From Saint-Paul or Hotel de Ville, reach Le Te at Palais-Royal in two metro stops. Taiwanese tea house, calm, under the Royal garden arcades.
Line 1 from Saint-Paul or Hotel de Ville: Palais Royal in 5 minutes, no change.
Under arcades, no traffic, soft light, low music. The opposite of packed Carette or Mariage Freres.
Ali Shan, Dong Ding, Sun Moon, jasmine and osmanthus. Second infusion available.
The 4th arrondissement (south Marais, Ile Saint-Louis, Hotel de Ville) is densely equipped with touristy cafes and tea rooms: Mariage Freres on rue du Bourg-Tibourg, Carette on place des Vosges, several rooms on rue des Rosiers. The problem for a 4th resident seeking a true single-origin tea house is that most of these places are packed on weekends, sometimes queueing on the sidewalk. Le Te at Palais-Royal, in the neighboring 1st, offers an alternative: same rigor on teas, but calmer, more intimate, reachable in 5 metro minutes from Saint-Paul or Hotel de Ville.
Le Te is at 41 bis rue de Montpensier, along the Palais-Royal garden arcades. The street is pedestrian, no traffic noise, covered by arcades: you arrive without getting wet in winter, without enduring heat in summer. The interior is intimate (30 seats), with light wood, ceramics brought from Taipei, soft light. A setting made to stay long. A teapot of Ali Shan oolong can last 90 minutes with two successive infusions, each opening different notes.
Taiwan-focused selection: Ali Shan oolong (high mountain, floral), Dong Ding (roasted, hazelnut), Sun Moon Lake black tea (round, malty), jasmine (delicate), osmanthus (fragrant autumn). Taiwanese matcha is whisked with bamboo to order. Asian pastries (black sesame, taro, matcha, yuzu) accompany. See the full menu.
From Saint-Paul (line 1), 5 minutes by metro to Palais Royal - Musee du Louvre, then 3 minutes on foot. From Hotel de Ville (lines 1, 11), same line 1 route. From Pont Marie (line 7), 4 minutes to Pyramides then 5 minutes on foot. From place des Vosges, 20 minutes on foot via rue de Rivoli for walkers. Rue de Rivoli runs along the Louvre and offers a beautiful walk.
Tea house near Opera, Marais tea house, tea house and pastry in Paris, alternative to Japanese tea house. For the 11th version, more restaurant, see MAISON LE TE.
4th regulars coming to Le Te are often tea lovers who have toured the neighborhood's tea rooms and were looking for something calmer. The house also sees many couples on dates (the setting suits it), solos who come to read (wifi and outlets available), and families on weekend lunches. The contact page lets you book a table for tea time, especially Saturday and Sunday afternoons when the room fills up.
From Saint-Paul or Hotel de Ville (line 1), allow 5 minutes by metro plus 3 minutes on foot. Total: 8 minutes.
Calmer than Marais tea rooms. Saturday and Sunday afternoons fill up: better to book for 4pm or later.
Yes. Wifi and outlets available. Regulars often work midweek between 2pm and 5pm.
Ali Shan oolong for an easy entry, or hojicha latte for those who like roasted notes. The team can advise.