Here, happiness is homemade

Can you smell it? That golden, buttery aroma of fresh viennoiseries drifting through the morning air, wrapping the street in a sweet, tempting hug? You find yourself, forehead pressed against the window, admiring the sugary treasures lined up on the counter. You blink three times just to check you’re not dreaming. You’re standing in front of Alegria, a tea room and pâtisserie - a little cocoon of indulgence imagined and run by pastry chef Carole Lesquer. Step through the door and your eyes land on the wall and its promise: “Here, happiness is homemade.” Everything here is crafted with care, 100% homemade and brimming with passion: from silky spreads to crunchy pralines, from naturally leavened focaccia to mirabelle iced tea. Carole, half-Breton, half-Spanish, loves to weave her roots into her creations. Her signature desserts? The strawberry tart (tested and approved by the Happy Team - no pastry cream <3) and the gloriously boozy baba au rhum. Her motto? “No fuss, no frills.” Her thing is traditional pastry, the kind that takes you straight back to childhood, to grandma’s tarts (she baked with her own as a kid), to mum’s cakes… The taste of simple things, made with heart, made with exacting standards, often with no added sugar, always at their most delicious. And even though she trained as a pastry chef, with Alegria, Carole feeds you all day long: breakfast, a vegetarian lunch, savory bites, tea time, and above all… endless desserts, whenever the craving strikes. Head upstairs, settle in, breathe, savor, and let the magic kick in. You might just catch the chef at the stove, lovingly assembling your dessert.