There are some places in Paris whose very name makes you dream… This is the case for the Shangri-La, the former private mansion of Prince Roland Bonaparte, located in the very chic 16th arrondissement of Paris, which is now one of the most renowned luxury hotels in the capital.
The hotel’s new head pastry chef, Michaël Bartocetti, has been offering a gourmet 100% Vegan and completely natural Afternoon Tea since the start of the school year, which I was lucky enough to be invited to discover.
This all-plant-based approach obviously stems from an unprecedented rise in this specific demand, but it is also part of a more general ethical approach to eliminate (or reduce) animal fats and proteins from our diet.
The result is stunning, because it is very difficult to detect the difference in this afternoon tea if you don’t know about it beforehand. Creativity and gourmet delight are obviously still at the heart of this perfect teatime tasting.
Working with producers and choosing seasonal products is therefore essential to alter the fruit and flavors as little as possible, and to replace animal proteins with plant proteins that are more subtle, easier to digest, and less allergenic.
The Shangri-La Afternoon tea consists of:
- A tier with revisited Figolu biscuits, a granola bar, a financier, a soft cookie, and a small chocolate biscuit.
- Two magnificent flavored scones, absolutely succulent!
- The chestnut-blackcurrant Mont Blanc, made without egg whites and therefore easier to digest, this Mont Blanc is very light. Made with chestnuts from Lozère, blackcurrants from the Hautes-Alpes and Anjou, blackcurrant juice from Corrèze, and chestnut flour from Ardèche.
- The Calisson, an orange mousse, an almond and hazelnut financier biscuit from Bourbonnais, marzipan from Berry, and almond milk.
- The Chocolate Tart.
The pro tip: in all honesty, this afternoon tea is so generous that one is plenty for 2, unless you haven’t eaten for 3 days…
100% Vegan Afternoon Tea, including around ten pastries as well as mini savory sandwiches and a hot drink of your choice
Monday to Friday from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
price: €45 per person (€80 for two people)_
We also had the chance to get a little preview of the pastry trolley offered by the chef à la carte during the day, if you just want to come for tea and a cake, for example. I’ll let you enjoy them in pictures.
- The grand cru chocolate éclair (€12), with Sura 70% chocolate cream, cocoa crust, Tannéa chocolate chantilly, and bitter chocolate truffle.
- Seasonal Maury and fig tart (€12), a wine tart, a practice from the past. I didn’t have enough room left to taste this creation, but my curiosity was certainly piqued!
- The lemon shortbread (€12), re-imagined by the chef from the lemon tart in a much lighter version, a delight! With Nice candied lemon and yuzu ganache.
- Exotic sensations (€12), soft biscuit, peanut crunch, and passion fruit cheesecake mousse.
Honestly, I don’t think the prices of the pastries are excessive at all, considering the quality of the products, and in such conditions, it would really be a shame to deny yourself the pleasure of going for tea for a special occasion in this magnificent hotel.
Shangri-La Hotel 10 Avenue d'Iéna, 75016 Paris
Find all my tea room reviews in Paris below:
⇒ All my tea rooms in Paris
MY TEA ROOMS IN PARIS
⇒ Toraya Japanese tea room (75001)
⇒ Salon de thé des Ecrivains (75003)
⇒ Aux Cerises de Lutèce (75005)
⇒ L’Autre Thé rue Mouffetard (75005)
⇒ Sweet Spot, spread bar (75005)
⇒ Maison de la Chine tea room (75006)
⇒ Georges Cannon tea house (75006)
⇒ Christmas Tea Time at the Buddha-Bar Hotel (75008)
⇒ La Pâtisserie des Rêves (75016)
⇒ Shangri-La vegan Afternoon tea (75016)
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MAP OF MY FAVORITE FOOD SPOTS IN PARIS AND THE ILE-DE-FRANCE REGION
Restaurant 
Bar 
Pastry Shop / Bakery 
Tea Room / Coffee Shop
Brunch 
Ice Cream Parlor
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez and Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free; photographer's authorization is mandatory before any use
