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Café Review: Angelina’s

// December 6th, 2009 // Comments // Cafes

Having followed Paris blogs closely since I first decided to move to Paris, I’ve discovered that there is one common thread between them all–they have all written a blog post about the best hot chocolate in Paris: Angelina’s. So, it’s time to become part of the group.

Angelina's, Paris, France

Since having opened in 1903, Angelina’s has unquestionably become the most well known hot chocolate in all of Paris and potentially that of France, as well. Word has it that Angelina’s once drew the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel and while you might not seem famous faces when you visit, you will certainly see happy ones. While it is clear that the café itself is worth seeing–designed in an early 19th Century decor–the thing that truly draws people to Angelina’s is the hot chocolate. This specialty of the house is actually a variety of hot chocolate called Chocolat Africain (translation: African Hot Chocolate). This isn’t your everyday powdered Nestle’s hot chocolate mix, but instead a a teapot filled with melted milk chocolate covered in freshly made whip cream. Those people who are not fans of rich chocolate should be aware that Angelina’s hot chocolate is made for the die-hard chocolate-lovers out there. But I must say, even though I am not a huge fan of chocolate, I thoroughly enjoyed my cup.

Neither the hot chocolate, nor the meals (which I also hear are good), run cheap at Angelina’s. Regardless, it’s still worth stopping in for a nice warm drink on a cold day. The ambiance is pleasant, the service is above par (for Paris), and the drinks are good. After you finish up, consider crossing the street and to take a stroll through the beautiful Tuilerie Gardens.

Hidden Treasures of Paris: Jardin du Palais Royal (1st Arrond.)

// October 18th, 2009 // Comments // Cafes, Treasures

Another splendid Fall afternoon in Paris and another beautiful treasure to discover. For some time I have read and heard about the garden that sits inside the Palais Royal, so I decided that it was finally time to check it out. Completed in 1629, the Palais Royal was originally the home of Cardinal Richelieu. The scenic garden that sits within the Palais’ interior, the Jardin du Palais Royal, was originally created by the duchesse d’Orléans (otherwise known as “Madame”) in 1784.

Jardin du Palais Royal, Paris, France

Today, the Palais Royal houses the Conseil d’État, the Constitutional Council, and the Ministry of Culture. Although popular among Parisians who want to spend a leisurely afternoon reading or sipping a coffee at one of the garden cafés, the fact that the garden itself is tucked away within the interior of the Palais makes it one of the lesser known gardens/courtyards in Paris when it comes to the average tourist. The garden itself is quite exquisite, with double-rows of trees running along both sides of the garden–providing visitors some much needed shade during the summer months. Two lawns, separated by a pond/fountain, sit between adjacent rows of trees. For those who are looking to do more than walk through the garden, plenty of benches and chairs are provided.

As previously mentioned, one of the more popular aspects of the garden are the several cafés that surround the perimeter of the courtyard. I took the time to grab a coffee at the one them (the name escapes me at the moment) and it was without question one of the more pleasant café experiences I have had in Paris. The view: fountains, rows of trees, children chasing one another, couples walking hand-in-hand–all very “Parisesque,” if you ask me. Next time you visit the Louvre, take a half hour to hop over to the Jardin du Palais Royal for some much needed respite from the museum’s crowds.

Want to see photos from my visit?: Photos of Palais Royal Garden

Want to see a video from my visit? Palais Royal Garden Video

Want to see this location on a map? Map of My Visits

Paris Cafe Review: Le Vrai Paris (18th Arrond.)

// October 10th, 2009 // Comments // Cafes

Le Vrai Paris, Paris, France

Located on the corner of Rue des Abbesses and Rue Germain Pilon, Le Vrai Paris is a delightful café in the heart of Montmartre. Situated next door to the popular café/restaurant Le Sancerre, Le Vrai Paris is ideally suited for those who love people watching. Even on a gloomy day like today, people were out in force, crowding the surrounding streets.

Le Vrai offers its customers comfortable seating on their sidewalk terrace, although one should expect to get up close and personal with their fellow diners if you visit on a weekend. You will find a relatively eclectic group of people visiting Le Vrai Paris, including tourists, expats, locals and the chic young Parisian crowds that spend their afternoons in the area. The wait-staff was surprisingly friendly, as I’m not typically used to waiters in Paris serving up smiles along with my café creme. Prices were what I expected–€3.80 for a café creme– given that this area is very popular with locals and tourists alike, but I was happy to see they were lower than the €5 that I have paid similarly trendy neighborhoods.

Next time you find yourself in Montmartre, stop by Le Vrai Paris for a café or a quick meal, you’ll be happy you did.

Day & Time of Visit: Saturday @ 3:00PM

Want to see photos from my visit?: Cafe Review Photos

Want to see this location on a map? Map of My Visits

Paris Cafe Review: Le Berkeley (8th Arrond.)

// September 17th, 2009 // Comments // Cafes

For my next review, I decided it was time to check out one of my neighborhood cafes. This week it was Le Berkeley in the 8th arrondissement. Roughly a 20 second walk from my door, this relatively chic hotel bar and restaurant sits on the corner of Avenue Matignon and Avenue Gabriel.

Le Berkeley, Paris, France

Built in the 1920’s, Le Berkeley provides its guests with a beautiful setting, both inside and out. Red is the color of choice in this fancy joint, with chairs, couches and walls draped in red velvet. Beautiful paintings surround diners as they eat and should you find the need to visit les toilettes, you’ll make your way up one of two splendid wooden staircases. While the interior is extremely pleasant, for those who are only stopping by for a drink (as I was), I recommend sitting at one of the cozy tables outside. With a pleasant view of the park across the street and heat lamps to keep you warm on a cold day, Le Berkeley makes for the perfect place to spend a chilly fall afternoon.

