Ah, Paris – the City of Love… but also the city stereotyped for being rude, snobby, and brusque. To that we say, au contraire!
We’ve heard it time and time again, but we’re going to break that stereotype today in your search for the best cafes in Paris. Because “best” to us aren’t the oldest coffee houses in Paris. They aren’t the most Instagrammable spots. And they’re certainly not your typical tourist trap.
No. It’s about the connections you make, the experiences you have, your Parisian etiquette, and the hospitality you receive, paired with excellent food and drinks.
Here are eight cafes we know are worth your time and energy:
1. Espeletia Café
A charming micro-roaster and cafe in the heart of Les Épinettes, Espeletia is owned and run by Colombian husband-and-wife team, Wilson and Marcela. What makes this gem of a coffee spot stand out isn’t just the exceptional coffee but how much mindfulness and care actually goes into the product, from sourcing to roasting to brewing.
Storytelling is part and parcel of the Espeletia experience, where Wilson and Mercela help you understand and appreciate where your coffee comes from and its arduous journey. If you appreciate high-quality coffee, a sense of community, and genuine hospitality, then Espeletia Café is a must-visit.
We highly recommend completing your experience with their deliciously moist banana bread.
Address: 52 Rue Davy, 75017 Paris, France
Contact: +33 643 730 585
2. Brouillon Coffee Paris
Brouillon instantly feels like home from the moment you step in. Warm and welcoming, the owner and barista is a coffee expert with unparalleled attention to detail and an obvious love for what he does.
He’ll gladly share the origin story of how Brouillon came to be an alternative, vegan-friendly coffee and tea shop. With a strong ecological approach that clearly shows passion for responsible consumption and sustainability, this cafe fights the good fight.
To top it off, the ambience is cosy, charming, and down-to-earth, the interior is tasteful, and the speciality coffees and baked goods are simply to die for.
Address: 42 Bd de Magenta, 75010 Paris, France
3. Café d’Auteur
A must-visit for coffee connoisseurs, Cafe d’Auteur is a hidden roasting house and coffee shop that offers a large selection of carefully selected single-origin coffees and limited-edition creations. Their beans are sourced from the best harvests of the season and are only available in small quantities on the market.
The coffee shop is an intimate tasting room where you’ll get friendly, attentive service, along with a detailed explanation and description of the coffees available. Here, you can get the barista to select a coffee for you according to your taste. Whatever your choice, pair it with a croissant.
Address: 39 Rue Mazarine, 75006 Paris, France
Contact: +33 614 913 992
4. Bonjour Jacob Saint Germain
Bonjour Jacob is a concept store and cafe that strives to select the best coffees, independent magazines from around the world, and must-have vinyls for your collection. They have four branches around Paris—Canal Saint Martin, Annecy, Printemps, and Saint Germain—with the latter being our personal favourite because it tends to be less crowded.
The coffee is seriously good, their staff are friendly, the vibe is great, and it’s a chill little spot to kick back, leaf through a mag, get inspired, and have your morning fix with a side of baked goods.
Address: Multiple locations
5. BUDDY BUDDY
Warning! Contains nuts.
Established in Brussels in January 2020, BUDDY BUDDY is the world’s first nut butter coffee shop, with its only branches located in Brussels and Paris. They serve speciality coffee along with a range of creative nut butter-based signature drinks and pastries. BUDDY BUDDY’s nut butters are made with only the highest quality organic ingredients sourced from trusted farmers and carefully roasted at their atelier in Brussels.
With a certain je ne sais quoi, BUDDY BUDDY is a must, especially if you’re looking for something different.
Address: 15 Rue de Marseille, 75010 Paris, France
6. Bokbar
Fika like a Swede in Paris at Bokbar (literally ‘book bar’), a Nordic cafe-cum-bookstore in Belleville. Flooded with natural light through its large bay windows, flowers adorning its intimate dark wood tables, and a library of books that fill the wall from floor to ceiling, this peaceful cafe is the perfect place to hang out, get to know new people, or just enjoy the great coffee and soak up the atmosphere.
We suggest going in the morning when their cinnamon buns are fresh out of the oven.
Address: 72 Rue Julien Lacroix, 75020 Paris, France
7. Azur Café
Looking for an unforgettable (and reasonably priced) breakfast or brunch in Paris? Located just off Champs-Élysées, Azur Café is a vibrant brunch spot that boasts a colourful seasonal Mediterranean-Middle Eastern menu created by Michelin-starred chef Romain le Cordroch. And yes, it really does taste as good as it looks.
‘Gram-worthy drinks and food aside, the café is low-key gorgeous, with bare bricks, turquoise tiles, marble, and wood, while the service is impeccable. Need we say more?
Address: 63 Rue de Ponthieu, 75008 Paris, France
Contact: +33 144 070 557
8. Café Rhubarbe
Nestled in a neighbourhood close to Gare du Norde and Gare de l’Est, cosy Café Rhubarbe is a splash of red you can’t miss. You can expect warm wood and sage green tiled interiors kitted out with secondhand furniture, delicious homemade dishes and products, and best of all, genuinely friendly service.
They serve cuisine maison, made with love using produits de saison—fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced products carefully selected from suppliers who are committed to a responsible approach to agriculture. The menu, therefore, evolves each week according to the produce and the chef’s desires.
This is the perfect first (or last stop) if you’re arriving or departing from Paris train station.
Address: 2 Rue de Paradis, 75010 Paris, France
Contact: +33 617 217 673
