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.
Yes, Paparmane provides vegan options on their menu for plant-based dining. Feel free to ask your server or check their menu for details on available vegan items.
Yes, Paparmane offers gluten-free options on their menu. If you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy, please notify the staff so appropriate precautions can be taken.
Paparmane offers a truly magical and whimsical tea experience that consistently delights visitors with its enchanting decor and vibrant atmosphere. Guests frequently praise the attentive, professional service and the carefully curated selection of high-quality teas paired with beautifully presented sweet and savory treats. With dedicated menu options available for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dietary needs, this charming destination in Old Montreal has become a favorite choice for special celebrations, family gatherings, and memorable outings alike.
there's something about afternoon tea that makes an ordinary afternoon feel just a little more special. while visiting montreal, i made reservations for a party of three at paparmane, a whimsical afternoon tea spot near old montreal that had been on my list.
we arrived a little early & spent some time at the tiny shop in the front, browsing the pretty teaware, cute gifts & smelling the loose leaf while waiting for our table. the space is quite small, so you do have to be mindful of other guests while looking around.
our table was ready about 12 minutes later. one small moment caught me off guard when a party of five who arrived after us was seated first & welcomed as vip guests. maybe they were celebrating something special, not gonna lie, i felt a little like chopped liver for a minute. i laughed it off & didn't let it affect the afternoon.
once inside, it was easy to see why paparmane is so popular. the dining room is enchanting, with blush pink walls, exposed brick, oversized flowers hanging from chandeliers, & an enchanted forest mural that gives the space a whimsical alice in wonderland feel. it stayed busy throughout our visit, yet never felt rushed.
having enjoyed many afternoon teas around vancouver, i appreciated how much thought went into both the atmosphere & presentation. it's elegant, playful, & incredibly photogenic without feeling overdone.
each of us received our own teapot with loose leaf tea in a sachet, along with a timer for steeping. oat milk was available as an alternative to milk, which was a nice touch. our server checked in once to offer more hot water for another steep, although we could have used a little more cream for the table.
when the three tier stands arrived, our server explained each item & offered to take photos for us, something we noticed was offered to every table. it was such a thoughtful touch, & honestly, the excitement level was high enough that the towers almost deserved a polite golf clap.
the food showed a lot of care & attention to detail. from the delicate pastries to the paper-thin cucumber sandwiches, everything looked thoughtfully prepared. i could almost imagine the chef carefully placing the finishing touches with tweezers. we loved the balance of sweet & savoury items, with a nice variety of flavours & textures.
the two miniature scones came with a delicious strawberry rosemary jam & sweet clover mascarpone cream. both were excellent, although i do wish the scones had been served warm. i also think an eclectic mix of mismatched vintage fine china would have perfectly matched the whimsical atmosphere, although i understand the practicality of using glassware.
one of my friends chose the vegan afternoon tea after seeing the neighbouring table's selection & absolutely loved it. we were pleasantly surprised to see a vegan option that was just as thoughtful & beautifully presented as the traditional offering.
despite the petite presentation, the afternoon tea was surprisingly substantial. we each managed only one of our two miniature scones before happily packing up the rest to enjoy later.
service was attentive & professional, although it felt more polished than personal. everything was handled efficiently, but it was missing that extra bit of warmth that takes good hospitality to the next level.
overall, paparmane is a lovely spot for a special occasion, a girls' afternoon out, or anyone who enjoys a little bit of whimsy with their tea. between the magical setting, beautiful presentation, quality teas, & thoughtful details, it was a memorable afternoon.
my only wishes would be warm scones, a little more cream for the tea, & perhaps a touch more warmth from the service. small details aside, it was a wonderful afternoon spent catching up with friends over tea, pastries, & plenty of laughter.
Trés joli experience ! Our host Julia was very kind & welcoming to us , making sure we understood all the cakes & sandwiches before eating . We all throughly enjoyed our experience & loved the different tastes & flavours , the cakes & scones were decorated beautifully I would go again ! Thank you for a wonderful time.
I had my surprise bridal shower at Paparmane Salon du Thé, & it was absolutely perfect! We had the entire venue to ourselves, which made the celebration feel so intimate & special.
The staff were incredible-so welcoming, attentive, & genuinely kind. They made sure everything ran smoothly & made everyone feel at home. The food was also excellent; everything was fresh, beautifully presented, & absolutely delicious.
I couldn't have asked for a better place to celebrate such a special occasion. I highly recommend Paparmane Salon du Thé for bridal showers, private events, or anyone looking for a beautiful venue with exceptional service & amazing food. Thank you for helping create such wonderful memories!
Delicious treats, exceptional service from Carolyne, & amazing teas! 🫖🌸She made accommodations with ease, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Just make sure to be on time or early☺?. I loved this high tea experience-even more than the Ritz-Carlton! It was the perfect girls' day out. 💕 The beautiful décor creates such a lovely atmosphere, & the Old Port location is charming. Highly recommend! ☕✨
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 👌 🤩🥰
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.
