Angelina Jolie may not be the sweetest bearer of this heavenly name. Right by the Louvre, Angelina tea room at Rue du Rivoli is reputed for serving the best hot chocolate in Paris. The pastry shop and café also bakes in-house sublime desserts attracting daily long lines of fans. For an outsider the scene looks like movie fans waiting for an autograph from their idol. Well, this is better than some brief encounter and a signature, as the hot chocolate really is the best in Paris.
Angelina tea room in Paris
Since 1903 this conveniently located Salon de thé has been attracting local connoisseurs as well as pleasure-seeking tourists coming to Paris. It a special treat for thousands of sweets lovers. Founded by an Austrian confectioner, Angelina tea room might once had been influenced by the top grand cafès of Vienna with its lofty chandeliers, robust mirrors and elegantly curved chairs in the main dining room. Yet, being designed by a great Belle Époque architect Edouard-Jean Niermans it ultimately received a truly Parisian touch.
Pastries selection at Angelina tea room
In charge is the Head Pastry Chef Sébastien Bauer from Alsace, North-East France. His task is very challenging since he has to showcase Angelina’s heritage, while incorporating contemporary dining trends into his recipes. His perfection-seeking creations are the pride of the famous salon.
An elegant, pompous and haute atmosphere in sync with its glorious past customers. Trend setters such as the fashion designer Coco Chanel, aristocrats or creative writers such as Marcel Proust, all frequented Angelina tea room. Today though, be prepared for hordes of tourists visiting from China to Brazil. Dress code is consequentially very relaxed. The rule basically is wear anything you had on you during your visit of the Louvre or a stroll in the nearby park.
Pan-seared fish with crispy polenta
The busiest are the afternoons when a cup of hot chocolate and one of the Angelina’s deserts are usually mass savoured. Breakfast and lunch time are served as well and can be reserved in advance skipping the unpleasant waiting. Still, if you want to avoid the long queues then come early.
From a simpler snack menu consisting mostly of luxurious sandwiches, through large lunch salads to proper main courses, one surely finds what the taste buds desire. I have not resisted the daily offer of an eclectic pan-seared fish with crispy polenta on a bed of asian vegetables accompanied by a sweet and savoury sauce with sweet potato tempura. East meets West in this refreshing yet rich meal. The fish was perfectly cooked, not too oily, just the right balance. The wheel of crispy polenta was tremendous and the veggies have lightened up the other fried companions on the plate.
There are so many indulgently looking deserts lined like jewels in the front counter making it hard to choose only one.  If you are there for the first time I would recommend the Angelina’s signature pastry Mont Blanc, a meringue with whipped cream and thick chestnut purèe vermicelli snailing like a portion of spaghetti all over the top. It looks a bit funny, but its taste is unique. A cup of tea is ideal with it. Having a hot chocolate with this already rich and creamy treat would be perhaps too much at once.
Millefeuille and a cup of espresso at Angelina tea room in Paris
The Millefeuille à la Vanilla Bourbon seduced my sister. The delicate thin layers of caramelised puff pastry filled with Bourbon vanilla cream are perfect with a cup of espresso.
For the first timers trying the Hot chocolate L’African is a must. This rich, thick, warm delicacy is served with a side-pot of whipped cream to mellow its potency how much you like. The wine list is also above satisfactory, although one might not feel like drinking alcohol at this magnificent tea room.
Cuisine: International with an emphasis on deserts.
 Come for breakfast, lunch or an afternoon tea as Angelina is closed for dinner.
Mon-Fri from 7:30am-7:00pm; Weekends from 8:30am-7:00pm. There are many new locations, one inside the Versailles, so choose the most convenient one for you.
 +33 1 4260 8850