Ladurée, the famous Parisian creators of the double-decker macaron, has four shops in London that sell macarons, and lots of them. These tiny sweet treats come in a huge rainbow of colors and flavors and are all beautifully presented in pretty boxes.

Ladurée History

Queen Catherine de’ Medici brought the macaron to France from Italy in the 16th century, and bakers enjoyed recreating them for the public. Ladurée was founded in 1862 in Paris by Louis-Ernest Ladurée. When his bakery burned down in 1871, he reopened his business as a pastry shop and painted it in the celadon green that is still part of the company’s recognizable branding.

The double-decker idea came courtesy of his grandson, Pierre Desfontaines, who had the idea in 1930 to stick two macaron shells together with a ganache filling. He also opened a tearoom which gave women the opportunity to meet friends away from home and it became a huge success.

In 1993, Ladurée was taken over by The Groupe Holder, a company that owns the PAUL bakery chain in France. This was when the international expansion started being considered. After initial growth with more shops and tearooms in Paris, Ladurée arrived in London in 2005.

There are now four branches in London, with the largest tearoom located at Harrods. Please note, not all of the London locations have a tearoom. The international growth has continued with branches now across the world from Rome and Milan to Bangkok and Singapore, as well as New York and Sydney.

Ladurée at Harrods

Ladurée at Harrods is the most iconic of the London venues. It features sumptuous interiors and al fresco dining, providing a serene atmosphere that contrasts with the bustling department store. The restaurant is on Hans Road, which experiences less traffic, making it a lovely place for a pot of tea and a macaron tasting with friends.

This charming restaurant also offers an haute cuisine lunch menu, complemented by an afternoon tea menu featuring a selection of finger sandwiches, mini viennoiseries, and pastries.

Address:
Harrods
87-135 Brompton Road
Knightsbridge
London SW1X 7XL
Tel: 020 3155 0111

Ladurée at Burlington Arcade

Burlington Arcade does not have a tearoom but is a wonderful location at the entrance to the arcade from Piccadilly. While it features a few tables outside the shop, depending on the season, this upmarket covered shopping arcade has Beadles (uniformed security guards) on duty dressed in traditional uniforms including top hats and tail coats. They are there to uphold the unique laws within the arcade, which makes it a beautiful place to visit.

Address:
Burlington Arcade
71-72 Burlington Arcade
London W1J 0QX
Tel: 020 7491 9155

Ladurée at Covent Garden

The Covent Garden Ladurée is the patisserie’s first stand-alone tea salon in the capital. It serves savory snacks and champagne, in addition to sweet treats and their signature macarons.

Address:
1 The Market, Royal Opera House
Covent Garden
London WC2E 8RA
Tel: 020 7240 0706

Ladurée at Cornhill

This was the fourth branch of Ladurée to open in London, and while Ladurée Cornhill does not have a tearoom, it does sell the rainbow of macarons along with some other pastries and sweet treats, as well as Ladurée home and beauty products.

Address:
14 Cornhill
London EC3V 3ND
Tel: 020 7283 5727

Official Website: www.laduree.fr