A symbol of the winter solstice since antiquity, this rich and decadent round cake remains a New Year’s essential. Competing in originality for Epiphany 2023, the capital's most creative pastry chefs are having a field day reinventing the famous King Cake...
Discover our top 10 best galettes des rois in Paris!
Meert, the most Nordic of Parisian King Cakes
Yes, Meert also offers King cakes in Paris for 2023! For 2.5 centuries, this legendary house has warmed the hearts and delighted the taste buds of Lille residents. Between iconic pastries – like the Madagascar vanilla waffles created in the 19th century – anthology chocolates, and collaborations with artists, Meert has expanded to Paris and is offering a limited edition sweet collection for Epiphany. On the menu is a reindeer galette, with the emblematic winter animal depicted in powdered sugar, filled with apricot compote and almond cream, or a crispier Dutch-style frangipane. The must-have? A series of 6 golden and colored elf-shaped fèves created in collaboration with illustrator Pierre Le Tan.
Meert
16 Elzevir Street
75003 Paris
www.meert.fr
Pierre Hermé's Galette des Rois with Oriental Inspirations
In the «Infinitely» pastry collection from the famous Parisian chef Pierre Hermé, the almond galette des rois, flavored with Iranian pistachios and filled with frangipane cream – a roasted almond version – sprinkled with dried fruit, stands out as a delightfully melt-in-your-mouth and crispy cake. As for the fève (privilege token), it's a collaboration with the Monnaie de Paris and allows you to win tokens made of ceramic, silver, or gold... Enough to become a true queen or king, reigning on the throne of gluttony!
Pierre Hermé
58, Paul Doumer Avenue
75016 Paris
www.pierreherme.com
The King Cake of Lutetia with Pecans
Imagined by Lutetia's pastry chef, Nicolas Guercio, the new King Cake the 5-star hotel In Paris, it's adorned with flavors inspired by almond and also pecan. Between crispy puff pastry discs, nestled are a buttercream, an almond-pecan praline, slivers, and a crispy-crumbly crumble. A small surprise, a golden fève has been placed in one of the pastries and allows the lucky crowned person to access a night in a suite at the palace!
Lutetia
45 Raspail Boulevard
75006 Paris
https://www.hotellutetia.com/fr
The most American, the King's cake of Royal Monceau
By partnering with one of Paris's most historic bakeries, Quentin Lechat, head pastry chef at the Royal Monceau, has created a chocolate-flavored cruffin as a twist on the traditional King Cake. The result? A pastry that's a mix-and-match of croissant and muffin, enhanced with chocolate spread, frangipane, chocolate, and hazelnuts…
Royal Monceau
37 Hoche Avenue
75008 Paris
www.thefrenchbastards.fr
www.leroyalmonceau.com
The ancient grain galette from Plaza Athénée
Named Origine, the 2023 King Cake from Paris's iconic five-star hotel, refers to its composition. The pastry chef incorporates into its crispy dough a creamy frangipane enriched with chopped dried fruits and crunchy crushed barley...
Hôtel Plaza Athénée
25 Avenue Montaigne
75008 Paris
www.dorchestercollection.com
The most mesmerizing, the Ladurée king's brioche with a spiral.
More famously known in Paris for its macarons, Ladurée and its multi-award-winning pastry chef Julien Alvarez are offering a spiral-shaped puff pastry brioche this year – inspired by the Basque cake – which will make foodies' heads turn! Upon tasting, you'll find a melting frangipane and almond cream filling beneath the crunchy pistachio crust, flavored with orange blossom... A great alternative to the King cake of Paris traditional?
Ladurée
16-18 Royal Street
75008 Paris
www.laduree.fr
The Peninsula's crown-shaped cake
Between soft and crisp, the renowned Peninsula pastry chef, Anne Coruble, imagined a king cake with vanilla flavors in the shape of a crown. Midway between the northern and southern traditions of France, the pastry reveals notes of caramelized almonds. The little extra? A series of “limited edition” personalized fèves in the image of the luxury establishment, ready to be collected.
Peninsula
9, Kléber Avenue
75116 Paris
www.peninsula.com
Philippe Conticini: The Most Feminist Galette des Rois
Usually conjugated in the masculine, Philippe Conticini's creation becomes “Rois des reines galette.” On the program, inverted puff pastry and several versions including a hazelnut and Gianduja recipe with an elegant decoration - or one to lick? - in powdered sugar... The tokens are named after adjectives describing women: important, unique, indispensable, and we hope... greedy!
Philippe Conticini House
37 Varenne Street
75007 Paris
www.philippeconticini.fr
Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme Hotel's Apricot Kernel Galette des Rois
Imagined by pastry chef Naraé Kim, an internationally recognized champion in her field, the traditional King's Cake from the iconic establishment on Place Vendôme is given a twist with Amaretto and an apricot kernel marinade… sourced from seasonal à la carte desserts. An original, eco-responsible, and delicious reuse!
Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme
5, Peace Street
75002 Paris
www.hyatt.com
The safe bet, the Ritz's King Cake
In keeping with its classic and timeless image, the prestigious Parisian hotel unveils a frangipane galette des rois, in its purest tradition. Perfectly mastered, the inverted puff pastry confectionery reveals a generous frangipane, topped with an almond macaroon.
Hôtel Le Ritz
15 Place Vendôme
75001 Paris
https://www.ritzparis.com/fr
The most mesmerizing, Yann Brys's Whirlwind Galette des Rois
World-renowned for revolutionizing the spiral poaching technique, pastry chef and Meilleur Ouvrier de France Yann Brys also puts a twist on the world of King Cakes with his aesthetically pleasing and flavorful creation for Epiphany 2023: Charentais butter puff pastry and rum almond cream... To whirl with joy!
Tourbillon
Saint Louis Street on the Island
75004 Paris
www.yannbrys.fr
The most fashionable King's cake, at Dalloyau
Founded in the 17th century, Maison Dalloyau is betting on an original recipe for Epiphany, collaborating with Maison Kujten. At the center of fifteen of their king cakes with frangipane flavored with Tahitian vanilla, peanut, and milk chocolate, a fève (kings day charm) provides access to a cashmere item worth 85 euros.
Dalloyau
101, Faubourg Saint-Honoré Street
75008 Paris
www.dalloyau.fr
The easiest to access, the Carrefour and Jean Imbert King Cake
As innovative as it is surprising, this gourmet collaboration between Michelin-starred top chef Jean Imbert and the Carrefour brand has created a King’s Cake inspired by the South. Hidden beneath its puff pastry is an almond frangipane flavored with Menton lemons… And a series of 3 collector's charms featuring the citrus in question…
www.carrefour.fr
Julie Garnier
