Believe it or not, crepes can be done wrong, even in Paris. Thatâs why weâre letting you in on our list of favorite crepe and galette makers in the City of Light. We want to make sure you get that hot, buttery speciality just right.Â
First, letâs get one thing straight. Here in France, we donât just have sweet crepes, dripping with butter, sugar, and lemon and treading the line between uncooked doughy goo and crispiness. You can get salty ones, too, called galettes â thin layers of buckwheat batter poured over a piping hot cast-iron plate, and served laden with butter, melted cheese, and thick-sliced country ham. This emblematic food of Brittany, Franceâs westernmost province, has some extraordinary outposts in Paris.
No matter which of the above youâre craving (maybe both!), we want to share our picks for the best crepes in Paris. Hereâs where to meet the crepe and galette masters.Â
Where to find the best crepes in Paris
Chez Alain Miam Miam
Chez Alain Miam Miam has mythic status for a reason. Tucked away in the historic MarchĂ© des Enfants Rouge on a buzzing street in the trendy Haut-Marais, Alain spends his days spreading butter on cast iron plates, pouring batter over the heat, and loading up his crepes and galettes with all-organic produce. And thereâs no shortage of it. His crepes and galettes are hugeâbig enough for twoâand bursting with flavor.Â
He doesnât stop at the classic ham and cheese comboâalthough thatâs definitely availableâbut also makes buckwheat bouquets of fresh salad, cured ham and aged cheese. Or salty, crispy, thin chickpea pancake versions. Or sweet sugary, lemony crepesâclassic or with orange blossom. And donât get us started on his sandwichesâŠÂ
This stand is not a secret and we suggest getting there early, before the market gets swamped with locals who lunch. But even if you arrive when the line is at its midday peak, Alainâs famous crepes are always worth the wait.
Insiderâs Tip: In addition to the stall at the MarchĂ© des Enfants Rouge, Alain also has his own cafĂ© just around the corner at 26 Rue Charlot.
Breizh Café
Since they first set up shop in 2013, Breizh CafĂ© outposts have since popped up all over the capital â and even expanded to Tokyo!
Owned and run by Bertrand Larcher, one of Brittanyâs own, Breizh has become synonymous with quality ingredients both on your plate and in your glass. In perfect tandem with the nutty taste of buckwheat galettes is crisp hard cider, and Breizh prides itself in its extensive cider and perry menu. The hard ciders hail from the famous apple growing regions of Normandy and Brittany.
Itâs hard not to be seduced by the all wooden interiors, charming waiters in striped t-shirts, creative crepe menu and sparkling ciders. Once again, be prepared to form an orderly line for their heralded Marais address, while youâll find more space in the other Paris locations.Â
MarchĂ© BastilleÂ
Bastille is one of Parisâ most famous fresh produce markets, and a perfect place to check out how the locals shop. Nestled in among award-winning fishmongers and mountains of organic vegetables is one of the best crepes weâve ever had. Let your nose be guided by the mixture of hot melted cheese and pork sausage with lashings of butter.
This family-run stall is packed full of traditional Brittany ingredients and recipes; chestnut cream and yogurt, or tripe sausage from GuemĂ©nĂ© make your galette just that extra bit more authentic. ThatÂ
Bastille Market is held on Thursdays and Sundays, and the stall can only be found with your nose. Itâs at the intersection of Boulevard Richard Lenoir and Rue Davalâbut trust us, youâll catch that heavenly scent.
La CrĂȘperie at MarchĂ© Notre Dame (Versailles)Â
Versailles, in all its golden splendor, unfortunately boasts very few good restaurants. Luckily for us, tucked in the back corner of the sprawling fresh produce market is one of the finest creperies in all the region.Â
The stall, simply called âLa CrĂȘperie,â is the perfect marriage of all things Brittany: salted butter and nutty buckwheat rolled into a delectable treat, ready to be devoured on the spot. Schedule in some time to wander around the market on your way to visit the Palace of Versailles, because it all shuts down around 3 p.m.
Find this crepe stall just next to the doors of the hall marked âCarrĂ© Ă la Farine.â
Lulu la Nantaise
A stoneâs throw from the Canal Saint-Martin is this authentic little crepe and galette specialist. Nestled between natural wine bars, trendy bookstores and artisan coffee shops, Lulu la Nantaise knows their crowd, and thus serves only organic produce and a ton of vegetarian options. Their classic ham and cheese galette certainly deserves its place on the menu, and is joined by original combinations like Camembert, confit onions, and walnuts, or goatâs cheese with zucchini and tomatoes, season permitting.Â
The trendy â and picturestque â Canal Saint-Martin neighborhood is where Parisâ picnickers hang out, with groups of people lining up along its edges as soon as the sun is out. Get your galettes and crepes to go, or enjoy Luluâs terrace, the perfect spot to catch some rays from May through September.Â
A note about creperies in ParisÂ
If you feel like you want to experience the full spectrum of Paris street food, we recommend lining up at a crepe stand after midnight for the true experience. Crepes and galettes are the drunk food of Parisâ student population!
Thereâs only one viable savory option at these places: an all-cheese galette with samurai sauce. Meat is not advised at these late-night stands. Nor do we know the ingredients of samurai sauce â but we know itâs good. Late-night crepes are consumed at userâs own risk.
Update notice: This article was updated on August 5, 2024.
If you couldnât tell, weâre pretty serious about our crepes here in Paris. If you want to get in on the action, come along on our Ultimate Paris Food Tour. Youâll learn more about insider spots that locals love!