The Chess Tea
The Chess Hotel is a new four-star address from the Compagnie Hôtelière de Bagatelle, designed by Gilles & Boissier and located just a stone’s throw from the Opéra Garnier. This hotel offers a wonderful gourmet break in the form of a tea time called “The Chess Tea,” in collaboration with Popelini cream puffs and the Mariage Frères tea house.
On the agenda: a comforting moment to spend with friends, featuring a delicious buffet of Popelini cream puffs (I had never tasted them before, but honestly, they are just delicious!), with 3 to choose from a selection of 5 flavors that change with the seasons. In short, the ideal solution for a sweet break in the middle of the day.
The Chess Tea
every day from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PMThe Chess Hotel Opéra
6 rue du Helder, Paris 9th – Metro Opéra
Information and reservations: +33 (0)1 48 24 10 10Price: €12 including 1 hot drink, 3 Popelini cream puffs of your choice, and a fruit juice
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Tea Time at the Hôtel Raphaël
Ultimately, I rarely have the chance to visit a Parisian palace hotel for afternoon tea, and I think it’s a real shame… I actually learned on-site from Nina Metayer, the hotel’s pastry chef, that the lounge where the hotel’s tea time takes place was “Gainsbourg’s bar,” a spot clearly frequented by the artist back in the day. It is in this cozy, velvet-upholstered lounge that one can enjoy Nina’s succulent cakes, accompanied by a hot drink and freshly squeezed fruit juice.
My favorite part: the quality of the treats offered. I particularly enjoyed a delicious Saint-Honoré and a lemon tart with airy meringue.
My regret: the quality of the tea. For a tea time of this standard, it would have been appreciated to have loose-leaf tea and, above all, a wider selection of tea types.
Tea time at the Hôtel Raphaël
17 Avenue Kléber, 75016 Paris
Price: €36 for Nina’s tea time / €50 for the Raphaël tea time (with an additional glass of champagne)
