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Princess crepe

{UPDATE: Princess Crêpes closed in September 2019.}

I wasn’t on planning on going to Princess Crêpe, which I’d passed a while back and was intrigued (for lack of a better word) by their unusual look. Well it was “different”, as my mother used to politely make me say when something was out-of-the-ordinary. If we were in Harajuku, it’d fit right in. But in Paris, this is decidedly different from the rest of the surrounding area, the Marais.

I’d gone by the place a few times in the morning and they have “different” hours, open from 1pm and closing up a few hours later at 7pm. So basically they open after lunch and close just before dinner.

Princess crepe

However our timing was right today after lunch as we’d just wolfed down two of the jumbo burgers at Schwartz’s Deli, which weren’t bad at all; they were actually made from freshly formed beef patties, not the usual frozen disks. And the frites, while also previously frozen, were crisp. However I still can’t understand why places insist on using supermarket buns in a city rife with great bakeries. But no one else seems to mind, so I’ll shut my bec.

On the walk back down the same street, bundled up and shielding ourselves against the savage cold, we looked up and the steely grey of Paris was punctuated by a bright pink beacon of optimism: Princess Crepe was open.

Paris crepe Princess crepe

We weren’t terribly hungry, but there we were, and there they were, wearing their fuzzy pink bunny ears, and it was a little hard to resist stepping inside. Like the best crêperies and crêpe stands in Paris, the crêpes are made to order. It seemed like they were still figuring it all out, as one woman spread the batter over the griddle, going back over it a few times to patch any raggedy edges (I’m not going to point out anyone else’s faults on that front) and another spread the filling on, folded the crêpe up, and handed it over.

I had a butter and sugar crêpe, and my lunch partner took Nutella. Grasping the hot treats, wrapped up in their—yes, you guessed it—pink paper cones, we sat for a moment in the shop nibbling on our crêpes, until I’d had enough pink, and we headed back into the cold to finish off our desserts.

I think I’m used to buckwheat galettes (crêpes), which I prefer, even for dessert. And these were kind of sweet, and I’m not just talking about the staff or the decor. Princess Crepe kind of has all the makings of a pop-up restaurant, and I wish them much success with their crêpes. Because I’m getting a little tired of being the one who’s the most “different” in this town. And I’m happy to let someone else have a turn.

Princess Crepe
3, rue des Écouffes (4th)
Tél: 01 43 43 57 97
M: Saint-Paul or Hôtel de Ville

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45 comments

    • Lindsey

    Glad to see a review of it – I passed by it months ago and thought it was a little too curious to try but if you say they’re decent, I won’t rule it out in the future :) A little spectacle everyone now and again wouldn’t hurt the French!

    • Karina

    Our local creperie puts chestnut flour in with their white flour dessert crepes – YUM! i always get the butter/sugar version too simply because it doesn’t overpower the delish crepes themselves :)
    I also love it with some fresh lemon juice squeezed on top – like a sour patch kid! lol

    • Splendid Market

    oh yes, very precious crepes!

    • Three-Cookies

    I wonder what their strategy is, assuming they have one:) To attract attention by being very different and unique? Or target young girls with their pink decor?

    • Matt

    I’ll give you $100 if you let me photograph you in that uniform.

    • Doug

    I need a “bright pink beacon of optimism” right now!

    • Krafted by Kelly

    I want to know where they got such cute aprons. Guess I’m the equivalent of a teenybopper foodie…

    • Claudia

    Pink overload… but I would love to see the contrast you mention.

    • Sini

    Well, at least they really are pink! I don’t know how someone can work there 8 hours without getting a headache of all that pink but at least you can always eat your crepe outside… ;)

    • David
    David Lebovitz

    Sini: Maybe that’s why they’re only open 6 hours!

    Doug: I would shoot one your way, but my unicorn is in the shop.

    Matt: Make it euros, and you’ve got a deal.

