WiFi Cafes in Paris: A Writer’s Paradise
March 16, 2010
littlebrownpen.blogspot.com
I’m not the first writer to have moved to Paris with a gleam in her eye and a dream in her heart; nor am I the first writer to have scoured the streets in search of free WiFi (pronounced wee-fee in French) a.k.a. wireless Internet. Hemingway may have gotten the job done with pencil and paper in an ice-cold garret, but we modern-day Hemingways prefer slightly cozier digs in which to indulge our literary fantasies and writer-ly rituals.
And so, I give you the list of HIP-tested, HIP-approved, writer-friendly Parisian cafés complete with free wireless Internet (WiFi). For the cost of a mere espresso, you can spend hour after hour writing (or planning to write… or thinking about planning to write…. or, let’s face it, just procrastinating… but at least you’re procrastinating in Paris). This list is just the tip of the iceberg, but it’s enough to get you started. Now get out there and go for it. Your novel’s not going to write itself!
Maggie Battista
Marais
Terrasse des Archives—This café’s cozy closed-off terrace makes a lovely place to write “outdoors” even in winter. Blankets are available, and the Bordeaux en pichet (8.50 €) is pas mal du tout (not bad at all). 51, rue des Archives, 3ème. Tél: 01 42 72 17 57.
Latin Quarter
Café de l’Institut—Big, sunny, and right near the Seine, this is the perfect spot to spread out and work through the morning at a sunlit table. 1, rue des Fossés-Saint-Bernard, 5ème. Tél: 01 40 51 58 14.
Le Contrescarpe—Settle in amidst the bookshelves in this library-esque café on the charming Place de la Contrescarpe. I once mistakenly asked a waiter here if he had a “puce” (a flea) instead of a “prise” (an electrical outlet); he was quite nice about it. 57, rue Lacepède, 5ème. Tél: 01 43 36 82 88.
Café Delmas—Another nice spot on the Place de la Contrescarpe, and the backroom is the perfect place to curl up on a winter afternoon. The food/drinks are overpriced, but just think of it as your “rent” for the coziest office ever. 2, Place de la Contrescarpe, 5ème. Tél: 01 43 26 51 26.
Erica Berman
St. Germain / Montparnasse
Le Buci—For a healthy mix of working and people-watching, hit up Le Buci in the heart of bustling St. Germain, Paris’ historic intellectual epicenter. If you can’t get inspired to write, well, at least you’ll be inspired to sit around looking chic. 1 rue Dauphine, 6ème. Tél: 01 46 33 84 61.
Le Conti—A similar vibe to Le Buci. Geneviève (another HIP blogger) and I had our first “creative collaboration” here over kir and olives. 1 rue Buci, 6ème. Tél: 01 43 26 68 13.
Chez Félicie—Way down in the 14th, this is the coziest spot to order up a coffee (and tartine) and write away the morning. It fills up around lunchtime, so you may want to seek out a quieter spot for the afternoon. 174 Avenue du Maine, 14ème. Tél: 01 45 41 05 75.
Belleville / Canal St. Martin
Le Carillon—The service is “friendly” (more like flirty) and the unpretentious atmosphere feels downright bohemian. The resident cat may just curl up beside you while you’re working. 18 Rue Alibert, 10ème. Tél: 01 42 39 81 88.
Point Éphémère—Hipsters, unite! Cool kids congregate here to bask in each others’ creative light. It’s low-key, palpably hip, and has both indoor and outdoor space. 200 Quai de Valmy, 10ème. Tél: 01 40 34 02 48.
Rosa Bonheur—Hipsters, unite once again! But this time in Belleville’s Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, where you can take in the view and enjoy organic dishes while you work. (Only open Wed-Sun during winter months; call ahead to check hours of operation.) 2 Avenue de la Cascade (inside Buttes-Chaumont), 19ème. Tél: 01 42 00 00 45.
Montmartre
Le Sancerre—The perfect Montmartre neighborhood café, located right on the bustling Rue des Abbesses. Work the afternoon away and then head to Le Coquelicot for a just-baked baguette in the evening. 35, rue des Abbesses, 18ème. Tél : 01 42 58 08 20.
