You’ve heard it 100 times.
Paris in August is dead. Avoid Paris in August. Everything will be closed in Paris in August. And so on.
But is this really true?
Yes… and no.
As locals, we tend to love Paris in August. If we stay, we have much quieter streets and slower days. On top of that, more and more restaurants and bars are staying open in August, or only closing for part of the month. Still, this can be hard to confirm - not every establishment updates their social media or their website. For many, the good old-fashioned handwritten note in the window still prevails, “A la Plage, fermé jusqu’au 3 septembre!”
What’s Open in Paris in August 2026: A Local's Guide
There is a certain Parisian charm to these “be back in 20 days” notes on the door. At least, for the first few you encounter. But as time goes on, and you’re getting hungrier and hungrier, they start to look a lot less cute and a lot more lazy. You don’t want to feel hangry in Paris.
So to help prepare you for what might be a tricky month, we’ve put together our 5X5 - five categories of things to do, eat, and drink, with five suggestions for each category. All of them have been confirmed to be open in August. We did the work, so you don’t have to. Let’s start with the obvious:
Coffee Shops Open in Paris in August 2026
Coffee makes the world go ‘round, and thankfully the world can keep turning in August. You won’t have to resort to a burnt espresso in a corner tabac. These coffeeshops are guaranteed to have you covered:
CAFE MARGO
Come for the coffee en terrasse, stay for the cookies and warm welcome.
10th Arrondissement | Open Thursday-Monday, except around August 15th for about a week (we’ll update when we know more!) | Get Directions
FRINGE
Fantastic coffee and photography in the heart of Paris.
3rd Arrondissement | Open daily | Get Directions
PARTISAN CAFE
Grab their cold brew and have a seat on the benches outside to watch the world go by.
3rd Arrondissement | Open daily | Get Directions
CRIBLE CAFE
Voted best café (by us) to take on your wander to see the red pandas. These guys were open in 2025, and we’re waiting to hear about their 2026 plans.
5th Arrondissement | Open Monday-Saturday
THE BEANS ON FIRE
No indoor space to sit, but you’ll want to soak in that summer charm anyway.
Multiple locations | Open daily | Get Directions | And More Directions | And the Final Directions
BONUS: HARVEST.
Aircon and coldbrew.
11th Arrondissement | Open daily | Get Directions
Restaurants Open in Paris in August 2026
We contacted about 15 restaurants and these five were kind enough to reply and kind enough to be open (merci!). Paris has the best food; there’s never any reason to be stuck at a tourist trap or a Tiktok hyped restaurant when places like these five exist.
CHANCEUX
Come for coffee, stay for sandwiches. One of our favorite lunch spots in the city.
5th and 11th Arrondissements | Open daily (except for 4 days of renovation) | Get Directions | Get More Directions | Get Even More Directions
LE GRAND BAIN
Their spot across the street, Café des Delices, is open daily! Win-win!
20th Arrondissement | Open Wednesday-Sunday | Get Directions
TERRA
A welcoming staff, a killer wine list, and incredible sharing plates. These guys were open in 2025, and we’re waiting to hear about their 2026 plans.
3rd Arrondissement | Open Tuesday-Saturday
YARD
The best place for dinner when you’re done wandering through Père Lachaise. These guys were open in 2025, and we’re waiting to hear about their 2026 plans.
11th Arrondissement | Open Thursday-Monday
SISENG
South Asian finger food and other delicious dishes. Don’t skip on the sweet potato fries or the fried chicken.
10th Arrondissement | Open Tuesday-Sunday | Get Directions
Of course, if you’re in another area of town and not sure where to go, you can always refer to the interactive map in our Guide to find the nearest tried and true place to eat around the corner. (That said, it’s August. We still recommend you DM or call them first to see if they’re open.)