    • Akila

    We used to love those crepes in Japan as the perfect street-side dessert but it’s a bit out of place in Paris. By the way, many congratulations on your Lifetime Achievement nomination – it is much deserved!

    • David
    David Lebovitz

    Akila: Glad to be in such good company, with some of my friends!

    “Lifetime Achievement” sounds a little like I’m being put out to pasture, but so be it : )

    Folks can vote here on The 2011 Bloggies awards.

    • L’étudiante

    I’m soooooo sad to have leave Paris 2 months ago without tested this shop ! It’s seems to be soooo good !! Hope that I’ll live in Paris one day !

    • Anna

    haha i love her apron! asian culture coming to paris? i have seen the future and the future is…cute. i hope they do well!

    • heather_kaye

    Nutella crepes…guess I know what I’m having for dessert tonight.

    • Merisi, Vienna

    The pink counter is a killer! ;-)

    Crêpe after hamburger with fries, in France, who’d have thunk?
    I thought only Viennese are capable of having a Palatschinke (a crêpe-like concoction) filled with whipped cream and ground nuts and laced with chocolate sauce right after a Wiener Schnitzel! ;-)

    Btw, my Rogue chocolate dream went up in smoke – I was informed that Rogue credited my money back to Visa. Je suis très triste …. :-(

    • Teri Y

    Wow you’re right–it’d fit right in if it was in Harajuku! I have to admit, at first glance I thought it was a picture taken in Japan until I read further.

    • Lydia

    Yum. Here in Vancouver we have loads of Japanese crepe spots just like that, including a new and very pink street cart. I never knew how lucky I was until I read the comments on this post!

    • adrian

    hah! looks just like a place I saw in Harajuku! Makes me want to go back to Japan :-)
    Thanks for sharing.

    • 5feet9

    The crepes look good, and I’m really impressed you could look beyond the pink.

    • Kenon Thompson

    Looks like an eye catching place from the photos you have posted. There are so much to do with crepes (filling wise). David, what’s your favorite crepe filling (or the best crepe you have had so far?)

    • Doug

    I’m sorry to hear about your unicorn, but they can be very temperamental. I’ll send my pegasus right over for you to use.

    • Catherineap

    This looks just like the crepe place in the Japan Center in SF–they even have the same plastic models. Except here, the crepe makers are Mexican, not Japanese–and their crepes are flawless. On weekends, it’s packed with teenagers gorging on these really kinda gross creations. But it’s great fun to watch the crepiers (is that a real word?) at work!

    • Margarita

    In Vancouver we have street carts everywhere and there’s a “heart crepe” place that cute little asian girls own and sell red and pink covered crepes. Very sweet.

    • Tom @ Tall Clover Farm

    There’s a Tim Burton movie feel about the place, or is it more of a Stepford Wives’ set. I would have never guess those photos were from Paris. Fun story, thanks for sharing.

    • vanillasugarblog

    oh that’s so pink for my snow-covered new england brain. so surreal too. why do i want to watch Blade Runner now?

    • Hannah

    Even though this is a Parisian place, your post took me right back to the crepes at Harujuku in Japan :)

    • KosherCorvid

    We have a similar Japanese creperie here in Dallas, and it’s such a perfect spot to stop in for dessert! The owner is fabulous too.

    • Jodi

    They can keep crepes. I’d love to have one of the aprons.

    • Hannah

    Blech. Looks like the little girls department at Toys R Us. I wouldn’t be caught dead in that place – unless you were there on Matt’s photo shoot matt challenge.
    I’d throw a few bucks on that $100.00 offer, too.

    • Lisa

    Ooooo! I love it! So cute and so pink! Butter and sugar on a crepe sounds very decadent to this American – I must try it.

    • foodie and the chef

    How hilarious – is this place new ? I don’t remember seeing in when I was last living in Le Marais a year ago, and I’m fairly certain it would have been a hard one to ignore… :)

    • Claudia

    Great – now I have to seek out buckwheat crepes – in MN. Pinked out?

