34 Trendy Cafés in Paris Locals Actually Queue For
The classic Paris café gives you a wicker chair, a view and a burnt espresso. The new wave gives you a pastel wall, latte art and, too often, a queue for a so-so avocado toast. Neither photo tells you where the coffee and the food are actually good.
We tagged these 34 trendy cafés in Paris from reviews and the guides we follow, keeping the spots where the crowd comes back for what's in the cup and on the plate. Want a morning plan? See our breakfast picks. Prefer the old-school view? Try our café terraces.
A convivial 11th arrondissement bistro serving creative French tapas and legendary pizzetta, where Chef Florent Ciccoli transforms traditional troquet dining into a modern sharing experience.
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A luminous vegetarian canteen in the heart of the Marais serving ultra-fresh, Instagram-worthy plant-based comfort food with an impressive 9.6/10 rating.
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A vibrant Italian trattoria in the heart of the Marais serving Neapolitan pizzas, fresh pasta, and weekend brunch favorites in a modern coffee shop atmosphere.
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A 100% vegan, gluten-free haven serving superfood-powered cuisine with over 30 years of expertise in plant-based nutrition.
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A sun-soaked slice of Los Angeles in the Sentier, serving homemade neo-Californian comfort food from breakfast through late lunch.
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A pioneering vegetarian restaurant with two Paris locations, serving seasonal sharing plates crafted from locally sourced, regenerative ingredients.
A Franco-British bakery and coffee shop championing artisan sourdough, specialty coffee, and eco-responsible practices across three Parisian locations.
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An American-style bakery and diner serving homemade pies, fresh bagels, and Brooklyn-inspired organic fare in the heart of Paris's 18th arrondissement.
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A bold artisan glacier crafting over 30 unexpected flavor combinations in a charming blue-fronted boutique in the 9th arrondissement.
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A versatile all-day spot where Asian-French fusion cuisine meets specialty coffee, helmed by MasterChef France 2015 winner Khanh-Ly.
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A pioneering specialty coffee roastery and artisan bakery serving exceptional sourdough bread and carefully sourced coffee across three beloved Parisian locations since 2012.
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Chef Rémi Lazurowicz's seasonal bistronomy shines at this convivial Pigalle address, where precise cooking and shareable plates create a warm neighborhood dining experience.
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A pioneering specialty coffee roastery in the 18th arrondissement where Parisian café culture meets artisanal bean-to-cup craftsmanship.
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A luminous neo-50s bistrot in the 11th arrondissement serving creative seasonal small plates and natural wines from morning coffee to late-night tapas.
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A contemporary Japanese café in République dedicated to the art of matcha, serving bubble tea, gua baos, and an array of matcha-infused desserts.
From dawn to dinner, this Groupe Richer gem serves modern bistro fare with Asian influences and house-made Italian gelato on a sun-drenched 45-seat terrace.
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A minimalist coffee shop in Montmartre serving specialty coffee from Dak Coffee Roasters and Kawa, with innovative pea milk beverages and homemade treats.
An Australian-inspired coffee shop in Montmartre's 18th arrondissement, serving seasonal brunch and virtuous lattes in an industrial-chic setting with Écotable Level 2 certification.
A vintage cocktail bar nestled in a former 1910 pharmacy, serving creative libations and refined small plates on a charming tree-lined terrace.
A modern coffee roastery where expertly sourced single-origin beans meet house-made pastries in a light-filled space that doubles as a community hub.
A unique café where wellness sessions and gourmet comfort food converge in the heart of Paris's 9th arrondissement.
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A pioneering bean-to-bar chocolate manufacture where artisanal craftsmanship meets exceptional cacao sourced from Peru, Tanzania, Belize, and Vietnam.
Celebrity chef Cyril Lignac's dedicated chocolate haven in the 11th arrondissement, serving artisanal chocolates, decadent pastries, and the city's most indulgent hot chocolate.
A contemporary bistro where chef Thibault Laporte crafts inventive seasonal cuisine in a warm, neighborhood setting that embodies modern Parisian dining.
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A Brooklyn-style coffee roastery and sandwich shop serving artisanal espresso and creative egg buns in the heart of Paris's 9th arrondissement.
A 400 m² artisan bakery spanning three floors across from the Louvre, crafting 100% homemade breads, viennoiseries, and modern pastries in a zen, contemporary setting.
A vibrant, health-focused haven serving açaï bowls and all-day brunch with homemade preparations across multiple Parisian locations.
A modern bistro in the 12th arrondissement where French tradition meets global influences through a weekly-changing menu that celebrates seasonal ingredients.
Paris's premier destination for freshly baked, artisan cookies that redefine indulgence with their signature soft, chewy texture.
A colorful haven serving fresh açaï bowls and all-day brunch across multiple Parisian locations, where Brazilian superfoods meet local ingredients.
A dedicated coffee roastery in Paris's 15th arrondissement where artisan beans meet expert brewing techniques.
A specialty coffee roastery and gallery space where exceptional micro-lot beans meet alternative brewing methods in the heart of Paris's literary quarter.
Alain Ducasse's specialty coffee roastery in Bastille, distinguished as an Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant, where grand cru coffees meet artisanal craftsmanship.
A beloved specialty coffee roastery and artisan bakery serving exceptional sourdough bread, house-made pastries, and expertly brewed coffee in the heart of the 6th arrondissement.
TimeoutFoodingHow to find a trendy café in Paris worth the queue
Trendy cafés here come in three flavors: specialty coffee with serious bread, all-day brunch spots with a foreign accent, and plant-based canteens. Pick your craving, then filter by neighborhood and price above.
Coffee, sourdough and a scoop
Ten Belles opened near the Canal Saint-Martin in 2012 and helped launch the city's specialty coffee scene; it roasts its own beans, bakes its own sourdough and takes no reservations. Its sibling, Ten Belles Bread in the 11th, does a daily sandwich and a feta-oregano-beetroot quiche. In the 9th, Glaces Glazed pairs its coffee with 30-plus daring ice cream flavors, from pistachio with black sesame cream to a pickle sorbet. More in our coffee shops and bakeries.
Brunch with an accent
Echo, in the Sentier, brings Los Angeles to rue d'Aboukir with smash burgers, Vietnamese iced coffee and lavender lemonade, but it closes mid-afternoon. At Bob's Bake Shop, on the Halle Pajol esplanade in the 18th, it's bagels, cheesecake and homemade pies. The Hood, in the 11th, is a coffee shop by day and a bar-bistro by night, with a banh mi and a pandan chiffon cake from MasterChef France winner Khanh-Ly. Our American food page has more.
Plant-based and healthy
Kitchen, in the Marais, serves pancakes, avocado toast and veggie stews in a bright canteen with organic coffee. Sol Semilla, near the Canal Saint-Martin, is entirely vegan and gluten-free, with superfood bowls and a small shop on site. Browse our healthy cafés and vegan food for more.
Where and when to go
The 11th and the 9th lead this list, followed by the 18th, so start with the 11th arrondissement if you want several options within a short walk. Most of these cafés are cheap to moderate. Weekend brunch is rush hour: book where you can, or go on a weekday morning when the counter is calm. Many close in the afternoon, so open each place page for opening hours, prices and what to order before you set out.