Lilian Bonnefoi
After achieving one of the highest honors in his craft as Head Pastry Chef at the prestigious Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Lilian Bonnefoi set out to bring his own vision to life. He opened his pâtisserie in the heart of Antibes with a clear mission: to create a place where pastry feels like poetry and where even the most discerning gourmets feel a spark of wonder the moment they see the boutique’s sunlit window.
How the Côte d’Azur Inspires His Craft
Life on the Riviera shapes his craft as surely as butter shapes dough. The region’s luminous colors, sea-salted air, and abundance of seasonal produce all find their way into his creations. His pastries echo the coastline’s contrasts: bright citrus and delicate stone fruits and everything is in balance.
Storytelling Through Pastry
For Lilian, pastry is a form of storytelling. He approaches each creation like a sculptor, shaping its form and balancing its colors with intention. While he stays true to the classical foundations of French pâtisserie, he brings a fresh perspective to every dessert, making each one feel both comfortingly familiar and entirely new.
His window display changes constantly, a gallery of edible artworks meant to captivate regulars and newcomers alike.
Lilian Bonnefoi’s Signature Paris-Brest
Lilian Bonnefoi’s Paris-Brest is one of the creations that best captures his signature style: deeply rooted in French tradition yet elevated with his own Riviera-inspired finesse.
At first glance, it maintains the recognizable silhouette of the classic pastry—golden choux piped into a ring, delicately dusted with powdered sugar. But Lilian’s version is more sculptural, more precise, almost architectural in its detail. The choux is exceptionally light, crisp on the outside and airy within, creating the perfect vessel for the star of the dessert: his refined praliné cream.
He is known for balancing richness with freshness, and his Paris-Brest reflects that approach. The praliné filling is silky and deeply flavored, with a toasted hazelnut intensity that feels luxurious without ever becoming heavy. Like many of his creations, it’s a pastry that feels timeless yet somehow new.
A Master Pâtissier’s Signature Touch
Lilian Bonnefoi’s legacy is firmly rooted in the landscape of French pastry, an artist whose influence echoes across his boutique in Safranier and his ever-expanding locations on the Côte d’Azur. Each space reflects his hallmark blend of creativity and mastery, ensuring that wherever you encounter his pastries, you’ll taste the signature style that has made him one of France’s most respected pâtissiers.
