Discover The Best Paris Coffee Shops By Arrondissement
Last updated on November 7th, 2024 at 09:57 am
Wondering where to find the best coffee shops in Paris?
With so many cafes to choose from, it’s hard to know which are the best Paris coffee shops for a good coffee fix.
As a bit of a coffee snob, I’m always on the lookout for great coffee. Somewhere full of French café style, the best coffee beans and the perfect place for a bit of people watching.
And in Paris, you’ll find them all, but it’s knowing where to look to find the best places.
Living in France, just two hours from Paris, I’m a regular visitor, and try to discover somewhere new each time I go. It’s the hidden gems I really love, the ones only the locals know about.
If you’re looking to indulge in the café culture France is so famous for, I’ve put together a list of speciality coffee shops I’ve tried and loved including a map of where to find them. Let’s dive in.
The Parisian Coffee Trend
Paris, known for its rich café culture, has been relatively late to embrace the speciality coffee revolution compared to other major cities.
The origins of Parisian coffee culture date back to the 17th century, with the opening of the first café, Le Procope, in 1686.
These early cafés, including famous spots like Flore and Deux Magots, were central to social and intellectual life in Paris. However, they became known more for their social significance than for the quality of their coffee.
For a long time, Parisian cafés served coffee that was often harsh, over-extracted, and bitter, primarily made from Robusta beans, a less refined variety compared to Arabica.
This trend began to change in the early 21st century, sparked by Gloria Montenegro, a former Guatemalan Ambassador to France and a key figure in the Paris coffee revolution.
Montenegro grew up in Guatemala and was well-acquainted with high-quality coffee. Her efforts in educating consumers and coffee professionals about coffee quality and brewing techniques were pivotal.
In 2005, she opened La Caféothèque, the first café in Paris dedicated to very high-quality, single-origin coffees, marking the start of the Paris Coffee Revolution.
A Countdown Of The 24 Best Paris Coffee Shops
To make things easy I’ve split them down by arrondissement although not all arrondissements are covered as not all of them have a great cafe or coffee shop.
3rd Arrondissement
No 1 Boot Café
I love buildings with a history, and this one is full of it. Possibly the city’s smallest coffee shop, it sits in a space that formerly housed a cobbler’s workshop, and the blue “Cordonnerie” sign still sits outside on the front of the building.
What makes Boot Café stand out, besides its size, is its character and ambience. The café’s setting is tranquil and slightly off the beaten path, offering a peaceful coffee experience away from the hustle and bustle.
Despite its small size, with just a couple of tables, it doesn’t compromise on the quality of its coffee, which is sourced from Belleville Brûlerie, a highly regarded Parisian roaster.
They also have some of the best pastries from Emperor Norton making it hard to limit yourself to just one.
Inside, there are some wonderful old magazines and postcards on the walls, convincing me that good things really do come in little packages.
🌐 Instagram | 📍19 Rue du Pont aux Choux
No 2 Fringe Coffee
Combining coffee with photography was always going to be a winner for me. Founded by Jeff Hargrove, a coffee expert and photographer, it’s an ideal spot for both coffee enthusiasts and art lovers with its wood tables and vintage cameras.
It’s known for featuring guest roasters and hosting photography exhibitions. And if you go, I recommend choosing from the ‘Barista’s Choice’ menu, which includes selections like a Bourbon Aji from Colombia, roasted by Assembly in London.
Their food is good too, and is mostly organic and locally sourced. I can vouch for the cinnamon buns, which were seriously yummy.
🌐 Website | 📍106 Rue de Turenne
No 3 Café Loustic
Café Loustic oozes rustic charm and cosiness and serves exceptional coffee. Set to move from Rue Chapon I’m looking forward to seeing their new home.
Their current decor draws you in with old zigzag floor tiles, bare exposed concrete walls, and Aztec seat and stool patterns. Who knows what they’ll come up with in their new home? One thing is for sure though, the coffee will be good, as will their carrot cake (my favourite when I’ve been).
Although these guys don’t roast their own beans, they do specialise in being an espresso bar, and I’ve never been disappointed.
