Some of the Best Crepes in Paris: A Few Favorites

Looking for some delicious crepes in Paris? Your craving is far from unusual. After all, crepes are one of the world’s great democratic foods. They’re inexpensive, often portable, and remarkably adaptable, ranging from hearty and simple to lofty and gourmet.

They’re also just as easily enjoyed by meat eaters as by vegetarians (and increasingly, vegans). In short, they make a meal that few would claim to genuinely dislike– even picky kids.

With 12th-century origins in Brittany, a region of France where the rocky soil made it difficult to cultivate anything apart from buckwheat, traditional savory French crepes (known as galettes to distinguish from white-flour counterparts generally used for desserts), are both delicious and nutrient-rich.

While Paris is hours away from Brittany, there’s a noteworthy Breton community in the capital, and a number of excellent crêperies to choose from. Whether you’re craving a buckwheat galette filled with goat’s cheese, fresh greens, walnuts and a bit of honey or a sweet crepe de froment smothered with salted butter caramel, these are some of the very best crepes in Paris. Especially during the colder months, these warming, hearty pancakes can really hit the spot. 

Breizh Café

With its numerous locations, Breizh Café is perhaps the most popular crêperie in Paris these days. At their original 4th arrondissement location at the edge of the Marais, long lines regularly coil around the block, rain or shine– and the last time I was there, I waited for a table for around 40 minutes.

It was well worth it, despite the pouring summer rain outside. This veritable crêperie empire founded by French entrepreneur Bertrand Larcher in Tokyo — which now has branches in Cancale and Saint-Malo– boasts creative and gourmet recipes that still manage to retain a sense of tradition.

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They use organic buckwheat in their savory galettes, such as the one shown above with egg, cheese, fresh zucchini and tomatoes, and even the simplest galettes (such as the one shown below, with mushrooms, cheese and a touch of hot pepper) are invariably made with fresh, local high-quality ingredients.

Those who enjoy Scandinavian cuisine may appreciate the galette with smoked herring and potatoes, while galettes with sausage or ham and cheese are heartier traditional options.

Sweet crepes here are genuinely gourmet–  never over-wrought nor excessively cloying. I had to reign myself in from scraping every bit of caramel sauce off the plate, after gobbling up a fresh apple tatin-style dessert crepe during my last lunch there.

Others that are reputedly delicious include one with lemon cream and zest, and a summery delight with poached peaches, raspberry sauce, ice cream and fresh mint. Meanwhile, for those who love buckwheat in all forms, try the sweet dessert galette with honey, ice cream, and puffed grains.

Related: The 5 Best Places for Gourmet Ice Cream & Gelato in Paris 

• Location: 109 rue vieille du temple, 4th arrondissement (Metro: Saint-Sebastien Froissart)
• Open: Mon-Fri, 11:30 am to 11:00 pm; Weekends 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
• Reservations: Highly recommended– book online (2 weeks in advance maximum)

Breizh has become such a name in the capital that it now has eight other full restaurants scattered around the city, including one in Saint-Germain-des-Prés (1 rue de L’Odéon; Metro Odéon) and another on the Canal St-Martin (112 QuaI de Jemmapes).

There’s also a café, restaurant and cider cellar where you can sample 70 different Bréton ciders, enjoy a creative cocktail or maki-style roll with buckwheat pancake base. See my full review of the Breizh Café and Cider Cellar in the Montorgueil district here. 

In spite of the multiple locations, it’s always a good idea to get there early– lines frequently run around the block during lunch and dinner hours (as I can attest to). It may even be best to just reserve several days in advance, and avoid the wait altogether.

Meanwhile, the adjoining epicerie/shop at #111, rue Vieille du Temple offers galettes and crepes to go– a boon for anyone short on time– and also stocks a delicious selection of Breton treats, from jams to biscuits and spreads. The cave has some 60 varieties of Breton cider for sale.

(Note: The St-Germain creperie Little Breizh (11 Rue Grégoire de Tours; Metro Mabillon or Odéon) is not part of the same group of restaurants, but is also reputed to be excellent).

Crêperie Ti Jos

This “Breton pub” in the Montparnasse district has long been a favorite of mine. They serve a large variety of savory and sweet crepes in hearty portions– perfect for a filling and inexpensive meal out, especially on a cold night.  

This isn’t a “hip” creperie– there’s a firm emphasis on tradition and warm service here– but you’re nearly guaranteed a delicious meal.

Savory galettes are made with fresh buckwheat flour, Guerande seasalt and water– nothing else. Favorites include tomato, goat’s cheese and onion, egg, mushroom and ham, or roquefort and egg. The galettes are deliciously buttery and crispy at the edges, and generously filled.

