Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Cafe

Reviews

• Joy B.

  star star star star star_border 27 May 2026

  Forget bars or clubs, Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Cafe is THE place in Vancouver to hang out. Located just one block from the main Robson drag, it is a dessert hotspot that opens for the breakfast crowd at 7 a.m. and closes with the drunk and stumbling at midnight every day of the week.
  
  Named after acclaimed maître pâtissier, chocolatier, and chef Thierry Busset, Thierry is a Vancouver institution with a sweet reputation for handcrafting petits fours, Viennoise, cakes, tarts, macarons, and exotic chocolates. They do it all in a setting that is equal parts cafe, shop, and atelier.
  
  Across a handful of visits I tasted several macarons, cookies, chocolates, and shared a raspberry yuzu tart. The tart had the appearance of a classic French tart, not surprising since Chef Busset hails from France and learned the art of patisserie from masters in Auvergne and Loire Valley. However, the twist was in the ingredients. What would normally be sweet pastry cream was instead a yuzu sabayon filling which delivered a tart note, reinforced further by slivers of ginger and contrasting well with the slightly tart, slightly sweet raspberries beautifully arranged on top. Holding all of this together was a sugarcane base instead of the more traditional shortcrust pastry shell, hard and crumbly rather than hard and flaky. As a dessert it was delicious and unique.
  
  The Breton, a butter cookie with sea salt, was as expected richness galore juxtaposed with salty notes. The chocolates here, meanwhile, are made in small batches in a temperature-controlled room viewable from the front of the house. They may look delicate and small, but they're rich and filled to the brim with both classic and unique fillings. My pick of pistachio (of course) featured dark bittersweet chocolate on the outside and was filled with white chocolate, pistachio, and gin, taking the ordinary and making it anything but.
  
  Half orders of caramel and hazelnut 'liquid chocolate' were decadent and indulgent but thinner than I expected. I could barely discern the caramel flavor in mine. Overall the drink was less rich than anticipated, which may have worked to my advantage considering the richness of everything else I consumed.
  
  The macarons here were decent but definitely denser, not as sweet, and not as chewy when compared to Ladurée, the macarons by which all other macarons are judged. To their credit, Thierry's flavors seemed to veer away from some of the more traditional ones--no pistachio, rose, or vanilla here, for example, but you will find coconut lime, lemon, and lychee. Fruit-flavored varieties have a buttercream center while others are filled with ganache, such as the salted caramel and matcha ones I tried.
  
  As a venue, Thierry is both modern and comfortable, but my biggest gripe about the place is that it needs to be twice as big to keep up with demand. There are only a handful of tables inside and outside on a covered patio so if you order your dessert or drinks for here, chances are you won't be able to sit down to enjoy them. Entire groups congregate for hours in the trendier-than-Starbucks setting and even if a table miraculously opens up, it's not bussed so you'll need to eat with someone's trash and dirty dishes in your face. The entirety of the staff seems focused on taking orders and making drinks.
  
  Thierry's popularity is partially due to the aforementioned extensive hours. While other popular dessert-centric places such as Ladurée clock banker's hours, Thierry is open late like any number of patisseries, gelaterias, and cafes in Europe where the night-life scene is about socializing without an alcohol-focused itinerary, unlike the USA. Much like Juliette & Chocolat in Montreal, Thierry evokes a classic Parisian vibe and is simply a chill place to hang out.
  
  If you've been to Vancouver you also know that the city has the highest population density in Canada with over 5,400 people per square kilometer and is the fifth-most densely populated city with over 250,000 residents in North America, behind New York City, Guadalajara, San Francisco, and Mexico City. Unlike sparsely populated city centers where people merely work and then flee town leaving it lifeless and deserted after hours, metro Vancouver is bustling at all hours of the day and night. Thus core businesses like Thierry serve not only tourists but also the abundance of people who live in the heart of the city.
  
  Thierry is well worth a visit for a morning cappuccino and croissant, a leisurely lunch, or a post-dinner dessert and drink indulgence. The myriad options within bring a bit of Paris to Vancouver, but just keep in mind you might not be able to enjoy any of it sitting down.

• S C.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 21 May 2026

  Pistachio Opera Cake - The mixed candied nuts were just slightly sweet which was good.  However, the pistachio buttercream was like icing with pistachio flavour; it was overly sweet.  The pistachio ganache was sweet like it was mixed with white chocolate.  If they use white chocolate in the ganache, they should have indicated that in the description.  Funny, I could not taste the pistachio in the pistachio jaconde because it tasted like almond cake.
  
