A stone’s throw from Ku’damm, the four-year-old Aux Merveilleux de Fred fits the area’s aesthetic perfectly with its glittering chandelier and chequered stone floor. Owner and founder Laëtitia Mas learned the art of pâtisserie in Lille in the north of France, where the Merveilleux, originally comes from.
Mas slightly altered the traditional treat together with her French work partner, Frédéric Vaucamps, piping freshly whipped cream between the fluffy meringue layers instead of the traditional buttercream. It’s available in flavours from chocolate to cherry to spekulatius, and in sizes ranging from petite bites (€1.50) to custom-made cakes (€13.60).
Olivaer Pl. 2, Charlottenburg, Mon-Sun 8-18
Hannover-born Anna Plagens learned from the master: after her initial pâtissière studies in Alsace, she worked with famed Parisian pastry chef Pierre Hermé for five years before returning to Germany and opening Du Bonheur in 2013. Peek into the Brunnenstraße shop’s open kitchen and you can watch her employees meticulously decorate miniature cakes and pipe ganache between delicate discs of meringue.
While macarons are the best-seller, the other French treats, from fruity tartelettes and millefeuilles, to buttery croissants and pain au chocolat, are nothing to sniff at either. Prices range from €1.80 to €5.90, a low cost for a taste of luxury.
Brunnenstr. 39, Mitte, Thur-Fri 9-19, Sat-Sun 9-18
In Schöneberg’s bustling Nollendorfkiez sits a tiny, purple-themed shop with one very particular specialty: macarons. Founded and named by Berliner Laura Leising, it started life as a market stand before moving to Apostel-Paulus-Straße in 2012; in 2020, Frenchwoman Estelle Candillier took over.
Makrönchen has only one small glass-fronted display, showing row upon row of multi-coloured circular confections in dreamy flavours like rose, passionfruit and dark chocolate-blackberry, priced at only €2 apiece. Full of melt-in-your-mouth ganache and crispy on the outside but soft on the inside, the macarons (gluten free, by the way!) are neatly packaged in colourful boxes tied with ribbons. If you’d rather learn the craft of macaron-making for yourself, Candillier also offers occasional workshops.
Apostel-Paulus-Str. 4, Schöneberg Wed 12-17, Thur 12-16, Fri 12-18, Sat 10-14:30
Japan has been putting its own spin on French pâtisserie culture for years, and now Tokyo-trained pastry chef Shin Komine brought that art to Berlin. As the owner of Schöneberg’s Café Komine, he gives traditional French treats a fusion touch, his éclairs filled with matcha cream and his mousses with mango.
The artistically piped Mont Blanc cakes with chestnut cream and a meringue base are a Kiez favourite. Opened in 2016, the pâtisserie has earned national recognition and a steady flow of Stammkunden, who often queue out the door for Komine’s creations (€2.50-7.80). Whether or not you live in Schöneberg, this place is a must!
Welserstr. 13-15, Schöneberg, Sat-Sun 12-18
Of all the French sweet shops in Berlin, the pastry counter at Galeries Lafayette – run by an expert team led by France-trained German pâtissier Jörn Risch – probably has the widest range of goodies on offer.
Fruity, sweet and sour lemon tarts and beautifully layered mille feuilles sit next to cakes full of berry mousse and their best-selling eclairs, filled with caramel, chocolate or coffee. Everything goes for €3.50 and up. If you’re still feeling peckish, nab a pain au chocolat or croissant from their boulangerie.
Friedrichstr. 76-78, Mitte, Mon-Sat 11-19
In the mood for a stiff cocktail? Pay a visit to Mitte’s new speakeasy