9 Paris Coffees You Shouldn’t Miss

It’s International Coffee Day, and I’m already juiced up on my first couple of shots of the morning. I thought it the perfect moment to share some of the best Paris coffees I’ve enjoyed, whether I’m gearing up for a morning walking tour or winding down after a day of exploring. Here are my recent favorites:

Cuillier is one of two Montmartre cafés on today’s list. Just steps away from the Abbesses metro station, you’ll find it at 19 Rue Yvonne le Tac. There’s always a quiet vibe and lovely treats like the pistachio cake seen here.

At 9 Rue Lassus in Belleville you’ll find Cerwood, a rustic and leathery coffeehouse that feels more like a hunting lodge than anything else. It sits on a tranquil lane just across from the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and offers a great recharging station after you’ve tackled the hills of the 19th arrondissement.

If you’ve got some work to do and plan to spend prolonged time, places like Anticafé have you pay by the hour rather than the drink. For a reasonable fee you can spend the day lounging, working, chatting, and helping yourself to unlimited coffee and snacks. There are several locations but I usually end up at the one near the Louvre, at 10 Rue de Richelieu.

All of these coffees made it on this list because they’re good quality, but so far the one that edges them all out is La Caféothèque, at 52 Rue de l’Hôtel de Ville. It’s chill, it’s international, it’s friendly – and the coffee never disappoints. My walking tour of the Marais district starts right nearby, so if you join me on one you may want to start with one of these!

Every now and then you’ve got to treat yourself and overpay for a coffee. Les Deux Magots is the perfect place for such silliness. At 6 Place Saint Germain des Prés, this iconic literary café watches the world whiz by along Boulevard Saint Germain. Being the former haunt of Picasso, Hemingway, Sartre, the Surrealists, and the American jazz greats of the 40s has cemented this address as one of the must-do’s in town.

My second Montmartre recommendation is La Bossue, at 9 Rue Joseph de Maistre. It’s owned by a young and hip couple that have always given me nothing but smiles, and it’s a great pit stop along any Montmartre walk (including the one I take people on). Somehow all of the stunning cakes and cookies on offer are homemade by their team — a true accomplishement!

Another great spot to work at is Craft, just steps from Canal Saint Martin at 24 Rue des Vinaigriers. This is where the hippest of the hip hang out, but that’s not a bad thing — the folks at Craft have designed the ultimate productivity environment with laptop stations, light music, and a chill vibe. This café offers the option to pay by the hour while you work, and each hour allows you a certain amount of euros redeemable in the form of coffee and treats.

The beloved Latin Quarter bookstore got it’s own coffeehouse not long ago, and lucky for us book lovers the quality is good! At 37 Rue de la Bûcherie is the Shakespeare & Company Café, with a view of Notre Dame Cathedral that just might become your favorite place ever. This place is also known for its high quality nibbles.

Let’s go out with an expensive bang with the café gourmand of Le Train Bleu! Definitely in the splurge category, but there’s something about living out the fantasty of the Belle Époque of Paris, surrounded by luxurious painted ceilings and smartly-dressed waiters. Lunch for two came in at around 250€, so you may want to pop in just for coffee and call it a day.

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That’s my take on the 9 coffees you should include in your next trip through Paris. There are certainly others that could be added to the list, so let me know in the comments if you have other favorites to share.

As always you can book a walking tour of Paris with me over here, and you can follow my Paris adventures on Facebook and Instagram. Lastly, don’t forget to listen for me on the Earful Tower Paris Podcast, where at the end of each episode I give a “Story From Corey”.

Cheers and happy java drinking!