A Guide to Café Culture in Paris: 20 Beautiful Cafés in Paris
In Paris you find a café at nearly every corner. On corners and sidewalks, colorful terraces bustle with vitality, as they have for centuries.
The best cafés in Paris are a cornerstone of life for Parisians and an absorbing window into city life. We’ve picked some coffeehouse jewels to help you peel back the layers of Paris’s café culture. Among them are celebrated icons, third-wave creatives, and welcoming hideouts woven into a colorful café culture like no other.
Parisian café culture
Picture a Parisian café, and you might think of timeworn havens, rich in Belle Époque character, staff professionally sailing around tightly packed terraces. It’s partly accurate, yet there is a depth and breadth to satisfy curious minds and explorers keen to discover the real Paris. Table service is the norm unless you’re in a modern coffee shop.
It can seem like a linguistic minefield at first. But master ordering your preferred brew with a “s’il vous plait,” and you’ll be part Parisian instantly.
- Order un café, and you’ll get a shot of espresso to gulp down.
- If you seek a taller brew, order a café allongé, or café Americain (and Americano).
- Want milk? A café crème is a cappuccino by another name.
- If you want more milk than coffee, go with a café au lait.
- If you want a mere slash of cream, macchiato style, choose café noisette (named for the nutty color).
- Decaf is available, un deca.
- As are countless other drinks, including thé (tea) of various varieties and, a must-have on cold days, chocolat chaud, AKA hot chocolate.
English menus are commonly offered to help visitors explore options. A relief for many, as hot beverages merely occupy a corner of sprawling menus. In Paris, cafés are more than mere coffeeshops. Residents retreat into them when hungry, craving a pick-me-up, or want to pause and watch the world go by. Food is a big part of that. Some Parisian cafés come with something extra. From cultural lessons to extraordinary views, exquisite coffee, and exceptional cooking. Here are 20 cafés in Paris that truly stand out.
Atmospheric traditional cafés in Paris
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01
Café de Flore
Café in Quartier Saint-Germain-des-PrésTravelers flock to world-famous Parisian cafés with history etched into their smoke and coffee-stained walls. Café de Flore is unmistakably Parisian and immersed in local folklore. A souvenir of the Third Republic and emblem of Left Bank intellectualism, the Café de Flore has welcomed a Who’s Who of artistic and literary figures. Most famously, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir held court there, espousing existentialist and feminist philosophies that made them household names.
Wrapped around a corner of the elegant Boulevard Saint-Germain and minutes from other noted cafés, the café still sparkles. The prices might suggest a tourist trap, yet Flore retains a unique place in Parisian history. A postcard from a bygone age and still a delightful spot to pause for coffee.
- Prices: €€€
- Address: 172 Bd Saint-Germain, 75006 (Saint-Germain-des-Prés)
- Nearest Métro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés (4)
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02
Café Les Deux Magots
Café in Quartier Saint-Germain-des-PrésStylish Saint-Germain-des-Prés is home to several of the best-known coffee haunts in Paris. Mere meters from Café de Flore is the legendary Les Deux Magots. Like its illustrious neighbor, this alternative intellectual hangout opened in the 1880s. Former patrons include surrealist giants and literary legends. Rimbaud, Hemingway, Picasso, Sartre, and Beauvoir are among the luminaries once on firstname terms with the staff.
Its distinctive green trimmings and photogenic terraces overlooking the capital’s oldest church, Église de Saint-Germain-des-Prés, distill the essence of 19thcentury Parisian cafés. A heritage destination steeped in history, where you can ever-so-slowly sip an expensive, yet decent, coffee and drink in the atmosphere. If you can, stop for a photo at the 17th-century Le Procope nearby, probably the oldest café in Paris but now a brasserie only.
- Prices: €€€
- Address: 6 Pl. Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006 (Saint-Germain-des-Prés)
- Nearest Métro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés (4)
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03
Le Charlot
Café in Marais & Cité
Credt: thetravelbudsOver the Seine in the vibrant Marais is Le Charlot. Faded wooden floors and gleaming brickwork set the quintessentially Parisian café tone. The terrace steals the eye. Claustrophobically packed seats and tiny tables face a street thrumming with energy, moments from the historic Enfants Rouge market.
