Jacques Genin

Chocolates were fine, 9 small pieces for 14euros is obviously expensive but theres some complexity The caramel though, 22euros for this small bag is simply crazy. 135euros per kg The taste is quite unique, although it's really not incredibly good. It's like hard caramel candy mixed with soft chewy candy, it's almost half liquidy in how malleable it is. The taste is interesting too, on top of the usual caramel taste there's another hint, although again it's definitely not good enough to warrant the price. Not sure why it's so popular, if you must come here, maybe try one or two caramels at most, definitely don't get the whole bag. For reference pictured costs me 37euros. Ridiculous

We were walking around North Marais and walked into this well known chocolate shop to sample their chocolates and caramels. Needless to say they were just perfect

Simply the best chocolatier in Paris, perhaps the world. Magnificent. Blessedly, they ship fresh, beautiful chocolates to the USA. Amazingly fast service direct from Paris through the website. A miracle. Super good experience. Prices are approachable! We order every month for our office & home and treasure every delicious, luxurious morsel. When we do begrudgingly share, everyone who tastes becomes quite OBSESSED. Jacques Genin is our chocolate hero. You can really taste the love .

Very good and high quality chocolates. Some of the staff is nicer than others..

Delicious chocolate and wonderful staff. Sara was so helpful in suggesting chocolate boxes and she was so sweet to us too 🙏 “rocher lait” in dark chocolate is out of this world 🌍 🚀

Very nicely presented chocolates, caramels and fruit pates. You can go for premade mixed assortments or do your own. Service is friendly and speaks English but with two and at times only one attending the lone for quite long, especially since most customers took some time to choose individually and from more than one category of products. High end products at rather high end prices, but worth an indulgence.

Nicey but pricey! We visited this shop and after much deliberation we bought the fruit jellies and caramels. We selected 1 of each flavour and our bill came to around €24! They were delicious - but I am just not sure that they were worth that much money..........

If you are visiting from North America, do yourself a favour and make the trip out to this chocolate/caramel store! While I didn't buy any of the chocolates, I did purchase a bag of caramels (priced by weight) and 2 small boxes of their fruit jellies (14 euros each at the time). While the prices of their items may not be for a souvenir for everyone back home, it is definitely worth the splurge especially for their caramels. (May I recommend the raspberry and mango passionfruit ones) The service was also amazing! At the time of my visit, there were 2 workers but only 1 spoke English so I did have to wait my turn although all the workers were very nice and they do have a couple of chairs around the store for you to sit while waiting. For the worker that didn't speak English, I used the Google translate app at the end of my visit and she was also able to help me just fine!

Jacques Genin is my abaolute favorite place to get sweet souvenirs from Paris. I know they are known for their chocolates but my favorite is thier caramel. They are so rich and melts in your mouth. If you prefer something lighter and fruity, they have strawberry, mango and passionfruit flavors too. Note: there is a Japanese speaker Yuki working sometimes at this location.

The best chocolates in Paris! They were extremely nice and helpful when we were choosing chocolates. Very unique flavors and uniquely crafted. We tried the pâtes de fruits and they were so delicious as well! The caramels melted in your mouth.

Nicey but pricey! We visited this shop and after much deliberation we bought the fruit jellies and caramels. We selected 1 of each flavour and our bill came to around €24! They were delicious - but I am just not sure that they were worth that much money..........

Absolutely delicious chocolates - they have a ton of variety of various treats but I stuck to a few of the pralines and milk chocolates and they were delicious

Shopping at Jacques Genin was quite the experience. I felt like I was walking into a jewelry store. Plus you literally get white glove service as the employees use white gloves to select the chocolates for you. It was also one of the biggest chocolatiers I've seen, and what I found impressive was that they made the chocolate in-house. The spiral staircase inside the store leads up to their lab. We got a few custom tin boxes with assorted chocolates, which would make the perfect souvenirs. The chocolates were amazing, but don't sleep on the pâtes de fruits! We got a couple of them for the road, and they were so delicious that we went back to the store to buy a tin. They're 80% fruit and 20% sugar, so they're not overly sweet. They also had a beautiful jelly texture that you could sink your teeth into.

