Profiteroles in Paris: 12 Places That Pour the Sauce Hot
Profiteroles should be a little show: crisp choux puffs, cold vanilla ice cream, and a jug of hot chocolate sauce poured at the table. Too often in Paris you get soft, day-old choux and a squiggle of cold syrup from a bottle, at bistro prices.
Here are 12 places for profiteroles in Paris that do it properly, cross-checked across the guides locals trust, from cheap Belle Époque bouillons to classic bistros and a festive trattoria. Love choux? Try our éclairs too, or browse our traditional restaurants for the full French bistro menu.
A nostalgic Art Deco bistrot between Place des Vosges and Bastille, serving generous French classics with exceptional natural wines.
Fooding Award
TimeoutFooding
A legendary Saint-Germain-des-Prés bistrot serving timeless French classics since 1932, where traditional cuisine meets authentic Parisian charm.
TheFork Insider
Michelin
A legendary Parisian institution where Art Nouveau splendor meets affordable French bistro classics in a bustling, timeless atmosphere.
A historic monument since 1832 serving traditional French bouillon cuisine with Norman specialties in a classified Belle Époque setting.
Timeout
A charming French bistro on Place du Tertre serving homemade cuisine with fresh, seasonal ingredients and natural wines in the artistic heart of Montmartre.
TimeoutFoodingTrès Très Bon
A historic Belle Époque bouillon serving traditional French cuisine at remarkably affordable prices in a stunning Monument Historique setting.
A luminous neo-50s bistrot in the 11th arrondissement serving creative seasonal small plates and natural wines from morning coffee to late-night tapas.
TimeoutTrès Très Bon
A timeless Parisian brasserie serving authentic Burgundian specialties in a Belle Époque setting with an impressive wine selection.
A festive Italian trattoria where mafaldine are flambéed tableside in a wheel of Parmigiano, bringing the warmth of nonna's kitchen to Avenue du Maine.
A historic Parisian brasserie serving traditional French cuisine in an authentic Belle Époque setting since 1900.
A warm neighborhood bistrot serving traditional French comfort food with a 12/20 Gault&Millau rating, where Chef Clément Barbot celebrates timeless classics in a convivial 1970s-inspired setting.
A charming Belle Époque bistrot serving traditional French classics in a historic setting between Les Invalides and École Militaire.
Where to order profiteroles in Paris
Three things make great profiteroles. The choux should be baked the same day, crisp outside and hollow inside. The filling, usually vanilla ice cream or crème pâtissière, should be cold enough to contrast with the sauce. And the chocolate sauce should arrive warm, dark and generous, ideally poured in front of you. Each place page tells you which desserts regulars rave about, so you can plan your meal around the finale.
The bouillon way: cheap and cheerful
Bouillon Chartier, in the 9th, lists profiteroles among its must-try dishes, after onion soup, escargots or steak frites, all at small prices under an Art Nouveau ceiling. You can call to book; otherwise expect a queue at peak hours. Chartier Montparnasse, a Belle Époque bouillon in the 6th, and Le Petit Bouillon Pharamond, a classified dining room with Norman specialties in the 1st, serve them too. For more cheap classics, see our cheap restaurants and onion soup picks.
Bistros with a proper dessert menu
Allard, a Saint-Germain bistro since 1932, is the place for a long classic lunch: frogs' legs, cassoulet, sole meunière, then a savarin au rhum; its lunch menus are the best value. Up in Montmartre, Chez Eugène, on the Place du Tertre, lists profiteroles among its must-tries, after escargots en persillade. Near Place des Vosges, Bistrot des Tournelles does generous classics with natural wine. Attabler in the 16th, which also serves a poire Belle-Hélène, and Café Max, a Belle Époque bistro near Les Invalides, round out the list. See our floating island and chocolate mousse pages for more bistro desserts.
Twists on the classic
GRAMME 11, a neo-50s bistro in the 11th, swaps the vanilla for hojicha ice cream, a roasted green-tea note under the chocolate. O'Bella Ciao, an Italian trattoria on Avenue du Maine, flambées its mafaldine in a wheel of Parmigiano and keeps profiteroles next to the tiramisu. See our Italian restaurants, or browse our pastry shops for choux to take away.
Where to look
Saint-Germain and the 9th have the most profiteroles on this list, with single addresses from Montmartre to the 16th. Prices run from bouillon-cheap to special-occasion, so check the filter before you go. Start with the 6th arrondissement or the 9th. Filter by price and opening hours above, then open the map to find the nearest jug of chocolate sauce.