Paris is famous for its world-famous tourist attractions, being the fashion capital of the world, museums, art, and of course, its culinary scene that attract millions of visitors every year. And cafes and café culture are a crucial part of the capital’s renowned culinary scene. In this post, we’ll focus on Paris’ café culture and show you which are some of the most famous cafes in Paris that you should seriously consider visiting when traveling to the City of Light.
But first things first…
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With that out of the way, let’s proceed with the most famous cafes in Paris but before that, a few words about…
Café Culture In Paris
For most Parisians, café culture is an everyday experience that involves socializing with friends, relatives, co-workers, and business partners and this has been the case for centuries. The first cafes in Paris were opened in the late 17th century, shortly after coffee was first introduced to Paris for the first time in the mid-17th century. Officially, the first café in Paris was opened in 1686 and the early 18th century witnessed a real explosion of the café culture across the streets of Paris.
Initially, cafes were reserved for males and were places where people would go to exchange news and information with friends and acquaintances. In the years during and preceding the French revolution, cafes were mainly places where political matters were discussed but during the Restoration Period, the concept of a café started transitioning into a more relaxed place centered around social gatherings where women are welcome as much as men.
With that short introduction out of the way, let us show you which are some of the most famous cafes in Paris today…
Café De La Paix
Opened in 1862, together with the Grand Hôtel which shares its premises, Café de la Paix has always embodied Parisian life and has seen dozens of generations of Parisians meet, find love, and share moments together. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the café was declared an official, historical site by the French government in 1975.
Needless to say, the food is amazing and there are a lot of coffee and wine varieties to choose from. If possible, try to book a table on the terrace that overlooks Palais Garnier and offers some of the most beautiful views of Paris (you’ll thank me later).
Address: 5 Place de l’Opéra.
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 08:00 AM- 11:00 PM, Fridays, and Saturdays- 08:00 AM- 11:30 PM.
Nearest Metro Station: Opera.
Prices: On the expensive side; after all, all the historical grandeur comes at a price.
Telescope
Telescope is one of the best minimalist cafes in Paris. The café specializes in espresso and they have some very tasty pastries and sandwiches. The coffee comes primarily from premier Scandinavian coffee roasters but the café also has a wide selection of teas. What makes this café different than most others in Paris is that smartphones and laptops are forbidden inside. It’s a place where people come to be reminded of what it feels like to have a nice conversation without the interruption of technological devices. It’s also a great place for solo travelers in Paris looking to mingle with locals or just enjoy a cup of coffee while reading the morning newspaper or a book.
Address: 5 Rue Villédo, 75001.
Hours: Monday-Friday between 08:30 AM and 03:00 PM.
Nearest Metro Station: Pyramides.
Prices: espresso starts from €3 and above, and food prices are moderate.
Lomi Café
Lomi is without a doubt, one of the most famous cafes in Paris. This rustic café is the place to be for most coffee lovers who prefer coffee made of house-roasted beans. In addition to coffee, Lomi also offers a wide assortment of breakfast choices (or light lunches) and their cakes are also delicious. Their coffee is a bit more expensive than average but that’s because they only use high-end varieties of coffee, mainly from India and Mexico. And if you like the coffee, you can also buy some fresh, ground coffee before you leave.
Address: 3 ter Rue Marcadet, 75018.
Hours: Tue-Fri between 08:00 AM and 06:00 PM and Saturday from 09:30 AM till 06:00 PM.
Nearest Metro Station: Marcadet Poissonniers.
Prices: most coffee cups start from €8-9 per cup.
Café Du Coin
Café du Coin might not be as old as some of the other cafes on this list but it quickly started gaining popularity with its laid-back atmosphere, impeccable seasonal menu, and affordable prices. If it’s your first visit, you should definitely try their appetizer- pizzetta, it’s something this cafe is known for. And if you visit during the evening hours, you’ll see the corner café transform into a wine bar and the atmosphere is quite different. During the day, the café is mostly visited by people coming for brunch or a cup of coffee but in the evenings, the café is mostly filled with wine connoisseurs and enthusiasts.
Address: 9 Rue Camille Desmoulins, 11th arrondissement, 75011.
Hours: Monday-Friday 08:00 AM- 02:00 AM, Saturday-Sunday 10: 00 AM- 02:00 AM.
Nearest Metro Station: Voltaire.
Prices: Affordable, you could get a meal for €10– 15 and a cup of coffee for €3-5.
