Raymond Berthillon opened his ice cream shop with the intention of bringing high-quality ice cream to Paris. Tucked away on Île Saint-Louis—one of two natural islands in the Seine River—the business has continued in its mission to use whole ingredients and has delighted patrons for generations. Best known for its wild strawberry (fraises des bois) sorbet and salted caramel (caramel au beurre sale) ice cream, don’t be surprised to find a steady stream of people lined up out front, waiting for a scoop or two.
Paris is an easy city to explore on foot or by public transportation. Depending on your location you can cross one of five bridges, including Pont Saint-Louis and Pont de la Tournelle, to access the island; or arrive by Metro from the Point-Marie, Saint-Paul, or Cardinal Lemoine stations.
For the shortest line, arrive at the glacier shortly after its opening time. If you don’t feel like ice cream for breakfast, just be sure to avoid the shop’s peak hours from 3pm to 7pm. The store is open regularly from morning until evening, but it’s advisable to check the opening schedule before visiting, as it’s closed on select days of the week.
Other than its classic ice cream and sorbet flavors, Berthillon also offers year-round specialties from its tea room. These icy confections such as the Glace Tatin—vanilla and caramel ice creams with a layer of caramelized apples in the middle—are meant to serve six to 10 people at a time and must be booked in advance. And since the shop doubles as a tea room, you can grab your morning pastry and espresso before exploring the rest of the city.
