The most chic tea rooms in Paris

Autumn is in full swing, the festive season is approaching, and now is the time to embrace the art of slow living and savour the timeless moments offered by Paris’s finest tea rooms. Whether you’re planning a date, a catch-up with the girls or a charming family outing, here are our favourite spots in the capital, each vying to outdo the others in elegance and indulgence.

The atmosphere: calling all tea lovers in search of new discoveries! At the heart of Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra, Scribe & Cie has become France’s first Dilmah Tea House. In this chic café-boutique, the French art de vivre meets Sri Lankan traditions, with a new menu designed to put tea centre stage in the gourmet experience.

The speciality: here, tea is more than just an accompaniment to a meal: it interacts with flavours and features in carefully curated food pairings designed to bring out its very best. It’s a whole new way to approach lunch, exploring the delicate aromas of Dilmah teas and their combinations with food in a setting that is both creative and refined.

The treats: between meetings in the Opéra district, settle in for a quick lunch or a sweet break with tea and pastries. The menu invites you to explore food-and-tea pairings with dishes such as Dubarry cream soup (€8), tuna tartare with smoked chai tea (€16), roasted vegetable tikka with yoghurt sauce (€18) and green bean salad with fresh herbs (€15)… before picking up a few boxes of tea to keep the experience alive at home.

Scribe & Cie – Dilmah Tea House at Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra, 1 rue Scribe, Paris 9th. +33 1 44 71 24 24. Open Monday to Friday, 8am–3pm.

The atmosphere: under the leadership of Potel & Chabot, the venerable Dalloyau house is enjoying a new lease of life with the reopening of its iconic boutique on Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, now complete with a tea room. A revamped interior, a business-chic clientele and sweet treats to enjoy on the premises or take away: the perfect spot for a gourmet break between meetings.

The signature drink: a morning coffee and croissant to go, tucked into an adorable little blue compartmentalised bag, or the Parisian breakfast served from 8am, with toast, fresh juice, a hot drink and an optional egg (€20 or €25). Those with a taste for luxury can take things a step further and order their eggs topped with truffle or caviar.

The treats: at lunchtime, the Landes yellow-poultry club sandwich (€20), avocado toast (€15) and royal lobster salad (€35) are reliable favourites. But the real temptation lies at the pastry counter: Saint-Honoré (€14), lemon meringue tart (€12), coffee éclair (€8), a cookie under a glass dome (€5) or pistachio-and-apricot fruit bread (€10). The perfect excuse to take dessert home for tonight.

Dalloyau, 101 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, Paris 8th. +33 1 42 99 90 00. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 8am–8pm, and Sunday until 7pm.

The atmosphere: the shortbread biscuits that Parisians travel across the city to buy? You’ll find them here. The best lemon cake in Paris? Here, too. Needless to say, the opening of a tea room behind Bontemps pastry shop has sent the Marais into a frenzy. Our advice? Book well in advance to enjoy an enchanting afternoon in this wonderfully romantic boudoir. A mermaid bar, reupholstered vintage armchairs and irresistible mismatched crockery: keep your eyes peeled, because everything here has been meticulously chosen and designed by Fiona and her husband.

The signature drink: the orange blossom lemonade with Lebanese orange blossom water, an absolute delight (€8)! Coffee lovers can also opt for a latte macchiato made with beans from Maison Verlet (€8).

The treats: an assortment of four seasonal Bontemps, the signature shortcrust pastry bites; an irresistible Kawaï strawberry cake (€15); a wonderfully smooth flan (€12); or a divine strawberry tart (€13). Mmmh… For the ultimate indulgence, try the Sunday brunch, which speaks for itself (€54).

Bontemps, 57 rue de Bretagne, Paris 3rd. +33 1 42 74 10 68. Open Wednesday to Friday, 11am–7pm; Saturday, 10.30am–7pm; and Sunday, 10.30am–5.30pm.

The atmosphere: the meeting place for the new wave of élégantes is none other than this gourmet boudoir, with its distinctly Place Vendôme feel, opened near the Tuileries by Sébastien Gaudard, the exceptionally talented pastry chef from Rue des Martyrs. His passion? Reviving the old-school tradition of the classic French tea room, once adored by Parisian women, in a decidedly retro-chic journey back in time. Add sublime décor with wonderfully 19th-century touches (velvet, marble) and you have the perfect neo-vintage atmosphere.

The signature drink: an intensely chocolatey hot chocolate (€6.80), also available as a powder to recreate the pleasure at breakfast.

The treats: an irresistible Tropézienne, with orange blossom brioche, pearl sugar and vanilla cream (€8.40), and a choux pastry éclair filled with pastry cream (€7.80).

Sébastien Gaudard, 3 rue des Pyramides, Paris 1st, +33 1 71 18 24 70. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–7pm.

