COFFEY’S COFFEE GUIDES - BEST COFFEE AND PASTRIES IN PARIS
The traditional French cafe’ still reigns supreme in Paris, but for tourists and locals alike looking for specialty coffee options in the “City of Light”, there is a rising demand for something other than the status quo. If this is your first or fifth time to Paris, a stop at one of the countless Parisian cafes or bakeries (boulangeries) should naturally be included in your visit. It is by no mistake that the “third wave” coffee movement has been slowly adopted in Paris and France in general. The French are proud of their traditions and as a tourist, you should respect those traditions and take part in enjoying the classic combination of dark roasted coffee with a croissant.
That being said, if you are wanting to venture out and try some “third wave” coffee shops, the list below is just scratching the surface of the ever evolving Parisian specialty coffee scene. We have also included some bakeries that we loved should you ever be in the mood for a tasty treat alongside some coffee. We loved our stay in Paris and cannot wait to return and try even more cafes and bakeries on our next trip. Without further ado, below is a list of some of our favorites we tried:
#1: The Coffee
Upon arrival in Paris Gare du Nord train station, and after scrambling to understand how to get a Navigo card (the lines were crazy), we finally boarded our subway to Le Marais. This neighborhood is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris, with ornate building exteriors and winding alleyways. Le Marais is a perfect melting pot of the old and new. Walk down a narrow alley and you will find a classic boulangerie next to a trendy cafe or vintage shop. The first coffeeshop we tried was aptly named “The Coffee” (open in Google Maps). This compact and cozy shop pays homage to Japanese “To Go” coffee and makes some stellar cortados and iced matcha. This shop is about as far from a traditional Parisian cafe as you can get - a Brazilian coffee shop brand, inspired by Japanese coffee culture, in Paris. As confusing as that is, one thing is clear, and that is that this shop crafts some seriously good coffee and is worth a stop if you find yourself in Le Marais.
#2: WHITE Coffee
WHITE Coffee (open in Google Maps) is an uber chic to go coffee shop that makes quality and strong coffees. The cortados we had here were well balanced and packed a punch. Ultra minimalism is seen throughout the small store, but they make do with the small space they have. Besides the coffee, they also sell some tasty cookies and pastries in case you get hungry exploring the captivating Marais neighborhood.
#3: I.O. Cafe
Just north of the main part of Le Marais, you will find another small coffee shop that is changing the coffee game in Paris. Situated in what I can only describe as a small garage, I.O. Cafe (open in Google Maps) crafts some delicious drinks served in beautiful handcrafted cupware. The place is small and compact, but has a certain charm to it. Sit back and enjoy an espresso before continuing on your undoubtedly packed itinerary.
#4: The French Bastards
If you are looking to try some crazy good croissants and pastries, look no further than the French Bastards (open in Google Maps), which has several locations sprinkled around the city. This was the first Parisian croissant we tried, and man was it good. We awkwardly entered the store and shyly greeted with a bonjour (our American accents really are just the worst). The lady greeted us back kindly and asked us in English (cause you know we butchered the pronunciation) what we would like to order. We ordered a pain au chocolat to share. The cashier refused and gave us another one free of charge, saying you can’t possibly share a single pain au chocolat. Whoever says that French people are rude, let this be a testament that the opposite is true.
#5: Partisan
Quite a bit larger than the prior coffee shops on this list, Partisan (open in Google Maps) serves and roasts their own beans in a laid back, modern/industrial designed shop. This was the first shop where I had pourover, which is surprisingly hard to find in Europe, and Paris in particular. The coffee was good, but not our favorite on the list by any means. What Partisan does have is a great variety of coffee and food, and a nice shop with ample seating.
#6: Mamiche
Butter. So much butter. After exploring the Montmartre neighborhood, we were dying to eat some more pastries. Mamiche (open in Google Maps) is often said to make the best croissants in town. While that may depend on your own tastes and preferences, you cannot avoid the popularity of this little boulangerie. One thing we learned while in France, is that French people are completely unphased by wasps. The store was filled to the brim with yellow jackets, so naturally Brenna said I had to order.
I walk in eyeing the tantalizing display of croissants and other pastries, trying to distract myself from the wasps currently clinging to my jacket. I try to imitate the rest of the people in line, who were all mainly locals, paying no attention to the cloud of wasps buzzing overhead. I glance at the pain au chocolats, with the flaky crust and the wasps crawling over them. I examine the ham and cheese croissants with puddles of butter on their tops, a sort of makeshift backyard pool party for the wasps currently swimming in it. I ordered a couple pastries and some espressos, and calmly, yet swiftly, exited the shop. The pastries were exceptionally indulgent, the most butter per capita in a pastry I have ever tried. If you are ever in the area, it is definitely worth a stop, though maybe avoid it in the summer months, unless you don’t mind the sound of swarming.
#7: Noir Coffee
Noir (open in Google Maps) was our second favorite coffee shop we visited in Paris. They have a few locations, so we can only speak for the one located at 120 Bd Haussmann. That being said, Noir served a wide variety of coffees from around the world, in their bright and modern shop. The cortado was the second best I had in the city, and it was also a great escape from the blistering heat we had that day. If you are wanting to buy some beans while on your trip, Noir has a good variety of bags of coffee for purchase.
#8: Cédric Grolet Opera
The incredibly popular Cedric Grolet (open in Google Maps) has received a fair amount of hate on social media. Many people say it is overhyped and not worth the wait. While the wait was long, approximately 30 minutes, the immaculate display of pastries and cakes legitimized the hub bub for us. The croissants were the biggest and most luxurious we have ever had. I can only describe the shop as the Louis Vuitton of pastry shops. If you don't have the time to wait in line though, I can understand why some people dislike the shop. For me, waiting in line was rather fun, as we got to peer through the windows and watch as some decadent and intricately designed pastries and cakes were being crafted. Once you are ushered into the shop, you are guided through all that they have for sale and are offered some free samples of their croissants. In the end, after eating a fair amount of croissants on our trip, these were our favorite.
#9: ARTESANO
Just on the edge of Le Marais, is a newcomer to the Paris coffee scene, ARTESANO (open in Google Maps). Serving exclusively Mexican coffee, we were very impressed with the flavor of the espresso at this shop in particular. Come to find out, after speaking with the barista/owner of the shop, that the shop had only been open for a few weeks. The owner was exceptionally kind and welcoming, and made the best coffee we had on our trip. It goes to show that you shouldn't have an itinerary for everything. If we had only tried coffee shops and bakeries that we had saved down prior to our trip, we would have never come across ARTESANO. When we eventually do return to Paris, rest assured this will be our first stop.