I recently spent a month in France and had a chance to try many wonderful patisseries. A high tea menu is not typically served in Paris but there are so many delicious pastries available. Here are some of my favourite patisseries from my time in Paris.
With its with mosaic floors, ornate mirrors and soft lighting Angelina’s is a Parisian foodie institution founded in 1903. The tea room also offers a brunch, as well as a savoury menu during the day. Try their most popular patisserie the Mont Blanc, which is a cup of meringue with whipped cream crowned by a dome of sweetened chestnut puree or the other house favourite hot lavish hot chocolate.
If you visit just one Patisserie in Paris, Laduree would be the place. On my visit I had an afternoon tea at the Laduree on the Champ Elysees, as the summer sales where on this as the perfect place to stop after shopping. You can also visit the original Ladurée House at 18 rue Royale, Paris which opened in 1892.
The Ritz Paris reopened in June 2016 after being closed for renovations for a few years. There are two options for high tea, either the traditional French High Tea ceremony, which includes sweet French dry biscuits, cakes, brioches, tarts and tea served in new The Salon Proust. The other option is an English style a la carte menu served in The Bar Vendone.
Ritz Paris
Ritz Paris
English style a la carte menu served on the terrace
72 rue Bonaparte, Paris, Île-de-France 75006, France
Pierre Hermé
Heir to four generations of Alsatian bakery and pastry-making tradition, Pierre Hermé began his career at the age of 14 as an apprentice to Gaston Lenôtre. Pierre Hermé is the master for combining flavours. Why not try a vanilla and olive oil or chocolate and foie gras flavoured macaron?
In the 5th District down a cobbled street, not far from the Sienne you’ll find the very cute Odette. This little retro tea room has a puff counter showcasing a range of choux à la crème pastries. Why not take a seat on the street and enjoy your choux à la crème with a glass of champagne while taking in the view of Notre Dame.
Odette
Odette
Ride the pastries with a bike ride around Paris
Vélib
My tip on how to get around Paris is to ride a bike. In 2007, the mayor launched a free bike scheme named the Vélib. There are now over 23,000 bikes available from over 1,800 bike stations located every 300 meters. Cycling around Paris is the perfect way to get around and work off the kilos – as there are so many pastries to try. To get started you need to buy a subscription card which is 1,70 € (approximately $2.50 AUS) for a day, from there each ride under 30 minutes is free.
Michelle Milton, Director and Founder of High Tea Society, is a digital marketing communications consultant and entrepreneur based in Melbourne. She splits her time between helping corporates manage their digital communications and publishing her website High Tea Society.