Les Deux Magots
Opened in 1885 Les Deux Magots is one of the oldest and most famous cafes in Paris. In the past, the café was visited by some of the most influential French (and foreign) writers, artists, and intellectuals, such as Albert Camus, James Joyce, Ernest Hemmingway, etc. The café also has its own annual literary prize that is given to up-and-coming French novelists every year since 1933.
But don’t get me wrong; Les Deux Magots isn’t some kind of an elite club where you can’t go in without an invitation or at least a reservation. Les Deux Magots caters to “normal people” too and welcomes everyone. You probably don’t need another reason to visit but you should also know that their food is top-notch, just like their coffee.
Address: 6, Place Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006.
Hours: Everyday 07:30 AM to 01:00 AM.
Nearest Metro Station: Saint-Germain-Des-Prés.
Prices: Slightly above average, dishes start from €13 and coffee starts from €5-€6.
Cafe de Flore
Opened in the 1880s, Café de Flore is one of the oldest coffee houses in Paris. The café is located right across the street from Les Deux Magots and similarly to its rivals, it has been visited by some remarkable intellectuals throughout the years. Most locals know that Café de Flore was the favorite café of Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, among others.
Throughout the years, the café changed very little and maintained its vintage interior with long red booths, large mirrors, and small, street-side tables. Another similarity this café shares with Deux Magots is the fact that it also has its own literary award that has been awarded for decades (it started just one year after Les Deux Magots introduced their literary awards).
Address: 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006.
Hours: Every day from 07:30 AM to 01:30 AM.
Nearest Metro Station: Saint-Germain-Des-Prés.
Prices: Average to slightly above average.
Bar Hemingway
As the name of the bars suggests, this place pays special tribute to Ernest Hemingway. The bar has an amusing vintage interior with leather armchairs, interesting paintings, and a whole wall display of 25 original photos from Hemingway’s memoir, “A Moveable Feast”. To be fair, this is more a bar than it is a café but we felt it deserves a mention on this list.
Bar Hemingway is famous for its draught beer, single malt whiskey (Hemingway’s favorite), and their vintage assortment of cocktails.
Address: 15, Place Vendome, 1st arrondissement, 75001.
Hours: Tue-Sat 06:00 PM- 02:00 AM.
Nearest Metro Station: Madeleine.
Prices: Above average, hot dogs and sandwiches start from around €20 and cocktails cost €30-40.
La Rotonde
La Rotonde is an extravagant café in Paris that was opened in 1911 and throughout the years, kept most of its vintage, cozy décor that made it one of the most famous cafes in Paris. This café is best known for its artistic milieu and delicious desserts like their chocolate lava cake and creamy, crème Brulee.
During the 1920s, La Rotonde became an intellectual gathering place for notable artists and writers due to its open atmosphere and affordable prices. Many things in Paris changed throughout the years but one thing that still didn’t change is the bohemian spirit you’ll find in La Rotonde.
Address: 105 boulevards du Montparnasse, 75006.
Hours: Every day, 07:30 AM – 02:00 AM.
Nearest Metro Station: Vavin.
Prices Relatively affordable, meals start from €12.00.
Café Des Deux Moulins
Café Des Deux Moulins is a café that’s quite popular despite being away from the busy streets of Paris. The café named after the two historical windmills (Moulin Rouge and Moulin de la Galette) is located on Rue Lepic in Montmartre. The café was opened in the early 1960s but it didn’t gain popularity until the early 2000s when it was featured in the French classic “Amelie”.
The food is absolutely amazing, but note that the café gets very crowded because it’s the only Paris-style dinner in the area. Last but not least, if you need another reason to visit, I should also mention that they also have an incredible selection of wines.
Address: 15 Rue Lepic, Montmartre, 75018.
Hours: Monday-Friday 07:00 AM- 02:00 AM, Saturday-Sunday 09: 00 AM- 02:00 AM.
Nearest Metro Station: Blanche.
Prices: Average, you could get a meal for €14– 18 and a cup of coffee for €4-5.
Café Tournon
Located just steps away from the Luxembourg Gardens, you’ll find one of Paris’ prettiest cafes- Café Tournon. The café is famous for being a hub for African American ex-pats but it welcomes everyone. You can also see a lot of renowned journalists, politicians, and celebrities frequently visiting the café.
Le Tournon was opened in the 1950s and was made famous by Duke Ellington and his band who made their Paris debut right here. But the fact that this café is a symbol of Paris isn’t the only reason why you should consider visiting. After all, there was a reason why Tournon became one of the most famous cafes in Paris. Among locals, this café is known for its wide selection of regional wines, fresh organic ingredients, and earthy, home-cooked French dishes that will leave you craving for more.
