The St. Germain district is synonymous with cafés. While its reputation was built on legendary Parisian cafés like Les Deux Magots and Le Café de Flore, these days there’s a whole new variety of cafés percolating throughout the neighborhood. Here’s where you can get the best coffee on the Left Bank:
Found a stone’s throw from Place Saint-Germain-des-Près and its iconic cafés, this tiny spot is the perfect venue for a takeaway coffee for your wanderings around the area. There are also few seats in the cozy space, surrounded by stone walls, rustic wood furniture, and potted plants, where you can flip open your laptop to work or simply enjoy a matcha latte with a homemade pain au chocolat or vegan, gluten-free treat.
Address: 38 rue des Saints-Pères, 75007 Paris
Cuillier
After the success of its Right Bank branches, this premier coffee shop has arrived on the Rive Gauche. Located across the street from the Musée Maillol in the foodie hub around rue du Bac, the coffee shop features the same modern minimalist decor as the other venues, as well as its acclaimed coffee specially roasted for them by Belleville Brûlerie.
Address: 68, rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris
For more top-notch coffee near rue du Bac, take a wander down Beaupassage. This refurbished historic passageway has been converted into a foodie paradise, bringing together a number of the city’s leading chefs and food purveyors. Within this fine selection is Junichi Yamaguchi, World Barista Champion in Latte Art, which you can sample yourself at his hip coffee stall. His brews are prepared by extraction method and use superior quality beans from South America and Africa. You can enjoy these in the form of espresso, filter coffee, and Chemex pour-overs; served hot or iced.
Address: 53-57 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris
Be transported to Roma at this chic Italian café and restaurant, discreetly tucked away across from the Marché St. Germain. You’ll feel just like you’re in the Italian capital as you sip an authentic ristretto on its fabulous terrace. If you’re feeling peckish, have a cappuccino with their signature Paris-Turin, an Italianesque version of the Paris-Brest dessert.
Address: 8 Rue Mabillon, 75006 Paris
Judy
In keeping with its “cantine qualitarienne,” everything on the menu at this airy and modern café, situated a few short blocks west of the Luxembourg Garden, is of the highest quality. Of course, this also applies to its coffee, which happens to come from Coutume (see below) and is prepared with finesse on a Synesso machine. For a healthier dose of caffeine, order your latte with their cold-pressed almond milk.
Address: 18 rue de Fleurus, 75006 Paris
Although it might technically be on the fringes of the St. Germain neighborhood, it would be impossible to talk about the best coffee in the area without including Coutume. Opened in 2010, this coffee roaster was one of earliest to arrive on the new coffee scene in Paris and is known for following the coffee-making process from bean to cup. Their award-winning coffee is now available at various cafés around Paris, like Judy above. However, their original venue is well worth the trek for hardcore coffee connoisseurs who can savor their amazing coffee straight from the source, as well as their special coffee of the month.
Address: 47 rue de Babylone, 75007 Paris
You can also get a your caffeine and sugar fix at recently featured Treize au Jardin. The second rendition of Treize bakery has a dedicated barista and specialty coffees, which go extremely well with their exquisite desserts.
Related Links
- For a coffee shop with a design twist, head to Residence Kann.
- Looking for some delicious brunch to go with your coffee? Check out some of our favorite spots!
- Honor is Paris’ outdoor specialty coffee shop in the chic 8th arrondissement.
Written by Lily Heise for HiP Paris. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Italy, France or elsewhere in Europe? Let us know. We can help!
Did this article seriously fail to mention La Palette? Huh?
Couple of weeks ago Le Café Alain Ducasse opened at 47 Rue du Cherche-Midi – with Marzocco machine made specially for them and all these bells and whistles. Worth checking (did that)
Sounds intriguing. Thanks!