The 11 Best Cafés in Paris (2026)

Updated October 2026 · 11 picks

The best cafés in Paris in 2026 are Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots for the classic Saint-Germain terrace, Le Select in Montparnasse and Café de la Paix by the Opéra. For specialty coffee, go to Coutume, KB Coffee Roasters, Ten Belles, La Caféothèque or Café Verlet, one of the city's oldest roasters.

In a classic Paris café, the price depends on where you sit: standing at the bar (au comptoir) is cheapest, and the terrace is dearest. Order un café and you get an espresso; ask for un crème for a milky coffee. Specialty coffee shops work like they do anywhere else and serve flat whites and filter. You can linger over one coffee at a café for as long as you like; nobody will rush you.

1. Café de Flore — Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th)

The most famous café terrace in Paris.

$$$ Upmarket

Café de Flore on boulevard Saint-Germain is the classic Left Bank café, with an Art Deco interior of red banquettes and mirrors and a terrace made for people-watching. It's where Sartre and de Beauvoir famously worked.

Prices are high and the waiters are brisk, but the experience is the point. Order a hot chocolate or a coffee and settle in. It suits first-timers and literary pilgrims.

Good to know: Go early in the morning, when it's calmer and locals read the papers.

172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris

Google Maps Website

2. Les Deux Magots — Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th)

The Flore's historic neighbor, facing the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

$$$ Upmarket

Les Deux Magots faces the oldest church in Paris on Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and its terrace is one of the city's great places to sit. The two carved Chinese figures (the magots) still watch over the dining room.

Its website lists opening from 7:30am to 1am. Order a hot chocolate or a coffee and watch the square. It suits first-timers and anyone who wants to do the Left Bank café properly.

Good to know: Ask for a terrace table facing the church.

6 Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 75006 Paris

Google Maps Website

3. Le Select — Montparnasse (6th)

A Montparnasse café-brasserie open since 1923.

$$ Mid-range

Le Select on boulevard du Montparnasse opened in 1923 and was a hangout for the artists and writers of the Roaring Twenties. It has kept its old-fashioned brasserie interior and busy terrace.

It's less touristy than Saint-Germain and open from morning until late. It suits a long coffee, an evening drink or a simple meal after visiting Montparnasse.

Good to know: Come for a late-evening drink, when the terrace fills with locals.

99 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris

Google Maps Website

4. Café de la Paix — Opéra (9th)

A grand café terrace facing the Palais Garnier.

$$$ Upmarket

Café de la Paix sits on the Place de l'Opéra, facing the Palais Garnier, inside the InterContinental hotel building. Its painted ceilings and gilded interior are among the grandest of any Paris café.

It's expensive, but the terrace and the view of the Opéra are hard to beat. It suits a pastry or a glass of Champagne after a visit to the Palais Garnier or the department stores.

Good to know: Sit on the terrace for the view of the Opéra.

5 Place de l'Opéra, 75009 Paris

Google Maps Website

5. La Palette — Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th)

An art-lined café on rue de Seine with a lively terrace.

$$ Mid-range

La Palette on rue de Seine is a classic café among the art galleries of Saint-Germain, with painted ceramic panels inside and a big, sociable terrace on a quiet corner.

It's more relaxed than the Flore, open from breakfast until late, and a favorite with locals for an evening glass of wine. It suits an aperitif after a walk through the galleries.

Good to know: Claim a terrace seat for an evening glass of wine.

43 Rue de Seine, 75006 Paris

Google Maps Website

6. Coutume — Faubourg-Poissonnière (9th)

One of the pioneers of Paris specialty coffee, roasting its own beans.

$ Budget

Coutume was one of the first roasters to bring specialty coffee to Paris, and it still roasts its own beans. Its coffee shop on rue du Faubourg Poissonnière serves espresso, filter and seasonal drinks, with pastries by pastry chef Juliette Bayen.

It's a bright, busy café good for a mid-morning coffee or brunch between the Grands Boulevards and Gare du Nord. It suits coffee lovers who want consistency.

Good to know: Buy a bag of beans to take home; the roasts are excellent.

63 Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, 75009 Paris

Google Maps Website

7. KB Coffee Roasters — South Pigalle (9th)

Specialty coffee and a sunny terrace on avenue Trudaine.

