7 Paris Cafés to Experience the Best Hot Chocolate and Pastries

As the nights start to draw in and October arrives, our minds adjust to the colder months, and we transition our wardrobes from summer outfits to jumpers and boots. Fires crackle in the wood burners, and instead of sitting outside enjoying the warm evenings, we cozy up in the armchair with a good book or binge-watch our latest Netflix addiction. There is something special about this time of year and all that it brings.

And one of those things, for me at least, is hot chocolate. I don’t think you can beat a creamy mug of velvety chocolate piled high with marshmallows. Especially after a long walk in the countryside with your cheeks rosy red from the chill in the air.

But one of my favorite places to be at this time of year is Paris. Visiting Paris in the fall is simply fabulous, and there is no shortage of places to indulge in a hot chocolate. From the rituals surrounding it to the history behind it, it’s one of those rites of passage you don’t want to miss when visiting the City of Lights in the fall.  

7 Top Hot Chocolate and Pastry Spots in Paris

1. Angelina (Rue de Rivoli / Jardin des Tuileries area)

If you’ve heard of just one place in Paris for hot chocolate, it’s probably Angelina. This gorgeous tearoom first opened its doors in 1903 on Rue de Rivoli in the 1st arrondissement, right by the Tuileries Gardens. 

It was founded by an Austrian confectioner, Antoine Rumpelmayer, who named it after his daughter-in-law. Over the years, it became a favorite haunt of Coco Chanel and Proust, so it has more than a little history behind it.

The real draw is what they call L’Africain, a hot chocolate so thick it feels closer to melted chocolate than a drink. It’s served in a jug at the table, allowing you to pour it yourself into the porcelain cup, accompanied by a pot of whipped cream on the side.

Angelina has expanded over the years, so you’ll find several locations across the city, including in Galeries Lafayette and near Luxembourg. But the Rue de Rivoli salon remains the original, and it’s the one people queue for to experience the full tradition.

Visit the Angelina website for opening hours >>>

2. Carette (Trocadéro and Marais / Place des Vosges)

Carette has been part of the Parisian café scene since the 1920s, when it opened its original tearoom near the Trocadéro. The location adds a whole other element, with postcard-worthy views of the Eiffel Tower just steps away. 

A second address on Place des Vosges in the Marais gives you a different kind of atmosphere, where you can sip your drink surrounded by arcades and one of the city’s oldest squares.

The hot chocolate here is rich yet not overwhelming, served in a silver pot accompanied by whipped cream on the side. You’ll get more than one cup out of it, which, although you know you shouldn’t, a second cup is pretty much obligatory. It’s long been one of my favorite spots in Paris to just sit and stare at the Iron Lady in all her glory.

Visit the Carette website for opening hours >>>

3. L’Éclair de Génie Café (Le Marais)

Christophe Adam made his name reinventing the éclair, but his café also serves one of the most original hot chocolates in Paris. The location on Rue Pavée in the Marais is worth knowing about, as it serves as both a boutique and a spot to sit down and enjoy something sweet.

The hot chocolate here is all about presentation and drama, and it’s a lot of fun, not to mention decadent. Their signature version arrives with a chocolate flower in your cup. When the hot chocolate is poured over it, the petals slowly open, revealing a ganache center that melts into the drink. It’s pure theater, which makes it stand out in a city full of traditional tearooms.

Visit L’Éclair de Génie Café website for opening hours >>>

4. Les Deux Magots (Saint-Germain-des-Prés)

Les Deux Magots is one of those Paris cafés that has seen generations of writers, artists, and thinkers pass through its doors. Sitting in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th arrondissement, it’s been open since the late 1800s and became a gathering place for names like Hemingway, Picasso, and Sartre.

The hot chocolate here is classic and served in generous portions, accompanied by a small pot for refills. It isn’t as thick as Angelina’s, but there’s something special about enjoying it while you watch the world go by on Boulevard Saint-Germain. For me, it’s the location that’s all part of the experience.

Visit Les Deux Magots website for opening hours >>>

5. The Peninsula Paris (Lobby / Café)

If it’s a little luxury Parisian style that you’re after, then the Peninsula is your place. But be warned, the price tag is high, with hot chocolate coming in at around 18-20€. Is it worth it? I think so because of the surroundings, and if you’re on vacation, it’s worth the treat.

The Peninsula Paris, located in the 16th arrondissement, is renowned for its refined afternoon teas. The ornate ceilings, marble floors, and olde world glamor make it a treat before you even taste a drop.

The drink itself is smooth and layered, often infused with subtle flavors like Timut pepper that give it a surprising lift without overpowering the cocoa. It’s brought to the table with thick whipped cream on the side, as is often the way with Parisian hot chocolate.

Visit the Peninsula website for more information >>>

6. PLAQ Chocolat

PLAQ is where you go if you want hot chocolate stripped back to its essence. Here we go back to basics, and it’s all about the chocolate. Located on Rue du Nil in the 2nd arrondissement, this bean-to-bar shop and café has built its reputation on sourcing high-quality cacao and keeping everything as pure as possible. There are no frills here, just serious chocolate.

The menu offers a choice of base: milk for a creamier drink or water, allowing the cacao flavors to shine through with intensity. Either way, the result is bold, rich, and unlike the sweeter versions you’ll find in traditional tearooms. It’s hot chocolate for people who really want to taste the bean, and each cup comes with just enough warmth to cut through a cold Paris afternoon.

Visit PLAQ Chocolat website for opening hours >>>

7. La Réserve Paris (Bar Le Gaspard)

The name kind of says it all. This is another little piece of luxury that I highly recommend making time for, and yes, you will need to splurge a little as the price of a hot chocolate runs to about 20 euros.  Tucked inside a 19th-century mansion near the Champs-Élysées, the hotel’s bar, Le Gaspard, serves its signature hot chocolate during the afternoon hours.

The recipe is the work of chef Jérôme Banctel in collaboration with chocolatier Patrick Roger, so it’s no surprise that the drink is complex and carefully balanced. It’s served in porcelain china with the obligatory dish of whipped cream.

Hot Chocolate Fit for a King

Hot chocolate in Paris has roots in royal history. At the court of Louis XV, it was a ritual reserved for the privileged few. The king was known to prepare his own version in the kitchens at Versailles, whisking together cacao from the colonies with sugar and spices. Servants would present the beverage in ornate porcelain cups, often flavored with vanilla or orange blossom, and accompanied by silver pots and fine linens.

It was considered a luxury, a marker of wealth and social status, and the ritual itself became an integral part of courtly life. Recipes were guarded, and every detail, from the ingredients to the vessels used, was designed to emphasize refinement and power.