Since 1927, Carette has been serving Parisians and curious travellers at some of the city's most iconic addresses. From the terrace at Place du Trocadéro with its sweeping Eiffel Tower views to the arcaded elegance of Place des Vosges, this beloved patisserie-café offers legendary hot chocolate, flaky viennoiseries, hand-crafted macarons, and an atmosphere that captures everything romantic and unhurried about Paris. Worth every minute of the queue.
There are cafés in Paris, and then there is Carette. The difference is something you feel before you even sit down — in the hush of a marble-topped interior, in the precision of a macaron arranged behind a glass counter, in the quiet theatre of a waiter threading between wicker chairs with a tray loaded with croissants and steaming pots of chocolat chaud. Founded in 1927 by Jean Carette on the Place du Trocadéro, this institution has outlasted generations of Parisian trends, remaining at once utterly classic and entirely relevant.
Today it occupies three locations across the city — the original Trocadéro spot in the 16th arrondissement, a refined second address under the arcades of Place des Vosges in the Marais, and a pastry-focused outpost on Place du Tertre in Montmartre. Each location has its own personality and magic, but all three share the same kitchen philosophy: meticulous French pastry craft, quality ingredients, and a sense of occasion that turns even a quick coffee into something worth savouring. Whether you're deep into a first trip to Paris or you've been coming here for years, a visit to Carette has a way of reminding you why you fell for this city in the first place.
A brief history worth knowing
Established in 1927, Carette has become a symbol of Parisian sophistication and culinary excellence. The Trocadéro location was the original, and for decades it held centre court on one of Paris's most photographed squares. In 2010, Carette opened a new address at an extremely well-located spot under the arcades of the Place des Vosges, bringing its particular brand of patisserie elegance to the historic Marais district.
The Montmartre outpost at Place du Tertre followed, operating as a pastry shop rather than a full tea room — a nod to the neighbourhood's more casual, artist-quarter energy. Under the direction of Chef Frédéric Tessier, the decor and menu were refreshed, breathing new life into the concept while preserving the traditions that had made Carette a household name. The result is a brand that feels genuinely rooted in Parisian history rather than one that simply trades on nostalgia.
The three locations — and how to choose
Deciding which Carette to visit depends entirely on what kind of Paris day you're planning. Each address pairs naturally with its surroundings, and knowing this in advance saves time and maximizes the experience.
The most visited and iconic location is the Trocadéro, at 4 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75016. It pairs perfectly with an early Eiffel Tower visit — you can linger over a Paris brunch and then stroll across the square to take in one of the most famous views in Paris. The terrace here is a people-watching paradise, with small round tables, wicker chairs, and a constant rhythm of activity that somehow never feels rushed. The ambiance is warm and cozy, with elegant decor and outdoor seating offering a great view of the Eiffel Tower. Opening hours are generous: Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 11:30 pm, and on weekends from 7:30 am.
The Place des Vosges location at 25 Place des Vosges, 75003, is a different kind of beautiful. The elegant interior is pure Louis XVI style, designed by Hubert de Givenchy, and the terrace sits beneath the centuries-old arcades of Paris's oldest royal square. It's a slower, more contemplative setting — ideal for an afternoon spent browsing the Marais's galleries and boutiques before settling in for a plate of macarons and a pot of tea. This location opens daily at 7:30 am and closes at midnight, making it the latest option for an evening treat.
The Montmartre location at 7 Place du Tertre, 75018, functions primarily as a pastry shop, open daily from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. It's the most compact of the three but perfectly positioned for picking up a bag of macarons after a morning walk around Sacré-Cœur.
What to order — the real guide
Carette's menu is extensive for a café, offering breakfast sets, pastries, macarons, crêpes, hot chocolate, and full meals. For first-timers, narrowing it down can feel overwhelming. Here's where to start.
The most talked-about item on the menu requires no deliberation whatsoever. The chocolat chaud — Carette's famous hot chocolate — is the reason queues form before the doors open. It arrives as a pot of thick, steaming chocolate accompanied by a generous serving of whipped cream.
Unlike lighter hot chocolates found elsewhere, this one is intense, deep, rich, and almost velvety in texture. The portion is substantial enough to share, and regulars recommend using the excess whipped cream as a topping for a crêpe or fresh strawberries. Surprisingly, the thick consistency is achieved with lots of chocolate rather than cream. Order the Viennese-style version if you want an especially generous crown of freshly whipped chantilly.
Beyond the signature drink, the patisserie counter deserves serious attention. Carette's macarons are among the most celebrated in the city, available in flavours that include chocolate, coffee, vanilla, pistachio, salted caramel from Brittany (caramel au beurre salé), raspberry, gianduja, blackcurrant-violet, morello cherry, and rose. The menu also highlights velvety seasonal pastries such as the Napoleon and Mont Blanc, alongside éclairs, mille-feuille, and Paris-Brest. For those wanting something savoury, the menu is broader than its pastry reputation suggests.
