Cafés are synonymous with Paris, and your trip to France’s capital won’t be complete without visiting one. But in a city crawling with cafés, which one to choose? We’ve put together a list of the best cafés in Paris so you don’t have to do the dirty work!
Pro Travel Tip: Bookmark this page so that you can easily find it while you’re traveling. Also, check out our guide to Paris for more planning resources, our top Paris tours for a memorable trip, and the top things to do while in Paris.
The Best Cafés in Paris
Cafés have played an important role in Paris ever since they began opening in the 1660s. Over the years, they’ve served as meeting spots for French revolutionaries, a place to write for philosophers and novelists, and—perhaps most importantly today—the ideal setting for a glass of wine and people watching.
You won’t get through Paris (or you shouldn’t, anyways) without stopping at a café at least once. Check out our list of the best cafés in Paris below.
Café Lapérouse Concorde
€€ | Historical | French Classic | Walk From the Louvre
This was the perfect breakfast stop after my trip to the Louvre as it’s only a short walk away from the museum. The attentive service was a delightful experience and the overall atmosphere was a welcome respite from all the commotion at the Louvre. This cafe offers several healthy breakfast options and includes fresh squeezed juices. After breakfast service, the cafe serves French specialties like escargot and tartare. They even have hamburgers for anyone looking to go less traditional.
Address: 2 Pl. de la Concorde
Café de la Paix
€€€ | Historical | Some Outdoor Seating
Open since 1862, Café de la Paix is a historical institution in Paris. Its even literally been declared a historical monument by the French government! Its interior is beautifully decorated in the Napoléon III style, so you can expect to see a lot of gold, beautiful paintings and even skylights.
The café is located right next to the infamous Opéra Garnier, so sitting on the café’s terrace means you’ll have a close-up of one of Paris’s most famous monuments. The food and drink are definitely on the expensive side, but we still recommend stopping in for one of their pastries and a coffee if you’re in the area.
Address: 5 Place de l’Opéra
Restaurant Paul
€€ | Traditional French | Some Outdoor Seating
Traditional French food and décor await you at this small café-restaurant. This is one of the few cafés set inside the small yet majestic Place Dauphine square, which by itself could put it on our list of the top cafés in Paris. If you stop in for lunch or a coffee in the afternoon, you’ll likely be able to see a game of pétanque being played right in front of you.
We recommend their leg of lamb and veal for the main course, and the profiteroles for those who have a sweet tooth.
Address: 15 Place Dauphine
Le Procope
€€€ | Traditional French | Some Outdoor Seating
Le Procope is the oldest café in Paris, set in the idyllic 6th arrondissement. Sitting down here means sitting down in the shadows of some of France’s most famed figures like revolutionary Robespierre or poet Verlaine.
While the prices are higher here due to the café’s history, it’s not nearly as expensive as one might imagine it could be to eat at Paris’s oldest café. If you don’t want to pay for a full meal, though, they have a nice tea room where you can have a smaller plate, as well as a back terrace for drinks.
Address: 13 Rue de l’Ancienne Comédie
Our Best Versailles and Paris Louvre Tours
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Secrets of the Louvre Museum Tour with Mona Lisa
The Louvre is the largest art museum on Earth and the crowning jewel of Paris, which is why it’s on everyone’s bucket list. Don’t miss out on an incredible opportunity! Join a passionate guide for a tour of the most famous artwork at the Louvre. Skip-the-line admissions included.
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Ultimate Palace of Versailles Tour from Paris
Versailles isn’t that difficult to get to by train, but why stress over the logistics? Meet a local guide in central Paris who will purchase your train tickets and ensure you get off at the right stop. Then enjoy a guided tour of the palace and the unforgettable gardens. Skip-the-line admissions included to the palace and gardens.
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Not ready to book a tour? Check out Paris Guide for more resources.
Le Hibou
€€ | Modern French | Outdoor Seating
Le Hibou, literally ‘the owl’ in French, is a popular spot on Paris’s Left Bank. They offer a variety of drinks and food, but have an especially good cocktail menu. They also have a nice breakfast deal where you can get a hot beverage, an orange juice and a croissant for seven euros. The ambiance is cozy yet modern, and they have fast service by Parisian standards.
Address: 16 Carrefour de l’Odéon
Bon Bouquet Café
€€ | Brunch Plates | Limited Outdoor Seating
Where you can find brunch all day, every day! Head here for pancakes, avocado toast, granola bowls and more with a French touch. This small, picturesque café amid the busy Parisian streets is a great way to start your day, and one of the best quality brunches in the city.
Address: 29 Rue de Trévise
Belleville Brûlerie
€€ | Filtered Coffee Specialties | Some Outdoor Seating
You won’t find a huge variety of coffee at Belleville Brûlerie, but you will find quality filtered coffee as well as tasty espressos. The café is part of the Belleville Brûlerie group, whose three owners decided to specialize in filtered coffee. They also offer class Parisian bistro fare like croque monsieurs and cheese and meat plates.
