A Scoop of Magic in Paris -- and the Family Who Makes It Unforgettable
Some places stop you in your tracks -- not just for what they serve, but for who they are. Bashir is one of those rare places.
This Lebanese ice cream shop -- a family tradition spanning generations -- has a Paris branch near the Pompidou, where three sisters carry on the legacy. And the ice cream really is spectacular. Dense, creamy, vibrant with flavor, and surprisingly slow to melt, so that you have time to actually savor every spoonful. This is not just another gelato or soft-serve; it is in a category of its own. Do not, under any circumstances, skip the crushed pistachio topping!
But as delicious as the ice cream is, it is the spirit of Bashir that is truly extraordinary.
On our first visit, before we had even joined the queue, a wonderful staff member named Yomna noticed that I used crutches. She quietly gestured for my wife and me to take a seat at a nearby bench, then arranged for a colleague to take our order and bring our ice creams to us. Such a kind and thoughtful gesture -- and one that clearly reflected the values at Bashir. We were so moved that when we learned one of the owners was present, we asked to meet her simply to express our gratitude.
The owner -- one of the three sisters -- was generous, warm, and radiant. And as if to confirm that this grace is woven into the family itself, we returned the following evening and had the joy of meeting a second sister: equally lovely, equally luminous, and with the same sparkling sense of humor as her sister.
The Bashir family has created something far greater than an ice cream shop. They have created a place where people feel welcomed and cared for. Because of them, Bashir is now among our most treasured memories of Paris -- and that is no small thing in a city full of beautiful memories.
Go. Sit down. Order your flavors and the pistachio topping. And let the Bashir sisters remind you what hospitality, at its most beautiful, looks like. read more