I ducked into Jacques Genin to hide out from the rain, and it turned out to be such a delightful visit. I was actually on my way to Angelina's to try the famous hot chocolate, so I ended up just ordering it here. They give you an entire TEAPOT of legit hot chocolate; it's so thick you can basically eat it with a spoon. I was only able to finish half the pot, but it was the perfect treat on a cold and rainy Paris day. They were unfortunately out of the vanilla Mille-Feuille on the afternoon I visited, but the waitress recommended the praline Mille-Feuille, which did not disappoint. It was perfectly flaky and somehow rich and light at the same time. Delicious!

This was a great experience. Wow. SO SO SO GOOD! We were on a walking food tour and our guide mentioned this place. We got her to email us directions and we found it later in the week. That recommendation was gold!!! We shared a pot of hot chocolate and 2 pots of tea. (Their custom blends come from *La Maison des Trois Thés* across town) We also kinda shared a plate of dark chocolates and a few more spare pieces of chocolates. Kinda because my wife nibbled on the corners and I ate the chocolates. The chocolates are not overly sweet at Jacques Genin. The nougats and fruit pates are, but we didn't come here for those. They were amazing. We had previously been to MOF Patrick Roger's chocolate shops (which were also **insanely** good) but if you compare the two, JG is more approachable in style while PR is fancier and maybe a bit more froo-froo. The service here was awesome. The tables were beautifully set. The servers have to be compared to Olympic grade athletes! There is a spiral staircase here and they were hauling butt up and down over and over and over while we were there. I'm talking Buns of Steel grade stair climbing. I suppose if you work in a shop so tempting, that working out on the job is a huge benefit. They were very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about their products. Our server asked us (me) a few questions about our (my) taste in chocolate, how familiar we were (I was) with the ones on the menu, and brought us (me) back what could only be described as the most perfect collection 100% aligned with my tastes. Wow. Each piece comes with a standardized edible marking on the top to denote what the filling is. It was very handy and eliminated guesswork. As stated above, they were not overly sweet. For example, the mint filled dark chocolate did not have a sugary mint inside, but it tasted more like if you were chewing on actual mint leaves. The teas were so good that we went to the La Maison des Trois Thés shop and attempted to purchase them. However, they carried no teas that matched the menu from Jacques Genin. When we asked about the special blends, the manager at the tea shop just stared at us and said she had no idea what we were talking about. That was a bit of a fail, but not on the part of JG. The hot chocolate was so smooth and creamy. It was mildly sweet with an incredible flavor. The mouthfeel was so pleasant. It was like the drink was enveloping your mouth in a delicious edible blanket. If you are a choco-holic, this pot will fill you up. If you aren't, you might want to share with someone. There is a lot of chocolate in one pot.

The shop is beautiful, the service is lovely, the pates de fruits are good, the hand painted chocolate bunnies for Easter are exquisite, and the caramels are absolutely stupendous. Do not miss the mango caramels.

Amazing chocolates with unique flavors. This is one of my favorite places for a "fancy" gift - despite it being affordable. Some of my favorites are the grapefruit, basil, and coffee.

Beautiful store filled with beautiful chocolates. I felt as if I were at a jewelry store. I got a small box of dark chocolates (a box of mixed chocolates is also available). They came with 9 gorgeous chocolate squares for 12 euros which isn't too bad. Some flavors in the box weren't to my taste (for example the basil infused chocolate) but many were. The pricing is a little confusing if you're buying the chocolate/candy separately. I believe that it was priced per kilogram which is difficult for someone from the U.S. to calculate in a moment's notice. If you're a chocolate lover, this place is worth the visit.

Visiting Jacques Genin's café for exquisite pastries and mind-blowing hot chocolate has become a tradition whenever we're in Paris. After a long, hot walk to get there this afternoon, we discovered the cafe space no longer has tables. There's a long counter against the wall where you can order ice creams and sorbets, which are made while you wait. The ice cream and sorbets are incredible, but we were in shock. I don't usually see businesses shake it up like this, essentially discontinuing a popular product line. A lot of people used to come for the café, enjoyed the sample chocolates, and bought chocolates and caramels to take home. And, uh, use the restroom (which is now curtained off). They still have the chocolates and caramels that Genin is deservedly famous for. They have a selection of pastries you can purchase and take away. The staff member who took our order explained that the ice creams will be there until the end of September, and the hot chocolate may return in the fall. Genin wanted to do something different, and the cafe closure is "définitif" - final. He'll launch different concepts in different seasons, perhaps.