🌐 Instagram | 📍40 Rue Chapon
No 4 Ob-La-Di
I bet you can’t guess what inspired this cafe’s name. Yes, it was the popular Beatles song Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. It opened in June 2015 and quickly became a favourite among locals.
The café is renowned for its exceptional coffee, made from beans roasted by Café Lomi. The barista, Lloyd, previously of Boot Café, is known for his expertise in coffee brewing and creating beautiful latte art.
For the vegans and vegetarians out there, you’re in luck, as they have a wide variety of things on the menu that are vegan-friendly. The avocado toast on potato bread with chimichurri sauce and pomegranate seeds is particularly good. I’ve tried it and loved it.
🌐 Instagram | 📍54 Rue de Saintonge
No 5 Partisan Café Artisanal
If you love a bit of industrial chic, you’ll love Partisan Café Artisanal. It’s been described as a Brooklynite-style café in Paris, with a touch of modern, cosmopolitan flair combined with a cosy Parisian ambience.
The owner, Georges Karam, a former financial analyst, brings a unique blend of historical appreciation and scientific precision to the café’s coffee-making process.
The café’s “Italian” blend and “New Wave” single-origin beans are roasted on-site, and their pastries from Muscovado are good too.
It also serves wine, beer, and champagnes along with artisanal cheeses and charcuterie on Friday and Saturday evenings if you’re in the area and fancy something light.
Their floor-to-ceiling windows that open up to create a terrace-like feel are part of the appeal as they give you access to Parisian street scenes you see in all the photos.
🌐 Website | 📍36, rue de Turbigo
4th Arrondissement
No 6 La Caféothèque
You can’t have a list of the best coffee shops in Paris without this one being top of the list. It’s recognised as the pioneer of the Parisian coffee revolution.
Opened in 2005 by Gloria Montenegro, the former Guatemalan Ambassador to France, the café marked a significant shift from the traditional, often harsh and over-extracted coffee, to a focus on high-grade, single-origin coffee.
Set in an old 17th-century building, the baristas at La Caféothèque are known for their expertise, often described as part sommelier, part oenologist, part bartender, and part artist.
And if you’re a coffee aficionado, you should absolutely make the time to go, as it has the reputation for serving some of the best coffee in Paris.
🌐 Website | 📍52 Rue de l’Hôtel de Ville
No 7 Le Peloton Café
Not surprisingly, given the name, the cafe follows a cycling theme. Founded in 2015 by Christian Osburn and Paul Barron, this café is a hub for coffee lovers and cycling enthusiasts alike.
After a decade of running their bike tour company, Bike About Tours, Christian and Paul opened Le Peloton Café to create a community space that combines their passion for great coffee and cycling.
The café serves speciality coffees in partnership with local roasters, but it’s not all about the coffee. They frequently host events, such as wine and cheese nights and live music performances.
It truly is a communal place for cyclists to gather after their morning rides and travellers to share their adventures.
Plus, they offer bike rentals, so if you fancy exploring Paris on two wheels, you know where to go.
🌐 Website | 📍17 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe
5th Arrondissement
No 8 Odette Tea Rooms
Being a Brit living in France, I’m definitely partial to a tearoom, and Odette’s doesn’t disappoint. Founded by Frédéric Berthy, who left his corporate online life to pursue his passion for pastry, Odette was named after his grandmother and opened its doors in 2013.
It’s full of vintage charm and is everything you’d expect from a retro tearoom in the Latin Quarter.
It sits in front of Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre church, one of the oldest in Paris, and is in the square René Viviani-Montebello, which houses the oldest tree in Paris.
But it’s the interior I love. With its marble checkerboard floor, marquetry walls, and Art Deco design, you’re immediately transported back to the Roaring Twenties.
They are known for their cream puffs more than their coffee, which they make themselves daily. But don’t worry, the coffee is still good, it’s just the pastries are even better.
🌐 Website | 📍77 Rue Galande
No 9 Shakespeare and Co Café
If you love reading as much as I do, spending time in the Shakespeare and Company bookshop is a no-brainer. But did you know there is a coffee shop in there?
