Cédric Grolet Opéra - Paris, France

Opened in 2019 by French pastry phenom, Cédric Grolet, the Opéra location is his second shop after his original location within Le Meurice, which he opened a year prior. As the name implies, this pastry shop is just down the block from the world famous Paris Opera. Despite the obvious opportunity, there were no opera cakes in sight. However, there was a continuous line of customers out the door, plus frequently stopping passers-by, phones in hand, trying to snap a picture of the viral pastries being made right in the front windows.

Although this is more a pastry shop than a restaurant, they began serving breakfast and high tea in late 2023. This is a great way to experience a fresh sampling of the chef’s offerings, without having to fight the crowds and the lines, since it is by reservation only. Not to mention, the seating above the main shop provides a nice view, overlooking the bustling Avenue de l’Opéra down below. Also, being in such proximity to the Opéra metro station makes it very easy to get to, although we just walked.

The menu for high tea is pre fixed, and although it’s not quite a full ‘lunch’ menu (again, we’re only in a patisserie), it is substantial and offers an adequate variety of sweet and savory flavors. Starting out, each guest gets a small glass of a fresh juice, almost as a palette-cleansing appetizer, then is able to choose one cold and one warm drink from an appealing selection of each variety.

After the drinks arrive, a trio of finger sandwiches is brought out, and yes, each guest gets their own trio. The savory ingredients of each of these sandwiches is delicately prepared on deliciously fresh bread, each topped with a different type of seeds. The sandwiches include smoked salmon with caviar, cucumber cream cheese, and ham with compté cheese. As I mentioned already, ‘delicate’ is the word I would use to describe these carefully constructed small sandwiches. Each had the perfect amount of toppings, certainly not skimping on anything but also without going overboard. Each one was flavorful, and I would say my personal favorite was the salmon with caviar.

Following the sandwiches came the sweets. This consisted of a multi-tiered tower with a multitude of treats, including several of Grolet’s famous ‘Flowers’, a choux pastry, and a couple different cookies, all unique (also in pairs, so no FOMO). Each of these sweets had a ton of flavor and each was distinct. I think we must have had 8 different pastry pairs, which definitely did not leave us hungry.

High tea at the Cédric Grolet Opéra was an enjoyable experience. Compared to the fine dining or hotel breakfasts that the rest of this trip consisted of, this was a very pleasant in-between, offering a relaxed atmosphere that was still elegant and desirable. Being able to enjoy the view of the busy street, without actually being down on the street also made the whole thing even more relaxing, in my opinion. It was a welcome respite from an otherwise bustling and busy day walking about the lively city. If you’re ever planning to be in the area around mid-day or early afternoon, try to plan ahead and make a reservation here. Although the price tag might be a little high for what I would consider to be a classy-casual lunch option, you can see the value in the preparation, presentation, and flavors of each item. For that, Cédric Grolet Opéra has my recommendation.

As a bonus, if you do visit, also be sure to check out Cédric et la Chocolaterie, which just opened in October of 2025, and is located right next door!