Mornings in Paris
Coffee culture in Europe is quite unique. There are some significant differences to keep in mind while visiting one of the many specialty coffee shops in Paris. For example, Parisians drink their coffee at the shop, rather than walking while drinking it. They enjoy sipping an espresso, rather than drinking a big Americano. Un Double Café (or un–Double Espresso) is a double shot of espresso. Un Café Noisette is shot of espresso with a dash of hot milk. Other popular options are pour-overs, flat whites, and crèmes.
My perfect morning in Paris starts by walking the beautiful Boulevard Saint Germain, in the 6th arrondissement. Stepping into some of my favorite stores as they open, such as Heroines Saint Germain, then treating myself to a pastry from Philippe Conticini, and finally sitting outside at Noir while admiring the gorgeous architecture and the latest fashion trends of the Parisians.
For those visiting the city this summer for the Olympics or just for travel, we have listed the top cafés in some of our favorite arrondissements.
Noir - Coffee Shop & Torréfacteur
9 Rue de Luynes, 75007 Paris, France
Noir might be my favorite café in Paris. Overflowing with charm and boasting an ideal central location, the 7th arrondissement is one of Paris’s most desirable neighborhoods.
At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin is a historic part of Paris on the city’s famous Left Bank. Affluent and synonymous with royalty and the Avant-garde, known for its Haussmannian apartment buildings. With its private mansions hidden behind high walls, highlight gardens, secret courtyards, and tucked-away mansions, which were built by the nobility, it offers the perfect combination of the city’s grandest monuments combined with the village-like atmosphere. The neighborhood remains a paradise for lovers of the adage “live happily, live hidden.”
Le 11e arrondissement – Canal Saint-Martin
Dreamin' Man
140 Rue Amelot
The Beans on Fire
Boutique & Atelier à l'angle, RDC, 7 Rue du Général Blaise
Some of Paris’s top restaurants spread around the highly cosmopolitan 11th arrondissement. Whether you opt for fine dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant, a relaxed bistro or a social enterprise, eastern Paris’s gastronomic scene sets out to inspire. Dreamin’ Man is a quaint spot in a small quiet street. You will really feel like a young local in this place. Folk music à la Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen play on repeat, creating a tranquil vibe for a crowd of regulars. At most, there will be two working at the bar including the owner, Yuichiro Sugiyama, who takes the art of coffee very seriously.
Le 6e arrondissement – St-Germain-des-Prés
Les Deux Magots
6 Pl. Saint-Germain des Prés
Café d’Auteur « Specialty Coffee Paris
39 Rue Mazarine
Gorgeous streets in Paris are for sure at St-Germain-des Prés. Once a favorite with famous artists and writers, the 6th arrondissement still boasts an alluring atmosphere. Chic shops, historic sights and famed cafes create an enchanting neighborhood. Les Deux Magots is a famous café and restaurant that once had a reputation as the rendezvous of the literary and intellectual elite of the city. It is now a popular tourist destination. Its historical reputation comes from the patronage of Surrealist artists, intellectuals like Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre, and young writers such as Ernest Hemingway.
Le 1e arrondissement – The Heart of Paris
Café Nuances
25 Rue Danielle Casanova
Petibon
15 rue Montorgueil
In this small neighborhood of Paris, you will find the quintessence of the capital's splendor. Home to iconic monuments like the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden, it is a neighborhood where art and elegance coexist. Cafés such as Café Nuances and Petibon are perfect stops for a break while touring the gorgeous neighborhood.
Le 18e arrondissement – Montmartre
Café Tabac/ Cafe Genovese
1bis Rue Ravignan
Clove
14 Rue Chappe
The 18th arrondissement is where touristy Paris meets popular Paris. Located on the capital's right bank, it is home to the famous and charming Butte Montmartre, where you can wander through a maze of staircases, an astonishing, almost mystical district village that takes you back to the Paris of the movies. This Australian-owned Italian espresso bar with an authentically Parisian shopfront perches nonchalantly on a hillside in Montmartre. In their own words, “Music, magazines and newspapers replace Wi-Fi, with locals and tourists gathering in the spacious but minimalist interior.”
Contributor — Ximena Lascurain | Lifestyle Consultant
From Mexico City, Ximena Lascurain brings to the Four Hundred Team a Latin flair. Growing up and attending Culinary School there, she has always been interested in the culture and gastronomy of her country. When she moved to NYC she attended the International Culinary Center where she certified as a Sommelier under the Court of Master Sommeliers. Prior to Four Hundred she worked in the kitchens of several Michelin star restaurants throughout Mexico, Spain and NY. What she enjoys the most when it comes to travel, is doing a lot of research. Specially when it comes to the "hidden gems" for local food and specialty coffee.