The café is adjacent to the bookshop standing opposite the Seine River, near Notre Dame offering a variety of specialty coffees and predominantly vegetarian food options.
🌐 Website | 📍37 rue de la Bûcherie
No 10 Jozi Café
They say all good things come in little packages, and that is definitely the case with Jozi Café. But don’t be fooled into thinking the choice is small too, because they have a big menu choice,
It has a lovely feel to it, with lots of greenery and plants everywhere and enough tables but not too many.
It’s the perfect coffee stop if you’re visiting Paris Panthéon, and they even have charging points for your devices. Working from your laptop is restricted at lunchtime, but other than that, it’s a great spot for doing a bit of work.
🌐 Website | 📍Rue Valette
No 11 Strada Café
If you’re looking for somewhere to pull out your laptop and work with good coffee and lunch on hand too, Strada Cafe is a good pick.
They have two locations, the original in the Marais on Rue du Template and the other on the Left Bank. I prefer the latter as it’s a lovely airy space and perfect for working from.
🌐 Website | 📍Strada Temple at 94 Rue du Temple and Strada Monge at 24 Rue Monge
6th Arrondissement
No 12 Les Deux Magots
Having recently enjoyed breakfast at Les Deux Magots you can read my full review and the backstory behind it in this article.
But very quickly, it’s a café rich in literary and cultural history. It began as a novelty shop in 1812 at 23 Rue de Buci and moved to its current location at Place St-Germain-des-Prés in 1873.
The transformation of the shop into a café occurred in 1885, and it quickly became a popular spot for renowned poets and intellectuals such as Paul Verlaine, Arthur Rimbaud, and Stéphane Mallarmé.
During the 20th century, Les Deux Magots continued to attract a host of famous artists and writers, including Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir.
🌐 Website | 📍Place St-Germain-des-Prés
No 13 Café de Flore
In the same area as Les Deux Magots, just down the road, in fact, is Café de Flore one of the city’s most iconic and historic coffeehouses.
Established in the 1880s, it’s named after a sculpture of Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and has been a hub for artists, writers, and intellectuals since its inception.
In the early 20th century, you’d find people such as Guillaume Apollinaire, André Breton, Paul Réverdy, Louis Aragon, and Paul Éluard, contributing to the birth of the “surrealist revolution”.
During World War II, it became a preferred spot for existentialists, with Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus, and Raymond Aron making it their regular haunt.
It was also the scene of many fashion shows for prominent designers like Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel and it hasn’t changed much since then.
You almost feel like you’re being transported back in time as you sit there and watch the scene around you unfold.
🌐 Website | 172 Boulevard St Germain
No 14 La Rotonde
Founded in 1911 by Victor Libion, La Rotonde quickly became a hub for artists and intellectuals during the interwar period. Libion was known for his generosity towards struggling artists, allowing them to linger over a single cup of coffee for hours and even accepting their drawings as a form of payment when they couldn’t afford their bills.
This unique practice led to the café’s walls being adorned with artworks from notable artists like Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera, and Tsuguharu Foujita. For me, this puts it at the top of the list of famous Parisian cafés.
The café was also a hangout for the Lost Generation of European intellectuals and American expatriates, playing a significant role in the development of movements such as Dadaism, Surrealism, and Cubism.
Famous names like Ernest Hemingway and Amedeo Modigliani were regulars, further cementing its status as a legendary meeting place. The café even finds a mention in Hemingway’s novel “The Sun Also Rises.”
🌐 Website | 📍105 Boulevard du Montparnasse
7th Arrondissement
No 15 Coutume
Couturne has several locations in Paris, but the first was on Rue de Babylone in 2010. Co-owned by Antoine Netien, a master roaster who honed his craft in Australia, Coutume was a pioneer in the Parisian speciality coffee scene.
They roast the coffee onsite and also provide other coffee shops with beans. When they first opened, you’d see queues outside as people waited to get in, the coffee was that good.