For a few others we have yet to try, check out Gridskipper’s list. What do you think, readers? Any other spots we should know about?
Written by Tory Hoen for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.
Written by Tory Hoen
After attending Brown University and spending two years in New York, Tory bought a one-way ticket to Paris to pursue her dream of becoming a writer (and of drinking wine at lunch). During her time in the City of Light, she chronicled the euphoric highs and the laughable lows of ex-pat life on her blog, A Moveable Beast. Though she's now based in New York, she travels frequently to Montreal and Brazil, and she'll use just about any excuse to jet to Paris ("I ran out of fleur de sel"). A regular contributor to Hip Paris, Tory also writes for New York Magazine, Time Out New York, and she is a co-author of Gradspot.com's Guide To Life After College.
Website: http://www.toryhoen.com/
Tags: cafe de l'institut, cafe delmas, chez felicie, le buci, le carillon, le conti, le contrescarpe, le sancerre, literary paris, point ephemere, rosa bonheur, terrasse des archives, tory hoen, wifi, wifi cafes, wifi cafes paris, writing cafes
Posted in Parisian Living | 14 Comments »
Le Carillon is also a great spot for evening drinks. Check out our review.
I just had tea while working at Latin St-Germain and it’s pretty nice, not so crowded, WiFi is great, and prices are ok, (the food looks delicious also) but it’s a bit noisy so don’t forget to bring your headphones!
I am reading this from La Fee Vert, on Rue de la Roquette, in the Bastille. I noticed you didn’t have any Bastille cafes. Can’t leave them out! I love La Fee Vert. Especially at night, it isn’t crowded at all and still has that minty-licorice scent throughout the bar. Wifi is free and unlimited, but you have to get a password from the waiter.
Also really great is Cafe Delaville, at the bottom part of the 10th (close to the 3rd). The place is huge, and there are plenty of seats and plugs and that interior design is to die for. You have to keep re-setting the wifi every 20 minutes, but is free and no password.
Love this post! Thank you. I also love Cafe Charlot 38 Rue de Bretagne for free wifi. Lots of start up people go there to use the internet in the Marais. It’s also right next to the Marche des enfants rouge which has a great lunch
[...] gente de Gridskipper en base a data de HiP Paris preparó uno de sus ya clásicos y excelentes mapas con info muy útil. En este caso se trata de [...]
[...] Although the streets can fill with tourists (both from other countries and other areas of Paris — jealous of the scene-y café terraces, bars and Sunday shopping), on a rainy afternoon or evening you’ll still find neighborhood cafés spotted with low-key, well-heeled locals reading the paper, sipping a glass of wine, or tapping away at their laptops. [...]
Went to Delmas today, but the wifi wasn’t working
Lovely working environment, but wifi may be spotty so beware!
[...] and jam. I probably did this way too often. But it really is just sooo good. This one is from La Terrasse des Archives (51, Rue des Archives, 3eme, Metro: 3eme, Tel : 01 42 72 17 57) in the [...]
My favorite is called Latin-Saint Germain, right on Saint Germain about a block down from boulevard Saint Michel. The staff is really nice and I’ve sat with my computer for hours on a 2 euro café without a problem
Roger, La Mer a Boire is a great idea! Thanks for the tip. And Will, I feel you. My faux pas in Paris are too many to count, but we learn as we go, right?
There’s a pretty good chance Hemingway exaggerated his hardships while in Paris, so I wouldn’t feel the least bit guilty about being cozy.
I laughed aloud when I read that you inadvertently asked your waiter if he had a flea! Your French is probably much, much better than mine. Years ago during my first visit I somehow got it in my head that bonjour was the French equivalent of aloha. I got a lot of smiles every time I waved goodbye while shouting “hello”!
Also is Belleville: La Mer à Boire, on rue des Envierges, right above the Parc. A great place to work, and there’s a magnificent view from the terrace.
If you’re really strapped for cash you can, in the warmer months at least, try the parks of Paris where there is sometimes goventment-sponsored WIFI. Try the Parc Rene Viviani right on the banks of the Seine next to bookshop Shakespeare & Company on rue de la Bucherie, or the Square Léopold Achille behind the Picasso Museum in the Marais.
To procrastinate in Paris – someday, someday. =)