Angelina Paris

Angelina is a famous Parisian patisserie and tea salon known for its exquisite pastries, macarons and iconic hot chocolate. Established in 1903, Angelina has been a favourite spot for Parisian aristocracy and celebrities, creating a Belle Epoque ambiance that exudes elegance and indulgence.

Angelinas Paris hot chocolate take away stand

Why is Angelina Paris so Famous?

Angelina Paris is renowned for its rich history dating back to 1903, creating an elegant and indulgent Belle Epoque ambiance that has attracted Parisian aristocracy and celebrities for over a century.

Imagine going back in time, rubbing shoulder-fitting suits with the likes of Coco Chanel seated at the marble tables.

an exquisite space, somewhere between serenity and indulgence
Angelina Paris on its Belle Epoque interior

Angelina new pastry collection Autumn-Winter 2015-2016 Paris — The classic signature Mont-Blanc and the latest coconut and passion fruit Mont-Blanc.

What is the Famous Dessert at Angelina Paris?

The famous dessert at Angelina Paris is the Mont-Blanc pastry, which has been their signature pastry since 1903.
It's a mound of chestnut paste vermicelli that encases light whipped cream and a meringue heart.
You'd think with the chestnut purée and meringue that the dessert would be pretty sweet? That's what makes Paris's top pastries so special: they're surprisingly not as sweet as you'd think.

Variations on le Mont-Blanc

Every winter, a new Mont Blanc variation comes out and it's a sheer beauty. If this pâtisserie was on the fashion week catwalk, it would be the bride in the finale.
Particularly memorable tastings include one made with coffee, a coconut and passion fruit twist and another around raspberries.

If you're in Paris around the beginning of November, Angelina usually host a special Mont-Blanc day. This way you can taste their featured annual variations on their famous dessert. You'll find the Mont-Blanc is also featured as one of their top macaron flavours.

Even a pot of their Mont-Blanc tea is an ideal match to accompany such delicate treats. Don't taste it with milk but on its own, with its hints of maple, candied chestnuts and apricot with toffee aromas.

Angelina Paris famous pastries — Famous cakes at Angelina Paris, including the Mont-Blanc pastry

More of Their Classic Pastries

Just take a look at this platter. It mainly consists of the regular classic collection which are available all year round.

Angelina's classic pastries include the flaky vanilla mille-feuille, the chocolate éclair and the Paris-Brest praline patisserie (I have recipes in my book, Teatime in Paris). I'm always a fan of a plain tarte au citron, with theirs often topped with vanilla marshmallows.

However, the spotlight is also on their seasonal collections, featuring new gourmet patisseries that capture the essence of the season. While summer means berries, particularly le fraisier with strawberries, winter options can be even more interesting.

Winter welcomes citrus fruits of lemon and limes, clementines, plus pears and apples. Don't forget the chestnuts - last winter season's highlight was a chestnut cheesecake.

Is Angelina's Hot Chocolate Worth it?

Mont-Blanc black tea from Angelina Paris

Angelina's hot chocolate, the "Choc Africain", is widely regarded as a luxurious indulgence that is definitely worth trying. It's named "African" since it's a blend of cacao varieties from Niger, Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Served with a dollop of whipped cream, it's definitely a dessert on its own!

See my updated local guide to the best hot chocolate in Paris

Who Owns Angelina Paris?

Angelina Paris is owned by the Ber trand Restauration group, a renowned hospitality company that oversees a diverse portfolio of restaurants and eateries in France. The group acquired Angelina in 2005, continuing the legacy of this iconic Parisian tea salon and preserving its reputation for exceptional pastries, macarons, and hot chocolate.

Do You Tip in Paris?

This is something I get asked a lot and for years we have taken this for granted. In France, and Paris, service in restaurants and cafés is included. It's marked at the bottom of the bill and so, please don't feel obliged to leave a tip.

However, if you feel that service was really exceptional, then leave something. But be aware in many establishments that tipping is not expected.

Do you Need a Reservation for Angelina Paris?

It's no longer possible to reserve a table so it's first come, first served.

To avoid regular queues like this, I strongly recommend you arrive out of peak weekend hours or during high season. Expect to wait about 15-30 minutes.

Thankfully, they now have an 'overflow' hot chocolate stand outside the shop for convenient take-aways. So enjoy in the Tuileries Gardens across the road. Note that other boutiques, like the one on rue du Bac (on Paris pastry street) doesn't have a tea salon. However, for a less crowded teatime, I'd recommend their Mademoiselle Angelina tearoom, at the Palais de Luxembourg.

Plus don't forget, if it's for hot chocolate or the tea salon ambience, then there are plenty of other choices throughout Paris, notably by area in my guide below.

For more information on tea salons by arrondissement, see my
Guide to the Best Tearooms in Paris