Paris 6 · Cozy
A contemporary Japanese tea sanctuary offering over 100 premium teas and exquisite matcha-infused pastries in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
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House-made Japanese pastries featuring matcha, yuzu, and black sesame, expertly crafted to complement over 100 varieties of premium tea.
Lupicia's culinary offerings center on traditional Japanese confections reimagined with French pastry techniques, creating a unique bridge between two sophisticated dessert cultures. The menu is intentionally focused, featuring a curated selection of house-made pastries designed specifically to enhance the tea-drinking experience rather than overpower it.
The signature Tarte Yuzu Citron showcases the Japanese citrus that's prized for its complex, aromatic flavor—more floral and nuanced than standard lemon. This tart balances the bright acidity of yuzu with a delicate sweetness, creating a refreshing accompaniment to both green and white teas. The Finger Pistache Matcha represents a more contemporary creation, combining the earthy, slightly bitter notes of ceremonial-grade matcha with the subtle richness of pistachio in an elegant, finger-sized format perfect for afternoon tea.
The dorayakis—traditional Japanese pancake sandwiches—are offered in three distinctive flavors that represent different aspects of Japanese confectionery tradition. The matcha version delivers the pure, grassy sweetness of green tea, while the yuzu brings citrus brightness, and the black sesame (goma) offers a nutty, toasted complexity. These fluffy, slightly sweet pancakes filled with smooth bean paste or cream provide a comforting, traditional element to the menu.
Each pastry is crafted in-house, ensuring freshness and quality control. The portions are designed in the Japanese style—refined and not overly large—encouraging you to savor each bite mindfully alongside your tea. The pastry menu works in harmony with the extensive tea selection, with staff able to recommend ideal pairings that bring out the best in both elements. Whether you're drawn to the bright, citrus-forward creations or the deeper, more earthy matcha and sesame offerings, each pastry reflects a commitment to authentic Japanese flavors and high-quality ingredients.
A serene, contemporary Japanese tea sanctuary that offers a peaceful escape from the bustling Saint-Germain-des-Prés streets.
Lupicia cultivates an atmosphere of tranquil sophistication that immediately transports you from the lively streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés into a zen-inspired haven. The climate-controlled space ensures year-round comfort, whether you're visiting during a sweltering summer afternoon or a chilly winter day, making it a reliable refuge regardless of the season.
The ambiance strikes a perfect balance between contemporary minimalism and traditional Japanese aesthetics. There's a meditative quality to the space that encourages you to slow down and engage mindfully with the tea-tasting experience. The atmosphere is neither stuffy nor overly casual—it's welcoming and approachable while maintaining a sense of refinement that honors the ceremonial aspects of Japanese tea culture.
The olfactory tea counter adds a unique sensory dimension to the experience, inviting you to explore teas through scent in an interactive, engaging way. This creates a sense of discovery and personal connection with the products. The overall vibe is one of calm exploration, where you're encouraged to take your time, ask questions, and fully immerse yourself in the world of premium teas. It's an ideal setting for solo contemplation, intimate conversations, or a peaceful break during a day of exploring the neighborhood.
Clean, contemporary design with subtle Japanese influences creates a minimalist sanctuary focused on the sensory tea experience.
Lupicia's interior design embodies the principles of Japanese minimalism, creating a space where the focus remains squarely on the tea and the sensory experience. The contemporary aesthetic features clean lines and an uncluttered layout that allows the products themselves—the colorful tea tins, delicate pastries, and traditional accessories—to serve as visual focal points.
The climate-controlled environment is maintained with modern systems that work invisibly, ensuring comfort without disrupting the serene atmosphere. The space is thoughtfully divided between the retail boutique area and the salon de thé, with the signature olfactory tea counter serving as a bridge between the two zones. This counter is likely designed to facilitate the sensory exploration of teas, with careful attention to lighting and display that allows you to appreciate the visual beauty of the tea leaves alongside their aromatic qualities.