🌐 Website | 📍Rue de Babylone
9th Arrondissement
No 16 KB Café
Established in 2010, it has become a favourite spot in the very hip SoPi (South Pigalle) part of Paris for coffee enthusiasts with its wooden interiors and outdoor terrace.
It has a great vibe to it, and the last time I went, I had my laptop with me and spent a happy couple of hours working away and doing some sneaky people-watching.
It’s a place where people seem to come just to hang out with friends, which really helped inspire my writing that day.
If you go, make sure you try the hazelnut cappuccino, and if you’re not counting calories the warm banana bread is the perfect choice to go with it. Nothing beats warm banana bread in my book.
🌐 Website | 📍53 Av. Trudaine
10th Arrondissement
No 17 La Fontaine de Belleville
I’m always looking for the character in a building, and that’s exactly what you’ll find here. It has that quintessential French bistro vibe going on with its hand-painted tables and rattan chairs sourced from Maison Gatti. Inside, it’s 1920s décor all the way, including stunning mirrors and gorgeous ceiling paintings.
It’s been operating since 1915 and was taken over by the Belleville Brûlerie team, known for their artisanal coffee roasting. They’ve preserved the café’s original allure while infusing it with their unique coffee culture.
🌐 Website | 📍31 Rue Juliette Dodu
No 18 République of Coffee
If you’re looking for good coffee combined with a vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menu, you’ve found the spot, République of Coffee.
The brainchild of Mario Flores, it’s the perfect blend of coffee and Mexican food where you’ll find burritos, quesadillas and guacamole, amongst other things.
It also happens to be very pretty, with all the makings of a perfect Instagram spot, including the Parisian furniture, mirror ceilings, a pink neon sign and flowers on every table.
🌐 Instagram | 📍2 Boulevard Saint Martin
14th Arrondissement
No 19 Hexagone Café
Hexagone Café has a lovely Scandi vibe going on with plenty of natural light and tiny terrariums complemented by handmade decor entirely crafted in France, all adding to the appeal.
It’s made a name for itself in the Parisian coffee scene by roasting its beans in the French countryside giving it a unique edge and a completely different taste to its coffee.
There’s a great chilled-out and unpretentious atmosphere, and it gets brownie points from locals with its “Made in France” label.
🌐 Website | 📍121 Rue du Château
18th Arrondissement
No 20 La Maison Rose
La Maison Rose is in my top three prettiest coffee shops in Paris, and for good reason. As the name suggests, the outside is almost entirely pink, apart from the green shutters.
It was opened in 1910 by Laure “Germaine” Gargallo Florentin Pichot and her husband, Catalan painter Ramon Pichot Girones.
The couple were well-connected in the artistic community of Montmartre, making it a popular gathering spot for artists, writers, and creatives.
The usual crowd included Pablo Picasso, Maurice Utrillo, and Amedeo Modigliani. Picasso, who lived nearby, was also a regular and a close friend of both Pichot and Germaine.
More recently, it was featured in the Netflix series “Emily in Paris,” which led to a surge in its popularity as a photographic landmark.
🌐 Website | 📍2 Rue de l’Abreuvoir
No 21 Clove Coffee Shop
Very much a newcomer, only opening its doors in 2022, Clove Coffee Shop, located in the Montmartre, has quickly established itself as a top destination for coffee lovers.
Founded by Ella Fatima McElroy, an Afghan-American who moved to France six years ago, and her partner Florent Marcault, they bring a new perspective to the Paris coffee culture.
The interior is a striking blend of stark and aesthetic elements, featuring black machinery on white countertops and an exposed brick wall.
Fatima has also made the cups used in the shop as she learned pottery during the pandemic, which I think adds to the coolness of the place.
Clove offers coffees roasted by Dak Coffee Roasters in Amsterdam and Stéphane Ribes of The Picky Chemist in Belgium.
They’re known for experimenting with new fermentation processes of coffee and adapting its water to create a balanced cup. Their range includes a variety of flavours, and they also offer a flat white made with pea milk, which I couldn’t resist trying, and it’s a thumbs up from me.
