The Best Macarons in Toronto

In search of the best macarons in Toronto? The sweet and airy treats sandwich rich ganache or buttercream for a crisp and then chewy, melt-in-your-mouth sensation unlike anything else. In this blind taste test, the city’s most popular macaron masters, from Nadege and La Bamboche, to Bobbette & Belle and Ruelo Patisserie, step up for the challenge. Chef Mark McEwan puts their sweet meringue-based confections to the test and ranks the top six spots in the 6ix.

Fun fact: Contrary to popular belief, macarons originated in Italy in the 15th century and were later adapted by the French.

Winner: Nadege

These knocked it out of the park, with McEwan describing them as “pretty much perfect” in flavour, texture and presentation. He noted that “You barely have to bite them … they almost dissolve in your mouth,” adding, “That’s exactly the way it should be.” 1099 Yonge St., $32 for 12

Runner-up: Bobbette & Belle

According to McEwan, these macarons checked all the right boxes. He praised their texture, saying they have a “good bite with a bit of chewiness.” He added that their presentation was on point, noting that they have “good proportion.” 3347 Yonge St., $2.50 each

Third Place: Ruelo Patisserie

McEwan commended the size and texture of these macarons, saying that they were “very tender.” He felt the bold colours were “a little off,” saying it looked “a little art class,” however. He noted the flavours were not as defined as he would prefer. 550 Hwy. 7 E., C73, $20 for 6

AG Macarons

McEwan noted that these macarons were “a little on the large side,” but he added that the meringue was “really tender.” He said he thought they were “well-made” overall. He added, however, that the flavour was a bit “heavy on the sugar.” 647 Dupont St., $2.45 each

Butter Avenue

Although McEwan thought the size of these macarons was spot on, he noted the texture of the meringue was a “bit dry” and said that the flavours were “not as defined” as the top-ranking macarons. He felt they were a little “too sweet” overall. 477 Queen St. W., $15.75 for 6

La Bamboche

Although McEwan said the texture of these macarons was good, he felt their size was too large. “These are a meal,” he noted, adding that they also had “too much filling.” He thought the large size made the flavours come across as “too intense.” 1712 Avenue Rd., $2.95 each