Our Top 5 Paris Cafes Right Now

Paris is ever evolving, and as a Melbournian it makes me immensely happy that the café scene here just keeps getting better (and reminding me more of home). Here are some of my favorite places for hiding away from the Parisian winter.

Back in Black

Back in Black is the new café from the team behind a long-time favorite of ours, KB Café Shop in Pigalle. But where KB is small, homey, and cozy, Back in Black is large, light, and airy. Back in Black also offers table service and a more substantial made-to-order brunch menu, which is available all week long. Grab a seat by the large windows at the front and watch the world go by over one of their toasties (the grilled cheese takes things to a whole new level). Like KB, Back in Black is also laptop-friendly during the week, making it the perfect spot to do some work over a flat white.

Gramme

Gramme is the new brunch place to be seen at in the Marais. They’re famous for their bánh mì dog, which features marinated pork, pickled vegetables, fried onions, fresh coriander, and a green mayonnaise sauce, all stuffed into a brioche hot dog bun from fashionable bakery Le Petit Grain. But also on the menu is granola, French toast, avocado toast, breakfast bowls, and a daily salad. As an Aussie, I have to say their avocado toast is one of the best I’ve had in Paris recently. Their coffee comes from Café Lomi, and there are also natural wines and artisanal beers available. 

Dreamin Man

Dreamin Man is a tiny little coffee shop that instantly reminded me of the similarly small Boot Café. And no wonder: it’s actually run by a former barista of Boot Café, Yuichiro Sugiyama, and his wife. This cute spot is the perfect place for a reasonably priced afternoon coffee and cake (4€ for a café crème and 1€ for a generous slice of delectable banana bread). There are also scones, tartes, cake, muffins, and horse-shaped cookies, with coffee from Berlin roaster Five Elephant.

Circus

So Circus isn’t technically a café but more a bakery that serves coffee, but it had to be included. If you follow Paris-based Instagrammers, you’ve definitely seen their famous cinnamon bun by now. While not cheap, coming in at 6€ each, they’re so good it’s worth a try. Now that they’ve shot to fame thanks to their sweets (they also make apple and rhubarb tarts), they’ve expanded their horizons to the savory field, offering 100% sourdough wood-fired pizzas on the weekend and pita sandwiches for lunch. But with only two bench seats inside and two outside, you might have to get yours to go. Note that they only accept card.

Café Kitsuné Louvre

Another of our favorites, Café Kitsuné, has opened its first café-bar-restaurant in Paris. Café Kitsuné Louvre serves up internationally influenced sharing plates inspired by French bistro and American diner classics that are revisited with a Japanese touch. For example, azuki toast, dorayaki pancakes, edamame hummus, and wasabi popcorn. The bar opens at 6pm, when you can try the Kitsuné Cocktail, Aoyama Gin Fizz, Ichijiku Negroni, and many more.

Addresses

Back in Black – 25 Rue Amelot, 75011 Paris

Gramme – 86 Rue des Archives, 75003 Paris

Dreamin Man – 140 Rue Amelot, 75011 Paris

Circus Bakery – 63 Rue Galande, 75005 Paris

Café Kitsuné Louvre – 2 Place André Malraux, 75001 Paris

Related Links

• Gramme is one of the places in the Marais that is open on Sundays!
• Dreamin Man is a favorite of Lost in Cheeseland and Cakeboy.
• Read more about Australian-style cafes in Paris.

Written by Ali Postma for HiP Paris. Looking to travel? Check out Haven In for a  fabulous vacation rental in Paris, France or Italy. Looking to rent long-term or buy in France or Italy? Ask us! We can connect you to our trusted providers for amazing service and rates.