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.
I really wanted to like this elegant teahouse more. The decor is artful, as is the plating & attention to detail. But some of the menu combinations were odd pairings, I wished the sandwiches & scones had tasted better. The macaron was not prepared properly, the texture was all wrong. Disappointing, especially given the cost.
Absolutely beautiful high tea spot in Old Port Montreal 💕 The pink, elegant decor feels like a fairytale, & every detail is thoughtfully done. The tea selection is great, & the pastries & sandwiches are both delicious & beautifully presented. Service is warm & attentive. Perfect for a classy & memorable experience!
Très bel accueil & service impeccable. Lieu très bien décoré, où on n'est pas pressé par le temps : une vraie petite bulle. Les choix sont variés & les menus changeants. Le choix de thé est incroyable & l'attention au détail est belle à voir ! Je recommande 100%, une belle idée de cadeau 🎁 Petit bonus pour le menu entier vege, où il n'y a pas de compromis!!!
Quelle belle découverte ! L'ambiance est accueillante, la nourriture absolument délicieuse, & que dire du service… tout simplement exceptionnel. Chaque détail est pensé pour que l'on passe un moment parfait. Je recommande sans hésiter & j'ai déjà hâte d'y retourner !
