6 of the Best Parlors for Decadent Ice Cream in Paris

Summer weather calls for ice cream! And, ooh là là … we have some fantastic options in Paris, from the classic to the exotic. For the last couple of weeks, as a French food lover, I’ve been doing a little research, tasting lots of ice cream, to bring you my favorites in the city known for mouthwatering food.

Berthillon

This is the classic of classiques for ice cream in Paris. You’ll hear La Vie en Rose playing in the background as you enjoy a scoop (or two!) on the picturesque bridge connecting the two islands, Île Saint-Louis and Île de la Cité. All of the flavors are good but I especially like the salted caramel and… vanilla (which I never order and then eat all of my Frenchman’s – oops!)

The shop is located at the end of the main street, down the center of the island, and has a wonderful ice cream salon next door where you can sit down to eat. The queue here is usually super long, an indication of how coveted their scoops are. Take heart, there are lots of little shops on the islet that sell the glace – just be sure to look for Berthillon on the sign.

29-31 Rue Saint-Louis en I’Ile, 75004 Paris
Metro: Pont Marie (line 7)

Pozzetto

Italian ice cream in Paris? Si Si! If you are craving fantastic gelato without the train trip to Italy, this is the place to go! You order from a counter outside while practicing your Italian pronunciations, then pay inside where you can sit down. Or take your scoops to go, so you can wander further through the streets of the enchanting Marais, one of the oldest parts of Paris.

I loved the classic stracciatella and got a fantastic strawberry gelato too!

39 Rue du Roi de Sicile, 75004 Paris
Metro: Hôtel de Ville (lines 1, 11), Saint Paul (line 1)

Une Glace à Paris

If you’re looking for an artisanal ice cream shop that still makes ice cream by hand – oh, and is run by one of the best ice cream craftsmen in France – then Une Glace à Paris is the place for you! With flavors like Smoked Vanilla Bean from India, Avocado, Baba au Rhum and Thé Vert Matcha, it’s hard to choose. But then you add in the ice cream creations available, such as the Mille Feuille (made to order with – you guessed it – ice cream), milkshakes, or the incredible ice cream pastries. You can see why I end up going in circles looking at the menu before finally narrowing it down to one or maybe two treats.

15 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, 75004 Paris
Metro: Hotel de Ville (lines 1, 11)

Ice Roll

Hand-rolled ice cream is the new trend in ice cream, and a fun experience on a hot day. Ice Roll has developed a special chilled plate to which they add your favorite base before forming it into ice cream before your eyes! The neat thing is that it is scraped into curls before being placed in a cup for a really beautiful design. Then you have a choice of any toppings you’d like. The ice cream isn’t the most extraordinary, but it’s certainly a new food experience. And with Place de Vosges just around the corner, there’s a perfect park to sit and enjoy your creation while soaking up some rays.

7 rue de Turenne, 75004 Paris
Metro: Saint Paul (line 1)

Two more great spots…

Fou de Pâtisserie 

This is a great stop for pastries and now, for the summer, a wonderful stop for ice cream. Just like with their the pastries, Fou de Pâtisserie offers a unique selection of ice cream from all the top chefs in Paris! Be sure to explore this animated street, too, and stop by Stohrer, the oldest pastry shop in Paris!

45 rue Montorgueil, 75002 Paris
Metro: Etienne Marcel (line 4)

La Paleteria

Now for a treat equally as refreshing … La Paleteria is a popsicle place on Île Saint-Louis with really fun flavors like chocolate cherry, clementine, mojito, and speculoos, those delicious spiced French biscuits. This would definitely be a fun stop to try before heading to a picnic along the Seine River or just on your route to exploring the city of light this summer!

52 rue Saint-Louis en I’Ile, 75004 Paris
Metro: Pont Marie (line 7)