The smallest 5-star hotel in Paris, L’Hotel is secret hideaway nestled away in the heart of the city’s Left Bank. With it’s rich history and opulent design, it makes the perfect location to enjoy a luxurious afternoon tea in Paris.
Afternoon tea is served in the intimate surroundings of L’Hotel’s restaurant, set to the back of the hotel for an even more private feel. The restaurant’s décor of rich navy and plum and drapes of velvet definitely reflected the hotel’s impressive history as the hotel where Oscar Wilde lived and died, and we could easily see how its glamour had attracted stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Mick Jagger, Frank Sinatra, and Grace Kelly.
We were seated in a plush velvet seats at a secluded table by our friendly and attentive waitress, who happy to help us with any questions we might have about the menu. We ordered champagne to start and then took time to decide on the impressive tea menu. With classics such as Darjeeling and unique flavours such as caramel we were spoilt for choice with L’Hotel’s selection, chosen by the hotel from the Japanese tea company LUPICIA.
Our sandwiches soon arrived, a selection of classic combinations with an interesting twist; cucumber and mint, turkey with sweet Savora mustard and basil, and smoked salmon and dill. The selection was light and the flavours well-balanced, with the mint, mustard and dill complementing the main fillings perfectly. In fact, the sandwiches were so good that we cheekily asked if we could have more, and had no problem finishing off a second plate before moving onto the cakes.
Although Paris is of course known for its impressive patisserie, L’Hotel’s Head Pastry Chef Joana Thöny Montbabut still managed to surprise and delight us with her afternoon tea offering. Strawberry and verbena rice pudding, floral-flavoured marshmallows, passion fruit sponge cake, rhurbab tender biscuit, caramel and gianduja mousse and Tonka chocolate dome, Thöny Montbabut had struck exactly the right balance of light summer fruits with rich and indulgent caramel and chocolate. The menu, which changes by season, still of course included traditional scones, which were according to my dining companion the best she had ever eaten.
With its almost secret location and relaxed atmosphere, L’Hotel offered the perfect place to get away from the city and enjoy a leisurely afternoon, and we felt free to just sit back and relax and enjoy surroundings. After weeks of rain our reservation had fallen on a surprisingly hot day in Paris, and although the cosy and intimate feel of L’Hotel’s low-lit luxurious room definitely lent itself better to warming up a winter’s day, that just gives us another excuse to be back again.
Served from 3pm to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday, afternoon tea is priced at 40€ per person or champagne afternoon tea is also available priced from 55€ per person.
Afternoon tea is available to book online or email [email protected] to reserve your table.