The menu delivers all the classics and a few greatest hits from outside France. Think snails and entrecote steak or homemade guacamole and mango curry. It’s traditional but with a palpable Le Marais personality. Grab a glass of whatever tickles your fancy. Observing the cosmopolitan neighborhood go about its business is included at no extra cost.
- Prices: €€
- Address: 38 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 (Le Marais)
- Nearest Métro: Filles du Calvaire (8)
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04
Café de la Rotonde
Café in Quartier du MontparnasseAsk an AI bot to draw a Parisian café, and you might end up with an image of La Rotonde. It’s bold red design and neon signage is an Instagram staple. Hugging a corner on the ever-busy Boulevard Montparnasse, Rotonde bubbles with life from morning to midnight. The tempting array of French culinary favorites leaves a positive impression too.
Seafood is king. But you can rock up for a coffee or un verre de vin and laze on the sidewalk terrace or bathe in the plush redness indoors. Aspiring artists once traded paintings for dinner here. Artists like Modigliani and Jean Cocteau hung out there. Picasso went one better and painted diners (In the café de la Rotonde, 1901). Never one to knowingly avoid cultural hotspots, Hemingway wrote about his visits. Today, the flourishing café-restaurant is adorned with prints of its celebrated patrons and still winning admirers as it did in the Roaring Twenties.
- Prices: €€
- Address: 105 Bd du Montparnasse, 75006 (Montparnasse)
- Nearest Métro: Vavin (4)
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05
Café Shakespeare & Company
Café in Quartier Latin
The Shakespeare and Company bookshop attached to the café is the big draw for visitors to the historic Latin Quarter. The eccentric Anglophone bookstore has been a magnet for writers in Paris since opening in 1951. William Burroughs was said to have researched sections of Naked Lunch in the atmospheric store. The café next door is a modern addition, strikingly different in layout but serving a mean coffee and cake. In tune with the setting, a concise chalkboard of drinks is in English. And the cherry on your gleefully chosen cake is a slimline terrace overlooking Notre Dame Cathedral. Soon to reopen and reclaim its place as the best sight in Paris.
- Prices: €-€
- Address: 35 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 (Latin Quarter)
- Nearest Métro: Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (4) / RER (B/C)
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06
Café Tabac
Café in MontmartreMontmartre brims with bobo (Bourgeois Bohemian, if you’re not up on Parisian slang) cafés. Café Tabac is a pleasing sight. A neighborhood corner café with a façade frozen in time. Inside is entirely more modern. The welcome is consistently warm, and the food and coffee are on point. There’s a tiny terrace outside, but indoors is a snug and animated space to decamp on cold mornings and watch the world go by. If you’re wondering, the tobacconist is next door.
- Prices: €
- Address: 1bis Rue Ravignan, 75018 (Montmartre)
- Nearest Métro: Abbesses (12)
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07
Café Montorgueil
Café in Quartier du MailOccupying a space along the lively market street Rue Montorgueil, Café Montorgueil is another camera-friendly sanctuary perfect for people-watching. The exterior is an eye-catching picture of Parisian charisma. The terrace is superinviting; behind sits an agreeable interior with a touch of sparkle. Out front, the pedestrianized street teems with shoppers filling bags from gourmet purveyors stretching as far as the eye can see.
Closing for just a few hours daily, this café has a community vibe and refreshments for all moments. For shoppers, the terrace is a charming breakpoint to refresh and refuel. For night owls, cocktails await. A long brasserie menu is on hand should your appetite overtake you.
- Prices: €€-€€€
- Address: 55 Rue Montorgueil, 75002
- Nearest Métro: Sentier (3)
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08
Odette & Aimé
Café in Quartier de RochechouartYou must step away from the tourist hubs to reach Odette & Aimé. Exuding Belle Époque charm, this busy neighborhood meeting point is known for its great food and cozy terrace. A snappy red and black design extends from the canopy to neatly arranged chairs on the slim terrace. Through the doors is a welcoming but no-frills café-bar, but the sidewalk is where the seats disappear first.
