The best crème brûlée in France

Paris

Paris is celebrated for exquisite cuisine, so it stands to reason that its crème brûlée is something special. Indeed, the first recorded recipe for this famous dessert is from a cookbook published in 1691and penned by a cook at the city's magnificent palace of Versailles. Here are our favourite places in the capital to find a delicious crème brûlée.

Le Potager du Père Thierry, Rue des Trois Frères, Montmartre
Tucked away in Montmartre, Le Potager du Père Thierry serves an excellent, classic version of the dessert – rich, smooth and flambéed to perfection. The top has a satisfying crunch that gives way to thick, vanilla custard with a pleasing sweetness that elegantly rounds off any meal.

Le Volant Basque, Rue Béatrix Dussane
This small restaurant in the 15th arrondissement is a short walk from the Eiffel Tower and serves a delightful crème brûlée. The golden brown top is light and crispy, with a perfectly set custard underneath – easily the best you'll find near the Champ de Mars!

Lyon

Billed as the food capital of France, Lyon is famed for its gastronomic delights. Although Paris welcomes more visitors, it is this city in the Rhône-Alpes that boasts restaurants such as Paul Bocuse's acclaimed L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges, and proudly serves some of the best traditional French dishes in the country.

Le Potiquet, Rue de l'Arbre Sec
This sophisticated restaurant is located close to the Rhône river and rewards its customers with not one, but a trio of crème brûlées. The smooth custard of each is infused with a subtly different flavour, and the chef is happy to chat to diners about his creations.

Brasserie Le Sud, Place Antonin-Poncet
Run by Paul Bocuse, this brasserie serves a crème brûlée that lives up to the expectations established by a Michelin starred chef. The classic version of the dessert is offered here, with a balanced sweetness and delicate vanilla flavouring topped by beautifully brittle, flambéed sugar.

Rennes

With some 400 restaurants and cafés lining its streets, Rennes is a match for Paris in terms of fine dining and award-winning establishments. The region is known for its seafood and crêperies, but its first class desserts are not to be overlooked.

Les Carmes, Rue des Carmes
It's not uncommon in France to find a modern twist on a classic dessert, and that's exactly what is on offer at Les Carmes. The crème brûlée is chocolate and comes with a ginger twist and popcorn flavoured ice cream. It's a rich and satisfying finish to a meal, with flavours that complement each other flawlessly.