Angelina, Paris

2 more images

We really wanted to visit this restaurant in Paris, but only managed to eat here when we were at the Palace of Versailles. Service was a little slow, but then that could have been because we were in a hurry to see the grounds before closing time. Food was delicious, the egg sandwich was so good and the Caesar salad and quiche was lovely too. we did not have time for dessert but the table next to us ordered some really fancy desserts that made our mouth water.

Favorite Dish: The club, egg, sandwich was delicious, and ideal for a quick lunch bite.

3 more images

The woman who recommended Angelina's to us lives in our town and told us that her husband had gotten the recommendation from a biker friend. She was a little dubious, asking herself what a biker could know about fine hot chocolate. At her husband's insistance they went there for hot chocolate early in their stay in Paris. She said it was so good they went back the next day, and the next! I had tried to tell my family that this was a beautiful and famous place whose hot chocolate had lured the likes of Marcel Proust, Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel as frequent guests. But when we sat down I was the only one who ordered the hot chocolate. It was so smooth and delicious I couldn't believe it and insisted that the grandchildren give it a taste. Immediately they all ordered it as well and agreed with my assessment.
The place itself is a fine old (1903) belle epoch cafe with gilded mirrors adorning the walls, lovely tablecloths and a take out counter of eye popping confections. It has a wonderful elegance associated with affluent matrons and famous people, but even with a party of 10 we were courteously and promptly seated and served.
My wife and I were back in Paris in 2012 and she insisted that we had to go for lunch again. It is still a wonderful experience.

Favorite Dish: In my opinion the hot chocolate is not to be missed. It is so smooth and creamy it invites gulping rather than sipping and is served with a "mont blanc," a white mountain of whipped cream on the side. The cream thankfully is not sweetened so that it compliments the chocolate without competing with it. I had a truly delicious quiche lorraine as did several others and my son-in-law had a millefeuille a la vanille bourbon that he is still talking about a month later. The food is excellent but the chocolate is unbelievable (and normally I am not a hot chocolate fan).

3 more images

Angelina's is one of those places that you hear so much about especially by other travelers. They are written in every single guide book I have looked at and the only reason I ever came here was that my friend insisted they do have the best hot chocolate in Paris.

With that said, the lines can be long depending on the time you come, but they do move quickly. The interior is quite beautiufl and will overwhelm your senses. The decor is a bit dated now, but the experience is just the same. You're here to experience what may be the very best hot chocolate your mouth will ever taste.

On my most recent visit I was a bit disappointed though. I always order the same thing, their specialty, the l'Africain chocolate and the Mont Blanc, but the Mont Blanc seemed like it had been seating out for a while and didn't taste fresh as my previous visits. The hot chocolcate as usual is divine!!!

The chocolate is served hot in a white ceramic pitcher with a side of delicious whipped cream. The chocolate is rich and thick and so heavenly you don't mind splurging on this decantant treat.

Favorite Dish: I usually order the same thing, the l'Africain and the Mont Blanc (a meringue base piled with chestnut purée & whipped cream). They also serve a wide variety of other dishes like salads, quiches and all sorts of desserts.

Angelina, a stunning place to stop for Afternoon Tea. The romantic, elegant and impressive decor lends to a fantasy that Marie Antoinette might walk in at any moment.

In this lovely restaurant, one doesn't have to dream. The prices are high, but not extravagantly so. You may have to wait in line for a few minutes, but the experience of eating here is worth the wait.

Favorite Dish: My friends and I shared several cakes and pastries! Each item was rich and mouth watering delicious. I can't remember the specific names of our treats, but can assure you that the pastry chef is excellent and you will not be disappointed with anything you choose to order.

1 more image

2nd visit July 2011 to Versailles location inside the palace, try to go to the Rue de Rivoli location if you have the time, so much better!

There are many menu items on Angelina's menu, indeed we saw several people eating sandwiches and salads but my focus for my birthday splurge was two of the menu items that Angelina is famous for, the hot chocolate l'Africain and the Mont Blanc.

At around 2 pm we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table but by the time we left there was no line. You see all kinds of dress here, from the chic Parisian ladies to tourists in shorts, service is quick and efficient but certainly not friendly or pleasant. Not that I'd expect friendly or pleasant Parisian waiters....

Favorite Dish: The hot chocolat l'Africain (6.90E) is a thick dark chocolate served in a pot for one with a side of fresh whipped cream to mix in with it, not overly sweet but perfection when mixed together. Coupled with the Mont Blanc pastry (6.70E), a chestnut puree covering over cream and a meringue base, I was practically in a sugar coma by the time we left.

David ordered a pot of hot white chocolate (6.80E) which was very sweet and another pastry (6.10E), everything on the pastry trays at the entrance looked decadent and divine. It's a bit of a splurge, 26.50E was our total bill, but totally worth it for this chocoholic on her birthday!

Angelina also has a couple of locations on the grounds of Versailles but I would recommend trying to go to the original, they didn't give us the fresh whipped cream to mix in at Versailles and we had to eat standing up at a table. I took one sip without the whipped cream and I knew my niece wasn't going to drink it and I couldn't possibly drink two.

2 more images

Established in 1903, Angelina has been serving tea and other gourmet delights to Parisians or foreign visitors for over a century. Here in 2011, it is still a must see place for those who enjoy the best that Paris has to offer. Whether you stop in for tea or their famous hot chocolate or maybe a mille-feuille or their equally famous Mont Blanc, you will not be disappointed.

Inside, besides the wonderful pastries, you'll find a beautiful belle epoque decor that is usually full of patrons. Though busy serving a full house, we thought the service was very good and friendly.

Angelina is open everyday from 9 am till 7pm, it can get very busy at lunch time.