All appetites are looked after by the friendly staff, whether you’re in for breakfast or ending a jam-packed day with a nightcap. The menu is ever-changing, prices competitive, and quality is up there with the best cafés in Paris. When the sun is out, locals come and go. At night, the terrace fills up with Parisians out for a good time, one of many lively evening venues around Montmartre and Rochechouart.
- Prices: €-€€
- Address: 46 Rue de Maubeuge, 75009 (Rochechouart)
- Nearest Métro: Poissonnière or Cadet (7)
Beautiful Parisian cafés to linger in
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01
Salon de thé (Rose bakery) at the Musée de la vie romantique
Café in Pigalle
©Nicolas MathéusTraditional Parisian cafés might hog the limelight, but there’s a compelling undercard of stunningly beautiful pretty locations for coffee in Paris. The salon de thé at the evocative Musée de la Vie Romantique is an unsung example.
Operated by the Anglo-French couple behind Rose Bakery and several Parisian
cafés, the menu reads like a tourist attraction café. The winning ingredient is the
picturesque courtyard overlooked by the museum, a delightful oasis where the
city seems far away.Once the home of Dutch painter Ary Scheffer, the house was a hangout for the
great and good of Romantic art and literature. George Sand was a regular and is
now honored with a permanent exhibition at the free city museum. Her lover
Chopin, Franz Lizt, Eugène Delacroix, and Charles Dickens visited. The magic is all
in the location; the coffee and cake are merely a bonus.- Prices: €
- Address: 16 Rue Chaptal, 75009 (Pigalle)
- Nearest Métro: Blanche (2)
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02
Carette
Café in Marais & CitéSitting on Place des Vosges, Paris’s oldest public square, Carette also benefits from a stellar location. But this patisserie-café also boasts an elegant interior and cakes to die for. Luxuriate under the 17th-century arches or savor sitting on the terrace and looking out over the formal royal square, once home to Victor Hugo. You can visit his home for free, which might offset the sting of the check. The pastries and views are mouthwatering grade, which always come at a price in Paris.
You can grab a more substantial dinner here. Although nearly everybody appears to be feasting on sugar and cream confections that would have widened Marie Antoinette’s eyes.
- Prices: €€-€€€
- Address: 25 Pl. des Vosges, 75003 (Le Marais)
- Nearest Métro: Chemin Vert (8)
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03
Café Le Jardin Du Petit Palais
Café in Quartier des Champs-ÉlyséesSome of the prettiest cafés in Paris are hidden away in museums. The one at the Jacquemart-André Museum is a knockout. But for peacefulness, the café and garden terrace at the Petit Palais fine art museum can’t be topped.
Although occupying a lush central courtyard dripping in beaux-arts magnificence, the Sodexo operated concession won’t be winning any culinary awards. But the permanent Beaux-arts collection inside the Exposition Universelle (1900) landmark is free. And the enclosed courtyard is an enchanting spot to momentarily turn the tempo down.
- Prices: (€€)
- Address: 1 Av. Dutuit Petit Palais, 75008 (Champs-Élysées)
- Nearest Métro: Champs-Élysées . Clemenceau
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04
Café Bohème
Café in Quartier du MontparnasseMinutes from the intriguing Montparnasse Cemetery (Sartre and de Beauvoir are buried there), Café Bohème is an altogether lighter, brighter affair. The quirky café is decked with hanging lights and rustic charm; the ambiance is typically animated by wall-to-wall diners who spill onto a terrace nestled between neighboring eateries.
Aside from the imaginative décor, food hits the mark. Their Sunday brunch is exceptional. They open early and close late all week, dishing out breakfasts and dinners with a distinctly contemporary profile. The only catch is that Café Bohème is a victim of its success and can get uber-busy. Not an issue for an early morning coffee. Otherwise, reserve ahead if you don’t want to make do with one of their lesser neighbors.
