Ah, Paris. The city of notorious burnt coffee that we choke down because hey, it’s a great view at a French café and we’re in Paris!
Except… how about no? What if you can have it all - an amazing Paris trip with delightful caffeination by trained and passionate baristas with local and ethical roasters? Sounds too good to be true? Once upon a time, perhaps, but not anymore. New specialty coffee shops in Paris are opening monthly, for better or for worse, and now you have, dare we say, too many options? Which means the question has evolved from “Where on earth can I find good coffee in Paris?” to “How on earth can I tell which coffee shops are good on my trip to Paris?”
That’s where we come in. Today, we’re getting off the beaten path to some fantastic, favorite coffee shops and roasters that you’ll want to visit when exploring the lesser known areas of Paris
Best Paris Coffee Shops Off The Beaten Path
In this article, we’ll point out some of our favorite coffee shops that are very much off the beaten path in Paris - aka in areas that you might not be planning to visit unless you stay there or have some very niche interests. That means a lot of our recommendations here are in the outer arrondissements, some of which have great coffee scenes… others of which do not (more in this below). But they’re all out of the way for the adventurous traveller! We love these places because there’s never a long line to get in, almost always a place to sit, and the staff is generally relaxed and welcoming and not overrun by visitors.
That said, we have dozens upon dozens of fantastic specialty coffee shop recommendations in Paris that are more central as well. Some of our favorites are very much on the beaten path, and very much worth a visit (and conveniently located). To see all of our recommendations, articles, and more, be sure to check out our guide.
What Makes a Paris Coffee Shop Worth Seeking Out?
You’re in Paris - you have so many things to do, see and experience. So why should you care about good coffee? We’ve got four reasons for you:
Actual good coffee
Paris is historically notorious for its bad coffee. Cafés Richard is the roaster most of the regular cafés and bistrots use, and while you may like your coffee roasted to just a shade lighter than volcanic black, we actually like to be able to taste more than ash when we take a sip of our morning cup.. Plus, often the barista will burn the coffee (AGAIN! as if it hasn’t been abused enough) and/or the milk. If you get a bad coffee, it can ruin an otherwise beautiful experience on a terrace.
Support local businesses
Many of the best of these small coffee shops are locally owned and trying to stay afloat by offering exceptional coffee and service. Sure it might be easier to hop into the nearest Starbucks or Prêt-à-Manger, but we prefer going local when we travel.
Avoid tourist traps
Because there are lots of “specialty coffee shops” now that don’t actually offer good or ethical coffee - but they’re pretty! We’ll help steer you away from those which not only will serve you bad coffee, but at a crazy high price.
Get good advice
If you need advice on where to eat or drink and don’t have our guide, a barista at a really good coffee shop will likely be able to send you to another high quality establishment for dinner, brunch, or cocktails.
Best Neighborhoods for Coffee Shops in Paris
We recently went through every neighborhood in Paris and ranked it for its coffee scene on our sister podcast, Garage Monologues, with the founder of COMYU, Rod. Listen and watch here. Here are our top 5 neighborhoods for finding high quality specialty coffee in Paris.
2nd Arrondissement
This arrondissement has a lot of great coffee and it features Substance, which offers an exceptional, highly educational coffee experience. Be careful though, outside of Substance and a few good spots, it has several "mainstream" specialty coffee shops where volume is prioritized over coffee quality.
3rd Arrondissement
We rank the 3rd arrondissement highly because of its high concentration of top-tier specialty spots like Tiba and Fringe (a classic!). There is a wide diversity of roasters, allowing coffee nerds to sample a vast range of unique beans within a small part of the city.
10th Arrondissement
We love the 10th arrondissement because it has a high density of great coffee spots, including Ten Belles, Perlant, Bonjour Jacob, and Maison du Barista (which offers educational experiences). Many of its good spots focus heavily on food over coffee, so this is a great area to be in if you love your coffee with breakfast or a snack!
11th Arrondissement
One of the best neighborhoods for coffee in Paris! It is packed with spots where coffee is explicitly the main focus, such as Fauna, Klover, Dreamin’ Man, and many more (find them all in our guide!). Here you’ll find fantastic roasters, warm service, and some serious coffee nerds.
18th Arrondissement
Whereas once coffee was tough to find in this area of town, now it’s one of the best. It carries a surprising amount of heavy hitters, including Clove, and Simple, among others. Just be aware that the great coffee spots are concentrated down around the base of the hill rather than right next to Sacré-Cœur itself.
Underrated Coffee Shops In Paris
For a full breakdown of our favorite coffee shops in Paris broken down by arrondissement, both on and off the beaten path, keep an eye out for our next Paris in My Pocket Youtube Video, dropping mid-October!
