Angelina Tea Room

A friend posted on her facebook page a picture of hot chocolate at a Parisian cafe. I checked it out and sit here and wonder. HOW HAVE I NOT HEARD OF THIS BEFORE??? Chocolate is ordinarily NOT my thing but I'm willing to try it :) Will have to warn one travel mate though who is allergic to chocolate.

After a quick search I found this page at Bite of the Best which gives a personal account of travelling with children.

Places in France had more background info and details:

Angelina was once known as Rumpelmayers and this tea salon was first established back in 1903 and was once a favourite of famous people like Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel, more recent Angelina was taken over by the Groupe Bertrand in 2005.

And although it is known as a tea salon, it does serve breakfasts, lunches and desserts, so is therefore more like a cafe. Plus their African hot chocolate served on a silver tray with cream separate, is what has made this place so famous over the years, and you will be hard pushed to get a hot chocolate anywhere near as good elsewhere.

The interior decor with its marble topped tables, gilded ironwork and mirrors makes for a really traditional stop to rest those weary legs after you have been trudging around The Louvre which is situated just opposite Angelina's and designed by the famous architect, Edouard-Jean Niermans, it combines elegance, charm and refinement.

This traditional Parisian café doesn't actually have air conditioning, so it can get rather stifling inside on a hot day and if you leave it until late in the morning, you could end up in quite a queue just to get a seat. But there is a lovely pastry counter near the entrance, so you could always purchase something from here and enjoy it within the Tuilleries gardens that are just across the street.

Located in the arcades of the Rue de Rivoli in the 1st Arrondissement of Paris they serve some excellent salads and quiches plus light dinners, but it is the chocolate lovers that flock here. And although it is popular both with Parisians and tourists, very little English is spoken, so it may be an idea to brush up on a few bits of French, like knowing that their signature hot chocolate is called chocolat L'Africain.

But this is still a very unique place to enjoy the famous hot chocolate and the incredible Mont Blanc gateau, with the old recepe still being a closely guarded secret along with the terrific decor.

Cafe & Restaurant Guide Key Points

Open daily from 8am through to 7pm

Angelina is situated near to the Jardin de Tuileries and to the West of The Louvre next to the Hôtel Meurice on the Rue de Rivoli.

Their famous hot chocolate is around 7€, with a bowl of chips approximately 6€ and also renowned for their pastries, an apple tart around 5.50€.

There is no particular dress code and casual attire is fine.

The closest Metro stations are either the Concorde or the Tuileries.


Address & Contact Details:

Angelina
226 Rue de Rivoli
75001
Paris
France

Telephone: 1 42 60 82 00
Fax: 1 42 86 98 97