    • Will Wander

    There’s a similarly themed Japanese crepe shop where I live too. The crepes are just too sweet to eat that often (maybe once a year, if I’m feeling very pink?).

    Indifference towards the atmosphere and the food means savings in my pocket! :)

    • Nancy Singleton Hachisu

    David-I’m in the Dordogne on my way back to Japan via a night in Paris. I must be running along to scare up some cash in town, but had to open your post. After 22 years in Japan I was never tempted to try one of those gross (and grotesque) crêpes I saw on the streets in (you got it) Harajuku. The smell alone put me off…bad oil mingled with overly sweet batter. I gave the stand on Meiji-dori a wide berth whenever I had the misfortune to walk by. And the oozing “cream” was just too disgusting to watch dribble down the overfilled monstrosities. But then I guess anything Japanese has some sort of cachet these days. Good for me in a way, but still a little disappointing because the Japanese transplants are the worst of the worst. Negative anyone? Dinner at Le Timbre tonight, looking forward to that and the plane ride home tomorrow. It was good to see you in Mexico. -Nancy

    • Nancy Singleton Hachisu

    Oh and I totally get what you wrote about being tired of being the most different one on the block. A reason for my frequent overseas jaunts. I love being able to fade into the woodwork (until I open my mouth). Nothing like being a bit off the ordinary in one’s own country to put one over the edge of being positively “alien” in another country. Thoughtful post.

    • him

    never seen a pancake restaurant like this one. Thanks!

    • Heather

    Saw this on one of those snowy days last month and thought it looked like a Barbie doll set…it was hard to tell if it was real or a children’s toy store (and in a snowstorm that was quickly turning into a slush pile, I wasn’t feeling too curious to stop). I think I’ll stick with my crêpe dealer in the 5th. ;-)

    • The Food Hound

    Ugh! You are telling me about all these great places in the Marais AFTER my trip!! Oh well, it doesn’t sound like this is an amazing find, but it is… different :) I’ve actually found DELISH crepes in Knoxville at The French Market, and I’ve even blogged about it. They could give any Parisian creperie a run for its Euro! I am actually making crepes for the first time EVERY this weekend! I will let you know how they turn out! I am pairing them with orange-scented white hot chocolate from Gale Gand. Can’t wait!!

    • Deb Rankine

    Sorry, David. Tired as you may be, looks like you will continue to be a little “different” in this town.

    I give Princess Crepe six months. Tops.

    • Bernadette

    Whew, that definitely screams Hello Kitty. My 5 year old would love it there with all of the pepto pink. Glad you enjoyed the crepes, though, David!

    • Mavis

    My mother and grandmother also use the word “different” to explain stuff they find strange or out of the ordinary, and here I thought it was a Kentucky thing! This shop would definitely blend right in in Harajuku.

    • Buffalo

    My Lord the Japanese creep me out. Hope this isn’t the start of a trend here.

    • Rachel

    Oh this is just amazing and I love the Marais! I’ll keep a look out for them! Are they more expensive generally than other crepes?

    • Lydia

    How bold of them to open a Japanese/Harajuku-type crepe place in Paris!

    There’s a place that opened about 4 years ago in the city near where I live that did the full-on Japanese crepe experience (just not all pink) and I was in heaven: tuna fish filled crepes with sliced red ginger and nori, or sliced banana, with sweet white sauce, drizzled with chocolate syrup topped with fluffy canned whipped cream (which I normally abhor)—Yum! They have since moved and I am not sure if they’ve altered their menu due to harsh criticism (I never did get around to trying one of the ones with hot dog in it), because apparently a lot of people didn’t catch on the operative word “Japanese”, as opposed to French, and some people went on about how they are an abomination, while entirely forgetting that in Japan one can find pizza with calamari and nori on it. Of course, this criticism came from we Americans, who massacre other cultures’ food right and left everyday. For me, I like my crepes Japanese, French or American, but I just want them done well.

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