The presentation of your drink will match the classy atmosphere of the restaurant itself. My hot chocolate came with a petite carafe of pure chocolate syrup and a separate cup of steaming hot milk–allowing you to mix the perfect hot chocolate, just the way you like it. At €6, however, you’re definitely paying more for the atmosphere than the hot chocolate itself. While the outdoor tables are perfect for a drink or coffee with a friend, I wouldn’t recommend Le Berkeley to someone looking for a place to do some afternoon leisure reading. Though I can’t speak from experience, I get the feeling that Le Berkley is not the type of establishment that welcomes those of us who like to read for a couple of hours over a café crème. That said,  the tables outside are still quite enjoyable and I would suggest that anyone check this place out at least once. If you’re going to Le Berkeley for more than a drink, however, be warned. I hear that while the atmosphere is exquisite, the food is not. Chances are your meal will fall short of your expectations and will leave a sizable dent in your wallet, as well.

Want to see this location on a map? Map of My Visits

Paris Cafe Review: Cafe du Mogador (9th Arrond.)

// August 27th, 2009 // Comments // Cafes

At the suggestion of Helene, I paid a visit to Cafe du Mogador in the 9th Arrondissement. This pleasant cafe sits directly across from the Église de la Sainte-Trinité, a beautifully built Catholic church completed in 1867.

Cafe du Mogador, 9th Arrond, Paris, France

The busy intersection that sits directly between the cafe and the church provides you with plenty to see, including the chaos that is Parisian drivers. The cafe and the sidewalks that surround it are constantly busy with foot traffic, as well, so it makes a great spot for people-watching. The service was pretty standard, though given its good location, the prices run a bit high (4.80 € for my cafe creme).

When you’re done with your drink, you can easily stroll to a number of churches and monuments that aren’t too far away. I chose to stop by the the Église de la Madeleine,  a classical church built to honor the glory of Napoleon’s army, on my way back to Concorde. Overall, this is a great cafe if you want a beautiful monument and lots of people to look at while you enjoy your coffee.

Day & Time of Visit: Thursday @ 2:00PM

Want to see photos from my visit?: Cafe Review Photos

Want to see this location on a map? Map of My Visits

Paris Cafe Review: Cafe Charbon (11th Arrond.)

// August 24th, 2009 // Comments // Cafes

Cafe Charbon is known to be in one of the hipper areas of town, the 11th Arrondissement (on Rue Oberkampf), so I was expecting to see more action/activity than I did. From what I hear, the area is pretty laid-back and calm during the day and turns into a happening place at night. Chances are that visiting during a Monday afternoon, as I did, is probably not the best time to get a real “feel” for this area or the cafe.

Cafe Charbon, 11th Arrond., Paris, France

That being said, I still enjoyed my experience. The interior of the cafe is decorated nicely and I have no doubt that this would be a great place to grab a happy hour drink or spend an entire night here (according to iGuide, Cafe Charbon stays “rocking until dawn both in the bar downstairs and the medium-size dance hall upstairs, making it a favorite among young Parisians, especially after the other places in the neighborhood have closed”) . As for the people watching, it was sub-par during this particular Monday afternoon. I did get to witness the shooting of some kind of TV program at the cafe, during my stay, however. As for the coffee itself, my cafe creme was the best I’ve had in Paris, thus far, and came at a pretty standard price from what I’ve seen: 3.00 €.

While I wouldn’t put Cafe Charbon at the top of my list of regular cafes to visit any day of the week, I think this place would definitely be worth visiting during an evening or any time during the weekend when people are out and about.

Day & Time of Visit: Monday @ 3:00PM

Want to see photos from my visit?: Cafe Review Photos

Want to see this location on a map? Map of My Visits

Paris Cafe Review: Cafe Beaubourg (4th Arrond.)

// August 23rd, 2009 // Comments // Cafes

For those of you who don’t me, a couple of years ago I learned about a previously undiscovered passion of mine: reading at cafes. Upon moving to Paris and starting this blog, I knew that I would spend a lot of time visiting cafes around the city and, of course, sharing my reviews with all of you. Today I visited Cafe Beaubourg in the 4th Arrondissement.

Cafe Beaubourg, 4th Arrond., Paris, France

Located at 43 rue Saint-Merri (careful, there’s a identically named cafe a couple blocks away on St. Martin), Cafe Beaugourg looks onto a square right off of the Pompidou Centre. I had previously seen reviews talking about the performers in the square, so I was hoping to get a show while I read my most recent book, Is Paris Burning? by  Larry Collins. I was in luck. Today, a group of four dancers spent the afternoon performing a dance routine consisting of Conga, breakdancing, hip-hop, and more. I shot a video of them in action which you can view here.

First impression: Great location. As I mentioned, this cafe sits on a nice open courtyard and chairs are set up so you can easily drink your coffee and watch the people and entertainment at the same time. There’s no question, a cup of coffee is not cheap here (5.00 € for a Cafe Creme ), so if you’re looking for a great deal, look elsewhere. But the setting makes it worth grabbing a drink here at least once, though you wouldn’t want it to make it your regular cafe.

The coffee was tasty, so no complaints there. The service was pretty standard, but I certainly liked the fact that I spent a couple of hours here and didn’t once get the impression that I was being rushed to leave. To sum it up, Cafe Beaubourg is a great place to people watch, catch some cool street artists in action and spend a leisurely hour or two reading your book, undisturbed.

Day & Time of Visit: Sunday @ 2:00PM

Want to see photos from my visit?: Cafe Review Photos

Want to see a video of the performers near the cafe?:  Street Performers at Cafe Beaubourg

Want to see this location on a map? Map of My Visits