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Is Angelina in Paris a Tourist Trap or Treasure?
The original Angelina in Paris resides at 226 rue de Rivoli, founded in 1903. This establishment celebrates 120 years of success this year, with over 25 additional tea rooms across the world. However, based on my research there’s no location quite like the original.
Fortunately for visitors of Paris, 226 rue de Rivoli is walking distance from the Louvre. Due to its popularity, this location doesn’t accept reservations so it’s best to arrive when they open (times vary). I arrived 20 minutes after opening, and the queue was already long but moved quickly.
As you walk through the tea room to your table, it’s like stepping back through time. I don’t have enough architectural knowledge to describe the inside well enough to do it justice, but what I will say is this: the attention to detail and the feeling that everything was handpicked for this specific location adds to the feeling of elegance. I felt like a guest rather than a customer. What I have knowledge on and describe though? The food. Here we go!
Angelina is famous for their hot chocolate, and I highly recommend that to be the first thing you order. I think the hot chocolate was made famous due to the thickness – the taste makes me think that it’s made with melted chocolate and warm milk of some sorts because wow was it rich and I drank every last drop. I I splurged on the three-course brunch so you didn’t have to – which included an assortment of pasties, a choice of breakfast, choice of desert, and choice of two drinks (which of course I chose the hot chocolate) – and found that the French toast is another item worth trying but a heads up: it’s rather sweet like a dessert (hence why it’s listed as a desert option).
The eggs benedict I chose was filling, but if I were to return to Angelina, I would more than likely order the pastries and share with whoever I was with. As I tried the alarmingly large three-course alone, I took the pastries with me in a to-go bag so I could snack on them throughout the day.
In conclusion, I don’t think Angelina is a tourist trap. I do, however, feel that it can border one if you’re none the wiser. I believe there’s no need to splurge at Angelina on the breakfast, especially if you’re on a budget. A hot chocolate and a pastry would still allow a fond experience to remember.
If you’re going to splurge, I’d recommend it be on the way out. They have a room displaying all sorts of pastries and desserts to take with you. The three-course brunch is around $50 USD. I could’ve spent half that and had the same level of experience, and had money back in my pocket to try something else.
Once again not only a fabulous read but also informative! Makes me wish for a ʺ Sam me up!” to take me there!