I went in and was told the tea room is closed all week. So Jean Paul Hevins tea room no longer exists and now this one is closed for a whole week? COME ONNNNNN. U are all going to force me to go to Lindt on the Opera for gourmet hot chocolate? I was wrongfully deprived of my hot chocolate and paris-brest, among other diabetes inducing desserts. P.s. This shop has no signage. Very weird. Check the pics to see what it will look like so you know where to go.

We had walked for ten miles and were tired. It was late and we were hungry. But this was last on our list for the day so we strolled up to the door. Imagine this... you are outside a fine jewelry store and it looks a little imposing. You walk in. There is very little in the way of anything that looks like anything other than a jewelry store. There are two people working the counters. Both well dressed and well groomed. My memory says they were wearing white linen gloves but they may just be my memory... When it is your turn, you select your chocolates to do into a fancy little tin. It all seemed like an event like selecting a ring more than buying candy. A very cool experience. I love chocolate. I bought almost all of it for gifts. I had one piece and my tongue and tummy sad hum, it's good! I have had better. It is gorgeous. It is an amazing presentation. It is absolutely worth the experience.

Go here for the chocolate éclair, caramels and the mille-feuille. Do yourself a favor and do not order the hot chocolate....it was too thick and gooey to be enjoyed. You cannot drink it, you can just eat it with a spoon...it's that thick! Overall, it's a cute place...though sometimes it reminded me of a hoity-toity place in beverly hills....a tad pretentious, if you know what I mean. Still the mille-feuille and the chocolate éclair are worth going here...they were incredible!! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kCMXMF3DjppMv-MftFcQpQ?select=sHMrtc9J43G8igEiwKh0-w The mille-feuille was so beautiful to look at...initially, I couldn't get myself to break it. But one bite and I was hooked. It's seriously one of the best things I've eaten in my life. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kCMXMF3DjppMv-MftFcQpQ?select=Q3wHK-w856LARVFXZryZYw Part of me is glad that the French bakeries in LA don't make a mille-feuille/napoleon like this as I can see myself putting on pounds by just looking at it...it was really amazing!

Very happy we got to come here! Have you ever had a caramel that doesn't stuck on your teeth? Yeah, my favorite is passion fruit.

Chocolates, caramels, and mille feuille galore... is this heaven? Upon the recommendation of a friend, we stopped by Jacques Genin and were immediately wowed by all of the beautiful chocolates and caramels on display. I'm a bit sad that they were out of the mango passionfruit, but the one thing that surprised me was the lemon tart. Yes, the lemon tart. It was hands-down the best one I have ever had -- sweet and tart, creamy, light, refreshing, everything that you would ever want in a lemon tart. Everything else that we tried -- the mille feuille, hot chocolate, and an assortment of chocolates and caramels -- were just as decadent. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful, so grab a seat and enjoy some sweets if you have the time to spare!

This place is pretty damn amazing. I'm not much of a chocolate person, but Jacques Genin specializes in other sweet yummies other than chocolate. On a horrendous rainy day in Paris, I took cover at Jacques. I was seriously amazed by their jewelry-like presentation of their chocolates, caramels, and fruit snacks, all in cases. I decided to sit at one of their few tables and order a nice pot of tea and their famous Vanilla Mille feuille. With my Vanilla Mille Feuille, a complimentary chocolate and caramel were included. The Vanilla MIlle Feuille was so delicious, crusty, flaky, and neatly layered with its creamy vanilla cream. Pretty damn good. The chocolate was also good; this is a big compliment from me since I'm not a chocolate person. But those caramels! So melt in your mouth good. The treats were so good, that I decided to buy a bunch of caramels, fresh fruit jellies, and chocolates for my family. They even helped me out with specific packaging and instructions for packing for my flight back to LA. Of all of my souvenir yummies purchased, my favorite was the mango passion caramel. Just get it!

Update: True to my word, I did return (multiple times) to Jaques Genin to a) purchase more chocolate and b) have tea. That was really just an excuse to eat pastries and buy more chocolate, though. On my first tea visit, I ordered the lemon basil tart, and on the 2nd, I had the chocolate tart. So, what did I think? Foodgasm (again) on the spot. I saw a review somewhere (maybe here) where someone was saying they've had a better lemon basil tart elsewhere. I call bull$hit on that - it's just not possible. Best non-chocolate tart I have ever had, hands down. I'll say the same for the chocolate tart. So, if you're in the area (and even if you're not), DO treat yourself by having tea and pastries here. Everything is made fresh daily (yes, everything) and you simply can't go wrong with this place. I also picked up some nougat and a few caramels on my way out. No comment on the nougat because I didn't try it (I don't like it) but the caramel? Whoa. I tried the raspberry and it was out of this world. It's got this lovely buttery flavor that is balanced with the taste of raspberry - you can absolutely taste the fresh fruit in these caramels. So.... why are you still hear reading this? Check it!

