet and salty pear ice cream were the perfect combination for my sweet tooth and my craving for an icy treat. I loved the energy at this pop-up shop. The scent of ice cream cones being made on the premises was seductive. (Why I didn’t choose a cone (cornet) I have no idea! It means I have to return!)
Add JJ Hings Ice Cream to your list of things to do in Canal St Martin and follow along on Instagram to see when they reopen for the summer months.
- Location: 5 rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010 Paris
- Hours 2024: TBD
- Vegan-Friendly Sorbets
8. Bältis Artisan Glacier
The pistachios and the delicate flowery taste of the Atcha ice cream is a winner! With hints of orange blossom, rose, and pistachio the incredible creamy Achta Ice Cream is a taste sensation. Order a cone and have it rolled with chopped pistachios for the ultimate experience. It’s rather heavenly.
If you’re not brave enough to try Atcha, Bältis has a list of classic flavours and plenty of vegan-friendly sorbets.
Bältis has a little bit of indoor seating – a funky pink booth and pink tables and chairs.
- Location: 27 rue Saint-Antoine, 75007 Paris
- Hours 2024: Monday to Thursday 1 PM to 7:30 PM; Friday and Saturday 12 to 11 PM; Sunday 12 to 7:30 PM
- Vegan-Friendly Sorbets
Best Gelato in Paris
9. Amorino
There are several appealing aspects to getting an ice cream cone at Amorino. First of all, the gelato is spooned with a spatula into the cone in the shape of a beautiful rose. It’s so elegant. For each rose petal, customers can choose a different gelato flavour.
Amorino’s artisanal gelato is made using the traditional Italian method with only the freshest, high-quality ingredients and no artificial colouring or flavours. The 36 flavours of ice cream and gelato are bold and delicious. An icy treat at Amorino is a cone-full of joy!
There are currently 200 boutiques worldwide. You’ll find many Paris locations.
- Locations: 43 rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris
- Hours 2024: Monday and Thursday 12 to 11:45 PM; Tuesday, Wednesday 11:30 AM to 11:35 PM; Friday, Saturday, Sunday 11:30 AM to 11:45 PM
- Vegan-Friendly Sorbets
10. Grom Montorgueil
I first sought out Grom with my daughter for their gluten-free ice cream cone. What I discovered was phenomenal Italian gelato and delicious gluten-free cones. Made in the Italian traditional method, the gelato at Grom is made with high-quality fresh milk and little sugar. There is a wide range of fun flavours from tiramisu to chestnut and plenty of traditional flavours to please every gelato lover! The fresh fruit sorbet flavours are plentiful. Grom has several locations in Paris. You’ll also find Grom throughout Italy. I found Grom in Trento and Verona!
- Locations: 96 rue Montorgueil, 75002 Paris
- Hours 2024: Monday to Thursday 12 to 11:30 PM; Saturday 11:00 AM to 12:30 AM; Sunday 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM
- Vegan-Friendly Sorbets
11. Venchi Chocolat and Gelato Montorgeuil
The artisanal gelato at Venchi, an Italian chocolate and gelato shop, is to die for. All the ingredients come from Italy and the artisanal gelato is handmade on the premises. It’s creamy and the flavours are intense. It’s the perfect refreshing treat to savour while out exploring Paris.
Sign up for their loyalty card (free) and receive a small chocolate bar for free!
There are several small tables outside the boutique on rues de Petits Carreaux to enjoy your gelato. I chose the hazelnut and cappuccino. Both were delicious.
For the vegans in the crowd, there are five sorbet flavours available (mostly fresh fruits).
- Locations:
- 12 rue des Petits Carreaux, 75002 Paris (the high end of rue Montorgeuil)
- 34 rue Tronchet, 75009 Paris
- 47 rue des Abbesses, 75018 Paris
- Hours 2024: Monday to Friday 9 AM to 10 PM; Saturday 10:30 AM to 11 PM; Sunday 10:30 AM to 10 PM
- Vegan-Friendly Sorbets
What The Difference Between Gelato, Ice Cream, and Sorbet?
Ice cream is made with cream, milk, sugar, and sometimes eggs. It has a higher fat content compared to gelato as it is made with cream. As we all know, ice cream comes in a wide range of flavours from classic flavours to inventive creations.
Gelato, originating from Italy, has a super creamy texture. It contains less cream and more milk compared to ice cream and thus has a lower fat content. Flavours are intense.
Sorbet, also known as sherbet, is mostly made from water, sugar, fruit purée or juice. It contains no dairy so is the perfect choice for vegans and those intolerant to dairy. It’s very refreshing and lighter than both ice cream and gelato.
As you can tell, there is no shortage of delicious ice cream in Paris! I hope this list of best ice cream in Paris leads you to enjoy some phenomenal handmade ice cream, artisanal gelato, and flavourful sorbets during your trip to the City of Light!
Until next time,
