Barista coffee drinks, homemade pastries, and extensive breakfast menus—which have long been surprisingly hard to find in Paris—earned these coffee shops their places on our list of the city’s best.
Fauna
Located on rue Oberkampf, Fauna is a new addition to Paris’s coffee scene. Run by Filip and Jacob, a pair of serious enthusiasts, the place serves up flat whites, lattes made with both plant and animal milks, americanos, and matchas, as well as delicious sandwiches and their signature cinnamon rolls.
Cédric Grolet Café
Famous for his trompe-l'œil creations—sweet treats disguised as pieces of fruits, perfectly crunchy pastries, and old-school cookies, Cédric Grolet added a new coffee shop, Cédric Grolet Café, to his ventures this winter. Located at 6 rue Danielle Casanova, it’s just a stone’s throw from the Opera. When he was at the helm of the pastry shop at Le Meurice hotel and his own bakery, Grolet was voted best pastry chef in the world in 2018. The new café offers seasonal specialties and hot and cold drinks (flat whites, lattes, cappuccinos, café frappés, and more) made with beans sourced from Ethiopia and Brazil. The homemade pastries are the main draw, however, including two new ones that have already become Instagram favorites: cream-filled croissant doughnuts and XXL cookie-pizzas.
Candle Kids Coffee
On rue des Couronnes in the 20th arrondissement, Candle Kids Coffee opened in 2023 with two brothers, Ernest and Martin, at the helm. With their Marzocco espresso machine and a bright, uncluttered decor, the café offers coffee in all its many forms and an in-house menu created by Ernest (he was formerly at the café at clothing shop the Broken Arm). Along with flat whites, cappuccinos, and lattes, there’s a cocoa infusion made with Plaq products, crispy toast topped with homemade jam, madeleines, and cinnamon rolls. The best part of the store, however, is its library, with its shelves filled with novels, art books, and magazines to peruse.
Huddle
On rue Notre Dame de Nazareth in the 3rd arrondissement, Huddle has a simple décor of round wooden tables and a similarly basic coffee shop menu. Made with a Marzocco machine, the various coffees, lattes with plant-based milks, flat whites, matchas, and iced coffees are served alongside satisfying pastries such as chocolate hazelnut cookies, pistachio cakes, and cinnamon rolls.
Buddy Buddy
Following its original location in Brussels, Buddy Buddy opened a Paris coffee shop in 2023. Just a stone's throw from the Canal Saint Martin, Buddy Buddy has a unique focus: artisanal nut butters, made in Belgium. These are incorporated into drinks like the signature Buddy with peanut butter and oat milk, the Praliné Moka, and an almond butter chai.
Café Nuances
There’s a new Nuances location on rue de la Tremoille, following its rue Danielle Casanova and Saint-Germain-des-Prés cafes. The takeaway shop was designed by architectural studio Uchronia and the coffee drinks there are made from ethically sourced beans from Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Honduras. The drinks range from classics like flat whites and espressos to original Nuances recipes like rose and chestnut honey lattes. Other highlights include matcha and white-chocolate cookies, banana bread, and lemon poppy seed cake.
Artesano
Just steps from the Seine, across from the Ile Saint-Louis, Artesano is a bright new coffee shop that was founded by Arturo Valentino. A Mexican barista, photographer, and roaster, he has brought together all his different areas of interest and expertise here. You’ll find a variety of beans from Mexico and a remarkable number of coffee drinks as well—flat whites, lattes, espressos, Viennese-style coffees, and more. As you sip your drink, you can admire the photos hanging on the walls and the photography books on display.
Petibon
Paris’s expert in British-style finger sandwiches prepares both savory (smoked salmon and cream cheese, pastrami with mustard, chicken with comté cheese) and sweet versions (coco-chocolate, matcha, a chocolate-hazelnut spread). Recently Petibon opened a new shop in the 2nd arrondissement (its third in Paris). As with the earlier locations, the new cafe was designed by the architects at Uchronia. It combines a charming old-school Parisian exterior with a bright and bold interior.
Recto Verso
Near the former Carreau du Temple market in the Marais, this coffee shop opened in February 2023 and it quickly found a loyal following. It’s easy to understand why: Bathed in light, it has a refined Scandinavian decor and a simple and satisfying menu. Choose from delicious coffees, banana breads, cookies, ham sandwiches, and cheesecakes.
White
Another new Marais option, White opened in July 2022 on rue de Turenne. From 8 a.m. (9 a.m. on weekends) until 6:30 p.m., the boldly contemporary store sells a variety of beans from around the world. Equipped with a Marzocco machine, it also serves lattes, cappuccino, flat whites and other beverages with animal or plant milks, as well as juices and pastries. This April a second location—as bold and futuristic as the first—opened in the 10th arrondissement, at 50 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis.
Minicafé
Right in the middle of Ile Saint-Louis, where Le Petit Grain bakery was once located, Minicafé opened its doors in February 2023 and claimed for itself the title of “smallest coffee shop in Paris.” In this tiny space, the baristas produce lattes (with animal or plant milks), allongés, and cappuccinos. Matcha, cookies, fresh fruits, and brownies are also on the menu.
Mardi
If you’re in search of a cup of coffee after visiting some of the sites in the 19th arrondissement, head to Mardi on rue de la Villette, a neighborhood favorite with a vaguely Scandinavian vibe. With its Marzocco Strada EP coffee machine, it offers a range of coffee drinks, as well as large chocolate and fleur au sel cookies, soft-boiled eggs, granola with yoghurt and fruit, and cinnamon rolls.