The atmosphere: before or after an exhibition at the fascinating Jacquemart-André Museum, slip into the far end of the magnificent courtyard on the right for tea time at Le Nélie, the museum’s restaurant and tea room, with its subtly old-fashioned charm. Redesigned with a theatrical feel, the space features red velvet chairs, lavish mouldings, romantic paintings and painted ceilings. Every exhibition inspires a new menu, tailored to its cultural theme. Think intellectual finger food!

The signature drink: from the lovely selection of teas, try Courtisane, a delicious blueberry-infused green tea with notes of vanilla and clementine, scattered with orange peel and rose petals, or the wonderful Earl Grey, the classic tea with bergamot aromas (€6.20).

The treats: the choice is tough: classic French pastries such as a large raspberry macaron, chocolate cake or millefeuille… (€12.90). For savoury cravings, a delicious quiche (€19.50) or a selection of composed salads (from €16.70) will do the trick.

Le Nélie at the Jacquemart-André Museum, 158 boulevard Haussmann, Paris 8th. Open Monday to Thursday, 9.30am–6pm; Friday, 9.30am–10pm; and weekends, 11am–7pm.

© Culturespaces

The atmosphere: a setting worthy of a time machine, complete with an ultra-cosy lounge upstairs where you can chat in peace, away from prying ears.

The signature drink: exceptional coffee, expertly roasted in-house at the company’s roastery in the Palais-Royal, with the utmost respect for tradition.

The treats: madeleines served with chocolate sauce and whipped cream (€6.50), and homemade waffles topped with whipped cream and your choice of chocolate sauce or salted butter caramel (€10.50).

Verlet Paris, 256 rue Saint-Honoré, Paris 1st. +33 1 42 60 67 39. Open Monday to Saturday, 10am–7pm.

The atmosphere: an ultra-cute tea room with floral wallpaper, this has been a favourite haunt of gourmet food lovers and familiar faces for 40 years. At Les Deux Abeilles, Valéria and her mother welcome guests as if they were at home.

The signature drink: the hot chocolate, prepared in a saucepan and topped with divine vanilla whipped cream (€8), is one of the best in Paris. For something lighter, there is a lovely selection of herbal infusions sourced directly from the Palais-Royal herbalist (€7).

The treats: the legendary glazed chestnut cake (€12), worth getting out of bed for; Austrian Linzer torte, with spiced shortcrust pastry filled with raspberry jam (€12); the famous gluten-free chocolate fondant (€11); and the delicate lemon meringue tart (€12).

Les Deux Abeilles, 189 rue de l’Université, Paris 7th. +33 1 45 55 64 04. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am–7pm.

The atmosphere: the talented team behind Septime (Clamato and D’une Île) had already made waves with the opening of their first pastry shop in their beloved 11th arrondissement. In 2022, they doubled down with a second location in the 7th, near École Militaire. Enter Tapisserie, this time on the Left Bank, complete with a seating area and even a small terrace.

The signature drink: coffee in all its forms, sourced from L’Arbre à Café, Ten Belles and Early Birds, plus green Reinette apple juice from the Perche region.

The treats: the house’s best-sellers that have had all of Paris salivating: the “Clamata”, a wonderful maple syrup tartlet topped with whipped cream (€8); outrageously delicious sweet woodruff choux pastries; the madly indulgent chocolate mousse tart with a hint of fleur de sel (€6.50); Basque cheesecake (€5.90 per slice); sexy vanilla flan (€5.50 per slice); and a small collection of seasonal fruit desserts, such as the thin apple tart (€3.90) or fig, redcurrant and hazelnut tart (€8.50).

Tapisserie, 65 rue de Charonne, Paris 11th, +33 1 55 28 79 43. Open Monday to Friday, 8.30am–7pm; Saturday, 9.30am–7pm; and Sunday, 9.30am–5pm.

The atmosphere: from its name, inspired by the characters in La Traviata, to a soundtrack featuring some of the greatest operas, not to mention its baroque décor and the names of its cakes, this charming tea room elegantly blends the two passions of its owner, Yvan Alvarez: pastry and music.

The signature drink: old-fashioned hot chocolate, available in dark, milk or white chocolate, as well as Viennese-style and Spanish-style (thick). Then there are the enchanting teas, with names such as Isolde’s Love Potion, Carmen’s Freedom and The Nutcracker’s Spell.

The treats: fluffy pancakes, including the Snow Queen, topped with mascarpone, dulce de leche, chocolate sauce, hazelnuts and a scoop of vanilla ice cream (€14); lemon tart with its outrageously generous meringue; Swan Lake cake (chocolate mousse, praline crunch and hazelnut biscuits); and alcohol-free tiramisu (pastries €7.50 per slice). There are also cakes in flavours that change daily (€4.50 per slice).

Violetta & Alfredo, 30 rue de Trévise, Paris 9th. Open daily, 10am–7pm. No reservations required.

Discover also the new brunch spots in Paris you need to try and the new coffee shops that caught our eye.