The French oddly renamed the afternoon tea tradition “tea-time”, perhaps as an excuse to take a few liberties and make it “à la française”. The Bristol Hotel Paris Afternoon Tea has been a steady favourite of mine this past decade so I try to come whenever possible to update this article. Let’s see if the new tea time is as good as it used to be:
Afternoon Tea / Tea-Time at Hôtel Le Bristol, Paris (2022)
Afternoon Tea / Tea-Time at Hôtel Le Bristol, Paris ★★★★★
Le Bristol Paris afternoon tea price: 65€/person; (Savouries, Scones & Pastries with hot beverages)
Le Bristol Champagne afternoon tea price: 85€/person;
Tea refills: Yes (2 Choices per person); Food refills: No
Service: 3 pm to 6 pm in Café Antonia or Jardin Français (Weather permitting)
Les Armoiries du Bristol Paris / The Coat of Arms of the Bristol Hotel Paris
The Setting ★★★★★
Located near the “Palais de l’Elysée”, the Bristol Hotel Paris is a magnificent establishment, one of the best five-star hotels in the country. Everything is tastefully decorated in the 18th-century style, for your enjoyment whether you’re having your tea at Café Antonia or simply walking around the hotel corridors.
The staff is very welcoming and will happily share a few anecdotes which may remind you of the movie “The Grand Budapest Hotel”. Remember to ask about the story behind the lift/elevator and meet the Bristol Hotel Paris resident cat: Socrates (as of 2022), who peacefully enjoys his five-star hotel cat life.
I could write a whole article on the beauty of the Bristol Hotel Paris but a few good pictures are better than a thousand words (these pictures were taken between 2015 and 2018, hence the discrepancies in decoration):
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
La Chat du Bristol / The Bristol Hotel cat: Fa-raon
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
La Crêche de Noël- Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Le Bar du Bristol – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Le Bar du Bristol – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Le Bar du Bristol – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Ascenceur – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Le Salon du “Chat du Bristol”, Fa raon – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Café Antonia – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Whether you’ll take the tea indoors in “Café Antonia” or outdoors in the courtyard/garden “Jardin français”, this tea will be perfect for guests who enjoy art, luxurious hotels and tranquillity. I strongly recommend visiting the “Jardin français” and weather permitting, to have the afternoon tea there.
The Café Antonia (2018)
The Café Antonia is named after Marie-Antoinette and it does succeed in making you feel like royalty. The atmosphere is on par with the hotel: grandiose and luxurious.
The Café Antonia is dog-friendly for dogs up to a certain size (~8 kilos).
Café Antonia
Café Antonia
Café Antonia
Le Sucré / The Cakes & Sweets
If you fancy a bit of privacy, I suggest sitting in the red salon, which is located at the back of the Café Antonia.
Café Antonia
Café Antonia
Café Antonia
Café Antonia
Le Jardin Français (2018)
Spring is upon us and the Jardin Français is now open for afternoon tea. The flowers are blooming and the corner behind the Epicure restaurant is more beautiful than ever (pictures 1 & 2 below) so do take a stroll around the whole garden.
Le Jardin Français
Le Jardin Français
Le Jardin Français
I especially enjoy the quaint feeling of the courtyard. You may even meet the Bristol’s new resident cat, Socrates, who is may be seen roaming around various areas of the hotel. Regrettably, I wasn’t able to catch a glimpse of the little rascal 🙂
Le Jardin Français
Le Jardin Français
La Chat du Bristol / The Bristol Hotel cat: Fa-raon
Click here to read about/see the Jardin Français back in 2015-2017:
Twice a year, a famous French artist contributes to the hotel’s decoration, including the Jardin Français. As of now (mid-2016), it’s “Daniel Buren”; one of the most famous conceptual artists in France. The first picture was taken last Christmas so the artist’s contribution is not visible. Back then, it was just a few discrete bronze statues.
I am profane when it comes to conceptual art, therefore, I will refrain from commenting on Buren’s work. I will let you form your own opinion from the pictures below, the colourful structure is unmissable.
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Tea & Beverage Selection ★★★★★
There is a decent selection of teas from Palais des Thés: black, green, white, oolong and infusions. Each guest can choose one or two beverages from the tea-time menu, which can then be refilled at discretion. An extra beverage will cost you 16€.
The hot chocolate is a marvel, however, I do not suggest ordering it too early, as it will kill your appetite!
The “two beverages per guest” policy is very generous, as most other Parisian establishments only let you order a single beverage per afternoon tea. It is preferable that each guest orders a different beverage, as the refills will allow you to easily share it with your party.