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Sweet crepes for dessert also remain on the simple but delicous side. I recently tucked into one served with a scoop of salted caramel ice cream, while my partner went for one doused in dark chocolate.  Here, as with the savory galettes, portions are generous.

A true pub, Ti Jos also offers a decent selection of ciders, Breton beers and other regional libations. They also host regular musical evenings featuring traditional Celtic folk music– from both Brittany and Ireland.

You can read my full review here. 

• Location: 30 rue Delambre, 14th arrondissement (Metro: Edgar Quinet or Montparnasse)
  Open: Daily except Sundays for lunch and dinner service; reservations aren’t usually necessary but may be a good idea on Friday and Saturday

Crêperie Le Petit Plougastel

David Lynch fan? If you’re in Montparnasse, also consider lunch or dinner at this Paris creperie.  Le Petit Plougastel’s  outdoor seating area served as a location for a surrealist scene with Lynch himself and Monica Bellucci in the brilliant Season 3 of Twin Peaks.

It’s admittedly been years since I last tried the crepes there, but I remember them being fresh and delicious. The creperie also regularly gets very good to excellent reviews on TripAdvisor, The Fork and other sites where travelers weigh in, so I feel comfortable recommending it even though my memory needs a refresh.

Related: Why is Brittany Butter Salted (& Coveted)? A Bit of History

Taking a look at their recent online menu, they have an excellent selection of vegetarian options here, including galettes filled with goat’s cheese and salad or fresh asparagus, creme fraiche and chives. Some of their savory galettes veer over into gourmet territory: one with seared scallops, leeks and chives sounds especially delicious.

• Location: 47 rue Montparnasse, 14th arrondissement (Metro: Montparnasse)
  Open: Daily except Sundays for lunch and dinner service; reservations aren’t usually necessary

La Crêperie Brocéliande

Located not far from the Sacré Coeur, the Crêperie Brocéliande is a Montmartre-based eatery whose home-style cooking has won legions of fans. Their menu, which emphasizes numerous gluten-free options (note that buckwheat galettes are generally gluten-free to begin with) is straightforward, with a focus on fresh produce and authentic recipes.

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Their galette with goat’s cheese, candied onion and cream is indulgent and delicious, while I also very much enjoyed a simple dessert crepe with chocolate and slivered almonds.

Meat eaters will likely enjoy the wide variety of galettes with ham, sausage and other hearty ingredients. This isn’t a spot for dieters, nor for those with a preference for avant-garde cooking– but the dishes are well-prepared, generously portioned and delicious.

• Location: 15 Rue des trois Frères, 18th arrondissement (Metro: Abbesses; Anvers)
• Open: Tuesday-Sunday for lunch and dinner. Closed on ondays.
• Reservations: Not required, but recommended on Friday and weekends, especially.

Some Good Takeout/Street Crepe Options?

A warm, freshly-made crepe filled with cheese, nutella, jam, or sugar and lemon is the perfect portable treat when you don’t feeling like sitting in. But where to find the good ones?

The aforementioned Breizh Epicerie at 111, Rue Vieille du Temple is a great option for an excellent takeaway galette or sweet crepe. Otherwise, I have no specific stands to recommend, but I do always advise making sure that the crepe stand you visit offers made-to-order crepes.

Related: Where to Taste Delicious Traditional French Pastries in Paris?

Avoid any where you see a stack of pre-prepared pancakes: these are rarely as good, and they’re often just as expensive. Also watch out for stands where the ingredients look wilted or stored improperly: a recipe for food poisoning, in my unfortunate experience! When in doubt, look elsewhere.

Other Recommended Paris Crêperies

For other excellent crêperies in the capital, check out this list from Time Out. They recommend newer addresses such as Bretons (56 avenue de la République, 11th arrondissement; Metro République) and Mad Eo (19 rue de Picardie, 3rd arrondissement)– both lauded for using fresh, creative local ingredients and cooking to traditional Breton recipes. Also see this excellent piece from food writer and pastry chef David Lebovitz.

La Chandeleur: An Annual French Occasion for Eating Crepes 

If you’d like to take part in an interesting cultural tradition surrounding crepes, mark your calendars for February 2nd. In France, this doesn’t mark Groundhog Day (which isn’t observed) but instead La Chandeleur, a tradition rooted in Catholicism that’s full of interesting superstition– and these days mostly revolves around the enthusiastic consumption of crepes.

You can learn more about the complex beliefs animating the holiday here (and in some ways it bears resemblence to Groundhog Day, in that it’s weather and cold-related). 

But my takeaway is simply this: enjoy a day dedicated to the art of gobbling down delicious, delicious crepes.

You can even try making some at home, if you’re not in France for the occasion. For savory buckwheat galettes, try this recipe from Chocolate & Zucchini’s Clotilde Dusoulier.