This place has the best chocolate I've ever tasted from Paris. The dark chocolate is not too sweet and the flavors (for example, honey, tea, mint) are authentic and intense. It beats Pierre Herme and La Maison in my book. The caramels are also wonderful, original, and delicious, especially the mango and passionfruit. The fruit jellies are also good but a little too sweet for me. Service was fine - although one lady gave us a mini-lecture when we asked for a sample of the fruit jellies (after a sample was offered to someone else). She was totally helpful and pleasant afterwards. (And for the quality of the goods, I could stand a lot more abuse than that.) Next time, I will definitely stay longer to try their hot chocolate.

This place was so cool I loved their chocolate! It's even better than Pierre Hermé! Their assortment of chocolates is so good. Their store is also really cool especially with the factory I accidentally went to upstairs. My favorite chocolate spot in Paris! Thanks Jacques! Don't forget to check out my profile!

Oh man did I feel out of place in my sneakers and workout clothes meant for exploring the city, but the employees were friendly and didn't even bat an eye at our clothes. We dined in since you can't get their hot chocolate to-go, which I totally get now after having experienced it here. Every table has fresh flowers on it that are brought in by a florist. In fact, while we were there the florist came to put new vases on the tables even though I would've gladly taken the old ones home. The individual hot chocolate is enough to share among two people, and they were nice enough to bring two of everything without being asked even though my husband and I only ordered the individual hot chocolate. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that they give you a small sampler of 4 chocolates--score! In true chocolatier fashion, they also give you water since chocolate is best served with water. It was a nice spread for cheaper than what I paid at Angelina's. I liked their hot chocolate because it wasn't overly sweetened, and yes, it is nice and thick as real hot chocolate should be. This is on your way to the Marche des Enfants Rouge, so stop by for a posh experience that doesn't break the bank...unless you end up buying the eye candy.

I came in to get some treats for my relatives. In a globalized world it's harder to find treats that you can't easily obtain simply by a few clicks on the internet. This place really puts a lot of love into their craft of fruit chews and chocolate, looking for simplicity of ingredients and real truth in the taste.

Unfortunately, I did not follow the woman's advice to eat my millefeuille within 3 hours. :x I ate it 6 hours later, and I definitely think that affected it. The praliné cream had fallen a little bit, and the overall effect made the millefeuille look a little stooped and slightly dry. However, it was still pretty delicious. I would just advise taking her advice next time. I bought some caramels and chocolate (the caramels, if purchasing by number, are about twice as expensive as the chocolates) because they looked so irresistible. While I was waiting, the woman gave me two free chocolates. (One while I was picking out chocolates, and another one while I was waiting for my second millefeuille). Score! The chocolates were delicious. :) They actually allowed me to take pictures, which was great. :) There's a sitting area for you to eat your desserts (possibly get real food too? I dunno ... you can certainly get tea, though), but I can't afford things like that at the moment. It certainly looked really nice, though you'd be sitting inside an elegant, modern place - kind of set apart from Paris' general environment.

This place does live up to its hype of having the best Mille-feuille in Paris. It is superb and divine upon the first bite - crunchy layers (the way it SHOULD be - take note, London bakers!) between vanilla cream that is not too sweet. The only thing is, they do not allow takeaway on their Mille-feuille and it's easy to see why - the presentation is stellar and to allow takeway on such a gem would risk having a mediocre presentation in a takeaway box and the layers might get soggy. There are only about eight tables, so get there early to avoid the queue. Keep in mind they do not show their pastries behind the glass counters (like how they do with their chocolate)...they don't even have a pastry menu for you to order from. They have to tell you in person when you are seated at one of their tables. It's worth it.

Get one of everything! Jacques Genin is an amazing confectioner! My only regret is not purchasing more chocolates, orangettes, and pâte de fruits. I prefer Jacques Genin's flavor profiles and textures over Patrick Roger. I thoroughly enjoyed my passion fruit caramel but didn't feel I needed more than one. Everything else I could eat in large quantities! Self-control is difficult with such delicious confections.

