After several months of renovation, Ladurée on the Champs-Elysées has finally unveiled its new face. Coffee shop, redesigned and enlarged spaces, new staircase, you don't know where to look. Among the new features, a new Dessert Bar has been created in a dedicated room on the first floor.
Ladurée's majestic dessert bar offers an unparalleled experience. Clad in marble and brass caning, this U-shaped bar features 15 high chairs in an intimate setting. The idea behind the place is to be able to admire and taste the creations of the pastry chefs, developing unique recipes for different times of the day, before our very eyes.
Each moment has its own speciality: in the morning, breakfast is savoured with a choice of filled croissant or granola, in the typical flavours of the Maison, accompanied by a hot drink and fruit brochettes for 35€. From noon to 6 p.m., tea time is enjoyed in three stages, with six creations designed especially for this space by chef Julien Alvarez. At the end of the afternoon, the art of pastry-making gives way to that of cocktails, which can be accompanied by charcuterie and cheese boards, or savory petit fours.
Being the great gourmets that we are, we set off to discover the Bar à Desserts tea time. Well, the dessert bar, because the classic tea time, served in the other rooms, is also available. More affordable, at €41 instead of €65, it doesn't compare in terms of offerings and gourmet experiences. On the plus side, when you book tea time at the Dessert Bar, there's no need to queue!
Tea time begins with a hot drink accompanied by a dessert of 4 macaroons. Macaroons at your discretion , we're told! By which we mean: all you can eat! Note that if, like us, you didn't throw yourself into it while waiting to see if the tea time was generous or not, you can leave with it.
Rose ice cream, lychee sorbet, caramel and raspberry coulis, cookie with almond slivers
We're rediscovering this must-try ice cream version, which combines the acidity of the raspberry with the freshness of the lychee and the sweet scent of rose.
Cabbage, coconut cream and pineapple / lime / fresh mint heart
The roundness of this creamy religieuse.
Hazelnut shortbread with crunchy fleur de sel praline, Jivara 40% milk chocolate soufflé and hazelnuts from Mathieu Martinet
We love this ultra-gourmand soufflé, with its fine, meringue-like shell and just-baked crust.
Soft cookie flavored with muscovado sugar and roasted vanilla and whipped cream
Soft cookie flavored with muscovado sugar, chestnut paste and chestnut chips and vanilla chestnut cream with pear juice
Airy cookies that melt in the mouth.
Brunoise of kiwi fruit / green apple with lemon gel and zesty ginger, kiwi sorbet, espuma vanilla Greek yogurt, kiwi juice and olive oil from Château d'Estoublon
Like a trou normand, this creation refreshes the palate.
Fine leaves caramelized with honey, almond butter and dried fruit shortbread, Bachès yuzu marmalade, light orange blossom cream, fresh and candied citrus
A lovely marriage between citrus fruits, a very light cream and a drizzle of honey, the only sugar in the whole, for a fine balance.
Suggested pairing: champagne and sake €22
Having a chef who serves à l'assiette makes it possible to have both iced and warm creations, like the chocolate soufflé, just warm. The citrus tartlet retains all its crispness, and we enjoy watching the chef at work and chatting with him. In short, if you're looking for a tea time that's just right, with delicacies that haven't waited to be tasted to perfection, this is an experience that should please you. It's true that its tarof is higher than the classic, but you won't taste the same thing at all.
This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please mention it in the comments.
Location
Ladurée - Champs Elysées
75 Av. des Champs-Élysées
75008 Paris 8
Prices
Tea time: €65
Recommended age
For all
Official website
www.laduree.fr
