Café culture has always been a thing in Paris, but that didn’t necessarily translate into great coffee. While we all love a café sur la terrasse moment, sometimes we yearn for a classic coffeeshop — one with a quality cup of joe, a modern interior, and a menu that offers coffee in every way: espressos, pour-overs, flat whites, and crèmes. Lucky for us, Paris has had a recent boom of coffee spots in the last decade, and after living here for a few years, I’ve been able to weed out some of my favorites. Below is a list of the best coffee shops in Paris, according to someone who lived here, in no particular order:
Artesano
3 Rue Saint-Paul, 75004 Paris
Artesano Specialty Coffee Roaster is located in Le Marais, right next to the Seine. The interior is minimally designed and all white, making the space nice and bright if you’re passing by on a sunny day. The café specializes in Mexican coffee, with the founder being Mexican himself, and offers several different flavors of beans that highlight this cultural crossover. During the fall, they offer a seasonal cinnamon latte. Aside from this being a great coffee spot, the location is unbeatable, and one of my favorite things to do is to grab my coffee to-go and head straight to the Seine to enjoy a crisp, fall morning.
La Caféothèque de Paris
52 Rue de l’Hôtel de ville, 75004 Paris
Staying in Le Marais, and just down the street along the Seine you’ll find La Caféothèque. A spacious (by Parisian standards), no-frills cozy coffee shop that offers plenty of seating on any day. The coffee shop also doubles as a coffee school for anyone interested in taking barista classes in Paris. The coffee is good on any day, but La Caféothèque is particularly good on a rainy day, where you can grab a cappuccino and nuzzle yourself into a corner with a good book.
Two Doors Coffee Shop
27 Rue Francœur, 75018 Paris
Two Doors Coffee Shop is located in Montmartre and offers coffee, pastries, and sandwiches. Their chai lattes are also pretty good (I didn’t try, but hearsay from friends). Seating both inside and outside makes it an ideal spot to enjoy a coffee with a friend — especially outside!
Clove Coffee
14 Rue Chappe, Paris, France 75018
16 minutes south of Two Doors and closer to the Sacré-Coeur, you’ll find Clove Coffee. A modern coffee shop that serves up delicious coffee and never misses with their latte art. Seating is minimal, but I’ve always gotten lucky and been able to snag a spot. If you can get a seat, it’s a good stop to make after spending an afternoon at the Sacré-Coeur and strolling around Montmartre.
Buddy Buddy
Rue de Marseille 15, 75010 Paris
Peanut butter can be a hard find outside of the U.S., so you’d be surprised to know that Buddy Buddy offers the only peanut butter latte in Paris. Their whole menu is inspired by peanut butter (or the occasional almond butter), putting a fun twist on your typical coffee run. I got the classic Le Buddy, which is the peanut butter latte mentioned earlier, but they also have a peanut-butter-and-jelly-inspired drink, Fruity Buddy, which will be my future order the next time I go.
The Beans on Fire
7 Rue du Général Blaise, 75011 Paris
Another no-frills spot, The Beans on Fire serves up great coffee and sweets to the community of the 11th arrondissement. The spot is very unpretentious and if you’re here on a sunny day, the terrace is always filled with people chatting about and if you’re lucky, their dogs (yes, it’s dog-friendly!) will be there too. If you’re coming on a not-so-sunny day, note there is very little space inside for seating.
Le Peloton Café
17 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, 75004 Paris
Le Peloton Café is an English-speaking coffee shop that combines specialty coffee, cycling culture & community events all in one. I highlight English speaking because according to the Google reviews, the owners are from New Zealand. A special highlight is their stuffed croissants: ham & cheddar, ricotta + jam, and truffle mushroom. The café is a starting spot for group rides, but they also hold community events for the expat community in Paris. You can find their events here.
Recto Verso
6 rue Portefoin 75003 Paris
Maybe one of the most charming cafés on this side of the river, Recto Verso encapsulates the “cozy-home” vibe all year round. While the coffee is exceptional, the details of the space are what really make this place special. The owners are a creative couple, one a photographer and the other an art director, who have made sure the details of the café — from the logo, the tableware, and the design itself — are just as eclectic and charming as the crowd it attracts. The café is a social concept, so no laptops or wifi, but it is dog-friendly for anyone who has a furry friend.
Boot Café
19 Rue du Pont aux Choux, 75003 Paris
Boot Café is set in a former cobbler workshop, hence the capital CORDONNERIE at the top of the café. They do pour-overs by Chemex (versus already prepared filter coffee), flat whites, of course, espresso. The space is tiny, seating only about 8 people, so it’s likely you’ll be taking your cup to go. I wouldn’t come here to catch up with a friend, but if you’re in the area, it’s worth stopping by and enjoying your coffee while you peruse the neighborhood.
NOIR
NOIR has many locations within Paris, making this spot extremely convenient. I’ve been to multiple locations and more impressively, the quality stays consistent from location to location. If you’re looking for quality coffee in an aesthetic space, NOIR will never let you down.
KB Coffee Roasters
53 Av. Trudaine, 75009 Paris – KB Café Shop // 25 Rue Amelot, 75011 Paris – Back in Black
KB Coffee Roasters actually has two distinctly different cafés in Paris. Their café is KB Café Shop, which is a simple, homey coffee shop in the 9th arrondissement. They have indoor and outdoor seating, and their reviews highlight their scones (savory and sweet) and carrot cake as some of the best baked goods on the menu.
Back in Black is a café as well, but they serve a true breakfast (and not just baked goods) all day long. I came on a Friday morning, ordered their breakfast roll + iced coffee, and worked from home from their bar. The breakfast roll was really the star of the show. It’s made with homemade Japanese bread, smoked bacon, dijon mustard, jalapenos, a sunny side egg, and spring onions.
On My ‘To Try’ List
Dreamin’ Man
140 Rue Amelot, 75011 Paris
Matamata Coffee
58 Rue d’Argout, 75002 Paris
Partisan Café Artisanal
36 R. de Turbigo, 75003 Paris