12 teas (4 black, 4 green, 1 oolong, 3 infusions); coffee & chocolate Tea brewing method: In the kitchen
Thé noir / Black tea
Thé vert / Green tea
Chocolat Chaud & Cheesecake / Hot Chocolate & Cheesecake
Click here to read about/see the teas and afternoon teas back in 2015-2017:
Tea Time – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Carte des thés en Français – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
The Food: The Bristol Hotel Paris afternoon tea (2022)
The pastry chef Pas cal Hainingue succeeded Julien Alvarez and took on the challenge of designing the new Bristol Paris afternoon tea. The word on the grapevine is that he will move on soon but in the meantime, let’s see how he has fared.
The bar has been set very high, as 2015, 2017 and 2018 versions were simply marvellous in every aspect. Let’s see if the new 2022 afternoon tea can hold its own:
The Savouries ★★★★☆ (2022)
The new sandwiches are reminiscent of British afternoon teas and while they are not as original as in the previous years, two of them deliver well on taste:
Avocado & Tzatziki ♥
Chicken & Mayonnaise ♥
Salmon, Butter & Aneth
Tuna & Egg mimosa
I’m really glad that the Bristol Paris retains the savouries, as too many others have made the questionable choice of going all out on the sweets. I’ll let you admire then, served in a gorgeous Raynaud Wing Song porcelain plate.
Sandwiches (2022)
Click here to read about/see the Savouries back in 2015-28
The Savouries ★★★☆☆ (2018)
Back in 2015, the savoury bites were the strongest aspect of this afternoon tea. I’m afraid that they are now the weakest. Each guest is served three sandwiches:
Chicken club sandwich (egg, tomato, lettuce and chicken)
Vegetarian club sandwich (avocado, aubergine, tomato confit and tzatziki)
Veal sandwich (parmesan, roquette salad and veal)
The sandwiches are tasty but feel very run-of-the-mill compared to what I was expecting. Then again, the previous ones were among the best I had ever tasted.
Sandwiches
Tea Time / Afternoon Tea – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris (2018)
The Savouries ★★★★★ (2015-17)
More often than not, the savouries are merely made a few ordinary sandwiches but at the Bristol Hotel, they are original and varied: “Vegetables and Cumin Financiers”; “Veal, Rocket and Parmesan Sandwich”; “Smoked Salmon Feuilleté” & “Chicken Club Sandwich”.
My favourite was the croissant shaped “Smoked Salmon Feuilleté”, a delight for the palate.
FInd below a video detailing the afternoon tea selection (in French) which should stimulate your appetite, regardless of your mastery of the language:
The Scones & Canelés ★★★★★ (2022)
Each guest is served a walnut-citrus flavoured scone ♥♥♥ and a vanilla canelé, I recommend eating them fairly quickly as they are best enjoyed warm.
Each scone is served with clotted cream and three different sorts of jam (strawberry, blueberry & marmalade).
Click here to read about/see the Scones, Muffins & Madeleines back in 2015-2017:
The Scone ★★★★★ (2018)
Each guest is served with a single scone but it should be more than enough as it is huge! The “Orange Peel & Yuzu Scone” is so delicious and moist that it can be eaten whole without any toppings.
Each scone is served with crème fraîche and three different sorts of jam (apricot, strawberry and blueberry).
Scone
Garnitures / Toppings
The Scones, Muffins & Madeleines ★★★★★ (2015-17)
While most afternoon teas serve scones alone, The Bristol Hotel tea-time also comes with muffins (chocolate and raisin) as well as madeleines. It’s delicious, but you will probably have to ask for a doggy bag as all of these are rather huge.
The scones are served with clotted cream and three sorts of jam: blueberry, strawberry and orange marmalade. It’s a pity that these are not homemade, but that’s probably the only qualm I have about this afternoon tea, at least food wise.
Les Bouchées Salées – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Les Scones, Muffins & Madeleines – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
The Cakes & Sweets ★★★★★ (2022)
Inflation is all around us and the Bristol afternoon tea is no exception: the cakes & sweets selection is a bit more frugal than before, though I’d argue that this is preferable to the price hikes we’ve been witnessing everywhere else. The cakes are as follows:
Blood Orange & White Chocolate Streusel cake topped with a mixture of fresh Blood Oranges & Nepalese Pepper
Caramel & Chocolate Sablé cake topped with torrefied cacao
The top-plate features three French specialities which are now internationally famous:
Pink Praline & Apple Brioche
Canelé Bordelais
Honey & Lemon Madeleine
Le Sucré / The Cakes & Sweets
Le Sucré / The Cakes & Sweets
Le Sucré / The Cakes & Sweets
The à-la-carte Pastries & The Pastry Tray
Guests who do not wish to go with the full afternoon tea can order à-la-carte (one beverage and one pastry costs 30€)
The pastries (which are refrigerated) are brought on a plate from the kitchen while the cakes are displayed on a tray in front of the bar.