Address: 18 Rue de Tournon, 75006.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 07:00 AM- 12:00 AM, Sundays 09:00 AM- 08:00 PM.
Nearest Metro Station: Odeon.
Prices: Above average- entrees start from €16.00 and meals from €25.00 and above.
La Mosquee
La Mosquee is a courtyard café located in a Moorish-style mosque in the 5th arrondissement. The interior is in oriental style decorated with mosaics and mosaic-topped tables and scents of sweet-smelling shisha and oriental tea varieties make the atmosphere even more pleasant. La Mosque is firstly a restaurant and it serves some of the tastiest halal food in Paris but the place also has a nice and peaceful tea room where you can sit down with your friends for a cup of tea or coffee.
Address: 39 Rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, 75005.
Hours: Everyday 09:00 AM- 12:00 AM.
Nearest Metro Station: Place Monge.
Prices: Affordable.
Ladurée (Champ Elysees)
Located on Paris’ most famous avenue, Champs Elysees, Ladurée is one of the best brunch spots in Paris. In Ladurée, you’ll find the city’s most famous double-decker macarons and a bunch of other high-end pastries for everyone’s taste buds. But Ladurée isn’t a treat only to your taste buds; it’s actually an Instagrammer’s paradise with its unique picture-perfect pastel décor that’s a perfect mix of creative, modern, and classy.
Address: 75 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008.
Hours: Every day 08:30 AM- 07:30 PM.
Nearest Metro Station: George V.
Prices: Inexpensive, pastries start at €5.00 and coffee prices are quite affordable too.
La Cafeotheque
La Cafeotheque is a hip Parisian coffee shop that was opened in 2001 by the former ambassador of Guatemala in France, Gloria Montenegro. In addition to making some of the best coffee in Paris, La Cafeotheque is also famous for its Academy of Coffeeology which trains young baristas and sommeliers.
If you’re truly passionate about coffee, you’ll probably fall in love with this place and its interior. While there, you should definitely try their single-origin Ethiopian espresso as well as their house-made matcha cheesecake.
Address: 52 Rue de l’Hôtel de Ville, 4th arrondissement, 75004.
Hours: Every day 09:00 AM- 06:30 PM.
Nearest Metro Station: Saint Paul.
Prices: Slightly above average, but the coffee is worth it.
Republique of Coffee
Founded by Mexican chef Mario Flores, Republique of Coffee is a nice eatery/café that serves some nice Mexican coffee and a rotating menu of burritos and quesadillas prepared with fresh, seasonal, organic vegetables, as well as amazing seasonal salads and freshly squeezed fruit juices. The interior is very appealing to the eye with bright colors, typical Parisian furnishings, big glass windows, mirrored ceilings, and of course, flowers at every table.
Address: 2 Bd Saint-Martin, 75010.
Hours: Monday-Friday 08:30 AM- 07:00 PM, Saturdays and Sundays- 09:00 AM- 07:00 PM.
Nearest Metro Station: Temple.
Prices: Very affordable relative to the quality of food/coffee.
La Closerie des Lilas
Named after the ball of the Closerie des Lilas that used to take place across the street, this café/restaurant is a real star in the capital’s culinary scene. For some of the other cafes, we mentioned some of the famous people who were frequent visitors but for La Closerie, that list would be just too long. Unfortunately for your budget, this comes at a price; this is one of the pricier restaurants in Paris.
The café was opened in the first half of the 19th century and almost instantly became a hotspot for Parisian intellectuals. Many foreign writers, intellectuals, and celebrities also visited the café throughout the years, including Lenin who often used to come here to play chess with French poet Paul Fort.
Address: 171 Boulevard du Montparnasse.
Hours: Every day 12:00 PM to 02:15 PM and 07:00 PM to 10:15 PM.
Nearest Metro Station: Port Royal.
Price: Try dining in the brasserie where entrees start at €15.00 and above.
Ten Belles
Located just off Canal Saint-Martin, Ten Belles is a café founded by experienced barista Thomas Lehoux. Due to its incredible coffee, tasty pastries, and superb customer service, the café has quickly gained popularity and turned into a café chain with three shops in different parts of Paris. Ten Belles has a very nice interior with a discreet pinewood storefront decorated with plants and herbs, and a designated smoking area. But to get inside, you’ll likely have to wait a bit in the long queue that usually forms in front of the café.
