
The city of love isn’t just a must-see experience for romantics, it is also world-famous for its cafe culture. The rues and avenues of Paris have drawn countless visitors to their on-street bistros down the generations, and have proven a rich source of inspiration for everything from artists to classic Hollywood movies such as the Gene Kelly musical An American in Paris. So, between visits to such iconic sights as the Eiffel Tower, where will your tour of Paris and its cafes take you? Read on for a list of some of the top bistros and cafes of this magnificent city.
1. Holybelly
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
One of the city’s most well-reviewed cafes — holding an impressive 4.6 rating on Google — Holybelly in the 10th arrondissement is not only well placed for the likes of the Place de la République, just a short walk away, but boasts a popular menu that includes its signature pancake selection as well as a mix of dishes with roots in various countries. The menu also features unique specials every day, ensuring that no matter how many times you visit, there’s always something different to tantalise those taste buds. And, such is its popularity, that a second Holybelly is due to open soon just a few doors further down the street.
Holybelly
Address: 5 Rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010 Paris
Website: Holybelly
2. Café Loustic

Boasting the self-professed goal to be “one of the best espresso bars” on the planet, Cafe Loustic is another of Paris’ most highly thought of cafes and is sure to appeal to the coffee fan in you. As well as sourcing its coffees from Belgium’s Caffènation it also offers some of its blends for sale to take away, enabling those who particularly enjoy their hot drinks to continue enjoying the tastes long after their Paris stay is over. And as well as the ever-changing range of coffees, there are plenty of savoury and sweet treats to tuck into alongside your drink. Those who visit the cafe — in the 3rd arrondissement — will also be well-placed for a number of local museums, and less than a kilometre from the banks of the Seine.
Café Loustic
Address: 40 Rue Chapon, 75003 Paris
Website: Café Loustic
3. Ten Belles

This popular coffee bar enjoys glowing word-of-mouth among customers for its “super friendly staff”, “great coffee” and its tasty treats and breads. Situated just a stone’s throw from the Canal Saint-Martin on the 10th arrondissement, the cafe is well-placed for visitors eager to indulge in a little waterside walk either before or after tucking into their coffees. The city’s Natural History Museum is also within easy reach on foot as well. Ten Belles’ popularity also ensures that the coffee shop is frequently bustling, which will appeal to those who wish to soak up the city’s famous cafe culture.
Ten Belles
Address: 10 Rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010 Paris
Website: Ten Belles
4. Télescope

Those looking to take a break from visiting some of the city’s most famous destinations will likely enjoy Télescope, which is just a stone’s throw from the likes of the Louvre, the Palais Royal and the 1st arrondissement’s popular riverside gardens — making it very convenient for those craving a caffeine fix during a busy day of sightseeing. What’s more, it’s also very well thought of among past visitors — and boasts a 4.1 rating out of five on Google. Indeed, some coffee fans were so impressed they were prepared to go out of their way on the Metro just to enjoy Télescope’s wares.
Télescope
Address: 5 Rue Villedo, 75001 Paris
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Angenic Paris Par Rues Méconnues
Hello everyone, I’m Angénic a tour guide. Well I am not just a tour guide; I am a passionate explorer of Paris’s hidden gems. My dedication is to uncover the city’s lesser-known streets — where ordinary meets extraordinary - for the best travel experiences, because I believe that the best stories are told through the nooks and crannies of the city. Additionally, I meticulously craft my tours to... Read more
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5. Café Oberkampf
Set close to the tree-lined Boulevard Richard-Lenoir in the city’s 11th arrondissement, Café Oberkampf — which gets its name from a nearby street — is another of the city’s highly-respected cafes. It offers a wide array of coffees as well as a mix of food options, freshly prepared while you wait, that drew strong praise from hundreds of impressed customers. Indeed, so impressed were people with this “cosy” and “exquisite” coffee shop that it currently holds a 4.6 rating on Google. A number of Metro stations are also within easy reach for ease of access, including the station at Parmentier, just a handful of metres from the door.
Café Oberkampf
Address: 3 Rue Neuve Popincourt, 75011 Paris
Website: Café Oberkampf
6. Café Méricourt
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
était plutôt content de son plat du jour. Épaule de bœuf, mayonnaise au raifort, chou vert, pleurotes, chou-fleur violet et potiron - 13€.
Posted by Café Méricourt on Monday, October 12, 2020
Located just a short walk away from the previous entry on the list, the Café Méricourt is naturally equally well-placed for the likes of the Boulevard Richard-Lenoir and for music venues such as the Bataclan. What’s more, it is actually operated by the same owners as the Café Oberkampf, so fans of that outlet’s hot drinks will be equally well served during a visit to Café Méricourt. The cafe, which, like its parent site, draws its name from a local street, also hosts occasional special events, including visiting chefs and home kitchens, giving food fans whose trips coincide with such activities the perfect chance to indulge their taste buds.
Café Méricourt
Address: 22 Rue de la Folie Méricourt, 75011 Paris
Website: Café Méricourt
7. Fringe Coffee