This was great find on our food tour here in Le Marais. Jacques Genin could easily be missed because they have no sign, no marketing outside of their otherwise unassuming building. It matches all of the apartments and other buildings around it. Unless you stare right into the windows, you'll miss the beautifully laid out chocolates, decadent caramels and juicy fruit jellies. There's a central spiral staircase that will take you to the cooking headquarters above and a ton of seating for those wanting to have some afternoon tea. From what we were told, Jacques Genin comes from a large family and one that wasn't particularly affluent. That was the stimulus for him to get out of the house and start his work in the cooking scene. Eventually he found himself in Paris making his name through pastries and chocolates. He opened this one store here in Le Marais which was a hit and like many other chocolate stores, they try to limit the number of stores they open to keep the quality up. There's only 1 other store in Paris but I'm not sure where that one is. Up until a few years ago, they still made pastries but that has now gone by the wayside (well you can order their pastry of the day and the occasional cake, I believe). They have chocolates of all colors and flavors as well as caramels that are just the right consistency. The jellies were delicious and are made from real fruit without gelatin additives. They have some great packaging here making all their chocolates great gifts for other people. Not cheap here but also not the most expensive but definitely for those chocolate lovers, this is a MUST TRY for those in the area. I might even go as far as telling you to make that special trip here to give it a go!

Jacques Grenin is so exclusive there is no signage. There is a little bit of writing on the windows but it doesn't actually include the name of the store. I took pictures of everywhere we ate in Paris, and looking back at this one it just looked like I took a picture of a random white building. Incidentally, something else that's not distinct? The bathroom door. I went up a few stairs on the bottom floor behind the counter and couldn't find it. I even went up the service spiral staircase in search of it. (That's where you can see them making the chocolates.) Finally I noticed a white door that completely blended into the white cabinetry. The husband, two kids, and I sat in the tea room and shared two lemon basil tarts. Apparently they're known for them, but we didn't think they were anything special. (Shout-out to Boulangerie Utopie: their lemon tart is better!) We also shared a 7 Euro hot chocolate. I didn't want to spend the extra 2 Euros for chantilly cream (One, they charge for whipped cream?! I am outraged! And two, it was already more expensive than the other places I had hot chocolate.), but I wish I had. The hot chocolate was a bit too dark on its own. I preferred the ones I drank at Angelina and Berthillon by far. Our server was really nice to give us four free chocolates with our order. These were quite good. My daughter does NOT like chocolate, and she was enamored with the beautiful fruit pate. She picked out two pieces and then the woman at the counter sweetly gave them to her for free. I loved the ambiance and the fanciness but when I really look at the food it deserves a 3. I would definitely come back though and enjoyed my experience so I bequeath it... 4!

Folks. Great interior, great setup, and friendly staff, but SCREW IT ALL. You are here for 3 things: the chocolate, the eclair, and the caramels. Word on the street is that this is the best place in France to get these three. But let me tell you something.....I don't have reservations about spending money on eating and this was one of the few times in my life I have choked buying sweets b/c of the price. You are going to pay $1.5/caramel piece. The eclaire will run you ~$10. While that may not sound like much to you, once you pop the first caramel in your mouth and realize the mindblowing CARAGASMIC experience, you'll find yourself buying quite a bit....like me! :) I ended up buying ~60 pieces (which fits 1 box) and that ended up costing me $100. Imagine that. 60 freakin caramel pieces about an inch and a half long for $100. Woh. Jacques Genin has 6 caramel flavors: ginger, tonka (which is banned in the USA b/c of potential toxic compounds), cinnamon, chocolate, vanilla, one flavor I cannot remember, and ....the best one of them all, the MANGO CARAMEL. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kCMXMF3DjppMv-MftFcQpQ?userid=DMx9EJox_ZlUHgrQE5JvGw) To describe this caramel, they are incredibly soft, smooth, and are infused with exotic fruit flavors. My favorite, the MANGO CARAMEL, is infused with real bits of mango and the freshness of the mango permeates your olfactory senses as you smell and savor the taste of the caramel in your mouth. The texture is absolutely remarkable, to a point where it almost feels like butter more than caramel. Even after you place them in the fridge and the caramel hardens, they will just glide through your mouth. I wouldn't be surprised if Jacques Genin uses butter that has 100% saturated fat. To give a summary, Jacques Genin has done to caramels what Pierre Hermes has done to macarons. It has elevated the caramel to an art form that most likely cannot be replicated anywhere else. If you are to go to France, this is one of two MUST TRY dessert/sweet places w/ Pierre Hermes macarons being the other one. As with all great places, special care and effort is given to produce such quality goods. The caramels are made nightly upstairs by apprentices with the work schedule of elves. They arrive at 11 p.m. and leave by 8 a.m. so that the caramels and everything else in the shop are never more than a few hours old. If you have an opportunity to take a peep upstairs (there is a central staircase leading up) DO IT. I couldn't....and regret not pushing harder to take a look at the wonderful caramel factory. My imagination makes me think that it would be a wonderful place like willy wonka's chocolate factory. Boo-hoo. I couldn't see it but you should :( (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kCMXMF3DjppMv-MftFcQpQ?select=ahv61jjGYYCukSYY8OlaAw)