Address: 53 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006.
Hours: Tuesday- Friday 08:30 AM- 04:30 PM, Saturdays 09 AM- 06 PM.
Nearest Metro Station: Rennes.
Prices: Both, coffee and pastries are quite affordable.
La Palette
If you’re passionate about art, La Palette is one place in Paris that’s definitely worth visiting, at least that’s what Picasso thought (it’s confirmed that he visited La Palette on multiple occasions). According to most, La Palette is the best outdoor café in Paris and throughout the years, it has been endorsed by the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmerman.
Despite the fact that this is one of the most popular cafes in Paris, the atmosphere is pretty laid-back and relaxed. The interior consists of two rooms; a tiny bar room and a large back room decorated with the same ceramics from the 1930s and dozens of inspiring paintings. The latter room, together with the cafe’s front window were listed as a Historical Monument in 1984.
Address: 43 Rue de Seine.
Hours: Every day, 08:00 AM- 02:00 AM.
Nearest Metro Station: Saint-Germain-des-Prés/ Odeon.
Prices: coffee prices are just about average but the dining menu is a bit expensive.
La Bonne Franquette
Located in an old 16th-century building, La Bonne Franquette Café in Montmartre has probably the most impressive list of customers when it comes to artists. Throughout the years, the café was visited by Van Gogh, Pissarro, Sisley, Renoir, Cezanne, Monet, and Degas, just to name a few. La Bonne Franquette is famous for its simple yet tasty menu, their wide range of local wines, and the picturesque garden where Vincent Van Gogh painted the famous “Guinguette”.
Address: 18 rue Saint-Rustique, 18th arrondissement, 75018.
Hours: Every day, 12:00 PM- 02:30 PM and 07:00 PM- 10:00 PM.
Nearest Metro Station: Lamarck- Caulaincourt.
Prices: Affordable
Brasserie Lipp
Situated in the heart of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, Brasserie Lipp is one of the most famous cafes in Paris and a temple of Parisian gastronomy. The café has been around since 1880 and it has been serving some of the finest food in Paris throughout the years. Some of their most famous signature dishes include Bismark herring, choucroute garnie, tête de veau, blanquette de veau, and brandade de morue. Similar to most cafes from its era, Brasserie Lipp also has an annual literary prize award since 1935.
Address: 151 Boulevard-Germain, 75006.
Hours: Every day- 09:00 AM- 12:45 AM.
Nearest Metro Station: Saint Germain-des-Pres.
Prices: Above average but worth it.
Enjoying this post? Then you may also like our list of non-touristy things to do in Paris.
Le Dome
According to the owners, Le Dome was the first one of the Montparnasse cafes to start louring artists and intellectuals after its opening in 1898. Even back in those days, the people who used to come here were named Domiers and helped Henry Matisse create the iconic (art), Academie Matisse, in this very own café. Today, Le Dome is still one of the most famous cafes in Paris, mainly known for its seafood and picturesque glass veranda that offers nice views of the surroundings.
Address: 108 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 14th arrondissement.
Hours: Every day 12:00 PM to 02:45 PM and 07:00 PM to 10:30 PM.
Nearest Metro Station: Porte de Versailles.
Prices: Above average but not far from most other Montparnasse cafes.
Le Train Bleu
Even though it’s technically a restaurant, we thought Le Train Bleu will be a nice addition to this list. This is a charming, vintage coffee located in the hall of the Gare de Lyon railway station in Paris. The restaurant was opened in 1900, initially for the Exposition Universelle but it kept working after that too and it was even designated a National Monument in 1972.
Today, Le Train Bleu is considered to be one of the finest restaurants in Paris. But obviously, food is not the only reason to visit it. Its interior is as unique as it gets with ornate dining rooms themed to represent different cities and regions of France decorated with 41 paintings from some of the most popular French artists of the 20th century.
Address: Gare de Lyon, Place Louis-Armand, 75012.
Hours: Monday-Friday 07:00 AM- 02:00 AM, Saturday-Sunday 09:00 AM- 02:00 AM.
Nearest Metro Station: Gare de Lyon.
Prices: On the expensive side, meals start from €35-40 per plate.
Le Select
Le Select is a cute brasserie that was opened in the early 20th century and kept its 1920s-style traditional French interior. The interior consists of old-fashioned moldings, mosaic tiles floor, wooden tables, and wicker chairs. It’s the kind of place that’s difficult to imagine without a trail of cigarette smoke but just like all other places in France, smoking is banned indoors. Today, Le Select is famous for its fine food, a wide assortment of regional wines, and a collection of more than 50 different blends of whiskey.
