A Priori Thé

BP take: In a lovely 19th-century covered passage, the magnificent Galerie Vivienne, this pretty tearoom serves light lunches, salads and sweets along with a wide selection of teas. “But the real kick-off was the 1980 opening of the tea room A Priori Thé at No 35-37, a rare proposition at a time when Paris was still largely devoted to café culture and protracted three-course lunches. American Peggy Hancock remembers stumbling upon the arcade in 1979: “I was completely enchanted. It was deserted, silent and magnificent. The mosaics, the arcades, and just the utter emptiness right in the heart of Paris.”– Paris author and historian Thirza Vallois in France Today “Parisian Walkways: Galerie Vivienne”   35 galerie Vivienne, 75002. Tel: 01 42 97 48 75. apriorithe.com. Open for lunch and tea: Monday – Friday from 12 to 6 pm. Saturday & Sunday (brunch) from 12 to 6pm.