How excited can one really get over a caramel? Pretty freaking excited if said caramel is mangue-passion and crafted by Jacques Genin. Were I forced to eat but one sweet for the rest of my life, the caramel mangue-passion would make my shortlist undoubtedly. At €1 each they might be considered spendy but when you consider how much happiness such a small sum can typically buy, you might, like me, be forced to reconsider the calculation and actually see these babies as a bargain.

Jaques Genin provides a beautiful, spa-like elegance to chocolate and desserts. It's a hushed, sacred place...a big difference in the loud, smokey patio land that is Paris. My fiancé and I stopped in to rest our feet and indulge. Well, it was me who was indulging. Picky eaters beware...this isn't your mom's lemon squares! I ordered the lemon tart and caramel tart. They brought us glasses of water, and we waited for our desserts and checked out the scene. Stone walls, white walls, wooden floors. Two girls catching up over pastries, and a team with lap tops enjoying tea and getting work done. Everyone was quiet and respectful. Then came the desserts. The lemon tart was served in a sturdy pastry shell, and mixed with basil. The filling was somewhere between pudding and whipped cream...light, but thick, and bold! The basil added an herbal touch to the never bitter lemon...almost like a glass of lemonade. The caramel tart had pecans added. The caramel was beautiful, as it should be, with that being one of their well-known candies. It was salty, sweet, and dark. We were also served some chocolates with our tarts...a mix of raisin, pretzels and chocolate, and two truffles (dark dark dark). I preferred the pastries over the chocolate. I took home caramels and pate de fruits. The pates are delicious, and I chose kiwi, rhubarb, red pepper, raspberry...those are just the ones I remember! The red pepper was fun, and the kiwi delicious. Well they all were good, nice and tart. I didn't want the currant flavor, and the woman asked if I just wanted to sample that flavor, and let me try it for free. The caramels were amazing as well...I chose some regular flavors, as well as mango and gingerbread. 28 euro later...I really enjoyed Jaques Genin. I felt well taken care of, and also like I had a memorable experience.

This should be easy. This place sells chocolates, caramels and other sweet confections. What's not to love? The space is very sleek and modern. It was more like they were selling jewelry rather than sweets and though it seems like it could be kinda stuffy and pretentious, I was there twice during my one week stay in Paris and everyone was VERY friendly and open to translating flavors and making suggestions. You can get your goodies in a clear plastic bag (pay by weight) or in a really pretty hard shell box (a little more expensive) to take home for your jealous friends. Try the basil chocolate and don't leave without some caramels (mango passion fruit for something a little different).

Delicious hot chocolate, and incredible chocolates. What more can I say? I wasn't a big fan of their jelly candy, but that's probably just a matter of personal taste.