- Prices: €€-€€€
- Address: 19 Bd Edgar Quinet, 75014 (Montparnasse)
- Nearest Métro: Edgar Quinet (6)
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05
Le Recrutement
Café in Quartier des InvalidesNo. It’s not an employment agency. Le Recrutement is a solid café with an exceptional view of the Eiffel Tower. You’ll need to bag one of the few terrace seats if you plan to settle down with a chocolat chaud and fill your vacation album with artful Tour Eiffel shots. Although you probably won’t mind relaxing inside either. Spacious and homely, it’s every inch a typical Parisian café.
Prices and online quality complaints suggest they know they’re in a prime location. But if you can secure a sidewalk seat as the Eiffel Tower lights switch on, you might happily pay more. Anyway, a glass of wine and assiette de fromage is always a hit, wherever you are in France. In the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, it’s priceless.
- Prices: €€-€€€
- Address: 36 Bd de la Tour-Maubourg, 75007 (Invalides)
- Nearest Métro: La Tour-Maubourg (8)
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06
Le Flore en l'Île
Café in Quartier Notre-DamePerched on the tip of dainty Île Saint-Louis, Le Flore en l’Île enjoys partial views of Notre Dame Cathedral. The cute terrace and wood-panel interior reflects the old-time charm of the area. The menu is all modern brasseries, finished with French elan. But the star attraction is indulgent ice cream sundaes and scoops from the famous Berthillon store just around the corner.
You could visit Berthillon original (in fact should if you love ice cream). But at Le Flore en l’Île, the toppings include teasing views of a Parisian icon.
- Prices: €€€
- Address: 42 Quai d’Orléans, 75004 (Île Saint-Louis)
- Nearest Métro: Pont Marie (7)
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07
Le Café Lapérouse Concorde
Café in Quartier de la Place Vendôme
Credit:If views and evocative settings are what you seek from a café in Paris, you’ll love Le Café Lapérouse. The refined and sophisticated café-restaurant occupies a spot on Place de la Concorde, where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were consigned to history. In the background are incredible panoramic views over Paris, the Eiffel Tower starkly visible.
As magnificent as the gastronomic culinary mastery on display is the gorgeous restaurant. Part of the national monument Hôtel de la Marine opened in 1774, its chandelier and gilded extravagance somehow survived the French Revolution. It’s almost as jaw-dropping a sight as the terrace views. Almost. More upscale restaurant than café, dining here isn’t for the budget-conscious. But it feels like a secret nirvana for lovers of Paris. Go for breakfast if you want to eat light survey Paris stirring into life.
- Prices: €€€-€€€€
- Address: 2 Pl. de la Concorde, 75001 (Louvre – Tuileries)
- Nearest Métro: Concorde (1, 8, 12)
Modern coffee shop gems in Paris
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01
Café Kitsuné
Café in Quartier du Palais-Royal
Credit: Café KitsunéThe inventive fashion and music label Kitsuné has been steadily earning coffee credibility with its boutique cafés in Paris, Japan, and a few other global cities. Their slick, contemporary approach and devotion to coffee excellence can be savored at three outlets in the heart of the 1st arrondissement, near some of the capital’s top sights.
Like many third-wave purveyors, their crisp and trim coffee shops are all about barista skills and bean quality. Space is limited, except in the 2-floor Louvre branch. The other two boast terraces in enviable locations. Over in Le Marais, a fourth Café Kitsuné blends into the hip neighborhood with a more elegant and spacious set-up, where you can pick up beans and merchandise. If you find yourself in the capital’s tourist heartland and crave a decent flat white and craft coffee, Kitsuné delivers.
- Prices: €€
- Address: 2 Pl. André Malraux, 75001 ()
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02
Lomi
Café in Quartier de la Goutte-d’OrYou’ll have to travel to the relative wildlands of the 18th to sample Lomi’s brews. But detour or happen to be in the area, a stop will delight coffee lovers. Since 2010, Lomi has been roasting their beans and supplying discerning hotels and cafés in Paris. Their store near Gare du Nord brings that excellence to the coffee machine.
