tl;dr you ought not miss the signature chocolate mousse bar; this was one of the few eats in Paris…read morethat I made sure to have twice
Chocolate mousse can be found at bistros across Paris, but few spots are as highly recommended as Chapon. This chocolate boutique was founded in the 80s by Patrice Chapon, once an ice cream purveyor for Buckingham Palace. Since then, he introduced his now-famed bar a mousse concept, allowing chocolate enthusiasts to sample made-in-house varieties of mousse sourced from cocoa beans across the world.
I first visited a Chapon outpost on a quiet side street of Saint-Germain-des-Pres. You might miss the narrow storefront and brown awning on first glance, but melon-sized bowls of mousse in the window are unmistakable. The interior is warmly lit, featuring tastefully worn wood motifs. The backlit shelves to the right are curated with prepackaged confections, while the display to the left is decked with à la carte chocolates.
We arrived for an early afternoon treat, and the friendly service patiently talked us through and offered samples of multiple mousse varieties. My favorite was the Equadorian, a dark, full-bodied flavor with some floral notes. I also enjoyed my sister's Madagascar, which had a thickness and richness reminiscent of caramel. My mother opted for the lighter, fluffier Peruvian, which was nearly the consistency of meringue. Lastly, the 100% dark Venezuelan had the thickest texture; however, the red wine-y flavor might turn some off.
While the mousse is delicious, the prices might be harder to swallow; our 3 small portions ran over 20 euros. Nonetheless, I was impressed by the staff's ability to suggest an ideal mousse to suit each of our preferences. For a unique experience and a mousse that is sure to impress, don't miss out on Chapon.