One step away from the Notre-Dame Basilica in Old Montreal, the Paparmane tea room offers its colorful version of English tea time in a gourmet and festive spirit.
Paparmane offers a magical and immersive tea experience that many guests describe as a fairytale escape. The restaurant is widely praised for its whimsical, impeccably decorated interior and its thoughtful attention to detail, which creates a cozy and welcoming atmosphere for various celebrations or relaxing outings. Visitors consistently highlight the high quality of the seasonal menus, noting that the beautifully presented, flavourful bites and extensive selection of teas provide a generous and satisfying meal. The staff receives frequent commendations for their professionalism, kindness, and attentiveness, particularly regarding their ability to accommodate dietary restrictions. While the experience is generally considered a highlight of the Old Port, guests appreciate the creative variety and the opportunity to purchase tea to take home, making it a highly recommended destination that encourages repeat visits.
I hosted a bridal shower for my daughter-in-law & it was absolutely amazing. The venue is decorated so beautifully that no additional decorations were needed. The food was delicious & the staff was lovely. My guests including the bride-to-be enjoyed the experience. Highly recommend 👌 🤩🥰
Tellement une merveilleuse expérience ....gustative incroyable & que dire de la beauté des lieux wow !!! Très bon service & tout était parfait de a à z !! J'ai déjà réservée pour deux autres dates pour la fête de mes amies pour leurs faire découvrir & vivre cette expérience de votre magnifique salon de thé !
We had a lovely tea party experience! The atmosphere was absolutely beautiful & cozy, & both the food & drinks were delicious. What stood out the most was the warm, welcoming environment & the kindness of the staff-they were all very friendly & professional.
The only downside was the reservation system. It felt a bit confusing & required us to confirm our booking multiple times, yet we still experienced an issue with our reservation, which was a little frustrating.
Other than that, everything was wonderful. We truly enjoyed our visit & will definitely be checking out your other locations in the future!
I was genuinely excited to experience high tea at Paparmane after discovering the café while exploring the beautiful streets of Montréal the day before. As someone who regularly enjoys tea service with friends, I was excited to secure an 11:00 a.m. reservation, even though the only available seating was at the bar. That didn't matter to me, I was simply looking forward to the experience.
The tea house sent multiple confirmation texts, including a reminder to arrive 15 minutes early, which I happily did. I dressed for the occasion, arrived on time, & was greeted at the door before being shown to my seat at the bar. I let the hostess know that the second guest would not be joining me, she acknowledged & removed the additional menu, then I waited. & waited. & waited.
For approximately 15 minutes, I sat without a single acknowledgment from anyone on staff. No one welcomed me, explained the tea service, or even said,'We'll be with you shortly.' At one point, a waitress silently filled my water glass, but there was still no interaction beyond bonjour.
As the minutes passed, I couldn't help but notice that I was the only Black woman in the tea room. I sincerely hope that had nothing to do with the lack of service. I cannot say that it did. But when you're left sitting unnoticed while eagerly anticipating an experience you specifically planned your morning around, it's difficult not to wonder.
Rather than cause a scene or ask for attention that should have been offered naturally, I quietly stood up, picked up my purse, walked out, & returned to my hotel disappointed.
About 15 minutes after I returned to my hotel, I received a phone call from the owner asking why I had left. I explained exactly what had happened. She responded,'That's what we thought.' She apologized & graciously offered to provide complimentary afternoon tea service if I would return.
I respectfully declined.
While I appreciated the apology & the offer, some moments simply cannot be undone. You don't get a second opportunity to make a first impression, & you don't get a second chance to make me feel welcomed after I've already been made to feel invisible. I arrived excited for what I hoped would be a memorable experience, & beautiful ending to my final day in Montreal. Instead, I left Paparmane feeling embarrassed, overlooked, & less than.
This review isn't about receiving free tea or compensation. It's about hospitality. Every guest deserves to be acknowledged, welcomed, & treated with dignity from the moment they take their seat.
Montréal has been an incredible city, filled with warm people, memorable food, & wonderful experiences. Sadly, this was the one exception. I sincerely hope Paparmane reflects on the importance of making every guest feel seen because first impressions matter, & mine left me feeling invisible.
Très belle expérience, le lieu & le décor sont magnifiques, concernant les petites bouchées, très abondant, on a tenu compte de mes intolérances au gluten & au lactose, & c'était tellement bon! Service impeccable, professionnel & amical. Je recommande fortement ce salon de thé!
From the Atmosphere to the service & food & drinks! Carolyn, Keven, Maria & Matthieu took the best care of us. We made a mistake with a food allergy communication. They swooped right in & fixed the situation. We are visiting & I want to come back just to enjoy this all over again! Merci Beaucoup!
Amazing experience! This is such a beautiful space, the service is too notch & the food is literally perfection. I ordered the Lady Grey tea & the level of lavender was just right. There was a pea tart that made me love peas (normally it's a vegetable I'll pass on). The potato latke with duck was another favorite: delightfully crisp & delectable. I was also really pleased that they let you swap items. I do not like fish, so I could exchange the salmon blini for the vegetarian one (which was also very tasty). Bottom line, this has been one of my favorite tea experiences & I highly recommend a visit.