The rustic-industrial setting is a delightful space to unwind in, with street art to entertain the eye if you grab one of the few seats outside. The coffee is top-tier, with plenty of reviews proclaiming it the best in Paris. A solid reason for bean enthusiasts to take a turn down the back streets of the 18th.
- Prices: €€
- Address: 3 ter Rue Marcadet, 75018
- Nearest Métro: Marx Dormoy (12)
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03
Partisan Café Artisanal
Café in Marais & CitéAmid the gourmet pleasures of Le Marais sits Partisan Café Artisanal, a third-wave coffee roaster and cozy refuge from the bustling neighborhood. Bright and contemporary with baristas who smile, there’s plenty to like. Escpailly the carrot cake. It’s all machine-made coffee with skilled barista flourishes.
You can grab some house beans to take home, with darker Italian roasts and lighter third-wave flavors. Seating is limited, but if you crave a proper coffee while poking around the myriad delights of Le Marais, it’s a pleasing stop that’ll look after your caffeine needs with panache.
- Prices: €€
- Address: 36 R. de Turbigo, 75003 (Le Marais)
- Nearest Métro: Arts et Métiers (3, 11) / Réaumur – Sébastopol (3 ,4)
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04
Lindt
Café in Quartier de la Chaussée-d’AntinOne of the most indulgent cafés in Paris is operated by Lindt, the fine Swiss chocolatier. A temple of sweet wonders, this is the place to rejoice in a Parisian favorite, chocolate chaud (hot chocolate), and grab some delectable souvenirs made with another delicious bean. You should probably buy extra, the risk of eating your souvenirs before finishing your vacation of probably high.
Their modern tea room is the place to load up on sugary highs, with desserts masquerading as drinks like Chocolate Dome and Brownie Delight. Opposite is the opulent Palais Garnier. A terrace is sadly absent, and the store is stacked from floor to ceiling with chocolate. It’s far from a typical Parisian café. But if you have a sweet tooth, the Lindt Salon is a tiny slice of nirvana.
- Prices: €-€€
- Address: 11 bis Rue Scribe, 75009 (Opéra)
- Nearest Métro: Opéra (3, 7, 8)
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05
Coutume Café
Café in Quartier de la Porte-Saint-DenisRefreshed and recharged, we reach number 20 in our pick of the best cafés in Paris with an elegant and refined coffee marvel, Coutume. Coutume means “custom” and indicates you’ll get coffee precisely how you like it. Coutume currently has 11 outlets dotted around prime addresses and upmarket stores in Paris.
Their new-wave approach is passionate about sourcing, roasting, and brewing. Every store has a different look, all sparkling contemporary affairs. The star venue is in the 7th arrondissement, where you can enjoy egg and pancake breakfast moments from the stately Hôtel des Invalides. The beans can be shipped home. One less vacation gift to worry about. The coffees (and delicious pastries) are made for savoring in the moment. Another marvelous place to pause while losing yourself in the magic and sparkle of the French capital’s most-visited arrondissements.
- Prices: €€-€€€
- Address: Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010 ()
- Nearest Métro: Château d’Eau
How much does a cup of coffee cost in Paris?
You could pick up a simple black coffee for as little as €1.50 and as much as €10 in Parisian cafés. Attention to quality and especially location affects prices markedly. Expect to pay between €2.50 and €4 for a good coffee at many cafés and coffee shops.
How much does a macaron with a coffee cost in Paris?
The dainty discs of sugary joy can cost €1-4 in a patisserie, depending on quality (and reputation). Cafés in Paris typically charge between €2 and €4 for a macaron to go with your coffee.
hen are cafés in Paris open?
Many traditional cafés in Paris close for just a few hours daily. Opening at 7 am and closing at 2 am. Other more modern coffee shops that don’t survive off food sales might open from 9 am and close early evening.
Do you need reservations for Parisian cafés?
Most cafés in Paris welcome people stopping by for a coffee and other drinks. Some are focused on their restaurant offering and may require reservations, but they are usually listed as restaurants. In most cases, seat yourself and wait for the serving staff to reach you.
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