Enjoy the afternoon breeze on the banks of the Seine, buy a bouquet of flowers on the Champs-Elysees and stroll down Queen Street – the aroma of coffee wafting past you from the nearby neighborhood pastry shop. This is an afternoon in Paris.
For centuries, afternoon tea salons have cropped up across European aristocratic circles, yet the elegance of Parisian afternoon tea is umatched. Among the many famous French tea and dessert shops, Ladurée is regarded as one of the top options.
Ladurée, a high-end dessert brand hailing from Paris in 1862, is famous for its macarons – making this destination a must-visit for dessert lovers from around the globe. The gorgeous shop is stylized to mimic the Palace of Versailles, where guests can select a dainty macaron from a gold plate, sip tea, and instantly travel through time to experience the aristocratic luxury of Parisian afternoon tea 100 years ago.
But, today you don't have to travel all the way to Paris to enjoy the prestigious French afternoon tea. With the official opening of the Ladurée flagship store in Shanghai on December 9, you can now enjoy the exquisite flavors of France without hopping on a plane.
Recreating Elegant French Courts in the Luxurious Dream Garden
The Shanghai flagship store boasts a French vintage inspired luxurious Dream Garden, decked out with a flower arch, lined in silk.
There is also a Macaron Tower and Macaron Vehicle, formed by layers of macaron pastries – the focal point of the store’s interior. Each flavor is represented by a corresponding macaron color.
Moving upstairs to the expansive banquet hall, harps and violins are played in turn, and aristocratic-dressed actors dance to the music – a noble scene of a bygone era.
Romantic and Sweet Desserts to Tantalize Your Taste Buds
Ladurée’ boasts a variety of signature desserts, one of the most famous being the macaron. The crispy shell and rich filling of each macaron, made with unique proportions and a secret recipe, melt in guests’ mouths.
Every season, Ladurée will offer new, limited release macarons. One of the most popular, the new Rose Grapefruit Macaron, is only available at the Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai. Rose petals decorate macarons that line a pale pink cake, a dessert as delicious as it is beautiful.
The flagship store will also offer brunch and lunch along with afternoon tea, each menu item presented in traditional French style.
Since its arrival in China, Ladurée has always maintained its confidence in the Chinese market. And as this marks the third store in China, Ladurée will continue bring sweet moments to guests around the country.
[All images courtesy of Ladurée]
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