🌐 Instagram | 📍14 Rue Chappe
No 22 Le Consulat
We’re now back on the history trail again with Le Consulat sitting in the historic Montmartre district of Paris. Dating back to the early 19th century, it has been a meeting spot for some of the world’s most renowned artists, such as Picasso, Sisley, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Monet, making it a significant landmark in the artistic world.
It stands out with its red and white decor overlooking a mini courtyard-style junction of narrow streets and is the perfect setting to immerse yourself in the Bohemian world of Montmatre.
Pictures of Le Consultat pop up on my Instagram feed all the time, as it’s so popular and picturesque.
Word to the wise, go there early if you want to nab one of the coveted outdoor spots to drink your coffee, as it gets very busy very quickly.
🌐 Instagram | 📍18 Rue Norvins
No 23 Café des Deux Moulins
Made famous by the movie Amélie in 2001, it’s actually named after two historic windmills nearby, the Moulin Rouge and the Moulin de la Galette.
The interior is just as it was in the movie, with a picture of the character Amélie, played by Audrey Tautou, and other movie-related details, making you feel as though you’ve stepped onto the set of the movie itself.
But it’s more than just a filming location; it has been a part of the Montmartre landscape since the early 20th century and was an integral part of Bohemian life in Montmatre.
🌐 Website | 📍15 Rue Lepic
20th Arrondissement
No 24 The Dancing Goat
The Dancing Goat is a little further out but well worth the trip, with some gorgeous neighbourhoods surrounding it and only a stone’s throw from Père Lachaise cemetery.
It embraces the laptop lifestyle culture and is a great place to work from, with incredible light, partly due to the huge windows and mirror reflecting light everywhere.
The coffee and cakes are stars of the show, and there is also a range of gluten-free cookies, adding to the appeal.
The owner, Daniel Chapman, has done a great job of appealing to a diverse age range of punters, making it a great meeting place or simply somewhere to come and have a quiet read.
🌐 Instagram | 📍117 Avenue Gambetta
Map Of The Best Paris Coffee Shop
FAQS: Paris coffee shops
What are coffee shops called in Paris?
Coffee shops in Paris are typically called “cafés.” This term is deeply rooted in French culture and refers to establishments that serve a variety of coffee drinks and associated dishes.
What area of Paris has the best cafés?
The best areas in Paris for cafés include the 10th Arrondissement, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, République, Le Marais, Faubourg Montmartre, the 5th Arrondissement, Place de Clichy, and several locations known for their speciality coffeeshops.
What is the most famous café in Paris?
The most famous café in Paris is Café de Flore. Located in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area, it has been a popular meeting spot for famous writers and philosophers since the early 20th century. The café is known for its classic Parisian ambiance and historical significance.
What is the most photographed café in Paris?
The most photographed café in Paris is likely Le Consulat. Situated in the artistic Montmartre district, this café is renowned for its picturesque setting and traditional Parisian architecture, making it a favorite subject for photographers and tourists alike.
Final Thoughts: The best coffee places in Paris
They say in the UK there is a pub on every corner, well in Paris it’s cafes and coffee shops and in fact, there are usually several cafes on most streets in Paris.
Enjoying a coffee sitting outside in a village square is one of the things I love about living in France, it’s a way of life here.
The French culture is all about enjoying life, from drinking coffee in the morning to indulging in an apéro in the afternoon.
There is a story and tradition behind everything in France, including to tip or not to tip, and I’ve had a lot of fun discovering them all. Spending time in Paris is always a treat whether it’s a quick visit or a few day’s stay.
TRAVELLING TO FRANCE?
Here are my favourite resources I use each time I travel!
🧳 I always protected my trips with this travel insurance company when I lived in the US AND this one now I live in Europe
🚘 I found a car rental for $500 less than traditional sites with this car rental agency
🚌 🍷 My favourite platform to find Day Trips and Wine Tours in France at the best price and with great reviews
🚂 The cheapest train tickets are always on this App
🏨 I got a 20% discount on a chateau hotel with this hotel booking tool
I personally use these sites myself and if you use them, they will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps reduce the ever-increasing cost of maintaining my blog and writing about France. Thank you!