Paris’ Best Coffee Shops
Is Coffee in Paris Still Bad?
Paris has a reputation for café culture and so it comes as a surprise to many people when they get here, especially if they are used to specialty coffee, that coffee in Paris isn’t always that good.
Even a few years ago the idea of stumbling upon a specialty coffee shop was almost comical. Fortunately, that’s changed over the past decade as more and more specialty coffee shops and micro-roasters open their doors. Finding a decent cup of joe in Paris isn’t as simple as in, say, another large international city like New York or London but, fortunately, we’re no longer left with only the option of drinking unpalatable coffee from roasters that dominate the French café market, such as Cafés Richard.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s something to be said about Parisian café culture. I enjoy spending an afternoon watching people on a terrace or chatting the night away with friends from the comfort of a worm-in café couch, just as much as the next person. However, the café is considered to be an institution that is less about the coffee and more about relishing in the ambiance of the place itself. The historical value of the Parisian café simply cannot be overstated, which is why it's important to note that the new-wave coffee shops aren't trying to become the new Parisian café, but rather offer a place to enjoy a deliciously prepared cup of coffee in a different type of space altogether.
With all these new specialty coffee shops and roasters popping up all around the city, it can be a challenge to keep up. To make it easier to decide which coffee shops are actually worth visiting, Jay and I have put together a list of Paris’ Best Coffee Shops. Keep reading to discover which coffee shops, in no particular order, you’d like to add to your list of places to check out the next time you're in Paris!
11 Parisian Coffee Shops To Try
Noir - 63 Rue Saint-Louis en l'Île, 75004
Noir is a roaster and has a ton of coffee shops all over Paris that have popped up like crazy over the past year. The great thing about Noir is that they have locations in parts of the city where good coffee isn’t typically found. The coffee shops are stylish, cozy, and very worth sitting down for a coffee with your best friend. Just note that you might find yourself waiting a little longer than usual for your coffee to arrive because they tend to only have one barista working both the bar and cash register at a time. Be sure to try one of their locally sourced cookies or lemon cakes!
Two Doors Coffee - 27 Rue Francœur, 75018
Two Doors is one of my favorite coffee shops in the back half of Montmartre. Not only do they have really good coffee, but they also have a fun, chill, and cozy vibe inside. They have a huge selection of delicious cookies and, if you manage to get them fresh out of the oven, let’s just say you’ll probably want to buy more than one. If you’ve already had your caffeine fix for the day, then Two Doors also makes delicious cups of fresh pressed juices. I highly recommend popping by if you find yourself at the bottom of Montmartre.
Dreamin’ Man -140 Rue Amelot, 75011
Dreamin’ Man is the place baristas go to get their coffee on their day off. It has really good coffee that’s delightfully made using Japanese specialty coffee techniques. The coffee isn’t locally roasted, but that can be a nice way to change things up a bit from your usual local roast. The interior space is very small and snug with limited seating but luckily, if the weather is nice, there will be additional spots outside. If you don’t manage to snag a seat, then take it to go, walk around the corner, and enjoy it at one of the many small parks nearby such as square Jules Ferry or Place Pasdeloup.
Fringe - 106 Rue de Turenne, 75003
If you’ve ever been to Paris for fashion week, then you probably already know Fringe because they’re surrounded by PFW pop-ups and showrooms. The shop is run by Jeff, who is a photographer, so you’ll see photographs everywhere in the shop from rotating artists, old cameras sitting on shelves, and as a bonus the lights in the shape of fluffy clouds. Jeff always has a high-end specialty coffee offering, so definitely give it a try if you would like to get something a little bit unique and special that you might not be able to get anywhere else. It’s a little bit pricier but very very worth it. In addition to coffee, they’re known as well for their favorable homemade cinnamon and cardamom buns. Be sure to drop by and get yourself a good coffee, if you happen to be in the third arrondissement.
Café Pigalle - 7 Rue Frochot, 75009
Café Pigalle is a great little spot to come sit and work during the day as it has a massive wooden table taking up the majority of the shop's space. The one caveat is that their snacks are really good but they do serve Lomi Coffee, and for my preference, it's a little bit dark on the coffee side. The shop is covered from floor to ceiling in wood panels, giving the interior a cozy ambiance. Overall, it's a bit out of the touristy corridors, making it a great spot to stop and get some work done or take a coffee to go before heading up to explore Montmartre.
Strada Cafe - 24 Rue Monge, 75005
The Strada Cafe on the left bank has beautiful big windows that let in a ton of natural light. The coffee here is really good and the pain perdu is fantastic. If the pain perdu is looking a little bit intimidating then you can actually get a half portion which is a fun trick if you want a little snack for cheaper. You can work here during the week at a row of tables where they allow laptops. Their Internet is fast, their staff are super friendly, and it's a really nice environment to sit and chill, or even to work on pen and paper.
Cafe Cayo - 9 Rue du Chevaleret, 75013
Located in the 13th arrondissement Cafe Cayo, might be the most adventurous location on this list. Not only are they a roaster of tasty coffee but they also become a restaurant and a bar in the evening. They serve Paname beer and they just launched their own delicious brown ale. It's a fun vibe and they are usually throwing a party of some sort, so be sure to follow them on Instagram. These guys are definitely worth the venture for coffee, beer, and a great atmosphere if you make it this far south of the river.
Last but not least, if you find yourself by Canal Saint Martin, there's a whole bunch of different coffee shop options to choose from up here. Just a block in, or less you’ll find four great shops:
Radiodays - 15 Rue Alibert, 75010
Radiodays has the best filter out of all of the options on the Canal (two more below) and their cookies are pretty good as well. The space is fairly small with limited seating, but you can always take your coffee to go and sit along the canal.
Ten Bells - 10 Rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010
Ten Bells has its own bakery so their bread, sandwiches, pastries, and other offerings are phenomenal. Their flat whites always hit the spot, never too bitter or sour.
Caoua - 98 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
Caoua has the best view of the canal, so make sure to go upstairs, sit on the corner and look outside and watch the world pass you by. Their coffee quality can be a bit inconsistent depending on the barista working that day, but they make up for it in their pastry selection and the view of the canal is the real reason you come here.
Steel - 58 Rue de la Fontaine au Roi, 75011 Paris
Steel is a fun spot where cycling meets specialty coffee. If you like biking and you like coffee then you should certainly pop by for your cycling and caffeine needs. It’s got a really unique feel for Paris, something homey about its retail-cafe combo that I can’t quite put my finger on.
Et Voilá!
Eleven different coffee shops to check out on your next trip to Paris! If you’d like to discover more coffee shops, then grab a copy of Jay’s Guide to Paris. In addition to several more coffee shop suggestions, the guide provides ample recommendations for food, drinks, views, and more - all broken down by Parisian Arrondissement (districts). It’ll certainly make your life easier when it comes to planning and help you have the best time in Paris possible!