The color palette tends toward natural, calming tones that create a zen-like backdrop, allowing the vibrant greens of matcha, the golden hues of various teas, and the artistic presentation of pastries to stand out. The furniture and fixtures reflect Japanese design sensibilities—functional, elegant, and crafted with attention to detail. The overall effect is one of refined simplicity, where every element serves a purpose and nothing feels excessive or distracting from the primary focus: the appreciation of exceptional tea.
The olfactory tea counter offers a rare sensory exploration experience, allowing you to discover over 100 teas through scent before tasting.
What truly distinguishes Lupicia from other tea houses in Paris is its innovative olfactory tea counter—a sensory discovery station where you can explore the aromatic profiles of over 100 different teas before making your selection. This approach transforms tea shopping from a purely visual or knowledge-based experience into something deeply personal and intuitive. By engaging your sense of smell first, you can identify teas that genuinely appeal to you, guided by your own sensory preferences rather than just descriptions or recommendations.
The breadth of the tea selection itself is remarkable, spanning not just Japanese varieties but teas from around the world, all curated to meet Lupicia's exacting quality standards. This includes rare seasonal offerings, ceremonial-grade matcha, and specialty blends you won't easily find elsewhere in Paris. The establishment functions as both a boutique and a salon de thé, allowing you to purchase teas and accessories to take home or settle in for an immediate tasting experience—a flexibility that's particularly valuable for both locals and visitors.
The house-made Japanese pastries represent another distinctive element, as they're specifically designed to complement tea rather than compete with it. The flavor profiles—yuzu, matcha, black sesame—are authentically Japanese and crafted with the understanding that they'll be enjoyed alongside tea, not as standalone desserts. This thoughtful approach to pairing food and beverage reflects a deeper understanding of Japanese tea culture.
The climate-controlled environment ensures a consistently comfortable experience regardless of season, making Lupicia a reliable destination year-round. Combined with its prime location in Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the expertise of the staff, Lupicia offers a level of immersion into Japanese tea culture that's difficult to find elsewhere in the city.
Visit during off-peak afternoon hours for personalized guidance at the olfactory counter, and don't hesitate to ask for tea pairing recommendations with your pastry selection.
To make the most of your Lupicia experience, we recommend timing your visit strategically. The salon de thé serves from 1:30 PM to 6:30 PM Tuesday through Sunday, with last orders at 6:00 PM, while the boutique maintains longer hours (Monday-Saturday 10:30 AM-7:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM-7:00 PM). Arriving mid-afternoon on a weekday typically offers the most relaxed atmosphere and allows for unhurried exploration at the olfactory counter with personalized staff attention.
When you arrive, take advantage of the olfactory tea counter even if you plan to sit in the salon. The staff are knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about tea—don't hesitate to ask questions about different varieties, brewing methods, or which teas might pair best with the pastries you're considering. This guidance can significantly enhance your experience and help you discover teas you might not have selected on your own.
For the salon de thé, consider ordering a pastry-tea pairing rather than choosing randomly. The matcha-based pastries naturally complement Japanese green teas, while the yuzu tart pairs beautifully with lighter white or green teas that won't overpower its delicate citrus notes. The black sesame dorayaki works wonderfully with roasted teas like hojicha.
If you're interested in purchasing tea to take home, the boutique offers delivery service with free shipping on orders over €39 to relay points and €45 for home delivery—useful if you're visiting from outside Paris or want to avoid carrying purchases while exploring the neighborhood. The location near Saint-Germain-des-Prés metro (line 4) makes it easily accessible and perfect to combine with other neighborhood explorations.
Note that the salon de thé is closed on Mondays, though the boutique remains open, so plan accordingly if you're hoping for the full tasting experience. The climate-controlled space makes it an ideal refuge during extreme weather—a cool retreat in summer or a warm haven in winter.
Tarte Yuzu Citron, Finger Pistache Matcha, Dorayakis Matcha, Ceremonial Matcha, Premium Japanese green teas
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