Angelina vs Carette: Which Has the Best Hot Chocolate in Paris

Few Parisian debates are as enduring as the one between Angelina and Carette. Both serve their own take on the city’s most famous winter indulgence – hot chocolate so rich it borders on dessert.

But regular visitors and locals have plenty of opinions, and they don’t all agree with what Instagram says.

Angelina

At Angelina on Rue de Rivoli, right across from the Tuileries Gardens, the legendary Chocolat Africain has been poured since 1903. The kind of hot chocolate that barely flows from the pot – glossy, heavy, and deeply chocolatey.

Many call it “liquid chocolate,” a drink so dense that even die-hard chocolate lovers sometimes can’t finish a cup.

The Belle Époque decor and the porcelain service are part of the spectacle. But that experience comes with a line! It’s common to wait thirty minutes or more to get a table.

The smart workaround is to use the takeaway counter at the front: same chocolate, smaller portion, no queue, and no fine china. It costs about €10 instead of €15, and you can sip it in the Tuileries Gardens just across the street.

For an easier visit, some travelers head to the Angelina café inside the Château de Versailles. It serves the same hot chocolate in a more relaxed setting, where the gilded surroundings make the experience even more theatrical.

The flavor divides people. Fans love its thickness and mild bitterness. Others find it too sweet or slightly gritty. Still, most agree that it’s something every chocolate lover should try once.

If you want to bring it home, Angelina sells its signature chocolate mix in elegant tins and bottles. You can find them at the tea room itself or in Galeries Lafayette.

Carette: Parisian Chic and Easier to Drink

Carette has locations at Place du Trocadéro and Place des Vosges. The hot chocolate is smoother, lighter, and easier to drink, which some appreciate after trying Angelina’s ultra-thick version.

The presentation is still classic Parisian with silver trays, porcelain cups, and a swirl of whipped cream. However, the overall experience feels less heavy and more social.

Opinions about the taste also vary widely. Some travelers prefer Carette “by a landslide,” finding it more balanced and less overpowering.

Others find it a bit thin and say it tastes closer to what you’d get from a packet – some visitors who tried both say Carette’s is pleasant but “watered down” compared to Angelina’s.

If you visit the Place des Vosges branch, you can order a takeaway cup and enjoy it while sitting in the park – some say that’s more magic than any ornate salon could.

The Local Perspective: Skip the Hype

People who live in Paris or visit often tend to see both Angelina and Carette as tourist traps rather than serious chocolate stops.

Many say almost any café in the city can serve a good chocolat chaud. It’s not a difficult drink to make, and the quality depends more on the chocolate used than the name on the cup.

Well-loved alternatives mentioned repeatedly by regulars include Pierre Hermé, just a few blocks from Angelina, who serve an excellent hot chocolate and famous madeleines (two cups and six madeleines cost around €29).

Mado à Paris, nearby, gets similar praise for its rich chocolate and baked goods.

Café Pavane in the 6th arrondissement is another favorite. It’s a small, warm tea room run by Manon Hévin, daughter of famed chocolatier Jean-Paul Hévin, whose pastries are featured on the menu.

The café offers a mix of French and Russian specialties prepared in collaboration with the Meilleur Ouvrier de France chef himself, one of the country’s highest culinary honors. For many, it’s become their go-to spot for hot chocolate in Paris.

For a quiet view, Café du Trocadéro and Le Malakoff, located near Carette Trocadéro, serve nearly identical hot chocolate with an unbeatable view of the Eiffel Tower and no crowd of influencers.

Dengo, also in the 6th, is a small chocolate counter that sells drinks made from their own artisan bars.

Locals also mention Café Aouba, where a barista is said to pour one of the city’s best stand-up hot chocolates. La Compagnie du Café and Ara Chocolat are two more small addresses known for quality ingredients and a more personal touch.

And for true purists, Plaq, on Rue du Nil in the 2è, is often described as a must. Their chocolate drinks use direct-trade cacao and have an earthy, full flavor that’s closer to a melted bar than a sweetened beverage.

Takeaway

Both Angelina and Carette are worth experiencing once, but neither defines Parisian hot chocolate. One is historic and theatrical, the other refined and accessible.

The real pleasure comes from wandering, stopping at a corner café, ordering “un chocolat chaud,” and tasting how each place does it differently.