Beginning first with dessert, the location was one of the most hyped (by "foodies" and friends both) and therefore came with high expectations - some met, some not. Owned and operated by Jacques Genin and considered by many to produce some of the best products in Paris, I will first notice that if you want a seat, good luck - we waited nearly an hour and that was with only two small parties in front of us. Secondly, if you want a good selection I'd recommend getting there before 5:00 because by the time we were seated at 6:00 they were already sold out of multiple items. Getting past the logistics and moving on to the experience I will note that everyone at Jacques Genin including Monsieur Genin himself was extremely friendly and while my sister waited for the table I took the time to do some shopping for my mother and aunt - a box of chocolates (I was gifted two, a lovely honeycomb dark chocolate and a café milk chocolate) and twelve of the famous Caramels (call me crazy, but the Mango Passion fruit did not wow me nearly as much as the traditional and pistachio.) With the flow of traffic no fault of the restaurant and patrons taking time to enjoy desserts, coffees, and teas it is notable that although there was only one young woman working the room once we were seated the service remained exquisite - orders taken promptly, gifts arriving in the form of four basil chocolates, and finally the desserts - the famous Mille Feuille (Vanilla since Chocolate and Caramel were sold out,) a flawless Paris Brest as thick with luxurious cream as with choux, and a pitcher of hot chocolate so intense that I cannot imagine one person consuming it on his/her own. Made to order and considered by many to be the best Mille Feuille in the city I must say it was a stunning specimen with the pastry literally exploding into shards on pressure. Was it the best in the city - well - it was the best we sampled from a patisserie (or under $10EU.)

Yes his caramels are absolutely legendary (especially the Mango-Passion Fruit caramels). Yes his chocolates are in a class all their own (served as mignardise in addition to whatever you order). Yes his Chocolat Chaud (Hot Chocolate) is other wordly BUT......Two things may offer some affirmation that heaven is actually here on Earth: 1- His Mille-Fuille (a.k.a. Napoleon) with Caramel Pastry Cream 2- His Choux Vanille The Choux Vanille had a thin glaze of caramel that cracked like a properly executed Creme Brulee and upon cutting it in half, revealed a vanilla bean pastry cream that was light years beyond anything I'd ever had. The vanilla flavor fell just short of assertive and a whisper of "egginess" hinted in the background. The balance of flavors was complete artistry. The Caramel Pastry Cream in his Mille-Fuille was yet another example of adept simplicity and the layer of dough were crispy lightness that dissolved on the tongue. This was like a master class of the highest edible art. Bravo and merci monsieur Genin; c'est magnifique!

Jacques Genin caramels are life-changing. These are the most delicious caramels you will ever taste. In fact, they are so delicious that it would be an insult to call them caramels...they redefine the category (I NEVER eat caramels in the States...NEVER). Then mille-feuille, eclairs, pate de fruits. Heck, even the tea they served was amazing (but do not brew for more than 30 seconds). It isn't cheap ($45 US for a brushed aluminum box of caramels), but it is worth every penny.

If you're in search of some amazing chocolate and salted butter caramels off the beaten path, look no further. Don't get me wrong, Maison du Chocolat and Fauchon are pretty amazing, but they've got nothing on chocolatier Jacques Genin. Prior to opening this shop in December of 2008, Monsieur Genin was supplying his chocolate to all the grand 'palace' hotels of Paris (and around France), such as Plaza Athenee, Le Meurice, and Crillon. His shop is spotless, and is reminiscent of a jewelery or art gallery. His chocolates, caramels, and sparse selection of pastries are artfully displayed. Upstairs is the workshop and if you're lucky they might give you a tour. On one of my visits, they said due to the flu, they weren't allowing any visits to the workshop. The chocolates are boxed in exquisite metallic boxes. My favorite flavor is the hazelnut/praline chocolate. However, I prefer his caramels more so than the chocolate. I've tried the caramels with pistachio, mango/passion fruit, coffee, ginger, and vanilla, but still prefer the salted-butter caramels. At 110euros per kilo, they definitely are a splurge.

Chaos. No one knows where the line is at any given time. Staff are beyond rude. A woman in front of me had been waiting patiently in line and after 15 minutes was told she was in the wrong line. She left out of frustration. I tried twice entering only to throw my hands up in frustration by the changing line formations and snobby staff. Never wasting my time in this place again.

Fresh fruit jellies are delightful! I was gifted a lovely box from a friend upon his return from Paris. They are made from 90% real untainted fruit juice. I'm definitely looking forward to stopping in to try their famed chocolate selections.

Nice and cute place. This one they have a tea bar where You can order pastries. Server was very friendly. I will definitely come back to try something else.

