Carette
$$$ ‧ Patisserie
What is Carette?
Carette is a renowned French tea house celebrated for its exquisite macarons, pastries, and velvety hot chocolate. With three charming locations in Paris, including Place du Trocadéro near the Eiffel Tower, Place des Vosges in Le Marais, and Place du Tertre atop the historic Montmartre hill, it offers a delightful taste of Parisian indulgence at each locale.
Location
Amidst the charming streets of Le Marais, my friend and I discovered Carette's second location. Tucked away under a quaint covered walkway, surrounded by modern art galleries and the historic Pavillon de la Reine, it beckoned us for a delightful lunch. After immersing ourselves in the rich history of the Victor Hugo museum just across the Place des vosges we welcomed the opportunity to indulge in what we hoped was as good as what we heard about Carette.
This location overlooks the renowned Place des Vosges, originally known as the Place Royale, which stands as the oldest planned square in Paris, France. Its iconic red-bricked buildings encircle the park, offering a picturesque view. Situated in the Marais district, it spans the border between the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of Paris.
Carette has seating both inside and outside underneath the covered walkway. The inside and outdoor seating blended together and the entire front of the tea house was open. The interior was lined in large mirrors reflecting the light through out the gold accented walls and rich wood furnishings. Inside within glass cases a top a bar there was an endless variety of pastries and macarons to discover. Fresh fruit adorned little cakes, silver kettles were on almost every table and the scent of hot chocolate filled the air.
Our Experience
It was a rather warm day so we opted to sit on their front terrace and enjoy and bit of sun, since we had a week of nearly straight rain. We looked through the menu, and decided that we would try hot chocolate another day and today we were in need of food. I decided on ordering their Club Maison Toasté (Sandwiches) au Saumon Fume (Smoked Salmon). The price was 26 Euros which is the equivalent of about $38 Canadian which is quite exorbitant for a sandwich of any kind, but upon receiving it was beautifully displayed, the ingredients fresh and ultimately incredibly filling. My friend opted for a salad which had nearly a full avocado in it. The menu also has set menu and a la carte options for breakfast, brunch, and for their pastries that might be worth trying.
As we enjoyed our meal, dark clouds began to block out the earlier blue sky. The weather station promised only a 5% chance of showers, and unfortunately we just so happened to be right where it decided to downpour. Fortunately we has the protection of the covered walkway to protect us from the rain, wind and lightening. We finished our meal, paid and since the rain showed no signs of letting up we decided to purchase an umbrella at a shop at the end of the covered walkway so that we could continue our plans for the afternoon.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately the experience, service and quality of food was immaculate at Carette. I would love to return to try one of their pastries and hot chocolates inside their dining rooms; however, the cost of their main dishes is a bit too much for what it is, and I have had better for a fraction of the cost within the city of Paris. I believe it is definitely worth experiencing at least once, the view alone of the Place des Vosges from the front terrace is worth the stop for tea but I would recommend looking else where for lunch or dinner.
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