  Savarin - The piece of kiwi on top of the whipped cream was not peeled.  It was disgusting.  Even the supermarket would peel the kiwi before using it for desserts.  There was definitely rum in the brioche but I did not know if it was dark rum because the rum was not strong.
  
  Pumpkin Tart - There was only a hint of rum in the whipped cream. The spiced pumpkin filling was creamy.  The apple and raisin compote was nice; it was not sweet with just a little spice.  Surprisingly, the tart shell was half an inch thick.  It was not a 'sweet dough' as it was described.  It was actually bitter because it was browned.
  
  They used some syrup to stick the Pumpkin Tart onto the cardboard underneath to prevent it from moving.  But they did not do that for the Pistachio Opera Cake.  Also, they did not tape the bottom of the paper cup of Savarin onto the box and therefore it moved inside the box and ruined other cake slices.
  
  It was odd that the server only wore a glove in one hand but he used both hands to touch everything (e.g. the box, the paper, the tape, the pen).  Moreover, after the server handed the cashier the paper and taped the box, the cashier turned away from the till and opened the box without finishing typing my order into the computer.  Hence, she told me the total of three items but there were only two items on the computer screen. Was the paper not clear or the cashier was not familiar with Thierry's products?
  
  It is very unfortunate that their quality of cakes is not as good as their appearance.  Besides, their hygiene is unacceptable for their price.  If the service is merely mediocre, then I cannot think of any reason to return.

• Ashley O.

  star star star star_border star_border 7 May 2026

  This review is just on their chocolates as that is the only thing I tried. I don't really understand the hype. The store itself is pretty and the presentation of all the desserts looks so appealing. But given the cost per chocolate I expect more flavor coming from the chocolates themselves. The passion fruit chocolate was absolutely the best. Outside of that, pretty lackluster.
  
  Maybe the desserts are better? They're also gorgeous but I didn't try any of them out.

• Ting A.

  star star star star star_border 5 May 2026

  Come past 11 AM if you are planning on getting any of the cakes. We came at weekend opening but sadly only breakfast pastries were available.
  
  Since we were already there, we ordered a Half Kayambe 72% for $5.35. The drink was warm, very rich, and a little sweet. A full cup of the liquid chocolate (for $9.95) would have been too much.
  
  Fortunately we were in the area later in the evening and returned at 7 PM to sample the cakes. The place was absolutely packed though, both inside and outside on the patio. I had to squat by a table because of the lack of chairs.
  
  -----
  Black Forest: cherries, chocolate, light pastry cream, chocolate sponge ($7.75).
  
  The cupcake-molded chocolate shell is a nice way to present the cake. I had originally thought it was a cupcake liner. A slight alcoholic taste can be noted.
  -----
  Fromage Blanc: fromage blanc mousse, lemon curd, raspberry linzer ($8.50).
  
  I liked the intricacy of textures in this cake! The creamy mousse on top, crumbly cookie on bottom, and a fluffy cake with two layers inside where one is thicker. This was my favorite of the three, although the lemon flavor was not as strong as I had anticipated.
  -----
  Passion Fruit Cake: passion fruit mousse, white genoise, passion fruit gelée ($6.95).
  
  A powerful passion fruit flavor with a smooth consistency. The tiny macarons were cute as well!
  -----
  
  Besides the insufficient seating, I was not fond of the homeless people wandering in to use the restrooms, steal rolls of toilet paper, and mess with some of the shelf items before leaving. I rather go through the inconvenience of asking for the bathrooms to be unlocked if that would deter them than to feel uncomfortable.

• Winona C.

  star star star star star 4 May 2026

  If you're looking for a commodious place for an treat and coffee, this café has it all! And if you're feeling a little cheeky they also have wine as well! Perfect date spot for friends or your S.O. .
  --Savarin ; dark rum soaked brioche, fresh seasonal fruit topped with whipped cream.
  This was not as sweet as I thought it would be! Went well with an americano.
  --Chocolate trio ; white+milk+dark chocolate mousse & chocolate sponge.
  Super fluffy textured mousse and well balanced sweetness levels! This is one of their must tries when you're there!
  
  PS-- if you really love the cake/tart that you ate there, you can also order the WHOLE size of it!! They even have an amazing pear pie that I HIGHLY reccomend! It's always a treat, and a even better treat if you're bringing it to visit friends or family.
  
  The times that I have gone here, I've been quite lucky to be able to grab a seat inside or outside to dine in, so just a heads up, it's an popular café!