This Easter tea time lands at an iconic Left Bank department store in Paris — reviews & photos.

In Paris and the Île-de-France region, Easter isn’t just two bells and three eggs hastily hidden in a ficus anymore. The season brings egg hunts, afternoon treats, creative workshops and activities in gardens, museums, monuments… and even in the stores. The Easter weekend is now experienced as much outdoors as around a table. And this year, one of the most tempting pauses is to be savored at La Grande Épicerie de Paris, rue de Sèvres.

From March 23 to April 5, 2026, La Maison du Chocolat will take over Le Cellier, on the Cave level, to offer, for the first time in-store, an on-site tasting experience. A first for the brand in France as well, which typically reserves this format for its international boutiques.

The concept? An Easter tea time without a reservation, to discover around a counter that seats about fifteen. You can drop in for a simple pastry or choose from one of the offered sets (a slice of flan and two macarons, a tartlet and five chocolates...). Hot and cold drinks accompany the tasting, led by the traditional homemade hot chocolate - and, for those who like to give tea time a festive twist, a glass of champagne.

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For the more discerning tea-time aficionados, the full tea-time spread grows even more generous: a slice of cake, a slice of homemade cake, a slice of custard tart, a cream puff, an éclair, a tartlet, an entremet, six macarons and six chocolate bonbons.

Around this chocolatey detour, Easter programming also includes masterclasses and an in-store egg hunt. It’s shaping this Left Bank stop into one of the season’s most coveted afternoon treats.

Our take:

Hidden in the basement of La Grande Épicerie de Paris, the tea time at La Maison du Chocolat doesn’t shout for attention—and that’s actually a good thing. You’ll find it tucked away a bit toward the champagne section. The space is small, about a dozen seats, but pleasant for a break, especially if you’re after a quiet spot in the middle of the store.

On the tasting side, the full tea time is especially appealing if you like tasting everything. It lets you alternate between the house’s classics and its new releases. You’ll nibble (or devour) a slice of the legendary Pleyel cake, a new chocolate cake with a dark ganache center, a chocolate flan, the iconic éclair, a choux pastry, a chocolate tartlet, a cacao-classic favorite, not to mention the Traviata dessert (dark-chocolate mousse dome, vanilla crème brûlée heart, almond biscuit).

There are also 6 macarons to choose from (pistachio, raspberry, passion fruit, caramel, praline hazelnut…), all with a chocolate base, plus 6 chocolate candies to pick from. It’s best to vary the flavors to explore the different nuances.

What changes is the format. Unlike many Paris spots, the display isn’t sized for a single person (unless you’ve got a big appetite). The tea time can easily be shared by two or three, depending on how you’re feeling. It’s arguably the best way to enjoy it without hitting a saturation point—especially since a doggy bag is available if needed.

Finally, a special nod to the homemade hot chocolate: lightly sweet, not bitter, comforting, with a real cocoa flavor, and in the same sweet lineup as the pastries. A must-order to accompany the whole experience.

A great spot for an Easter tasting, especially if you love chocolate in all its forms!

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.