I practically run on caffeine and cannot start my day without a cuppa. Waking up in Paris was a dream in and of itself. Being surrounded by dope coffee spots in a city notoriously known for having mediocre coffee was an added bonus. I need at least two coffees a day to keep me going so I had my fair share of café in Paris. I’ve heard mixed reviews about coffee in Paris, but I happened to have amazing luck. We hit up a plethora of spots, but only a handful that left me thirstin’ for more. If you’re a caffeine fiend, be sure to check out these five joints!
Télescope Café
Located in Japan-town right next to a legit udon spot, Kunitoraya is where you’ll find quite possibly the best coffee in Paris. Télescope Café takes a minimalist approach in a small space equipped with a Marzocco espresso machine serving filtered coffee, espresso, noisette (espresso with a dash of cream), crème (espresso with milk), tea, juice, hot chocolate and a small selection of baked goods. The café prides itself on making a proper cup of coffee. Founder Nicolas Clerc explains that a good cup of coffee is a group effort and each individual process starting from picking, processing, storing, logistics, storing, roasting, grinding and brewing of the beans are crucial. If all these steps are done properly, making a good cup of coffee won’t be a problem.
Télescope Café
5 Rue Villedo, 75001 Paris, France
p: +33 1 42 61 33 14
w: telescopecafe.com
Ten Belles
Just off the Canal St Martin is one of our favorite cafes in Paris, Ten Belles. We stumbled upon this place by chance and were drawn in by the strong aroma of coffee and alluring display of scones, muffins and stacks of cookies. This charming two story café gives off a cozy homely vibe with an open kitchen in the back and a coffee bar up front decorated with freshly baked goods perfectly displayed out in the open along the counter. The menu is straight forward offering filtered coffee, espresso, allonge (espresso diluted with hot water), noisette, cappuccino, tea, and hot chocolate. I was all over the baked goods though. The carrot apple muffin, parsnip muffin and lemon coconut bars were on point.
Ten Belles
10 Rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010 Paris, France
p: +33 1 42 40 90 78
w: tenbelles.com
The Broken Arm
The Broken Arm started out as an online fashion and lifestyle website which eventually transitioned from the digital platform into a physical space in the trendy Temple area of Paris. Doubling as café and two story boutique, this was another unique café that definitely stood out in Paris. The shop carries a curated selection of books, magazines, accessories, and clothing from mid to high-end luxury brands including KENZO, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Raf, Simons, Carven, and more. The café itself serves a short list of coffee drinks, juices, sodas, soups, sandwiches and salads. The coffee definitely hits the spot using beans from Solberg & Hansen, a coffee supplier and roaster from Norway.
The Broken Arm
12 Rue Perrée, 75003 Paris, France
p: +33 1 44 61 53 60
w: the-broken-arm.com
Fondation Café
Just around the corner from Broken Arm, Fondation Café is an espresso bar founded by Australian Chris Nielsen who left Ten Belles to pursue his own café dedicated to the art of coffee. Located in the Temple district in Northern Marais, Foundation Café offers also offers selection of espresso beverages, non-caffeinated beverages and delicious snacks including banana bread, tarts, toast, granola, and more. The coffee is from local Parisian distributers Belleville Roasters with baked goods from Emperor Norton.
Fondation Café
16 Rue Dupetit-Thouars, 75003 Paris, France
Les Deux Magots
For a completely different, not-so-hipster vibe, check out Les Deux Magots, a famous café in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area of Paris. This café is kind of a big deal in Paris and has become quite the tourist destination because of its historical list of famed patrons such as Elsa Triolet, Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso. Les Deux Magots is the classiest of the bunch of cafés I’ve listed and one of the oldest in Paris established in 1812. If you’re looking for a “French-ass restaurant,” Les Deux Margots gives off an authentic Parisian “I’m so fancy” vibe.
Les Deux Magots
6 Place Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006 Paris, France
p: +33 1 45 48 55 25
w: lesdeuxmagots.fr