The independent ranking, La Liste, has just held its 2025 Pastry Special Awards, and there are evident conclusions that can be drawn. The main one is that, for the first time, women represent the majority (60%) of the winners, which leads us to believe that the talent of female chefs is beginning to gain visibility and recognition. The second is its international character, as the 36 award-winning chefs come from 18 countries across seven continents, from California to Quito, Paris, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Kyoto. The third is that London stands out on the list with three major awards, and the fourth is that tea time is consolidating itself as a gastronomic art form.

With these awards, La Liste reaffirms its commitment “to a vibrant and rapidly evolving sector, rich in cultural exchange and with great future potential,” says its general manager, Hélène Pietrini. “Pastry is now a true force of transformation, led by a new generation of talents—mostly women—who are reinventing formats, narratives, and experiences.”

One of the notable features of this ranking, explains Jörg Zipprick, editor-in-chief and co-founder of La Liste, is that it doesn’t focus on perfect cakes or desserts designed to go viral. “It highlights pastry chefs who reflect on their craft, in a landscape where impeccable aesthetics often hide industrial shortcuts: artificial colors, flavor enhancers, and texturizers. The 2025 selection pays tribute to those who prioritize flavor over appearance and substance over spectacle.”

Eleven awards and 36 award-winning chefs

On the list of chefs, we find contributors to so good magazine such as Maxime Frédéric, Claire Heitzler, Marc Ducobu, Pía Salazar, Nicolas Houchet, Nina Métayer, and Julien Dugourd. Congratulations to all!

The World’s Most Creative Pastry Chef

Maxime Frédéric (Paris, France), who participated in so good.. magazine 28, presents creations with a deep connection to the land. At the helm of Cheval Blanc Paris pastry shop and Café Louis Vuitton, he fuses French heritage with global influences, creating technically masterful and emotionally impactful desserts. In 2024, he opened Plein Coeur in Paris.

Award of Honor

Iginio Massari (Italy) for his career of excellence, expertise, and dedication to his craft. From his hometown of Brescia, he has contributed to the prestige of pastry making worldwide and shaped generations of professionals.

Pastry Game Changer Award

Pooja Dhingra (India) for being a pioneering entrepreneur who is transforming the pastry landscape in India and inspiring a new generation of chefs.

World’s Best Pastry Shop Award

Claridges Artspace Café (London, UK), a luxury hotel pastry shop, with Thibault Hauchard as Executive Pastry Chef, blending artistic expression with French precision and presenting an innovative concept in terms of products, design, and customer experience.

World’s Best Afternoon Tea Award

• The Goûter by Jessica Préalpato (Paris, France) draws inspiration from nature and a touch of terroir to reinvent the French afternoon tea tradition.
• The Butterfly Room, Rosewood Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China), offers exclusive chocolates, innovative contemporary pastries, artisanal ice creams, and seasonal desserts as if it were a high-end jewelry shop. We’ve shared several recipes from its Executive Pastry Chef, Jonathan Soukdeo, on our website.

Pastry Innovation Award

• Julien Abourmad (The French Bastards in Paris and Lille, France) for his bold and unapologetic pastries and bakery products with a streetwise flair and high standards.
• Yazid Ichemrahen (Ytime in Doha, Qatar – Ycone in Courchevel & Bahrain – Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris in Paris, France – At Home in Paris, France) for being a visionary entrepreneur transforming luxury pastry through concept stores, international reach, and inclusive storytelling.

Pastry Talent of the Year Award

• Lily Jones (Lily Vanili in London, UK)
• Mélanie & Arnaud Mathez (Le Jardin Sucré in Paris, France)
• Hannah Ziskin (Quarter Sheets in Los Angeles, USA)
• Tom Coll (Jumeirah Burj Al Arab – Les Desserts in Dubai, UAE)
• Makoto Arami (Ami Patisserie in Singapore)

Pastry Ethical & Sustainability Award

• Pâtisserie Claire, by Claire Heitzler, in Levallois Perret, France
• Green Rabbit, by Mathias Dahlgreb, in Stockholm, Sweden

Pastry Artisan & Authenticity Award

Ducobu, by Marc Ducobu (so good.. magazine 28), in Waterloo, Belgium, for promoting the country’s culinary heritage through technique, creativity, and sourcing.

Pastry Opening of the Year Award

• Sweet Sage Pâtisserie, by Thibaut Honajzer and Alix Marin, in Lausanne, Switzerland
• Aya Belkahia, from Aya Belkahia, in Casablanca (Morocco)
• Pastelería Pía, by Pía Salazar (so good.. magazine 31) in Quito (Ecuador)
• Scoff at the Savoy, by Nicolas Houchet (so good.. magazine 22), in London (United Kingdom)
• Le Fournil, Chez Paillat, by Nina Métayer (so good.. magazine 26), in La Rochelle (France)
• Pâtisserie Café Sébastien Vauxion, by Sébastien Vauxion, in Annecy (France)
• Neja Pâtisserie, by Germain Decreton, Iris Rouche & Rayane Rebouh, in Lille (France)
• Pâtisserie & Tea Time Mandarin Oriental, by Julien Dugourd (so good.. magazine 25), in Paris (France).
• Quelque Part… La Matière, by Florian Barbarot & Pierre-Henry Lecompte, in Paris (France)

Pastry Discovery Gem Award

• Lucette, by Lucia Hrivňakova, in Bratislava (Slovakia)
• Du Bonheur, by Anna Plagens, in Berlin (Germany)
• Fátima Gismero Pastelería, by Fátima Gismero (Guadalajara, Spain)
• Café Aux Petits Verres, by Park Joon Woo, in Seoul (South Korea)
• Rau Kyoto, by Yusuke Matsushita & Sachi Takagi, in Kyoto (Japan)
• B Patisserie, by Belinda Leong & Michel Suas, in San Francisco (USA)
• La Maison Alexia Santini, by Alexia Santini, in Soveria, Corsica (France)
• Mi Cielo, by Diego Cervantes & Blanca Bertely, in Bordeaux (France)
• Jaune Citron, by Laura Schneider, in Strasbourg (France)
• Family, by Francois & Emmanuelle Josse, in Chambonas (France)
• Maison Malécot, by Clemence & Giovanni Malecot, in Saint-Malo (France)