Two Doors
Located atop the hill of Montmartre, Two Doors opened in summer 2022. The staff are experts at preparing espressos, matchas, chai lattes, and mochas, as well as a delicious selection of homemade pastries. Must-try favorites include the melt-in-your-mouth Basque cheesecake, a vanilla-chocolate marble cake topped with Ferrero Rocher icing, and the black sesame cookie.
The Coffee
A new coffee shop in the northern part of the Marais, The Coffee is the brainchild of Alexandre, Carlos, and Luis Fertonani. The three brothers decided to bring Japan’s takeaway coffee culture to their own country and opened the first store in Curitiba, in southern Brazil, in 2018. It was an immediate success and there are now The Coffee franchises in eight other countries, including nine stores in Paris alone. The Marais location, on rue des Gravilliers, offers a chance to live The Coffee experience which starts with ordering your drink on a tablet and then enjoying it while you admire the café’s cool and minimalist Japanese decor.
Le Pont Traversé
Next to the Luxembourg Gardens, a former butcher’s shop with its vintage front was recently transformed into Le Pont Traversé, a coffee shop with its own unique character and charms. Led by Frédérique Jules, Ailleurs Studio is responsible for the refined décor with clay dishes and dramatic lighting. The menu features Mediterranean dishes and gourmet pastries (cookies, doughnuts, babkas, and more). All are accompanied by lattes, chai, and other full-bodied coffee favorites.
Noir
You won’t have to go far to find a Noir coffee shop; they can be found in 10 of Paris’s arrondissements. Noir relies on eco-responsible roasted coffee and a trained army of baristas. Enjoy your drink on site and it will be served to you in beautiful Atelier Maen cup. The menu includes cappuccinos and lattes, including matcha ones, as well as CBD cookies and cheddar scones.
Café Kitsuné
Café Kitsuné already has locations on rue Rivoli, in the Galerie Montpensier, and on Place André Malraux; now it continues its love of full-bodied beans with the opening of its first roasting workshop in Paris, at 30 rue du Vertbois in the Marais. Led by artisan roaster Florian Decousser, visitors will discover freshly roasted beans from select farms and ground coffees with exquisite flavors. The menu includes espressos, macchiatos, americanos, dirty chais, cappuccinos, flat whites, teas, pastries, juices, and ice creams. And don’t forget to peruse Café Kitsuné’s selections of mugs, cups, and saucers too.
Residence Kann
Not every furniture brand has its own café, but the Residence Kann on rue des Vinaigriers plays that role for Kann Design. Located just a few steps from the Kann Design boutique, the coffee shop serves freshly ground coffee by Drop Coffee and a menu of breakfast comfort foods (power bowls, focaccia, boiled eggs, and more). Part of what makes the place special is that the décor changes every six months, thanks to collaborations with designers working with the brand.
Back in Black Coffee
Led by Nicolas Piégay (of KB Coffee Roasters), Back in Black Coffee is on rue Amelot in the 10th arrondissement. Behind its large windows, visitors discover a minimalist décor of light wood and rough concrete. The Marzocco Strada machine produces an array of coffee drinks paired with scrambled eggs, scones, and babka.
Terre de Café
Founder Christophe Servell, a true coffee purist, has traveled the world in search of the best possible beans for Terre de Café. At this Marais roastery, at 14 rue Rambuteau, the focus is on being organic, sustainable, and emphatically French. You can enjoy your coffee on the premises or buy roasted beans to take home. In addition to the Marais location, there are four others in Paris and one in Versailles, too.
Ten Belles
The three locations of Ten Belles are must-visit addresses in Paris for lovers of good bread. The smell of freshly baked loaves combined with the aroma of perfectly crafted coffees will draw you to the shops. There are two locations on the Right Bank, in the 10th and 11th arrondissements, and one of the Left Bank, on rue du Cherche Midi in the 6th. The menu includes full-bodied espresso and smooth oat milk chai latte; pair them with melt-in-your-mouth banana bread or tasty savory sandwiches.
Dreamin’ Man
On Rue Amelot, in the 11th arrondissement near the Marais, Dreamin’ Man is a sure bet for breakfast. Choose from homemade seasonal fruit tarts, granola, banana bread, and scones.
Le Peloton Cafe
Just north of the Seine and the Ile Saint-Louis, Le Peloton is the heart of a Paris cycling community, organizing charity rides and offering bike rentals. Equipped with an excellent coffee machine, you can order lattes with plant-based milk, iced coffees and flat whites, as well as cookies, granola, and waffles.
Maison Fleuret
On Rue des Saints-Pères, the Maison Fleuret is a pocket-sized coffee shop where you can sip your drink surrounded by books. Visitors can enjoy scrambled eggs, pancakes, muffins, and coffee in all its forms. As both books and coffee invite contemplation, we think it’s a perfect combination.
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Umami Matcha
It’s a New York coffee shop with a Japanese twist. Opened by Umami, a Japanese delicatessen, Umami Matcha Café celebrates both coffee and matcha in all its forms: drinks, brioche, cheesecake, cookies, and more. Best-sellers include cappuccino, latte, and frappé versions of matcha.
Translated by John Newton.