High Tea in Paris

[snobbyflyer]

Where would be the best place for high tea in Paris?

We are thinking Le Galarie at the 4 Seasons.

[amrx]

I assume you mean afternoon tea. It's fine and proper at the Four Seasons Galerie. However there are the usual sandwiches and pastries. Low tables! The Plaza-Athenee had a marvellous pastry chef a couple of years ago who might still be there. So if pastry is primary and the prize winning pastry chef is there, consider checking out the Plaza-Athenee's narrow gallery.

[dulcie54]

Traditionally, "high tea" is actually a working class version of supper.

[vielleanglaise]

"It’s tea, you know, with cocoa and scones and eggs if you’ve got hens, and bacon if you’ve killed a pig and Bovril and kippers, and you have it late for tea, about six." Nancy Mitford, 'The Blessing'.

So U, or Un U.

[trueblu]

'high tea' for afternoon tea has always been non-U (in fact, it's the worst of all, a middle class incorrect affectation).

tb

[vielleanglaise]

Served with serviettes.

[trueblu]

and don't forget to finish your greens.

tb

[grace3]

I had the Crillon High Tea a few months ago..nothing memorable..

Joan

[gjrubino]

Thank you, Parigi and grace3. I will not alter my other dining plans to make room for this AMEX freebie.

[mangeur]

Well put. I have found that almost without exception afternoon perks for a tea or wine and cheese fall short of expectation and, more importantly, encroach on our schedule of better planned activities.

[gjrubino]

Any info on tea at the Crillon? We will be visitng in a few weeks, and have as an amenity free "high-tea."

I am not sure how to fit this into our current eating plans, as we plan one large meal (either lunch or dinner) per day at a starred restaurant.

[Parigi]

Tea at the Crillion? Pleasant. Not unduly memorable.

[shekamoo]

"not unduly memorable". what a perfect way of non-endorsing, I am going to borrow it!

[sunshine842]

I've also heard that the Ritz and the George V do impressive teas

(Paris really has no tradition of high tea...you can find it, but it isn't really French)

[vielleanglaise]

Depends on your definition of "high tea". For a local equivalent of a chic afternoon tea served at say the Berkeley in London, the 5* palace hotels, like the Galerie at the 4 Seasons Galerie would be what your after.

There are though more typical Parisian salons de thé outside the hotels. Try searching this board. It's very old hat, but I like Angelina on the rue de Rivoli.

[Parigi]

Agree. There is no high tea like London's Cadogan or HK's Pen. Places like Angelina or Mariage Frères have a nice setting for afternoon tea, but it is not high tea (or low tea). You are not far from London, the rigiht city for high tea, the way Paris is not.

[vielleanglaise]

"There is no high tea like London's Cadogan or HK's Pen." Agreed too...except to be a pain in the potin, it's just "tea", minus the "high". "High tea" is another meal.

[Lizard]

Thank you! It drives me mad to see a tea or a cream tea referred to as high tea. That said, I was really hoping someone would tall snobbyflyer where to find beans on toast in Paris!