I'd heard wonderful things about Jacques Genin, but I don't think even I was prepared for just how wonderful it would be. The hot chocolate here is the best I've had in Paris yet you may struggle to finish the whole thing as you're served a pot which will fill up a cup generously a couple of times. I was half-expecting not to find any patisseries available as I'd read that Jacques Genin had stopped creating patisseries in order to focus on the chocolates. Thankfully this wasn't the case. Whilst there wasn't an enormous selection, there was the choice of four patisseries which was ample for us. We opted for the magnificent vanilla millefeuille. It was out of this world - I thought that the one at Cafe Pouchkine was incredible but I must admit that I fear this one is even better. Not only was the service impeccable but they also gave us a few complimentary chocolates to try which I thought was such a lovely touch. Whilst some people argue that its very expensive at 8 euro a hot chocolate, I would have to disagree - it is no more expensive than any of the other chocolate specialists in Paris and the quality which you're paying for is worth every penny.

Definitely a great place , when we reached there was not much of a crowd and were seated immediately , ordered the chococinno and Mille feuille , both were excellent. Took some caramels to go to eat back home , tasted the magipassion fruit which was great along with the pistachio one.

The best hot chocolate in the world, I think. It's essentially melted chocolate with only a modest amount of sugar. Incredible Mille-feuille (we call them Napoleons) with hazelnut cream and a delicious raspberry tart. Great chocolates. Also great tea. Expensive, but this is Paris. You can have ordinary desserts for this much money in touristy areas, or come here. Come here.

Fantastic chocolate designed in an elegant manor. I'd show you a home made video of it but I wasn't allowed to film (is this a celebrity store?). We bought a box of chocolate for our staff and then sat down for ... well chocolate and coffee. I got this insanely good jasmine ice cream that complemented the citrus (and thyme?) tart. Or did I get the ingredients backwards? Nonetheless it was amazing.

At first I thought this place was great, but I think that was just my reaction because of all the wonderful reviews that previously colored my opinion. Jacques Genin is good, not great. The design of the shop is very clean, and the shop is nice and cool. My brother and I came here for a quick treat and ordered the Mille-fueille (his first one) and some hot chocolate. We got some complimentary jellies (?) and nut/fruit bunches covered in chocolate as well. Mille-fueille: Good, but Pierre Herme's "2000" Millefueille was far better. This one was tasty but hard to eat as the pastry cream fell out the sides. The layers of the pastry dough were so unbelievably thin, though! It was masterful. Hot Chocolate: Super thick. Almost too thick. I really wanted to like this but it was meh. It was almost as if there was so much chocolate that you couldn't taste it! (I am a chocoholic, so if I say there is too much chocolate, something is wrong!) Nut Bunch: Tasty, nothing special Jellies: These were amazing and by far the best thing we had there. You put it in your mouth and it was like eating preserves right from the jar. I was very hesitant trying it, but now I would pay good money for them! Bottomline: Mille-fueille: Amazing technique, okay taste Hot Chocolate: Meh, too chocolatey Complimentary treats: Fabulous. The jellies were fantastic *Bonus: Since Genin works upstairs, we saw him come down and check on the chocolates! I didn't notice until it was too late so I wasn't able to get a picture, but very cool to think!

Solid chocolates. Have them as gifts to locals and brought smiles to faces. My tasting of the chocolates did not disappoint. Smooth and creamy with a variety of flavors. The only reason I am at 4 instead of 5 starts is the dark chocolates are a bit to sweet for my taste.

This is a review for the tea salon, not the chocolate.The salon was really sterile, unfriendly, and unimaginative. Considering your options in Paris, don't bother. As to the chocolates and other treats. They're amazing. Great gifts. Get them and go.

Absolutely perfect! I've never tasted caramels & chocolates with so much flavor. Caramels literally melt in your mouth & the chocolates are so rich and smooth bursting with authentic flavors. I cannot wait to return & try his hot chocolate!!!

This place reminded me more of a high end jewelry shop than a sweets shop! The place is simply gorgeous. There is no signage so make sure when you go, you have an eye out for it because you can miss it. When you enter there are glass cases with chocolate and caramels and other sweets. Towards the back of the room there is a tea room. We sat down (and we were lucky too because we got the last table) and ordered tea, a pastry and an assortment of caramels. They also threw in some free chocolates as an added treat. The pastries are not on the menu and from my understanding they change frequently. I ordered a honey tart which came with home made ice cream and it was simply amazing. They give you a whole tea pot (as opposed to a cup of tea) and when you order an assortment of caramels, you can choose your assortment yourself. Everything was delicious and we felt so fancy having our tea and confections. Would return!!

The carmels here are AMAZING and, while expensive, worth the experience to try them. The raspberry and the mango/passionfruit are a must try. I originally bought these as presents, but maybe they'll be a present for myself!