Stohrer, The Oldest Patisserie in Paris and Protected Monument

A local’s guide to visiting the historic Stohrer bakery on Rue Montorgueil; one of the oldest and most beautiful pastry shops in Paris!

I can’t remember exactly when I first discovered Stohrer; it must have been back when I first moved to Paris back in 2019, just a few years before moving to London.

But I can remember exactly what I felt the first time I trode the magnificent, oh, so beautiful Rue Montorgueil in the second arrondissement, close to the Châtelet area.

I remember I could see wonderful street food spots, bakeries and small, very French grocery shops all along the way, and remember sitting down at one of the cute cafes to do some work on my laptop.

I recently went back to really take the time to take in the atmosphere of Rue Montorgueil, and obviously stopped at the Stohrer patisserie, which holds the title of the oldest pastry shop in Paris.

Stohrer, The Oldest Patisserie in Paris and Protected Monument

Stohrer has been continuously operating since 1730; it was founded by Nicolas Stohrer, the personal pastry chef to Marie Leszczynska (the daughter of King Stanislas I of Poland).

When Marie married King Louis XV of France in 1725, Stohrer followed her to the Court of Versailles and moved to Paris to open his own shop on Rue Montorgueil only five years later.

What we can see today as a beautiful vintage shopfront is actually the masterpiece of a visionnaire.

Before Stohrer, baking goods were legally separated into different guilds (waffles, breads,…) – he was among the first to bring all baked goods under one roof.

It is hence partly to his work, just short of 300 years ago, that we owe the modern concept of a patisserie as we know it.

What is even more incredible about the techniques and recipes used at the Stohrer patisserie, is that the shop is responsible for several staples of French pastry.

For instance, the Baba au Rhum, a highlight of the Stohrer offer, was invented by Nicolas Stohrer himself – he originally soaked a dry Polish kouglof cake in Malaga wine (and later rum) to satisfy King Stanislas.

The Puits d’Amour (Well of Love) is another one of the most famous pastries sold at Stohrer; a puff pastry filled with vanilla pastry cream and topped with a layer of caramelized sugar.

This one was famously resquested by Queen Elizabeth II during her visit in 2004.

I will forever be a sucker for macarons, Paris-Brest and éclairs, and I find every single time I visit, a response to my sugar craving.

If you’re looking for the best Paris-Brest in Paris, I cannot recommend Stohrer’s version enough.

What about the frescoes at Stohrer?

Much of what makes the charm of the Stohrer patisserie is the interior – the walls feature colorful frescoes painted on glass.

The exterior is quite simple; the pastries catch the attention more than the blue shopfront, although it does feature 18th-century architectural symbols above the door (including an ionic capital and a compass).

Stohrer looks exactly like it belongs to the village-like area that Rue Montorgueil feels like; pass the threshold and you’re thrown back to the 19th century.

Indeed, the frescoes were added to the shop later.

Created by Paul Baudry, the same artist responsible for the Opéra Garnier ceiling, they appeared in 1864, over a century after the patisserie’s creation.

Stohrer was acquired in 2017 by the Dolfi family, who also own À la Mère de Famille (several branches including one on Rue Lepic), the oldest chocolate shop in Paris (it was founded in 1761).

Yet, it still feels stuck in time, in a past era, and it makes for one of the most beautiful designated Monuments Historiques in the city.

Foodie Souvenirs from Paris at Stohrer Patisserie

There’s an entire selection of amazing foodie souvenirs you can get from Stohrer if you’d like to bring something special to a loved one.

Although you may like to enjoy the delicious Galette des Rois while still in the city (it’s not the best when not fresh), you’ll find different kinds of preserves at Stohrer.

Wrapped cakes, boxes of macarons, preserved fruits, chocolates: if you’d like to still taste Paris once back home, it’s possible with some of their goods.

Stohrer Patisserie Rue Montorgueil Paris Photo Gallery

Stohrer, The Oldest Patisserie in Paris and Protected Monument

I cannot rave about the Stohrer patisserie enough: this is truly one of the spots I keep going back to – when my budget allows it.

Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, you can still step in (I recommend off peak hours as it’s a small bakery) to admire the frescoes on the walls and on the ceiling.

This really beautiful pastry shop is a must-visit on any Paris itinerary, especially if you know you’re going to be spending time about Châtelet, Sentier or Réaumur-Sébastopol.

It’s part of many wonderful historical sites I cannot recommend enough, like the passages and alleys I’ve mentioned so often recently, including Passage Jouffroy, Passage Molière and Passage de l’Ancre.

And if you’d like to see Paris through my eyes a little bit more, here are a few places you might love:

• Passage du Grand Cerf: A Parisian Passage Near Montorgueil
• Art Nouveau in Paris: 17 Beautiful Places, Shops and Cafes
• Lux Bar, Paris’s Historic Cafe With A Belle Epoque Mosaic
• 9 Beautiful Covered Passages in Paris With Old World Charm
• The 15 Best Bookstores in Paris With Incredible Aesthetic