Address: 99 Bd du Montparnasse, 75006.
Hours: Sunday-Friday 07:00 AM- 02:00 AM, Saturdays 07:00 AM- 03:00 AM.
Nearest Metro Station: Vavin.
Prices: Relatively affordable.
Fouquet’s
Fouquet’s is a historic, high-end café-restaurant that’s a part of Hotel Barrière Le Fouquet’s Paris. Fouquet’s was opened in 1899 and its famous red awnings on Champs Elysees can be spotted from a mile away. This is another Parisian café/restaurant that’s listed as a historic national monument. To give you an idea of the status of this café in Paris, you should know that Fouquet’s is frequently a top venue for Cesar Film Awards after parties and it even housed the celebration for Sarkozy’s (former president) electoral victory in 2007.
Address: 99 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008.
Hours: Every day, 07:30 AM- 01:00 AM.
Nearest Metro Station: Ternes.
Prices: Above average.
Angelina
Angelina was opened in 1903, in an era when Paris was blossoming, both artistically and intellectually, and this café played a major role in the process. Quickly after its opening, similar to most other cafes on this list, Angelina started attracting some of the most promising young French intellectuals that ended up shaping many fields of French culture in decades to follow.
Today, locals and tourists from around the world queue up in front of the storefront to try some of the café’s tasty croissants, their signature Mont-Blanc, and the thick and creamy hot chocolate (that’s almost as dense as a pudding)- L’African.
Address: 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001.
Hours: Monday- Thursday 08:00 AM- 07:00 PM, Friday-Sunday- 08:30 AM- 07:30 PM.
Nearest Metro Station: Tuileries.
Prices: Just about average, you can get a meal for €18-20 and coffee prices are affordable as well.
Fringe
Fringe is a relatively new café in Paris that was founded by coffee lover and photographer Jeff Hargrove and one of our favorite hidden gems in Paris. What makes this café special are the owner’s initiatives to invite artists to paint the walls of the café and the fact that guests are invited to exhibit the wall paintings and even contribute with their own art to the café’s interior. In addition to this unique concept, Fringe also has a wide range of signature Parisian roasters and is the perfect place to end up for a productive caffeine-fuelled evening.
Address: 106 Rue de Turenne, 75003.
Hours: Saturdays, Sundays, & Thursdays- 10:00 AM- 05:00 PM; all other days- 08:30 AM- 4:00 PM.
Nearest Metro Station: Oberkampf/ Saint-Sebastien- Froissart.
Prices: Affordable, you can have a coffee and a light meal for €15-25.
Harry’s New York Bar
The New York Bar in Paris was opened in 1911 in an era when American ex-pats started to flood into Paris and search for ways to join Paris’s literary and artistic circles. This bar was supposed to provide space for all ex-pats where they can feel at home. The bar was renamed Harry’s New York Bar in the 1920s and throughout the years, the bar was visited by legends like Hemingway, George Gershwin, Sinclar Lewis, and many others. This is also the bar where the famous Bloody Mary was prepared for the first time (and then published in Harry’s ABC of cocktails published in 1921).
Address: 5 Rue Daunou, 75002.
Hours: Monday- Saturday- 12:00 PM- 02:00 AM; Sundays- 05:00 PM- 01:00 AM.
Nearest Metro Station: Opera.
Prices: Affordable, average cocktail price is around €15 and light meals are at average prices too.
Le Procope
Last but not least, we round up this list of the most famous cafes in Paris with Le Procope, by far the oldest café in Paris. Le Procope was opened in 1686 by Sicilian chef Procopio Cuto and was the first literary café not in Paris but in the whole world. I don’t know if this is true but since there weren’t that many cafes around in 1686, I find this claim by the owners believable.
Initially, Le Procope served only coffee (today they also serve some food) and some very important people used to come here for a cup. The list includes Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Jean Jacque Rousseau, and Voltaire, among others.
Address: 13 Rue de l’Ancienne Comédie.
Nearest Metro Station: Odeon.
Price: Affordable, you can get a full course meal for €20-25.
Hours: Every day, 12:00 PM- 12:00 AM.
Did you like our list of the most famous cafes in Paris? Did you ever visit any of these cafes? Do you think we forgot to mention some other interesting cafes in Paris? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
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