Land & Monkeys — Restaurant in Paris

Oh man. I was elated to find out about this place during my most recent trip to Paris. All vegan pastries and desserts, plus savory items?? Needless to say, my sister and I stopped in numerous times... which still wasn't enough ha.

For pastries I tried the traditional croissant, the chocolate filled croissant (pain au chocolat), the almond croissant (croissant aux amandes), a nibble of my (stingy) sister's apple pastry (pain aux pommes), and a cinnamon roll. Lord have mercy. The cinnamon roll was honestly the best. So dang good. It wasn't like the dry, too-sweet frosted type we're used to in the US. It was perfectly sweetened, and more of a cinnamon twist/knot. The dough was tender and delicious. Highly recommend. No one would know this is vegan! I also was pleasantly surprised by the plain/traditional croissant. It was light, flakey on the outside, and tender on the inside. Again, you could have fooled me. The chocolate filled croissant was pretty good, but I've had better. I didn't get a big enough bite of my sister's apple pastry to give it a fair review but that was her favorite. The almond pastry was probably my least favorite and the most lacking. It wasn't bad by any means though, there are just better options.

For savory foods I tried the chickpeas sandwich (sandwich marine) and the broccoli onion quiche. The sandwich contained a mayo-y chickpea mix with corn and peppers, I believe. There were also some greens on the white sandwich bread. Sadly the sandwich was dry. The filling needed some tomato and avocado to moisten it up (I understand how this would be tough if the sandwich is ready-made and sitting in the case, for the sog factor). At the very least they should use a bread that's tender. The white bread is rather dry. The sandwiches served on baguettes do look better if you're in a sandwich mood. Oh well! The quiche slice was quite flavorful and made up for the sandwich. They can heat it up for you, I do recommend it hot! A toaster oven would be the best method, or oven if you have access/time.

For sweets I got the Monkey Cookie (twice), tried a small nibble of my sister's pistachio Chimp Cookie, as well as a tiny taste of her layered strawberry (fraises) dessert. The Monkey Cookie is up there with the cinnamon roll... so freaking good! The cookie has a chocolate (maybe even hazelnut chocolate??) center and is topped with soft caramel, plus hazelnuts (and maybe almonds). Please order 5 and eat them all yourself. I do enjoy pistachios but the Monkey Cookie is superior. The strawberry layered dessert was a bit too sweet for my taste—I prefer subtly sweet treats the most. I honestly wish Land&Monkeys would open in Seattle... except maybe not because I would surely gain some pounds.

Prices are fair, and service is okay. Just go and treat yourself to a cinnamon roll, croissant, and Monkey...

I tried 3 of the Land&Monkeys in Paris and this one sealed the deal for me.

Upon entering with my wife today, I noticed and told her that the majority of their pastries and sandwiches looked kind of old and not appealing. Don't get me wrong, I love vegan businesses and their offers look really yummy on the paper, but here in this shop they looked old and stale (almost mass produced?).

I ordered a foccacia (great, but the dough was really too thick), as well as a pain aux raisins that was just plain bad. I even went back inside to let the team know it was stale and old, but they assured me it had been baked same day, this morning (I ordered at around 2:00 PM).

I didn't expect anything, I just wanted to check with them because we were surprised it was so bad. They didn't offer to change it for a new one or offer a refund, which sadly reflects poorly on the business but it's not a big deal.

I had tried a quiche in a different location and it was pretty bad as well. I'm now wondering if they're "victims of their success", and can no longer bake quality goods because they have several shops and they just have to produce so much, or if they're outsourcing to an outside company for their desserts and pastries.

Either way, as much as I love vegan businesses, I won't come back to Land&Monkeys. Love the idea, love vegan cafés, but the food just...

I stayed in Paris two days, most of it at the Accor Arena for the Paris Masters (tennis) and I went to this place twice. The first time in the morning, the guy was really nice and kind and helped me find something that could accomodate my allergies. The pain au chocolat was ultimately good; the vanilla flan didn't have a strong vanilla taste but the pain au raisins was to die for! Really good stuff!! The second time I went there and I bought some sandwiches. Again: the staff was nice and lovely, put up with my bad French and helped me. Shame there was no viennoiserie left or I would've stocked up on pain au raisins and pain au chocolat and more... I'd go back again tomorrow but I'm not in Paris anymore. I'd go back to Paris only for this patisserie, it was hands down the best vegan patisserie I've ever been to. It is possibly good that I don't live there or I'd put on weight and spend all my money on it. I wanted to say that I got back to this review (a lot later) because I realised I came across as rude. I tend to sound very harsh and critic without the intention of being so. I wanted to be clear: I love this place and the food was amazing. Thanks to everyone working there and sorry if it came out all wrong. Merci à tous et j'espère...