The
Ladurée story
The history of Parisian tea salons is intimately tied to the history of the Ladurée family.
It all began in 1862, when Louis Ernest Ladurée, a miller from France’s southwest, created a bakery at 16 rue Royale in Paris.
During the same year, the first stone of the Garnier Opera was laid, and the area surrounding the Madeleine
was rapidly developing into one of the capital’s most important and elegant business districts.
The most prestigious names in French luxury goods had already taken up residence in this neighborhood.
In 1871, while Baron Haussmann was giving Paris a ‘‘new face’’,
a fire made access to the transformation of the bakery to a pastry shop.
The decoration of the pastry shop was entrusted to Jules Cheret, a famous turn-of-the-century painter
and poster artist. M Cheret sought inspiration from the painting techniques used
for the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the Garnier Opera.
By incorporating them in his work,
he added depth and relief to the ceilings ornamented with cherubic children.
Under the Second Empire, cafes developed and became more and more luxurious.
They attracted Parisian high society. Along with the chic restaurants around the Madeleine,
they became the showcases of the capital.
The beginning of this century found Paris wrapped up in a frenzy of distraction and going out in public.
Parisians flocked to the Universal Exposition. Women were also changing.
They wanted to make new acquaintances. Literary salons and literature circles were outmoded.
Ernest Ladurée’s wife, Jeanne Souchard, daughter of a well-known hotelier in Rouen,
had the idea of mixing styles:
the Parisian café and pastry shop gave birth to one of the first tea salons in town.
The “salon de thé” had a definite advantage over the cafés: they permitted ladies to gather in freedom.
Jeanne Souchard succeeded in combining the turn-of-the-century trend to modernism
with knowledge of the merits of a craft transmitted by her family.
The rue Royale tea room was enlarged in 1930 by Pierre Desfontaines,
second cousin of Louis Ernest Ladurée.
When he retired, his son, Jean Marie, and his niece, Dominique, presided over the tea salon.
This site imbued with a refined atmosphere and charged with history seduced David Holder and his father
Francis Holder, founder of the Holder Group.
In 1993, they decided to buy this Parisian institution, and promote and enlarge the famous “Maison”.
In September 1997, a new prestigious Ladurée address both a restaurant and tea room
opened on the Champs-Elysées.
The mission of the President David Holder is thus to bring back the great classics,
which have contributed to the reputation of this ‘salon de thé’,
as well as create an environment for gastronomic creativity in Paris.
With him, Ladurée will be a tea salon, pastry shop, restaurant, chocolate shop and an ice cream parlor.
The Holder group intends to introduce this century-old name in the main capitals of the world
and develop new business opportunities.
Ladurée Champs Elysées
« A gastronomic temple on the world’s most beautiful Avenue »
75 Avenue des Champs Elysées Paris VIII
David Holder and his father, Francis Holder, founder of the Holder Group,
opened a new Ladurée tea salon and restaurant at 75 avenue des Champs-Elysées in September 1997.
Their aim was to reproduce on the Champs-Elysées the refined atmosphere
of their rue Royale establishment and to build a unique site, a symbol of the French « Art de vivre ».
365 days a year, from 7.30am to midnight,
Ladurée serves breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner and late supper for approximately 3,000 clients daily.
On the first floor, the ‘Eiffel Veranda’ and the outdoor terrace overlook the glamorous
Champs Elysées avenue.
The bar, very successful after 7pm, offers any time classic short and long drinks as well as wines and liquors.
One can also sit at the bar for a quick lunch.
On the second floor, the five cozy dining rooms, decorated in the ‘Second Empire’ refined style
by the French interior designer Jacques Garcia, were dedicated to the 19th century Parisian muses : “Paeva”, “Castiglione”, “Mathilde” but also la Bibliothèque (the Library) and
La Chocolaterie (the Chocolate Factory).
The menu of the restaurant is inspired by French regional cooking, as well as other cooking of the world,
and is continuously evolving with the seasons and its creations.
Ladurée Royale
« The original establishment »
16 rue Royale Paris VIII
This tea salon created in 1862 and decorated with wainscoting and original frescoes depicting angelic pastry
chefs and voluptuous ladies became a favorite address for people from all walks of life.
