Will be in Paris in December. Wish to have afternoon tea at one of these selections: <BR>Hotel Meurice <BR>Hotel de Crillon <BR>Le Bristol <BR>Can anyone recommend one based on experience and include cost?

Let me just add my personal favourite which is THE tea mekka: <BR> <BR>"Marriage Frères" <BR>30, rue du Bourg-Tibourg, 4th <BR>13, Rue des Grands-Augustins, 6th <BR>260, Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 8th <BR> <BR>www.mariagefreres.com <BR> <BR>Went also to the Crillon. If I remember well, it was around FF 150.-.

Angelina, on the rue de Rivoli, across from the Louvre, is a time-honored place to have tea. Used to be called Rumplemayer's and was used in filming of several black and white movies. It specializes in the dessert Mont Blanc, a concoction of chestnut puree and whipped cream--heavenly!

Dear Ian: Hello. The newly renovated Hotel Meurice is something to see. There is a set price for it's tea, but I cannot remember what that was. It is not low. Here is a list of other favorites not on your list. There are some wonderful places to places in Paris to take a cup of tea: <BR>La Mosquée de Paris <BR>39 rue St-Hilare, 5th, Metro:Censier-Daubenton. <BR>Located across the street from the Jardin des Plantes, this city mosque, ornately decorated makes a wonderful setting for lingering over a mint tea. There is always plenty of room even when it looks over crowded. <BR>Bernardaud <BR>Galerie Royale, 11 rue Royale, 8th, metro: Madeleine. Closed Sundays. <BR>An elegant modern tea room located in a very chic gallery run by the famous porcelain manufacturers of the same name. reservations:01 43 12 52 08 <BR>Fauchon Paris <BR>26 place de la Madeline, 8th, Metro: Madeline. Closed Sundays. <BR>A most famous and expensive grocery store in Paris offers a corner tea room. It's sunny terrace offers a view of the Madeline church. The place to be seen drinking some of the most expensive teas in the city. <BR>Les Deux Abeilles <BR>189 rue de l'Université, 7th, RER Alma-Marceau. Closed Sundays. <BR>Located in a quiet neighborhood close to the Eiffel Tower. This tea room offers a friendly relaxing atmosphere for a cup of tea. Reasonably priced tea, but still offering some unusual blends. <BR>A Priori Thé <BR>35-37 Galerie Vivienne, 2nd, metro: Bourse open daily closed evenings. A very friendly relaxing tea room who's terrace spills into the covered Passage Vivienne. Very popular for it's Sunday brunch. Beautifully presented teas offered along with a tasty lunch menu and home-style cakes and tarts. <BR>reservation for a Sunday:01 42 97 48 75 <BR>Pegoty's <BR>79 avenue Bosquet, 7th, metro:Ecole-Militare <BR>open daily. Unpretentious little tea room that's a local hang out. Offers an excellent range of exotic blend teas. <BR>Mariage Frères <BR>30 rue du Bourg-Tibourg, 4th, metroaint-Paul. open daily. <BR>Famous tea establishment founded in 1854. The back room salon de thé has a very colonial feeling with waiters in linen uniforms. <BR>Le Loir dans la Théière <BR>3 rue de Rosiers, 4th, metroaint-Paul. open daily <BR>Cozy and comfortable tea room with overstuffed arm chairs. Once you settle in you never want to leave. <BR>Angelina's <BR>226 rue de Rivoli, 1st metro:Tuileries. open daily. <BR>Maybe better known for it's hot chocolate and it's signature chestnut based Mont-Blanc dessert. This is still a traditional place for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea. <BR>Ladurée <BR>16 rue Royale, 8th, metro: Madeline. open daily. <BR>Along with the above Angelina's this is one of the most celebrated and traditional salon du thé in Paris and one of the most opulent. You must try one of it's delicate and indescribable macaroons. It's other location on the Champs-Elysees can't compete with rue Royale's, Napoleon III decor. <BR>La Jacobine <BR>59-61 rue St-Andre des Arts, 6th, metrodeon. closed Mondays. <BR>This quaint and atmospheric tea room is located in an 18th century passageway. Also offers sandwiches on Parisian Poilâne bread. <BR>A La Cour de Rohan <BR>59-61 rue St-Andre-des-Arts, 6th,metrodeon. open daily. <BR>Located in the same passage as La Jacobine, this place has a slightly upscale feeling even with it's greater number of students and locals. It has a sort of clubby atmosphere with big comfortable chairs and a lovely tea service. The house specialty is melted hot chocolate with cinnamon.

I recently went to lunch at Mariage Freres. It was the branch near Place des Ternes. A friend made the reservation and I did not take down the exact address. <BR> <BR>My friend and I both had "snob" salads and lovely ice tea with lots of ice. It was perfect for a hot day and provided us with a very nice light lunch. The "snob" salads were called "snob", I think, because they contained a slice of foie gras. I thought the name was very funny. <BR> <BR>After lunch, I ended up buying 6 small bags of assorted tea for too much money--but that is what vacations are for, isn't it? I also bought a tea strainer and a spoon with the "Mariage Freres" name on it. <BR> <BR>The price of the lunch was reasonable. I would recommend eating lunch there if you do not want a full three hour production. <BR> <BR>I really was in the mood for this place because I was busy sightseeing and preferred to do some of that rather than spend a long time eating. <BR> <BR>I highly recommend Mariage Freres and do have a look at all the different teas. The selection is amazing!

great replies!! i just copied and pasted your suggestions,michael into my paris food doc. we'll be there over thanksgiving and i'm looking for nice warming up places to take a break. thanks again.