10th Arrondissement: Perlant
Perlant is one of the best coffee shops in Paris right now. If you’re looking for an exceptional cup of coffee in Paris, you’ll find it here - specifically if you’re looking for a flat white. Still fairly new to the Parisian coffee scene, Perlant is making waves and has quickly become a neighborhood staple. Get directions.
11th Arrondissement: Klover
Klover, like Perlant, one of the more central “off the beaten path” mentions in this blog, and is fairly unknown compared to the other coffee shops in this area. We love it because they roast their own beans and have a real commitment to the craft, and a great energy. Get directions.
13th Arrondissement: Cayo
We highly recommend Café Cayo! Run by our good friend Fox, who also owns Good News in the 15th arrondissement, Café Cayo roasts their own coffee and makes their own food. That’s right - They’re also a small plates and natural wine restaurant, so be sure to come by when you’re hungry and need a rest. The 13th arrondissement is pretty off the beaten path, but Cayo makes it worth the trip. Get directions.
14th Arrondissement: Hexagone
There’s not a whole lot going on in the 14th arrondissement, so chances are you’re only here if you happen to be staying in the neighborhood - and in that case, you’re in luck! Hexagone has great coffee, and yummy sweet treats, and it’s not too far from the train station or the Montparnasse cemetery, which is worth a wander. Get directions.
Enjoy getting off the beaten path but nervous that you’ll get lost? Yeah, that can happen in Paris. First off, we recommend getting lost during the day in this city - it’s a fun way to get to know the streets around where you’re staying and the way we discover most of our recommendations off the beaten path - places we stumble upon. However, there may come a time when you need to use your phone to check directions, and when that time comes, you're going to want an eSIM. We always get an sEIM while travelling, and it levels up the travel experience. Plus, you’ll always have access to our guide if you have access to the internet, and THAT is something you’ll want on the ground in Paris!
16th Arrondissement: Belén
Not far from the Eiffel Tower is one of our favorite coffee shops for the pastries. Belén is an Argentinian bakery where every treat is made in-house and with family recipes. Their coffee is decent, but if you’re coming here it’ll likely be for a nibble and because you’re in the area. Get directions.
16th Arrondissement: Atome
So far out of the way you’ll probably only visit Atome if you’re hitting up the Marmottan Museum or the Maison de Balzac. It’s a very small coffee shop, but worth the stop, even if you end up taking it to go, as they have really great coffee and pastries, and the quiet streets of this neighborhood don't have a ton on offer in that department. Get directions.
18th Arrondissement: Two Doors
If you’re looking for a good cup of coffee right at the base of the hill of Montmartre, Two Doors is a classic; it’s been a favorite of ours for years. Coffee? Great. Cookies - GREAT. What’s not to love at Two Dooors? Get directions.
18th Arrondissement: Bønne
Fairly new to the Paris coffee scene, Bønne is a welcome establishment in the upper 18th arrondissement. It’s a nordic coffee shop that has some really unique pastries on offer, and great coffee. Cozy and small, this is a very well placed coffee shop to be worth a visit on a trip to Montmartre for anyone looking to escape the tourists and get some quiet coffee time. Get directions.
Are you only in Paris for a short time, but want to stay off the beaten path and really wander around? This means you’ll be taking the metro, and while it’s generally very safe, if you have multiple people in your party, you might find a pickpocket eyeing you. Our solution? A pickpocket-proof bag. Yes, this does really exist, yes we have this backpack, and yes we use it! Comes in backpacks, satchels, bum bags, and more!
19th Arrondissement: Kaffee Bar 19
Kaffee Bar 19 is a cute and quirky spot shoved between streets and a bridge across the canal. There is space to sit inside and a few tables outside, and they offer coffee, salads, and pastries. We prefer the filter to the espresso here, but overall it’s a great coffee option if you’re in this area of the city, which still remains pretty dead for specialty coffee shops, miraculously! Get directions.
20th Arrondissement: Dancing Goat
This is a really charming coffee shop, with high vaulted ceilings, warm tile floors and fantastic staff. There’s a ton of natural light and the ambiance is top notch. It’s a great place to bring a book or a journal, and sit over a cup of coffee or one of their fantastic granola bowls. They even do a nice boiled egg with cheese for a simple, hearty breakfast. Get directions.
By now you probably understand - we love the hidden gems of Paris. Most of what we recommend is something that you’re unlikely to stumble upon yourself (with exceptions - if a place merits its fame, we’re still likely to recommend you visit it!). For more recommendations like these, check out our Guide - filled with hundreds of recommendations, dozens of articles, and a map with filters so you that you can find just what you’re looking for, where you’re looking for it.
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