This café is great for those who love to explore off the beaten path areas. Located near the Canal Saint-Martin, in Paris’s modern artistic and hipster neighborhood, you likely won’t find too many tourists here. The café is also within walking distance of Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, one of the city’s best parks that travelers rarely see.
Address: 31-33 Rue Juliette Dodu
Le Relais de la Butte
€€ | Stunning Views | Montmartre | Classic Cafe Fare
Perched atop the hills of Montmartre, this charming café offers breathtaking views of the city, making it the perfect spot to pause and take in the scenery after a climb. With inviting outdoor seating, you can relax and enjoy the fresh air while savoring a delightful refreshment.
The menu features a variety of classic café fare, serving food all day long. Start your morning with flaky croissants and fresh juice, or return later for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
Address: 12 Rue Ravignan
Café Hugo
€€ | Typical Parisian | Some Outdoor Seating
An excellent spot for a drink or some light food. Café Hugo enjoys a prime location in the Marais neighborhood, right next to the historic Place des Vosges. The style is typical Parisian, with classic colored bistro chairs set up outside for people watching.
Café Hugo offers a nice breakfast combination, and getting there early means you’ll likely have the entire Place des Vosges to yourself. Another plus? The prices are very reasonable compared to other cafés in the area.
Address: 22 Place des Vosges
Café Marly
€€€€ | Upscale French | Some Outdoor Seating
As the saying goes, it’s all about location, location, location. Café Marly sits directly in front of the Louvre Museum, with a perfect view of the pyramid. This is the ideal café to sit outside and relax at.
As one can imagine, the prices are pretty steep here. Still, this is a great spot to splurge on. Instead of coming for dinner, we recommend coming early for breakfast (when hardly anyone will be around the Louvre) or coming around sunset for great lighting along the pyramid. The ambiance is classy, but there’s no need to dress up too much – they are used to serving people in their comfortable travel clothes.
Address: 93 Rue de Rivoli
Our Best Guided Tours of Paris
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Navigating transportation, dealing with tickets, and waiting in long lines can ruin your day at Versailles. Our half-day small group tour eliminates the hassle entirely. With roundtrip transport from Paris, skip-the-line access, and a friendly guide, you’ll effortlessly explore the palace, discover its highlights, and enjoy free time in the gardens. After your guided experience ends, you’re free to stay in the gardens, visit Trianon and take the train back to Paris at your convenience.
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Le Marais Paris Food Tour with Authentic Sit-Down Dinner
With local spots tucked away and confusing menus, most visitors end up overpaying at tourist-trap cafés instead of finding the authentic spots. Our local, friendly guide leads you through Le Marais to five real local businesses for eight tastings and four French drinks, including oysters, Boeuf Bourguignon, falafel, and sweet crêpes. Walk historic streets, hear food stories, and savor Paris like an insider.
Not ready to book a tour? Check out Paris Guide for more resources.
Carette
€€€ | Pastries | Some Outdoor Seating
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, Carette should be your next stop. Carette specializes in homemade pastries like macarons, éclairs and various tarts. For those who want something typically French, we suggest trying the Mont-Blanc pastry made with meringue and chestnut cream.
One fair warning – Carette may have quite a few tourists dining inside. That’s because it’s right across from the Trocadéro Plaza, which many consider to be the best viewpoint of the Eiffel Tower. While most places around here will be touristy, rest assured that the food at Carette meets local standards!
Address: 4 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75016 Paris | Tel: +33 1 47 27 98 85
Hours: Mon – Fri 7AM – 7PM | Sat – Sun 7:30AM – 7AM
Les Deux Magots
€€€ | Traditional & Historical | Outdoor Seating
Les Deux Magots, along with Café de Flore which is right next door, is one of the oldest cafés in Paris. It’s been a symbol of the city’s artistic and literary life, and also a meeting place for famous figures like Picasso and Hemingway, since 1885. This iconic spot ranks as one of the top cafés on our list.
A drink here won’t be cheap, but the quality combined with the ambiance and history make it worth it. We suggest trying their signature cocktail, Le Jazzy, which is a mix of Chambord, Veuve Clicquot Champagne and fresh raspberries.
Address: 6 Place Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006 Paris | Tel: +33 1 45 48 55 25
Hours: 7:30AM – 1AM, Every day
Le Moulin de la Galette
€€€ | Modern & Historical | Outdoor Seating
Taking a seat at Le Moulin de la Galette in Montmartre means great food but also impressive history. This place was once a windmill (moulin means ‘windmill’ in French), then a popular spot for drinking and dancing which famous painter Renoir featured in one of his masterpieces. Today you won’t find anymore dancing, but you will find a modern restaurant serving up traditional French food. The manager recommends their sea bass dish, but you can’t go wrong with a good boeuf bourguignon either!
Address: 83 Rue Lepic, 75018 | Tel: +33 1 46 06 84 77
Hours: Wed – Sun |12PM – 9PM
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