HiP Paris Blog, Folks and Sparrows, Isabel Miller-Bottome, sandwich bag 1

The latest buzz on the Paris coffee scene this summer is Folks and Sparrows, a café-épicerie-concept store tucked away on a quiet street in the 11ème, one of my favorite neighborhoods.

HiP Paris Blog, Folks and Sparrows, Isabel MIller-Bottome, sunflowersHiP Paris Blog, Folks and Sparrows, Isabel Miller-Bottome, drinks

I had the pleasure of spending a couple of hours here on a drizzly Tuesday afternoon last week. I relaxed into a leather easy chair in the corner, admired the sunflower and lavender arrangements around me, and enjoyed a perfectly satisfying cappuccino – smooth, creamy, and served in a hefty mug for two hands. Folk music played in the background and I felt immediately transported to another place, a cabin in the rural woods of New England perhaps.

HiP Paris Blog, Folks and Sparrows, Isabel Miller-Bottome customersHiP Paris Blog, Folks and Sparrows, Isabel Miller-Bottome copy

This is Franck’s vision. The Paris-born owner, who spent 10 years living in Brooklyn, worked his way up from waiting tables to managing a restaurant. He described to me the strong connection he still feels to his second home in the US, where many of his close friends live. “The US was really nice to me, “ Franck recalled, seemingly longing for his hikes in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate NY.

HiP Paris Blog, Folks and Sparrows, Isabel Miller-Bottome, FranckFranck, Folks and Sparrows Owner

Folks and Sparrows is a miniature international épicerie of sorts. In addition to the exceptional coffee and fresh baguette sandwiches wrapped carefully with a pretty garnish, you can stock up on jarred pickles imported from Brooklyn, BBQ sauce from Kansas City, sardines from Lisbon, cookie mix from Brussels—an eclectic selection composed of the very best products Franck could source.

HiP Paris Blog, Folks and Sparrows, Isabel MIller-Bottome, Interior

With its rustic yet minimalist interior, the cafe is truly a reflection of the taste and personality of its owner. “It’s like my home, “ Franck told me. The gorgeous crossed wooden shelving, counters, and backdoor were handcrafted by a carpenter friend of his, one of a close-knit group of friends who came together to help Franck design and construct Folks and Sparrows.

This new spot is a gem, a humble oasis from the bustling, elbow-to-elbow street cafes of the city, and sure to become a ritual for neighborhood locals and visitors alike.

HiP Paris Blog, Folks and Sparrows, Isabel Miller-Bottome, empty mug

Folks and Sparrows is currently en vacances, but be sure to check them out when they re-open on the 20th!

Folks and Sparrows, 14 rue Saint-Sébastien, 75011 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)9 81 45 90 99

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Written by Isabel Miller-Bottome for the HiP Paris Blog. All images by Isabel Miller-Bottome. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, London, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

 

WRITTEN BY

Isabel Miller-Bottome

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Isabel moved to Paris after graduating from UC Santa Barbara. Her poetry and articles have been published by The Catalyst, Into the Teeth of the Wind, Spectrum Literary Journal, The Daily Nexus, The Culture Trip, and the HiP Paris Blog.

4 Comments

  1. Hi Isabel, please, is there an e.mail adress to contact Folks and Sparrows coffee shop? I didnt find a website and would love to share it with brazilian readers…Thank you!

    1. Dear Liege,

      I do not believe Folks & Sparrows has a website but you can find them on Facebook, here: https://www.facebook.com/folksandsparrows. Enjoy!

      -Isabel/HiP

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