Bars & Drink Spots Open in Paris in August 2026
From wine to beer to bubbles to cocktails, chances are you’ll want to experience a bit of the craft drink while you’re in Paris. We’ve rounded up an option for each so you’re never left in the lurch. Sure, there will be others you can stumble across… or you can just go to Ô Chateau for your nightly wine fix, for example, and trust us, that’ll be a great experience every time.
Ô CHATEAU
Grab a glass of wine, a delicious meal, or book an official tasting with the wonderful team here
1st Arrondissement | Open Tuesday-Saturday | Get Directions
BLUEBIRD
A retro-vibes cocktail bar, perfect for a date. These guys were open in 2025, and we’re waiting to hear about their 2026 plans.
11e Arrondissement | Open every evening
COPPERBAY
Their slogan is cocktails, pastis, and food. And we recommend all three.
10th Arrondissement | Open every evening | Get Directions
COMING SOON… Two more spots!
We’re still researching what else is open in August.
Museums Open in Paris in August 2026
As a general rule, most museums in Paris will stay open during the August holidays. It is, after all, the high season for tourism. That said, we have our favorites and we’ve double checked that these are open for you to visit. Just beware! Mondays are generally tricky if you’re looking to visit a museum.
ORANGERIE
Absolutely serene, best for a moment of meditation with Monet’s Lilypads.
1st Arrondissement | Open daily except Tuesdays | Tickets Mandatory
MUSEE DE MONTMARTRE
One of our favorite plunges into the culture and artistic history of Montmartre.
18th Arrondissement | Open daily and evening hours on Wednesdays | Tickets
MUSÉE CARNAVALET
Possibly our top museum recommendation for Paris; learn it’s history at this free museum.
3rd Arrondissement | Open daily except Mondays | Free
BOURDELLE MUSEUM
A chill escape from the bustle of the city that will inspire any artist to get back to creating.
15th Arrondissement | Open daily except Mondays | Free
RODIN MUSEUM
One of the most unique museums, thanks to its quiet sculpture garden.
6th Arrondissement | Open daily except Mondays | Tickets
HOT TIP!
Our friend Amber is one of the best guides in Paris. Fun, down to earth, and incredibly knowledgeable, she’ll take you into a range of museums and be sure you see the most interesting pieces with the best stories. If you’re interested, please send her an email at [email protected] - and let her know we sent you (we’re her biggest fans!)
Things to Do in Paris in August 2026 (Besides Eating)
Because in Paris, there are other things to do than eat and visit museums (it’s true!)
ATELIER DES LUMIÈRES
Amazing lights, fantastic art, and a great experience for the whole family
11th Arrondissement | Open daily | Tickets
PALAIS GARNIER
Book a tour and pretend you’re in the phantom of the opera.
9th Arrondissement | Open most days, visit only (no shows) | Tickets
ARC DE TRIOMPHE
Hands down our favorite view of the city.
8th Arrondissement | Open daily | Tickets
SWIM IN THE SEINE
If you have a strong immune system, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Various locations | More information
GUIDED TOURS
One of the best ways to really get to know Paris is to be shown around town by a local in the know. We have a select few tour companies we recommend, run by friends truly passionate about Paris and who will give you the best experience possible. Since we’re working in groups of five, here are 5 recommendations.
- An electric scooter tour with BADASS TOURS PARIS
- A motorcycle and sidecar tour with TXANGO TOURS
- A classic bike tour with BIKE ABOUT TOURS (don’t forget to mention Jay Swanson sent you!)
- A banging food tour with DEVOUR TOURS
For more, read “Top Things to Do in Paris in August 2026.”
And we’ll leave you with that, our 5X5 for 2026 (plus a few extra tips along the way!) Save this blog for next year, as we’ll be updating it each season. We hope you have a fantastic time in August. Enjoy a gelato on your walk through the quiet streets, and indulge in some great food and wine, because in Paris, you can always find something amazing.
Please note that many of the links used in this blog are affiliate links. We vet and test every single affiliate we partner with, and if you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]