Favorite Dish: Our two favorite items were the millefeuille and the chocolate eclairs. The millefeuille is sometimes called a Napoleon and is made of thin layers of caramelized puff pastry and Bourbon vanilla cream.
The eclairs were rich and chocolatey and full of custard.

The mont-blanc was extremely heavy. Compared to the light Japanese mont-blancs that we were used to, Angelina’s mont-blanc was incomparable. I had not eaten lunch that day yet, and because of the time difference had already skipped a few meals – but still I could not finish one piece of Angelina’s mont-blanc cake.

For full review with pictures, see:
http://effli.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/angelina-patisserie-226-rue-de-rivoli-paris/

Favorite Dish: We only tried the mont-blanc - which was a disappointment.

For full review with pictures, see:
http://effli.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/angelina-patisserie-226-rue-de-rivoli-paris/

4 more images

Whenever my wife and I are in Paris we have to stop at Angelina. My wife first took me here a few years back when we were not yet married. I know this is known as a "tourist" spot and is considered dated but we love it. The hot chocolate here is a must especially the rich and delicious l’Africain served with a heaping of fresh whipped cream on the side. The pastry here is also excellent. I have enjoyed the éclair as well as their saori.

Our last visit here was in January 2011. My wife and I arrived around 10am and wanted just a snack and some hot chocolate. The place was pretty empty save a few tables so we had a choice of seating. I let my wife choose and she decided on a nice table for two on the second level overlooking the main level. Despite the menu; we already knew what we wanted. We ordered some l"Africain hot chocolate, an éclair for me and a St. Honore pastry for my wife.

The hot chocolate arrives in a carafe along with a bowl of fresh whipped cream. As my wife poured the hot chocolate I start to salivate. The hot chocolate is rich, thick and creamy. Adding some whipped cream only creates a more silky texture. Upon first sip it is heaven; indescribably good. My éclair is always a good choice with light pastry shell and delicious chocolate cream filling. My wife loves their St. Honore pastry and swears they make it the best here. The best way to describe the St. Honore is flaky pastry topped with mini cream puffs covered in caramel and bourbon cream. I always steal a bite of hers but could never eat a whole one; it is too sweet for me.

To me this is a great place for a sweet tooth and a lover of hot chocolate. You won't be disappointed in what you get at Angelina.

Favorite Dish: The l'Africain hot chocolate is to die for and a must try when in Paris.

4 more images

Angélina
226, rue de Rivoli

Angélina's falls into the affordable luxury category where one may indulge in the decadent and, some say, best hot chocolate (chocolat chaud), l'Africain, in the world. This extremely rich concoction holds a pure, velvety flavor & texture, accompanied by unsweetened whipped cream in a white ceramic pitcher (see Photo#2 - you'll note the packets of sugar one uses to sweeten to one's liking) and a beautiful globe glass pitcher of ice water (note: one of the few places you can get ice water in Paris) all provided by white-aproned servers. They'll bring by a dessert tray in case your menu French is not up to par. Frommer's calls it "the best hot chocolate in Paris...hands down", while Patricia Wells deems it "lethally rich, delicious hot chocolate".

Although it's a salon de thé they also serve excellent salads, quiches, desserts and the like. The Mont Blanc is particularly to-die-for! Angélina's is one of my favorite places in Paris. I recently voted this as my #2 favorite place (following Le Vieux Bistro) for Zagat's Restaurant Guide.

Famed French writer Marcel Proust, who loved their madeleines, declared they could transport him back to childhood.

Once known as Rumpelmayers, this belle époque salon de thé is set in a frescoes-and-gilded-mirrors décor enclosing closely set cloth-covered marble-topped tables set for Parisian grande dames & blue-jeaned tourists who are treated equally in these elegant surroundings.

Listed in the following guides/books:
Cadogan Guides Paris
Fodor's Paris (Gold Guide series)
The Food Lover's Guide to Paris by Patricia Wells
Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Paris
The Historic Restaurants of Paris by Ellen Williams

Favorite Dish: Mont Blanc, a meringue base piled with chestnut purée & whipped cream. And l'Africain, naturellement!


Has anybody seen
A dog died dark green
Sunglasses & a bonnet
And designer jeans with appliqués on it
~B-52s

I've also enjoyed pink (rosé) champagne, quiche Lorraine (photo#3) (had to try it because of the B-52’s song of the same name) served with salade & mustard vinaigrette (vinaigrette à la moutarde) and the heady Baba au Rhum (rum-soaked cake topped with rum-infused fresh fruit).

However, my favorite entée must be the Croque Madame (photo#4) upon which my son supped this past trip (April 2010)

Photos: April 2010

4 more images

It's going to be difficult writing a tip more then 2 years after the fact without my notes (gives me a good reason to clean the house so I can find my notes) but I'll give it my best.

We had heard of Angelina's before out trip to Paris and really didn't know if we would get the chance to stop in with only 3 1/2 days to spend touring. Fortunately on a cloudy and partially rainy Sunday after we had visited both Notre Dame and the Louvre and before our evening excursions we decided we needed a quick pick me up and Angelina's was nearby.

We waited in line for probably about 20 to 30 minutes (some of it outside) all the while looking at all the delectable pastry offerings in the window. When we were finally escorted to our table upstairs we were fairly certain what we were going to order.

Favorite Dish: Since we hadn't had any macaroons in Paris and this was our last day there well of course we needed to try them, but the ice cream with some type of wafer looked good also as did the figs and of course the hot chocolate. Hey, why not have them all and split everything which we indeed did do. I wish I had written down what I liked about each one, but I think you can see from the picture of Sue and I, we did enjoy our late afternoon, early evening snack.