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 charming and whimsical afternoon tea experience in Montreal that consistently impresses guests with its beautifully decorated, cozy atmosphere and high level of hospitality. Visitors frequently highlight the personalized and attentive service, as well as the delicious, seasonal selection of sweet and savory treats that are artfully presented. While the experience is often compared favorably to other renowned tea venues, many guests appreciate the unique attention to detail, ranging from kid-friendly accommodations to successful handling of various dietary restrictions. Although some visitors noted that the reservation system can occasionally be complex or that seating can feel close, the majority of patrons leave feeling pampered and eager to return for future seasonal menus and special occasions.
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'm only giving this place a 3 because of the presentation of the food & the place itself. The food was, not to be mean, but it was nasty. If I could rate the food, I would give it a 2/10. My money was wasted-$63 for food I didn't enjoy, nor did I finish it. & on top of that, they had the nerve to ask for a tip & gave us a nasty glare. One of their staff was pretty rude; when we left & said goodbye, he completely ignored us. Though the tea was great 🫡
12 of us shared high tea on a firday afternoon. We had a really nice time.
The service was excellent. The tea was good enough (we traded amongst us so we got a big selection to base our opinion on) & some of the food was very good. I would really recommend hitting Paparmane up, especially at the price point they offer. It's less than half the price we paid for high tea at The Empress Hotel a couple of weeks ago.
Aug 1, 2026
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The decor was brilliant & whimsical. I had the classic tea experience & the treats were delicious. I love the variety. Everyone was welcoming & friendly, which made tea time a truly wonderful experience.
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.
Wow...what an incredible experience! an experience that truly felt like celebration; From the decor to the food to the tea we tasted, we felt like royalty.
The food was delectable! The tea tasting was perfectly paired with each tier of food heightening the flavors of each, offering a nice complement to the whole experience.
We left paparmane giddy with a food high unlike we ever felt.
Its easily become our favourite place & will talk about it for years to come.
It was an excellent 12th year marriage anniversary spot. Thank you for showing us an amazing time!
A wonderful experience-fabulous teas & trays, excellent service, & great ambiance. The menu & decor change with the seasons so we'll definitely be back!