This highly regarded coffee bar in the hip Haut Marais area of Paris places a self-professed importance on craftsmanship, from the single origin coffee and the foodie treats that delight its customers, to the range of photography it helps to showcase on its walls. Fringe enjoys a glowing reputation amongst impressed customers, who praised the quality of the coffee and the “very cosy” atmosphere. They also praised the helpfulness of the staff, citing their willingness to talk customers through its roasting techniques and the range of milks it uses. The cafe is also well-served by local Metro links — with stations at nearby Filles du Calvaire, République, and Temple — so visitors to the city should have little difficulty getting to and from Fringe Coffee’s doors.
Fringe Coffee
Address: 106 Rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris
Website: Fringe Coffee
8. O Coffeeshop

Superlatives come thick and fast among impressed customers at this very popular coffee shop in the 15th arrondissement. Hailed as the “best coffee in Paris” by more than one previous visitor, and enjoying a strong 4.5 rating on Google, O Coffeeshop is, unsurprisingly, a bustling little cafe spot. Its mix of baked goods, breakfasts and lunches are also popular, and its friendly staff also won a warm response. What’s more, it’s location within Grenelle, places it within easy reach of Paris’ most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower, and its surrounding gardens.
O Coffeeshop
Address: 23 Rue de Lourmel, 75015 Paris
Website: O Coffeeshop
9. Le Peloton Café
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
As likely to appeal to cycling fans as to coffee aficionados, Le Peloton Cafe not only features a host of artisan roasts but also offers a range of bike rental and touring options. Not only that but it also serves a mix of local food and craft beers. Enjoying a strong reputation among past customers — including a 4.6 rating on Google — the cafe is also well-placed for exploring the very heart of Paris. The Seine is a short distance away, along with the Île Saint-Louis, the Île de la Cité and Notre-Dame cathedral. Naturally, nearby Metro links are also good.
Le Peloton Café
Address: 17 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, 75004 Paris
Website: Le Peloton Café
10. Passager
Another popular spot, this time in the 11th arrondissement, Passager has been praised by its customers for the quality of its coffee and the friendliness of the staff. It is also not far from the site of the Bastille and the Opera Bastille, opening up the option of popping in for a bite before taking in the sights or during a wander around the city centre. Despite only opening as recently as 2016 the cafe is already a fixture of the local neighbourhood, and can attract long lines of eager coffee and brunch fans, particularly outwith the working week. Speaking of brunch, its menu includes a mix of home-made baked goods to tempt those taste buds.
Passager
Address: 107 Avenue Ledru-Rollin, 75011 Paris
Website: Passager
Cafe charms

With these and many other top cafes to tempt you, you’ll find much to enjoy when exploring Paris’s famous food and coffee culture.
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