パリでしなければならないこと：マレ地区でチョコレートとペストリーのツアー

Only 2 of us do we got maximum attention. All stops save last chocolate shop were excellent. A bit pricey although what you get is very rich in flavor. Guide told us little secret things about the area.

Irene Lurcat is a gastronomic guide with a book to her credit - she is known for her recognition of quality establishments, and the Marais is full of them! We went to a number of incredibly prestigious chocolate and pastry shops in the area (one had provided macarons for a visiting president, one who provided treats when King Charles visited, and another who provides pastries for the Belgian royal house) and were amazed by the quality and by Irene's expertise especially! She is known for tailoring her tours to her clients' tastes. When she heard we were more interested in tea than in perfumes, she took us to not just a tea shop, but the tea shop and tea museum of Paris, too. There were so many lovely treats on this tour that we had no room left at all for lunch. Irene was a fantastic guide and a font of historical information as well as we made our way from address to address in the Marais. If you love quality sweets, this is definitely the tour and tour guide for you!

Well curated tour of some excellent chocolatiers, macron creators and a memorable cream puff! Irene was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Enjoyed the experience!

Irene was a wonderful host! She knows the best chocolate shops in Paris, and also very much about the history and architecture of the neighborhood. It was a great time, and I would certainly attend again!

We had a wonderful chocolate tour in the Marais with Irene today! We learned about the history of chocolate as well as the nuances of how the chocolates are created. We tasted such unusual flavor combinations and bought gifts to bring home. Would definitely recommend this experience while in Paris!

We just took the “Pure Chocolate in Paris” tour based on a recommendation from friends, and it was an incredibly enjoyable experience. We strolled through a magical neighborhood in Paris. Irene was an attentive, knowledgeable, and warm guide. She has written several books on the subject and is a true expert. She is a very pleasant and enthusiastic person, passionate about chocolate and pastries. The small group setting made the experience feel very intimate. If you’d like to see more photos of the places we visited, you can check out her website (we discovered it afterward, and it’s very faithful to what we experienced). The price offers excellent value for money. It’s absolutely worth it, as you get to enjoy the best of what Paris has to offer in chocolates and macarons.

Going on this tour with Irène was the best way to spend our second to last day in Paris. We learned the history behind the lovely Marais neighbourhood in thé 4th arrondissement and had the chance to try decadent chocolates and pastries. The tour ended with a relaxing café visit.

Perhaps one of my most memorable experiences of Paris. Irene took me through beautiful streets of Paris away from the crowds. We stopped at award winning and famous gourmet chocolate shops. We went during the weekday so I was lucky to spend sometime with the professional chocolatiers and learn about their art. I bought boxes of chocolate from each store and took them home as gifts. Irene has also published a book on chocolates.

Irene was wonderful! She took us to 4 high end chocolatiers, one macaron store, and one hot chocolate shop, with multiple tastings! She talked about the history of chocolate and the individual chocolatiers (so much we didn't know about how high end chocolate is so recent). She's also written a book about chocolate (in French only). We bought some chocolates along the way - then went back and picked up some more after all our tastings! Well worth it!

Learned about chocolate and the best makers of chocolate in France. Enjoyed the variety of chocolates including those with surprise ingredients. Perfect length tour.