The Ritz Paris tea time gets a new face for the 2026 season, and we headed there to try it with curiosity. Offered since September 1, 2026, pastry chef Olivier Lainé unveils in the Salon Proust, in the 1st arrondissement, a tea time à la française served in three courses, with savory first, then the sweets. We were comfortably settled in the salon-library of Place Vendôme, and here’s what we saw (and tasted).
The idea draws on the house’s history. Since its opening in 1898, the palace founded by César Ritz established its five o’clock tea, a rendezvous once nicknamed “the magic hour” that has endured through the decades. In recent years, the Salon Proust offered a wholly sugary goûter rooted in childhood memories, of which you were invited to discover the Christmas version. Olivier Lainé now returns to savory, drawing inspiration this time from the art of the French-style lunch.
Named pastry chef at the Ritz Paris as of January 1, 2026, Olivier Lainé succeeds François Perret, who has overseen the hotel’s pastry program since 2015. The chef already knows the venue well, having spent seven years as the head pastry chef at the Ritz Escoffier School, the culinary academy housed within the hotel.
Before that, the Brittany-born chef cut his teeth at Café Pouchkine, then at the Shangri-La Paris as pastry sous-chef alongside Michaël Bartocetti. His Breton roots even weave into one of the pastries on offer in this new tea time.
The decor goes a long way toward the overall experience. Warm wood paneling, shelves of old books, plush banquettes and a fireplace: the Salon Proust evokes the reading room of a collector with impeccable taste.
The name of the salon is no accident. According to the Ritz, Marcel Proust, a fixture here since its earliest days, loved to plant himself by the fireplace in a corner of the lobby and watch the clientele for hours. It fed the characters of In Search of Lost Time. So you settle in with the sense that you, too, are turning a chapter of Parisian history.
First up, the savory. The three bites land on a plate shaped like a four-petaled blossom. We start with a salmon tartlet, lifted by a touch of horseradish and a yuzu condiment that adds bright, tangy freshness.
Next up is a lobster roll like no other. The bun here is French toast, its melt‑in‑the‑mouth softness courtesy of a lobster bisque that has simmered for hours.
Then comes a irresistibly soft focaccia, served with a vegetable sauce made from seasonal roasted vegetables. And there we go with the sauce. The move is so French, and that’s what we like about it. It breaks up the endless finger sandwiches and adds a playful edge to the tasting, like a family-dinner ritual that has set up shop in a palace.
Second act, the transition. The chef slides in a sweet-salty interlude that plays tricks on the eye: a reinvented burrata perched on lemon shortbread, with a brunoise of poached pear and a delicate balsamic vinaigrette. It reads like lemon tart at first, until you discover the burrata's milky creaminess. We love this twist, which brings a refreshing touch with finesse and lightness.
Third course, time for something sweet. The buckwheat baba, paired with kiwi and fresh herbs, pays homage to Olivier Lainé’s native Brittany. Buckwheat, typically associated with galettes, shifts its gear here with notable ease.
Our pick goes to the sunflower blossom. Beneath its floral facade hides a super-light mousse infused with Earl Grey tea and cardamom, with a heart of delicate choux pastry and a lemon-bergamot cream. The bergamot plays off the Earl Grey, which already contains it, and the whole thing stays refreshing to the last spoonful.
To finish on a sweet note, a full-on chocolate-charlotte, rich and generous, awaits you. It will delight the dessert lovers at the table. And if your appetite starts to lag, no worries: you can take it away to enjoy later at home.
The palace won’t let you leave empty-handed, either. Olivier Lainé has crafted a take-away creation: a dark-chocolate shell housing a praline made from toasted country bread. A final treat to savor at home, tucked into your bag like a bookmark at the end of a book.
The whole thing is paired with a glass of champagne brut or a non-alcoholic sparkling wine, along with a hot beverage.
The French tea time is served every day from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Salon Proust of the Ritz Paris, Place Vendôme, in the 1st arrondissement. Expect €125 per person, with a glass of brut champagne or a non-alcoholic sparkling wine and a hot drink. Reservations are made on le site officiel du Ritz Paris, and it’s best to book in advance.
From 6 p.m., the Salon Proust shifts mood and takes on the vibe of a champagne bar. On leaving, the Vendôme Column awaits for a quick digestif, and the Tuileries Garden is just a short stroll away.
We’re drawn to the savory lineup that breaks with convention, and to the burrata presented in a lemon-tart style, bright and fresh. The desserts are indulgent yet balanced, with a special nod to the sunflower seeds.
This generous tea-time menu easily doubles as a lunch option. It’s offered from 1 p.m., a savvy idea that blends a bite to eat with a touch of indulgence. The hushed library ambiance of the Salon Proust completes the experience, ideal for a relaxed, convivial moment shared discreetly. And since it’s available every day, there’s no need to hurry on weekends. Do remember to book ahead, as it fills up quickly.
This tea time at the Ritz Paris is aimed at gourmands who like to alternate savory and sweet, at those who find 100% sugary bites a bit repetitive, and at literature lovers eager to immerse themselves in Proust’s world. It’s well suited for a celebration, whether you’re with a partner, with friends, or with mom.
A quick tip: if you book for mid-afternoon, plan for a light lunch—or even skip lunch altogether. The budget remains palace-level, something to keep in mind to make this a carefully chosen, savorable outing rather than an improvised break.
Do you crave the salty-sweet balance? Head to Café Antonia at the Bristol Paris, in the 8th arrondissement, where we tried the tea time crafted by Maxence Barbot. To keep things library-chic, Saint James Paris in the 16th opens its Bar-Bibliothèque every weekend for a tea time imagined by pastry chef Coline Doussin.
And to extend the culinary tour, our pick of the tea times et goûters de Paris et d'Île-de-France gathers more editor-tested spots, from grand palaces to more intimate tea rooms. Finally, if you're after an exceptional experience, note that the Soirées Gatsby are back at the Ritz Paris.
This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.
Dates and Opening Time
From September 11, 2026 to December 31, 2029
Location
Proust Salon at the Ritz Paris
15 Place Vendôme
75001 Paris 1
Route planner
Prices
Par personne avec Champagne: €125
Recommended age
For all
