Lapping in Luxury at the Famed Angelina Tearoom
Article submitted by Cécile Zarokian
A step into the Angelina Tearoom will give you a good understanding of why it has been among Paris’ most revered gourmet destinations for over a century. Apart from the fine display of beautiful French pastries that greets you as you enter, the entire place takes you back to a time of extreme luxury when the haute-couture luminaries and other members of high society frequented the spot.
The Angelina Tea House opened in 1903 and was designed by the famed French architect Edouard-Jean Niermans in his signature Belle Epoque style. The gilded frescoes and intricate crown moldings do a lot to enhance the opulent ambiance, but the impressive glass ceiling really makes all the difference. Add to that the leather-backed wooden chairs and marble-topped tables, few places in Paris can really equal this lavish feel.
With a space this charming, you’d expect equally beautiful food offerings and they really don’t disappoint. Everything from the simple croissant to their more complex savory meals surpasses all expectations. But, no other Angelina offering is more iconic than the Old-Fashioned Hot Chocolate “l’Africain.”
The Angelina Tearoom’s famous chocolate beverage is so rich that it would almost be appropriate to call it “drinking fudge.” The word “fudge” doesn’t do it justice, though, because this hot chocolate is made of a complex combination of three carefully selected varieties of African cacao. Every sip will make you appreciate that complexity.
Whether you’re alone, with a romantic partner, or with family, the Angelina Tearoom is a bucket list destination and their hot chocolate is a must-try when in Paris.