Sébastien Gaudard Unveils His Grand Café in the 9th Arrondissement

The Grand Café Sébastien Gaudard in Paris

10.27.2023

Clémence Renoux

Do we still need to introduce Sébastien Gaudard, whose culinary quest to revive classic French desserts has delighted sweet-toothed enthusiasts at his tea salons in the Tuileries and on Rue des Martyrs? The charming pastry chef has just inaugurated his Grand Café Sébastien Gaudard, perfect for a quick lunch or a chic afternoon tea above the Grands Boulevards.

Chic Snacking

The Grand Café Sébastien Gaudard's exciting addition is the opportunity to savor savory dishes, either in the cozy lower room or soon on the majestic wooden staircase, in a splendid space we can't wait to see put to use. Croque-monsieur with salad (€6.50), ham and cheese croissant (€6.50), Caesar salad (€12.50), as well as butternut squash toast (€12.50) and delicious mini quiches are presented at the counter before gracefully landing on vintage, colorful plates, handpicked by the chef himself, who is also a devoted art and antiques enthusiast.

Tea Time Treats

You can't enter a Sébastien Gaudard establishment without indulging in one of his divine French pastries. The Duchesse Chocolat (resembling éclairs, €5.20), Merveilleux (€5.80), lemon tartlet (€5.90), and Polonaise (€6.10) are among these beautifully revived classics by the Lorraine-born chef. Playful coffee or butternut tartlets also wake up taste buds with their 2023 flavors and formats. The house's motto: the celebration of simplicity, albeit ultra-sophisticated.

For the eternal gourmands who've retained their childlike wonder, here's the ultimate challenge: keeping your composure in the face of dozens of confectionery delights, from honeyed berlingots, poppies, violets to sugared almonds (€7.50 - €9). Brace yourself; there are candies and cakes reaching for the sky! You can also pick up a tin of chocolate powder to make a hot chocolate at home, just like in the chicest tea salon in Paris, presented in a beautiful blue tin box (€19.50). Additionally, there are palmiers, Breton butter cookies, and other delightful travel cakes that make for impressive gifts.