The House
Since 1820, Maison Auer has embodied the excellence of artisanal confectionery and chocolate making in Nice. Located opposite the Nice Opera House at 7 rue Saint-François-de-Paule, our establishment is one of the oldest confectioneries still operating in France. Renowned for its candied fruits, handcrafted chocolates, candied chestnuts, and fruit jellies, Maison Auer perpetuates a savoir-faire passed down through generations, within an iconic Belle Époque setting.
A Nice institution
1820: The birth of a know-how
In the mid-19th century, Henri Auer, a young Swiss confectioner, was drawn to the abundance of Mediterranean fruits on the French Riviera. He settled in Nice and founded Maison Auer in 1820, creating a confectionery business where the quality of ingredients and the precision of its craftsmanship became its hallmark. Very quickly, the shop moved to its current location, opposite the Nice Opera House; a prestigious spot it has never left.
1890: The Golden Age of Auer Candied Fruit
In 1890, his son Henri-Chrétien Auer took over the business and made the candied fruits of Nice famous far beyond the French Riviera. Lemon, orange, clementine, cherry, pear, melon… each fruit is slowly candied using a traditional method that would give Maison Auer its international reputation.
1931 – 1989: The consecration of a Nice institution
From 1931 onwards, Henri-Joseph Auer, and later his son Jean-Jacques, continued the development of the confectionery and chocolate business. Maison Auer then became one of the must-visit addresses on the French Riviera, frequented by a local, bourgeois and tourist clientele, charmed by its rococo decor and the refinement of its sweets.
The fifth generation is modernizing the Auer brand.
In 1989, Thierry Auer, representing the fifth generation, breathed new life into the Maison while carefully preserving its soul and historical recipes. He ushered the Maison into the digital age by launching its first e-commerce website, allowing Auer's specialties to reach a wider audience than just Nice. The Maison's philosophy remains unchanged: each creation is crafted using artisanal techniques, respecting traditional recipes and maintaining a constant commitment to quality.
A new family, the same high standards
In 2024, the Dolfi family took over Maison Auer and became the guardians of this Nice institution, with the mission of preserving the soul, recipes, and expertise that have made it famous for over two centuries. Faithful to the Auer heritage, the Maison continues its commitment: preserving historical recipes, artisanal production, and the authenticity of a know-how passed down from generation to generation, while continuing to enhance the prestige of Maison Auer.
Defenders of French sweet heritage
As the craft of chocolate and confectionery took hold of them, the Dolfi family developed a rare love affair with their recipes, their expertise, and their raw materials. Their desire to do things well was matched only by their desire to create delicious treats, and the mission of conveying a different vision of sweetness gradually became theirs.
This vision materialized in 2000 in Paris with the acquisition of the historic boutique at 35 rue du Faubourg Montmartre, marking the beginning of the adventure of preserving French chocolate and confectionery heritage. Founded in 1761, À La Mère de Famille became the first symbol of the Dolfi family's commitment, driven from the outset by a deep desire to preserve the authenticity and soul of this iconic establishment. Continuing in this vein, the family was fortunate enough to acquire the historic Stohrer pastry shop, renowned for its excellence.
As if by design, the calling was born and the purveyors of flavors, defenders of French sweet know-how, then took over institutions in the region, thus preserving their traditional recipes: La Chocolaterie Buissière in Limoges, Les Palets d'Or in Moulins, Au Négus in Nevers, La Chocolatière de Tours, Henriet on the Basque coast, Au Duc de Morny in Deauville, Pillon in Toulouse or even Témoins in Caen… United by the Dolfi family, these addresses nevertheless remain different and true to themselves, preserving their name, their methods of yesteryear and their identity.