3 confectioneries to savor for satisfying your sweet cravings

© La Maison Saintonge by Léo Kharfan

Some say a craving (or rather, a need) for sweets simply must be satisfied at all costs. With jars brimming with Haribo classics or artisanal treats, available in bulk, in lovely collectible boxes, or in 24/7 shops, here’s a close-up on Paris’ most beautiful confectioneries that will soon catch you with your hand in the candy bag.

From the moment you enter, Maison Saintonge sets the childhood tone with a Willy Wonka-inspired display (complete with a giant lollipop that stops everyone in their tracks). It didn’t take much to pique our curiosity... Opposite the reception, a wall filled with candy jars and a table featuring a colorful gumball machine is topped with a regal Pierrot Gourmand and his wonderfully vintage lollipops.

Treat or sweet : it’s hard to choose among guilty pleasures like unlimited Carambar, fried egg candies, the devilish Carensac (our guilty pleasure), pastel candy necklaces, cola bottles, licorice galore, Tagada strawberries, and nostalgic surprises. The deal? We’ll fill a small bag (3 €) with a hefty dozen of your favorite sweets or a large one that holds up to 25 candies (5 €).

Maison Saintonge, 16 rue de Saintonge, Paris 3rd. Open 24/7. 01 42 77 91 13.
© Benoit Linero, Clémence Renoux, and Léo Kharfan.

Bélisaire Boissier was quite the sweet tooth. Arriving in Paris in the early 19th century, the man who invented the concept of the marron glacé (candied chestnut) quickly opened shops selling his sweets, even on the Champs-Elysées. Today, the most refined candy lovers continue to visit his two boutiques in the 7th and 16th districts to scoop up confectioneries as beautiful as they are delicious, delighting the child in everyone. The round, colorful tin boxes containing chocolate petals or fruit rigolettes are perfect for keeping secrets after the sweets are gone.

Treat or sweet: admitting we’ve tasted nearly all the sweets at Maison Boissier might reveal a bit too much. Still… Our top picks include the gummy bears (16 €), pastel celestial pearls in fruit syrup (24 €), violet candies (12 €), signature marrons glacés (25 €), vanilla, chocolate, and raspberry caramels (15 €), or the addictive white, pink, and blue almond dragées (11.50 €). Perfect for gifting to the mother-in-law: the berlingot tin (25 €), even better if you can sneak a few for yourself.

Maison Boissier, 48 rue de Passy, Paris 16th and 77 rue du Bac, Paris 7th. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday from noon. 01 45 03 59 11.

The best British sweets, right here! No need to hop on the Eurostar—just head to the 6th arrondissement to discover this adorable candy shop run by Maxime and his sister Lauren, whose passion for sweets began in the schoolyard, dealing British loot from weekends spent in England with their dad! Now grown-up, they’ve made it their business. After Angers, Nantes, Rennes, and Tours, Maxime and Lauren have opened their candy shop in Paris. Welcome to QK Confiserie! The shop’s wooden shelves are lined with chic glass jars brimming with irresistible, colorful sweets that make any sweet tooth go wild.

Trick or Treat: tart, chewy, hard, spicy, licorice, caramel, chocolate, fruity… These divine treats capture a rainbow of flavors, mostly natural in taste and coloring, with some even gelatin- or gluten-free. Everything’s sold by weight (starting at 2.90 € per 100g)! Among our faves: Watermelon Slices, vegan slices of paradise, Fizzy Dummies, those tangy mini lollipops, Pig Faces, adorably cute pig faces, licorice dragees, popping raspberry rocks, coconut mushrooms, vanilla milk mini bottles, firm-on-the-outside Jelly Babies, Salted Toffees (classic English salted caramel), or even tender cinnamon rolls. A true sugar feast and a total “wow!” moment. So good.

QK Confiserie, 10 rue Vavin, Paris 6e. Open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
© QK Confiserie

To keep your sugar rush going, head to these beloved spots :

Le Bonbon au Palais : an old-fashioned candy shop with jars filled with hard candies, crystallized flowers, fruit jellies, and lollipops in every color (19 rue Monge, Paris 5e).
À la mère de famille : while known for its signature chocolates, this venerable sweet shop also offers artisanal confections, from chocolate-covered marshmallows and fruit jellies to calissons and Négus de Nevers (12 locations in Paris).
Méert : renowned for its signature filled waffles, the venerable Lille-based shop offers caramels, marshmallows, pralines, and fruit jellies in its two Marais locations, perfect for gifting in charming packages.

Discover also Julius Roberts' Upside-Down Pear and Walnut Cake and Suelo, the new insanely glamorous Spanish table.