French Tea Salons – Salon de thé

French Tea Salons - Salon de thé

Visiting a French tea salon or salon de thé, is a wonderful experience and one that I recommend if you enjoy drinking tea, coffee or hot chocolate, and have the opportunity whilst you travel. Tea time in France is known as le Goûter, and is typically an afternoon snack time taken between 4pm and 6pm. 

At tea time or le Goûter in France you can typically expect to indulge in pastries rather than savoury food such as finger sandwiches as in a typical British teatime.  Pain au chocolat, tarts, cannelés, madeleines or macarons are popular at French tea time. 

The more formal tea time, such as in French tea salons or salon de Thé, may be a little more British inspired with cakes, cookies or desserts along with the full service of tea.

While tea is enjoyed, coffee (espresso or French press) and hot chocolate are just as common. The French tend to prefer tisanes and lightly scented teas (such as Jasmine or Earl Grey) rather than the strong, milk-heavy black teas typical in Britain.

French Tea Salons are Prettily Decorated

Tea salons in France are often prettily decorated, in charming buildings and in picturesque locations. Offering a warm cosy place to catch up with friends and locals in the winter, often with an open fireplace, tea salons can be the focal spot in winter for busy mums with children, older residents who swap stories and workers who drop in for a break in their day. You'll find that tea salons in France are often decorated or have a theme that reflects the owner or its location. Unique and almost always charming, they uphold the age-old tradition of le goûter.

Taking tea in France is not something to be rushed, and get care is taken to present you with unique menus, carefully chosen crockery and cutlery, dainty cakes and a pretty table setting. If you chose to drink tea, a tea box will often be presented to you so you may chose your tisane or teabag. Tisane is a very popular choice in France and as they are herbal 'teas' they are caffeine free. They are beverages made by steeping herbs, flowers, roots, or fruits in hot water, so technically, they are not true teas because they do not contain leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant. 

In the warmer months, particularly the long days of summer, French tea salons are popular later for relaxing in the sun. Below I share two of my most favourite regional tea salons, both very different, one in Brittany and the other in Normandy. I'll also share two of my visited French tea salons, or salon de thé in Paris. Both are elegant, plush and a real treat for any visit to Paris.

French tea salon - Salon de thé l'atelier de le Étang Neuf, Brittany

Nestled in a tiny village, and on the edge of lake Étang Neuf, is the most delightful tea salon ever. Salon de thé l'atelier de le Étang Neuf is a lovely little complex of tea salon, atelier (workshop for owner and ceramic artist Emilie), and gîte (French AirBnB). Emilie's garden is filled with flowers, winding secret brick paths, and hidden mushrooms, quirky ceramic pots and tiny houses that she has created in her adjacent atelier.

Known by locals and gaining a following from out-of-town travellers who are drawn to the riotous overflowing floral displays and tranquil waters of the lake, Emilie's homemade cakes and chocolates are becoming very popular. Look out for her friendly pets who love to sit beside you and keep you company as you sip tea, chocolate or coffee and indulge in cake.

Address: 9 L'Étang Neuf 22480 Saint-Connan

French tea salon - Salon de thé Les Volets Roses in Bayeux, Normandy

Whilst in Bayeux, a historic town in the Calvados department of Normandy in northwestern France, I pleasantly stumbled upon the quirky tea salon Salon de thé Les Volets Roses. Filled with dolls, gnomes, pink crotched dollies and gold leafed china, this tea salon was a little treasure to find on our cold morning in Bayeux. Definitely quirky, and showcasing the bubbly fun personality of its owner, it was close to La cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux (Bayeux Cathedral). On our visit the owner's young daughter was in the salon and she loved showing us around the salon and posing for photos with us. 

We enjoyed tea and madeleines in the 'pink warmth' before we explored the magnificent cathedral and then the Bayeux Tapestry. After placing our order for tea and cake, we were presented with a lovely box of assorted teabags and tisane sachets so we could chose which we wanted. As is usually the case in France, the selection included many floral and herbal tisanes, green teas and some lighter black teas. 

Address: 2 Rue des Chanoines, 14400 Bayeux, France

Creating your own French tea salon ritual at home

Creating your own French tea or le goûter ritual at home can be a very pleasant activity and once you're in the habit of pausing and taking a few moments in the afternoon for yourself or with friends, it's a French tradition I'm sure you'll keep. There a few simple items that will help you create your special time at home. In my experience of taking tea in France, you'll be served with a smaller teapot for one, a cup and saucer, napkin, side plate with fork or spoon for your sweet treat and strainer if taking loose leaf tea.

The first time I visited Salon de thé l'atelier de le Étang Neuf I was served my boiling water in a glass teapot along with a glass teacup. After immersing the teabag into the pot, I so enjoyed watching the tea disperse and colour the clear boiling water, I was hooked and needed to buy my own glass teapot and cup. Watching the tea swirl in the pot was mesmerising and calming, so to recreate this experience at home I knew I needed a glass teapot and cup.  I searched stores for a little time and then found my perfect set on Amazon. When in France I go to Salon de thé l'atelier de le Étang Neuf, but when at home in Australia, I use my Amazon teapot and teacup and relive my wonderful afternoons at Emilie's tea salon.

Another item you'll need to create your own ritual is napkins. Pretty linen cloths are normal in France, but with so many gorgeous paper napkins available, use these for a no-wash option.

I used to be a loose leaf tea drinker only, but after spending time at French tea salons and being offered a selection of teabags and tisane sachets in beautiful tea boxes to chose my tea from, I've been converted to drinking from teabags along with my loose leaf tea selections. Finding a good quality tea box is essential for your French le goûter experience.  After searching tea suppliers and homeware boutiques I found my perfect box on Amazon. It was simply the best buy for the price and with its classic and quality design I know it will last a lifetime. It's one of those things that will be handed down to my children who'll hopefully remember the teatimes we've enjoyed together. I have the same tea box in both my homes in France and Australia.

Collecting a couple of antique teapots and dainty cups is another wonderful way to create your own French tea experience. If you love baking we have a classic Madeleine recipe, Passionfruit Macaron Recipe and Breton Butter Biscuit Recipe you can try, but honestly you can add any sweet treat to an attractive plate.

Little antique silver forks or spoons, or unique cutlery found on your travels will add interest and bring back fond memories as you enjoy your tea and sweets.

French Afternoon Tea in Paris

Taking French afternoon tea in Paris has a more formal style than in the countryside. My most favoured venues for taking afternoon tea in Paris are the Ritz Hôtel and Nina's Marie Antoinette Tea Salon. Elegant and with beautiful decor, these tea salons are a little more special, than your everyday tea salon.

You can read my full experience and get more details on each of these amazing tea salons in these dedicated posts - Ritz Hotel Paris and A French Afternoon Tea and Nina's Marie Antoinette Tea Salon, Paris.

Where to Find French Tea Time Essentials

Mixing and matching to create a beautiful setting that takes only an extra minute or two, will bring pleasure to your experience. The French take beauty and traditions seriously and enjoying French afternoon tea is one that you can create anywhere you live. Below is the tea box (from my photo above) and glass teapot I've bought from Amazon. Links to purchase from products featured below doesn't cost you anymore and as an Amazon partner I earn from qualifying purchases. Enjoy your French tea time at home and when you travel through France.

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