A full picture of what's on offer throughout the day:
The menu at Carette spans the full arc of the day with plenty of substance on both the sweet and savoury sides. A few standouts worth knowing before you go:
- Hot chocolate (Chocolat Carette): The flagship item. Velvety, intensely chocolatey, served with a mountain of freshly whipped cream. Pair it with a pain au chocolat for the full effect.
- Croissants and viennoiseries: Buttery, flaky, and baked fresh each morning. Arrive early for the best selection.
- Macarons: Available in over ten flavours; they also make an elegant gift, packaged in ribbon-tied boxes.
- Crêpes: Served flat in the traditional French style, with both sweet and savoury fillings.
- Finger sandwiches: Made on fresh brioche with crusts trimmed, filled with ham, smoked salmon, or cucumber — a classic tea-salon staple.
- Club sandwiches: Substantial options including chicken, bacon, and smoked salmon, served with a side salad.
- Savoury dishes: Quiche Lorraine, croque madame, French onion soup (soupe à l'oignon gratinée), and seasonal salads round out the lunch and dinner offerings.
- Scrambled eggs: A much-praised breakfast choice, consistently described as creamy and perfectly cooked.
- Ice cream and sorbets: Available at the Place des Vosges location; flavours rotate seasonally.
Practical information before you visit
Trocadéro
- Address: 4 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75016 Paris
- Hours: Monday–Friday 7:00 am–11:30 pm; Saturday–Sunday 7:30 am–11:30 pm
- Metro: Line 6 or 9, Trocadéro station (exit Avenue Kléber)
Place des Vosges (Le Marais)
- Address: 25 Place des Vosges, 75003 Paris
- Hours: Daily 7:30 am–midnight
- Metro: Saint-Paul (Line 1) or Chemin Vert (Line 8)
Montmartre (pastry shop only)
- Address: 7 Place du Tertre, 75018 Paris
- Hours: Daily 9:00 am–8:00 pm
- Metro: Abbesses (Line 12)
No reservations are accepted at any location, so timing is everything. Arriving before 9 am means a peaceful café experience, plenty of space, and the luxury of heading to the Trocadéro viewpoint before the crowds. Alternatively, Carette is open late, and at the later hours it's possible to get a table without waiting. Budget around €20 to €30 per person for a full breakfast or brunch, though a single hot chocolate and a pastry can come in under €15.
Tips for making the most of your visit
A few things worth knowing that most first-timers discover only after the fact. The hot chocolate portion is genuinely large — sharing is perfectly reasonable and still leaves both parties satisfied. Strawberries are always worth ordering; juicy and large, they pair well with almost everything on the menu. The pain au chocolat receives consistently high praise and sells out early, so it's not a pastry to leave until mid-morning. For those planning to take macarons home as a gift, the tins and ribbon-packaged boxes make for a beautiful souvenir — just double-check the order before leaving the counter, as errors have been reported.
Service varies by time of day and how busy the room is. During peak hours, especially weekend mornings at Trocadéro, the pace is brisk, and the staff are focused on turning tables efficiently. Earlier visits or later evening sessions tend to produce a more relaxed atmosphere on both sides of the exchange.
A word on the experience itself
What sets Carette apart from dozens of other well-regarded Parisian cafés is the combination of location, longevity, and a menu that actually delivers. Many places coast on a prestigious address. Carette has the address and the food to match. The atmosphere struck a perfect balance, elegant yet lively, filled with a mix of tourists excited for their first Paris breakfast and locals enjoying a casual mid-morning coffee. Sitting on the Trocadéro terrace on a clear morning with a pot of hot chocolate and a warm croissant while the Eiffel Tower rises across the square — it's one of those Paris moments that feels almost too good to be real, until you're actually in it.
The Place des Vosges location offers something slightly different: a slower, more aristocratic pace beneath those famous arcades, where the square's fountains are audible from the terrace and the afternoon light filters through 17th-century stone archways. Both experiences are worth seeking out if the itinerary allows.
Somewhere between ritual and revelation
Carette has been perfecting its craft since the late 1920s, and after nearly a century, the café retains a rare quality: the ability to feel simultaneously timeless and entirely of the moment. The hot chocolate still earns its reputation. The macarons still taste like they were made that morning — because they were. The terraces still fill with a mix of Parisians treating a weekday morning like an occasion and visitors who have crossed an ocean for exactly this kind of unremarkable perfection.
For travellers who want to understand Paris through its food culture rather than just its landmarks, Carette is a natural starting point. A breakfast here before the Eiffel Tower, an afternoon pause at Place des Vosges between gallery visits, a late-evening hot chocolate after the museums close — the café fits almost any itinerary and rewards repeat visits. There are newer, trendier spots opening across the city every season, but few of them will still be this relevant a hundred years from now. Carette, in all likelihood, will be.
Visit Carette Paris Website: paris-carette.fr
Trocadéro: 4 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75016 Paris | Mon–Fri 7:00 am–11:30 pm, Sat–Sun 7:30 am–11:30 pm
Place des Vosges: 25 Place des Vosges, 75003 Paris | Daily 7:30 am–midnight
Montmartre (pastry shop): 7 Place du Tertre, 75018 Paris | Daily 9:00 am–8:00 pm
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