I recently went to Paris for the first time and while there I attended the French macaron bakery class at Galeries Lafayette. Me and my friend had booked this prior to the holiday through Trip Advisor and were very excited about it. It did not disappoint. Galeries Lafayette is just across the road from the Palais Garnier (the Paris opera) so the area is bustling with people and is very easy to find.
The actual class, however, is very hard to find. Galerie Lafayette is enormous and is spread throughout several buildings. The bakery class is in the main building; the one with the stained-glass dome. Once you're in there, it is very easy to get yourself lost. You want to head to L'Appartement Lafayette which is on the third floor near the concierge desk.
There were about 10 people in our class altogether. This was perfect as it meant you got to have 1:1 time with the Chef without it being intimidating. The Chef was absolutely lovely and explained everything really well. It was explained in a way that was basic and easy to understand but also provided a lot more insight into the techniques and scientific theory behind the recipe.
The class is not rushed at all. You get time to have fun with whoever you're there with and ask any questions you have. The best part for me was definitely when you get to eat the leftover ganache; the chocolate one tastes amazing!
The class is super accessible. Me and Emily had so much fun going as friends but in our group, there was a family with two teenagers who seemed to really enjoy it and a mum with a young daughter who loved it. The class is great for families, friends and couples.
The class lasts an hour and a half and you get to make 4 macarons; 2 chocolate flavour and 2 pistachio flavour, both of which you are given the written recipes for at the end of the class.
I would definitely recommend this to those visiting Paris. It is so fun and its something that you will always remember. When you visit Paris, its obviously going to be a lot of sightseeing and that's awesome but I would suggest planning something like this class. The class is designed for tourists but it still feels like an authentic french experience. Not to mention the fact that Paris can get so crowded, particularly near the big tourist attractions; coming to the bakery class was a great break from the hustle and bustle as well as the heat.
Book tickets here: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/AttractionProductReview-g187147-d13797835-Macaron_Bakery_Class_at_Galeries_Lafayette-Paris_Ile_de_France.html