Chocolate Pearl Cake with Raspberry Coulis
Raspberry Tartlet
Yuzu Puff pastry with Vanilla Chantilly Cream and Pear Coulis heart
Chocolate Black Forest with Chocolate Sablé, Amarena Cherry and Vanilla Chantilly Cream finish
Mango Cheesecake on a Parmesan Sablé coated with raw Mango
Strawberry Tartlet
Cakes, Canéles, Madeleines…
I only sampled the mango cheesecake, which is as heavenly as it is inventive. Every pastry looks gorgeous and sounds even more appetising once you hear about the contents.
Tea & pastry: 30€; Pastry: 22€ Cake: 18€
Les Gâteaux à la carte / The à-la-carte Cakes
Le Chariot à Pâtisseries / The Pastry Cakes
The Petits Fours & Pastries ★★★★★ (2015-17)
I would love to give these a sixth star as they are so delicious. The Bristol Hotel Paris has its own bakery and that has a significant impact on the quality, both in taste and appearance: “Malagasy Vanilla Pastry Cream Chouquettes”; “Wild Strawberries Tart”; “Tarte au Citron”; “Pistachio/Raspberry Macaron” & “Hazelnut Financier”.
I cannot even begin to express my preference for either of these… However, my afternoon tea companions went with the “Hazelnut Financier” going as far as to say that this was one of the best cakes they ever had.
Petits Fours – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Petits Fours – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Finally, some extra pastries can be ordered straight from the cart (see the pictures below). I’ll make sure to try them out next time in order to update this article, and also to properly photograph the “Bristol Hotel Paris resident cats”.
Pâtisseries – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
Pâtisseries – Hôtel Le Bristol Paris
The Service ★★★★☆ (2018)
The Bristol Hotel Paris is quite welcoming for a Parisian luxury hotel: the atmosphere is quite laid-back compared to what you might see at the Ritz or at the Meurice.
The Café Antonia team is professional, courteous and knowledgeable about each aspect of this tea time.
Click here to read about the Service back in 2015-2018:
Below is a presentation of the afternoon tea and the à-la-carte pastries by our amazing waiter, Guillaume (in French):
The Service ★★★☆☆ (2015-17)
It’s surprising for a five-star hotel, but the service is the weakest part of the tea-time. Everything about this tea is amazing, so the bar is set rather high. One of the waitresses was a bit rude and the staff was not very accessible, despite the fact that our table was very visible from the bar.
in England, the staff always makes sure you have enough tea, spontaneously offering refills. I’m well aware that this is a French hotel but for a British tradition, you must learn from the best!
I did not notice this flaw last Christmas, maybe it’s due to summer season or simply to that specific waitress… I would like to thank Nathanel who took great care of us as well as Simon, Morgane and the whole Front Office team.
Conclusion & Overall Mark ★★★★★ (2022)
The Bristol Hotel Paris Afternoon Tea has changed drastically over the years and even though it isn’t as good a deal as it used to be, it’s still a fantastic experience that is bound to delight both gourmets and tea lovers.
While this afternoon tea retains a full mark, I can’t help but feel like the selection is a tad underwhelming compared to previous years but that seems to be a global phenomenon and especially in post-pandemic/high inflation times…
I recommend going on a beautiful day so you can sit in the Jardin Français: this garden seems to get more and more beautiful each year, despite the variations in the modern art sculptures which may or may not satisfy everyone 😉
+: A magnificent Hotel at a great location within Paris’ 8th district +: The Jardin Français, ever so gorgeous +: Solid tea & beverage selection
+: Generous tea offer (1-2 teas per person) +: The food
+: Good service
+: Great value for money
-: The 2015-17 tea time will be missed
-: Slightly frugal as of 2022
Click here to read the article’s Conclusion back in 2015-2017:
Conclusion & Overall Mark ★★★★★ (2015-17)
I cannot let the slightly weaker service waste this tea experience, this tea-time is fitting of the hotel’s reputation: marvellous.
Do not look any further, it’s one of the best afternoon teas in Paris, along with the Hôtel de Crillon.
+: A magnificent Hotel at a great location within Paris 8 +: The Jardin Français, a gorgeous garden +: Solid tea & beverage selection +: The food, original and delicious
-: Service is not five-star hotel worthy -: No bookings -: Expensive (2018 update)
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