Petite MarieBette
105 Water St E, Charlottesville, VA
Crema's Take
“Petite MarieBette is a rare gem that takes its European coffee and pastry traditions seriously, with espresso drinks and house-made pastries that consistently exceed expectations—their caramel latte arrives with an unexpected complimentary pastry, and their quiches rival those you'd find in a proper Parisian café. The spacious, unhurried atmosphere makes it perfect for lingering over a slow coffee or settling in for lunch, whether that's their phenomenal turkey sandwich with tahini herb dressing or a fluffy Lorraine quiche, all backed by genuinely warm customer service.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
This place has been a haven of flavor this past month. We did the hot chocolate month and while their counterpart Marie Bette didn't make any good ones (watery and lacking flavor) petite did all of them great. Some days the flavors were weak compared to what I would have liked it was still delicious. With passion fruit being a unsurprising favorite of mine, the one that shocked me and is a contender for the best flavor is the ginger hot chocolate. It was so good and had a warmth to it even after it had cooled down. I will without a doubt be looking forward to the rest of the flavors this month and will certainly be back next year!!!
The coffee and food is absolutely to die for. I got a basic caramel latte (hot) and it was delicious, they even give you a small pastry to go with it which was unexpected. I’m not much of a pastry girl but it was delicious. I also got the avocado toast and i would get it 1000 times over. Best avocado toast i’ve had. I would definitely recommended this place.
Great customer service. Just good quality food and ingredients you can feel. Fifeville is a solid turkey sandwich the dressing they put on it is phenomenal with the Tahini herb. The hash and potatoes with the sausage was a perfect match. Not too greasy and over powering just well balanced and not doused in cheese. Perfecto! Will be back!
Very spacious and open space with seating for those that wish to dine in. I got the Lorraine quiche which was heated up and was amazingly fluffy - I’m used to the more dense heavy texture so this was amazing. The chocolate croissant didn’t have much chocolate inside but surprisingly I didn’t miss it too much since the pastry itself was sweetened. The pastry is soft and you can see the air pockets and layers inside. The iced soy vanilla latte was refreshing and well balanced. Everything came out pretty quickly. Employees were very nice and patient when I couldn’t decide on what I wanted.
With the utmost respect for Americans, it’s fair to say that coffee and pastries are not generally their strong suit—at least not by European standards. That said, this place is a rare and wonderful exception. In fact, it rivals many coffee shops you’ll find in Europe, both in quality and atmosphere. The coffee is rich and expertly crafted, the pastries are genuinely delicious, and every detail feels thoughtful. What truly sets it apart, though, is the people. Warm, welcoming, and passionate about what they do, they elevate the entire experience. This spot is a real gem—an authentic taste of European café culture, right here at home.
Crema Reviews
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