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France

Tearoom entertainment in France

  1. A

    Angelina

    Take a break from the long trek along the Tuileries gardens and line up for a table at Angélina, along with lunching ladies, their posturing poodles and half the students from Tokyo University. This beautiful, high-ceilinged tearoom has exquisite furnishings, mirrored walls and fabulous fluffy cakes. More importantly, it serves the best and most wonderfully sickening ‘African’ hot chocolate in the history of time (€7.20), served with a pot of whipped cream and carafe of water, that prompts the constant queue for a table at Angelina. Buy it bottled to take home from Angelina’s small boutique.

    reviewed

  2. B

    Kilàli

    Style personified, this Japanese tearoom-cum-art gallery is a peaceful oasis amid the bustling shops. Finesse, nobility and other elevated adjectives describe the different varieties of green teas served in pottery teapots with matching yunomi (goblets).

    reviewed

  3. C

    Waïda

    A salon de thé (tearoom) and confectioner with old-fashioned mirrors, mosaics and marble. A good place to pick up a box of biscuits roses (€3.90), traditionally nibbled with Champagne (€6 to €7.50 a glass). The religieuses (cream-filled puff pastries; €2.75) are divine!

    reviewed

  4. D

    Cafés Ramuntcho

    To sip (or buy to take home) no fewer than 380 different teas (reputedly the most in France), take a seat amid the metal canisters of this café, established in 1920.

    reviewed

  5. E

    Merling

    For fresh-roasted coffee, head to this 1st-floor tearoom, which supplies most cafés in town with their brews.

    reviewed

  6. F

    Meert

    Gaufres (waffles) made in a hinged iron griddle with Madagascar vanilla are the speciality at this luxury tearoom-cum-pastry-and-sweets-shop, which has served kings, viceroys and generals (including Charles de Gaulle, a life-long fan) since 1761. Next door, Meert's chocolate shop has a wrought-iron balcony, coffered ceiling and painted wood panels that will transport you back to 1839.

    reviewed