Paris: The Top 5 Cafes You Need To Visit
The View of the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero
The city of sparkling lights and romance has plenty to offer in the cafe space. Sipping on a hot chocolate or tea and people-watching is essentially a necessity in Paris, and we’ve broken down for you the best. From flaky and buttery croissants and the richest hot chocolate to the best views, here are our top choices for food in Paris that you need to try.
(1) Carette Cafe (16th Arrondissement)
Carette is our favorite cafe in Paris, and it’s certainly hyped up for good reason. With the perfect location next to the Trocadero (the square that has the best views you can get of the Eiffel Tower), their rich hot chocolate is what they’re known for, but don’t pass up on one of their light-as-air croissants. Make sure to order your hot chocolate with whipped cream, and enjoy sipping away on their outside terrace, or in colder months, in their indoor cafe.
A pot of hot chocolate, whipped cream, and croissants at Carette Paris
(2) Angelina Cafe (1st Arrondissement)
The classic and chic Angelina has been a Parisian staple for years - they specialize in pastries, teas, and hot chocolates, and the gorgeous interior makes you feel like you’re in a museum. With white and gold crown molding and larger-than-life art pieces on the walls, you’ll feel like you stepped back in time as you sip on your tea and enjoy a macaron. Their brioche is some of the best around and their “miss choco” pastry is a must-order for chocolate lovers!
The pastry window at Angelina Paris
(3) The Ritz Paris’s Salon Proust (9th Arrondissement)
A caveat before we introduce this gem - Salon Proust is not a walk-in type of situation. Make sure you have reservations in advance (preferably 2-3 weeks out). However, Salon Proust is well worth the wait. With the coziest library interior and armchairs around a fireplace, the experience feels very luxe and elevated. The thing to do at Salon Proust is have their afternoon tea, which comes with a huge assortment of sweets (seriously, there are a lot of sweets), tea, and the optional addition of champagne.
(4) Le Joy at Hotel Barriere (8th Arrondissement)
Le Joy at Hotel Barriere is often overlooked for its more famous sister restaurant, Fouquet’s, but its bright, cheerful interior and quality afternoon “chefs teatime” are worth a visit. The beautifully stylish indoor space is set in a library with couches tucked away in cozy little alcoves where you can spend your afternoon chatting and enjoying their assortment of teas, sparkling wines, and pastries. The outdoor terrace transforms with the seasons - in winter, each party is seated in a private heated “bubble” complete with glittering fairy lights, blankets, and Christmas decor. In summer, the terrace’s colorful garden comes alive with florals and greens.
Fresh assorted croissants in Le Joy’s cozy library interior
(5) Cafe Marly (1st Arrondissement)
No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the iconic Louvre Museum, and no trip to the Louvre is complete without a visit to Cafe Marly. The cafe on the Louvre grounds boasts a stunning view of the museum’s pyramid exterior. It features huge and grandiose pillars, an open-air terrace seating option, and is open for all-day dining from breakfast through very late dinner until 2AM. If you want to dine with those Louvre views, make reservations well in advance.
The Louvre Museum across from Cafe Marly
