When we were invited to review Ladurée during our Beverly Hills California luxury escape, I couldn’t help but think: “no, not a bakery!” You see, Anthony and I do our best to stay clear of complex carbs and sugars and even though he’s about as Italian as it gets, we rarely eat sweets or pasta, even when its homemade. (trust me there are many exceptions, especially at authentic Italian eateries)
“It’s a French bakery,” I found myself murmuring to myself, as if that would somehow justify tasting everything they might be willing to throw our way. A follow up voice said, “but you must at least see what they have. And they have world famous macarons after all.”
The Ladurée Experience
It turns out that our visit was a little rushed due to an appointment we had in Santa Monica early afternoon, one which we couldn’t switch. So, we didn’t have the honor of leisurely eating our way through everything on the menu or staring at the insanely delicious looking pastries through the clear glass of their counter, where people order macarons and chocolate cakes to go.
Simply put, Ladurée is so adorable and fun, it’s a must visit regardless of whether macarons is your “thing” or not. And, while macarons are the order of the day, they have plenty of healthy low carb options to choose from as well if you opt to stay for lunch, as well as other pastries and to-die for chocolate cake concoctions.
A lunch salad at Ladurée is incredibly fresh!
Above 4 savory dishes, courtesy of Ladurée US
If you want a l’il more decadence, try their creamy Risotto. The one pictured below is a Pumpkin Risotto, which I imagine is seasonable, so check their menu before you head over. Locals speak highly of their Quinoa salad which we didn’t have time to try, but it’s a good balance between a classic salad and a heavier pasta dish.
Risotto Decadence
Ladurée Decor: Whimsical Ambiance
The ambiance at Ladurée is so Alice in Wonderland-like that if you show up for a cappuccino and box of macarons to go, you’ll wish you dined in.
Above two photos, courtesy of Ladurée US
Quirky but oh so lovely tables will make you want to want to stay
The Ladurée Beverly Hills space has a touch of 1970’s retro which is both whimsical and elegant with mirrored daisy patterns on the ceilings and walls.
Looking inside the Ladurée cafe from the entrance
As for their macarons, there’s no shortage of flavors to select from. My favorites? Pistachio, Coffee and Lavender in that order. Yes, please!!
Pistachio heaven
Chocolate heaven
Pastries at Ladurée
Managers at work at Ladurée Beverly Hills
Pastry Art at Ladurée
Our lunch at Ladurée
Macarons at their best: Ladurée Beverly Hills
Make time for a leisurely lunch and try their Chocolat Viennois served with Chantilly cream, If you’re there on a weekend, go for brunch and order a Mimosa. They also have a lovely Bel Air offering, which is Champagne and passion fruit as well as a wide variety of specialty teas.
We love this cafe so much, we included Ladurée on our Beverly Hills Food Guide as well, so be sure to check out our Guide for other great Beverly Hills (and beyond…) picks.
From left to right: Adam Martinez | sous chef Jaryn Lunasco | Clement Chevance
Next time you head to the Los Angeles area, order some savory and sweet gems and have fun people watching at their newest location in Beverly Hills.
Details:
Our pals over at Beverly Hills tourism have a great summary of them.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