$ Budget

KB, originally Kooka Boora, is a specialty coffee shop and roaster on avenue Trudaine in South Pigalle, with an Australian-style menu of flat whites, filter, juices and cakes, and a large terrace.

It's busy at weekends, but service is quick. It suits a coffee stop before or after Montmartre.

Good to know: Weekday mornings are the calmest time to grab a terrace seat.

53 Avenue Trudaine, 75009 Paris

Google Maps Website

8. Ten Belles — Canal Saint-Martin (10th)

A tiny, much-loved coffee bar steps from the Canal Saint-Martin.

$ Budget

Ten Belles on rue de la Grange aux Belles is a small coffee bar that roasts its own beans and serves very good espresso, filter coffee and pastries from its own bakery, Ten Belles Bread.

Seating is limited, so take your coffee to the canal. It also has a café on rue du Cherche-Midi in the 6th. It suits a quick, excellent coffee in the 10th.

Good to know: Order to take away and sit by the canal locks.

10 Rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010 Paris

Google Maps Website

9. La Caféothèque — Le Marais / Hôtel de Ville (4th)

A coffee house by the Seine for single-origin beans and tastings.

$ Budget

La Caféothèque on rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, near the Seine, is a specialty coffee house with several rooms, its own roasting and a long list of single-origin coffees from around the world.

It's a calm place to sit and taste, and staff are happy to explain origins. It suits coffee enthusiasts and a quiet break between the Marais and Notre-Dame.

Good to know: Ask for the coffee of the day and how it was brewed.

52 Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris

Google Maps Website

10. Café Verlet — Palais-Royal (1st)

One of the oldest coffee roasters in Paris, steps from the Louvre.

$ Budget

Café Verlet on rue Saint-Honoré is a historic coffee roaster and tea shop, roasting its beans on site, with a small, old-fashioned café upstairs and down. It is still run by a descendant of the founding family.

It's a short walk from the Louvre and the Palais-Royal gardens. It suits a quiet coffee and a bag of freshly roasted beans to take home.

Good to know: It's closed on Sundays; buy beans at the counter on your way out.

256 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris

Google Maps

11. Substance Café — Sentier (2nd)

A specialty coffee bar near Montorgueil for coffee nerds.

$ Budget

Substance Café on rue Dussoubs is a small specialty coffee shop focused on carefully sourced beans and precise brewing, a short walk from rue Montorgueil.

Its website lists weekday opening only, from 12:30pm. It suits coffee enthusiasts exploring the 2nd.

Good to know: It opens at lunchtime on weekdays, so plan an afternoon coffee.

30 Rue Dussoubs, 75002 Paris

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

How much is a coffee in Paris?

An espresso at the bar of a neighborhood café is often around €1.50–2.50. On the terrace of a famous café such as Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots, expect much more for the same coffee. Specialty coffee shops typically charge from around €3–6 for milk drinks.

What is the most famous café in Paris?

Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, side by side on boulevard Saint-Germain, are the most famous, linked to writers and artists such as Sartre, de Beauvoir and Hemingway. Le Select in Montparnasse and Café de la Paix by the Opéra are the other great historic cafés.

How do I order coffee in a Paris café?

'Un café' is an espresso, 'un allongé' a longer black coffee, 'un crème' a coffee with steamed milk and 'une noisette' an espresso with a dash of milk. Café au lait is mostly a home breakfast drink.

Where can I find good specialty coffee in Paris?

Coutume, KB Coffee Roasters, Ten Belles, La Caféothèque and Substance are all excellent. Many roast their own beans and sell them to take home.

Where should I go for breakfast pastries?

Pair your coffee with a pastry from our guide to the best croissants in Paris.

1. Café de Flore — Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th)

2. Les Deux Magots — Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th)

3. Le Select — Montparnasse (6th)

4. Café de la Paix — Opéra (9th)

5. La Palette — Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th)

6. Coutume — Faubourg-Poissonnière (9th)

7. KB Coffee Roasters — South Pigalle (9th)

8. Ten Belles — Canal Saint-Martin (10th)

9. La Caféothèque — Le Marais / Hôtel de Ville (4th)

10. Café Verlet — Palais-Royal (1st)

11. Substance Café — Sentier (2nd)

Frequently asked questions

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