Since then the tea room’s ‘‘habitués’’ have rubbed shoulders with tourists and personalities
from the world over.
The menu changes with the seasons and offers a simple and delicious cuisine
like the famous “Ladurée Omelet”, “Vol au Vent”, Poultry & wild mushrooms soup or Ladurée Club Sandwiches.
Unconditional fans come to taste the meltingly moist macaroons, the best in the capital,
the filled croissants and pastries, and to discover the newest creations of Ladurée.
Ladurée in the grand department store Le Printemps
« A tea room in the heart of department stores »
Le Printemps, 62 Boulevard Haussmann Paris IX
Ladurée Printemps offers a cozy and gourmet pause in a middle of a busy shopping day.
Using the recipes that have built the reputation of Ladurée on Rue Royale,
Ladurée proposes a menu of light and quick offerings:
Ladurée Club Sandwiches, Ladurée Salad, Tarama Millefeuille with rose petals or
fromage frais & wild mushrooms Religieuse. Not to be overlooked are the ice creams, the “viennoiseries” and other ‘‘sweet delights’’,
which can also be taken away.
« Ladurée is now exposed in the new temple of delicacy
on the second floor of the Printemps de la Maison department store »
Le Printemps, 62 Boulevard Haussmann Paris IX
This is in a Napoleon III setting, which is imbued with the style of the brand,
that the Ladurée collections are displayed, such as a lesson of delicacy.
Ladurée Bonaparte
« Ladurée in the heart of Saint-Germain-Des-Prés »
21 rue Bonaparte Paris VI
The Ladurée tea-room located in the heart of Saint-Germain-Des-Prés district,
offers opportunities to sample our sweet delights in elegant and traditional surroundings.
Two floors of comfortable, hushed and intimate rooms recreating the charm and elegance of a private house.
Ladurée in London
« Ladurée crosses the Channel to the most beautiful store in the world »
Ladurée at Harrods, 87/135 Brompton Road, London SW1X 7XL
Situated in the heart of London, in the world’s most beautiful department store,
Ladurée’s newest tea room invites you to indulge yourself while paying tribute to the French lifestyle.
Located in the Knightsbridge quarter,
Harrods has always delighted Londoners and tourists from the world over.
From the most ordinary of items to the exceptional treasure, it’s said that everything can be found at Harrods.
Just one thing was missing from their extensive range - Ladurée products - but no longer.
« Love is the only Gold »
Ladurée Burlington Arcade, 71-72 Burlington Arcade, London WIJ 0QX
Ladurée has opened its second London salon in the famous Burlington Arcade,
just a stone’s throw from Piccadilly in the very heart of London.
Ladurée in Switzerland
« A backdrop for indulgence in Geneva and Lausanne »
7 Cours de Rive, 1204 Genève
3 Rue du Bourg, 1003 Lausanne
A timeless ambiance and 19th century décor for the Ladurée boutiques in Geneva and Lausanne.
A spot dedicated to elegant, refined indulgence, in the spirit of Ladurée.
Furnishings consist of a counter with period panelling encircling the entire room.
Displayed is the collection of Macaroons, boxes of Chocolates and ribbons in the Ladurée colours.
Ladurée in Monaco
Once upon a time, there was a small sparkling palace,
dressed in gold and silver glitter, where hung thousands of rainbow-coloured macaroons,
chattering gaily throughout the day.
«Opening of Ladurée at Monaco »
17 Avenue des Spélugues 98000 Monaco
Ladurée Tokyo
« Ladurée follows his turn of the world and settles to Tokyo on one of the nicest avenues: Ginza »
Ladurée Ginza Mitsukoshi, 4-6-16 Ginza Chuo-ku Tokyo 104 - 8212
The shock of styles between a mix of Japanese modernity in an absolute refined atmosphere
and the ornamental and romantic past inspired by Ladurée’s aestheticism:
Ladurée’s tearoom in Ginza is a succession of small lounges, whose Louis XVI style remains in the spirit
of the Parisian Ladurée tearooms in Saint-Germain-des-Prés and rue Royale.
« Opening of Ladurée at Nihombashi, Tokyo »
Ladurée Nihombashi Mitsukoshi, 1-4-1 Nihombashi Muromachi Chuo-ku Tokyo 103-8001
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