What Chocolate Goes with Emily in Paris?

Unless you’ve been living under a cacao pod, you’ve probably heard of Emily in Paris. The Netflix hit show follows the Parisian adventures of Emily Cooper, a marketing executive from Chicago who transferred to the French capital for work. Despite the criticism the series has faced (let’s just say the Paris it portrays is highly fictionalized), Emily in Paris has been an integral part of popular culture. In fact, the show’s influence is so strong that even President Emmanuel Macron has been lobbying for Emily to stay in Paris rather than move to Rome in Season 5. Says Macron, "Emily in Paris is extremely positive in terms of promoting the country’s attractiveness. For my own business, it’s a very good initiative."

As a French native and chocolate lover, I’ve been inspired to combine my passion for both France and chocolate by creating a chocolate lover’s guide to watching Emily in Paris. Here are my top bars to enjoy while indulging in the show.

Season 1, Episode 1 – Emily in Paris

In the first episode of the series, the Chicago transplant practices her French at a bakery while ordering a pain au chocolat. It’s love at first bite for Emily, who immediately shares a selfie with the flaky pastry on her Instagram account.

Pair with: Hogarth Chocolate Buttered Toast & Sea Salt

The nostalgic combination of bread and chocolate has inspired many craft chocolate-makers around the world. In England, Pump Street incorporates crispy croissants flakes into a luscious milk chocolate for a sweet, slightly crunchy treat, the Pump Street Ecuador Hacienda Victoria Croissant, limited edition. In New Zealand, Hogarth Chocolate captured the feeling of eating buttered toast in the morning by blending 48% milk chocolate with rye toast and milk fat. The result is a very gourmand bar, the Hogarth Chocolate with Buttered Toast &Sea Salt that combines three of the most beloved French foods: bread, butter, and chocolate.

Season 1, Episode 6 - Ringarde

Emily and BFF Mindy Chen are sitting on a bench in Jardins de Luxembourg when Mindy admits she wants to put her singing career on halt. The Chicago native convinces her friend to sing one last song for her, promoting the then au-pair to perform Edith Piaf’s “La Vie en Rose.” Charmed by the voice, a crowd of wowed Parisians gather around the singer. Clapping ensues and Mindy’s singing career resumes.

Pair with: Amano Raspberry Rose Dark Chocolate

Founder Art Pollard created this best-selling bar after a trip to Paris, where he tasted Pierre Hermé’s Ispahan cheesecake, which features the iconic combination of raspberry, rose, and lychee. Pollard was so moved by the experience (he even admits to swearing after tasting it) that he returned to Utah determined to pay homage to the pastry. Amano’s Raspberry Rose dark chocolate blends rich 55% Ecuadorian chocolate with tart raspberries and crunchy sugar crystals, finishing with a delicate rose note. It pairs beautifully with a glass of Pinot Noir.

Season 3, Episode 6 - Ex en Provence

In this episode, Emily’s employer, Agence Grateau, is hosting a launch party for the perfumer Maison Laveau in Provence. While checking in guests, the agency’s owner, Sylvie Grateau (Emily’s boss), is surprised to see her estranged husband, Laurent, at the event. Tension rises when Sylvie’s younger lover, Swedish photographer Eric, becomes jealous and breaks up with her on the spot.

That night, Sylvie and her husband Laurent reflect on their complicated relationship in a lavender field when a swarm of bees suddenly chases them. Fleeing in a panic, they strip off their clothes as they run, eventually diving into a pool. There, their passion is reignited.

Pair with: Castronovo Chocolate 60% Tumaco Dark Milk Chocolate with Lavender

Florida maker Denise Castronovo infused her award-winning Tumaco dark milk chocolate with a rare variety of lavender sourced from an organic farm in Colorado. The result is a smooth, creamy dark milk chocolate with subtle, intriguing floral notes. Read more about Castronovo.

Season 4, Episode 9: Roman Holiday

Season 4 introduces a narrative shift, as Emily explores Rome through the eyes of Marcello, the Italian gentleman she meets on the slopes in Season 4, episode 6. While in Rome, we discover that Marcello’s nickname is 'Limoncello,' a nod to the liquor he got sick from with his friend Gianna when he was 15.

Pair with: Castronovo Chocolate White Chocolate with Lemon & Lemon Sea Salt

If you shy away from white chocolate because it’s usually too sweet, stop what you're doing and try Denise Castronovo’s iconic bar. This masterpiece delivers a double dose of lemon, infused into both the cocoa butter base and the salt. The result? A luxuriously creamy bar that evokes the taste of lemon cheesecake. Pair it with a glass of limoncello, of course.

The episodes: all of them

Wine is a constant presence throughout Emily in Paris (when in France, you know). From free-flowing drinks at marketing launch parties to the Champagne produced at Camille’s family chateau, wine is always in the picture. Emily's brief flirtation with the sober-curious movement doesn’t last long, and wine continues to fill her and her friends' glasses across all seasons.

Pair with: Ranger Chocolate

Infusing chocolate with wine is a labor of love, which involves several time-consuming steps. The process begins by soaking cacao nibs in wine for several days, followed by drying them in a low-temperature oven to prevent roasting. Once cooled, the nibs are then ground into chocolate. These additional soaking and drying phases extend the production time and increase the cost of the final product. This is why wine-infused chocolate tends to be on the pricier side: expect to pay around $18 for a 2.5 oz bar.

If your budget allows for a splurge, consider Ranger Oregon Wine Country, Pinot Noir Chocolate Bar. This bar bursts with the vibrant red fruit notes characteristic of Oregon’s Pinot Noirs. The rich, fruity aroma lingers long after the chocolate melts, making it a beautifully crafted treat meant to be savored.