Angelina’s

Walking along Rue de Rivoli’s columned promenade with the Tuileries Gardens (Jardin des Tuileries) lining the other side of the street, you will pass by Angelina, right next to Le Meurice Hotel.  Founded in 1903 by the Austrian confectioner, Antoine Rumpelmayer, this salon de thé was coined in honor of Rumpelmayer’s daughter-in-law.  Angelina resembles any other ordinary café along the arcade, except a thick, dark secret looms just beyond the doors that Proust, Coco Chanel and other legendary icons have been privy to for over a century.

Even before arriving in Paris, it seemed like everyone was telling me that I must go by and have their marvelous, world-renowned African hot chocolate.  No one has yet to find an equivalent within the city for this sinfully rich, bold, heavy cocoa.  In that first sip, a euphoric sensation of creamy chocolate flows down your throat, like a fondue fountain trickling a divine elixir into your tummy, sending a warm crescendo of chocolate intoxication throughout your body.  Enjoyed by culinary luminaries like Julia Child, and celebrities from the world over, Angelina’s hot chocolate has been pleasing passers-by for over a century.

Angelina’s also serves pastries and common café fare, which I sampled along with the hot chocolate and although good, definitely does not stand up to the quality of the hot chocolate.  A pot of the hot chocolate coupled with a slice of their famous Mont Blanc gâteau can be a nice 10-12€ break from your Louvre visit.  But I prefer buying their cup à emporter (to go) for about 5€, so you can go enjoy it in front of the fountains at the Jardin des Tuileries.

Hours: Everyday 9:00am-7:00pm
Address: 226 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Telephone: 01 42 60 82 00

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