Café restaurants in France
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Café Marly
This classic venue facing the Louvre’s inner courtyard serves contemporary French fare throughout the day under the palace colonnades. Views of the glass pyramid are priceless and depending on how au courant (familiar) you are with French starlets and people who appear in Match, you should get an eyeful.
reviewed
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Le Comptoir du Panthéon
Salads…enormous salads, creative salads, fabulous meal-sized salads are the reason to pick this busy café as dining spot. Magnificently placed across from the domed Panthéon on the shady side of the street, its pavement terrace is big, busy and oh so Parisian in feel – turn your head away from Voltaire’s burial place and Mademoiselle Eiffel pops into view. Service is super speedy to boot and food is handily served all day.
reviewed
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L'Apparemment Café
This place is a tasteful haven tucked behind the Musée Picasso and at a merciful distance from the madding crowds of the Marais. It’s a bit like a private living room, with wood panelling, leather sofas, scattered parlour games, dog-eared books – and Parisians languidly studying their ‘lounch’ (their word, not ours) and (on Sunday till 6pm) their brunch – or is that ‘brounch’? – menus.
reviewed
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Café Branly
Drink in the views of the Eiffel Tower while sipping an espresso or wine on the terrace of the Musée du Quai Branly's café, amid reflecting pools and gardens. Lunches, such as a tartine Parisienne of Parisian ham, Emmental cheese, fresh tomatoes and mustard-butter, offer a light alternative (for your wallet, too) to dining in style upstairs at Les Ombres.
reviewed
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Tous Les Jours Dimanche
Having tea or a light lunch here, surrounded by a motley assemblage of antique furniture and well-chosen objets d'art, is like hanging out in an arty friend's living room. Specialities include salads, sandwiches (€10) and quiche-like tartes (€10). On Sunday from October to April, you can have a brunch anglais (English brunch; €21) starting at 11.30am.
reviewed
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Café Suédois
Housed in the beautiful 16th-century Hôtel de Marle, this gorgeous café in the Swedish Cultural Institute hosts a variety of exhibitions, concerts and debates, with rich resources on Swedish history and culture. But what we’re interested in here are the delicious soups, sandwiches and cakes (€4 to €6) and the tables outside in the tranquil paved courtyard.
reviewed
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Le Café
Artists and intellectuals have been meeting in St-Tropez's most famous café (originally called Café des Arts) for years. Aspiring pétanque players can borrow boules from the bar and join the square's illustrious ball-chuckers. Don't confuse this place with the newer, red-canopied Café des Arts on the corner.
reviewed
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La Chocolaterie
Revel in local life at this bar-cum-chocolate-shop overlooking the open-air flower market in place du Cygne. Its coloured macaroons – flavoured with orange, apricot, pistachio, peanut, pineapple and so – are to die for, as are its sweet homemade crêpes, brownies and tiny madeleine sponge cakes.
reviewed
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Le Wepler
Though this large café-brasserie founded in 1892 is celebrated for its oysters, we go across the road to Charlot, Roi des Coquillages for our bivalves and to the Wepler to sit in the large covered terrace and enjoy the hubbub and scenery of Place de Clichy. Great people-watching; friendly service.
reviewed
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Café de Paris
A sight in itself, Monaco's best-known café has been in business since 1882 and is the place in Monte Carlo to people-watch. A coke/croque monsieur on its legendary terrace costs around €5/around €13.50; a nip to the loo to glimpse the original brasserie interior is a must.
reviewed
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Café Chez Nous
This quintessentially French bar du coin (neighbourhood bar), often crowded, hides down a tiny alleyway near the covered market. Lunches are generally made with organic ingredients. Wine by the glass is a bargain (€1.20 to €2.40). Check the chalkboard for occasional dinners and live music.
reviewed
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Café de l'Esplanade
The café itself is nothing more than your quintessential French local, but its outside seating upon Esplanade de la Grand Côte is enviable. Soak in the Lyon panorama then strut down the hillside along artist workshop-studded Montée de la Grand Côte to place des Terreaux.
reviewed
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Grand Café de la Bourse
Great for breakfast or a quick coffee. Sit on the terrace or inside this vast, flamboyant café bang opposite Les Arènes. It was closed when we visited (the proprietor was having a spot of bother with the law), but it should again be serving, in his or his successor's hands soon.
reviewed
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Bert’s
Elsewhere this modern café chain with worn leather couches and comfy armchairs might not stand out, but in this part of town it’s a good address to have on hand – not least because it’s open daily. Sandwiches are served on organic bread and there are plenty of veggie options available.
reviewed
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La Tarte Tropézienne
A must-try is the local speciality, tarte Tropézienne, an orange-blossom-flavoured double sponge cake filled with thick cream, created by a Polish baker and christened by BB in the 1950s. This bakery, the original creator, is the best place to buy one.
reviewed
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Kiousk 3.14
It's just so design, darling, the café of 3.14 Hôtel a block down the road. Cream plastic or sofa seating provides a brilliant contrast to the smart emerald-green silk cushions sprinkled around the clean-cut space. It's nonsmoking noon to 20:00.
reviewed
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Café Cousu
Wedged between fashion designers in Le Village des Createurs, this hole in the wall entices an arty crowd with its battery-charging breakfasts, healthy lunches and homemade tarts and cakes, as well as its buzzing weekend brunch from 11am until 5pm.
reviewed
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Bistrot et Chocolat
Chocolate fondue, organic hot chocolate with ginger, chocolate soup sprinkled with gingerbread croutons… this boho-chic bistro is an ode to the cocoa bean. Weekend brunches are a treat. Check the website for details on children's cooking classes.
reviewed
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Le Coquelicot
Although nothing to excitedly blog about, the Coquelicot bakery is nonetheless a good spot for an easy meal, offering omelettes, quiches, sandwiches and yummy pastries. The outdoor tables occupy a prime location alongside rue des Abbesses.
reviewed
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Aux Remparts
Enjoy a very Breton lunchtime menu of fish soup, moules frites and Breton prune cake, far. Aux Remparts also has an inventive range of savoury crêpes such as mushrooms in cream sauce.
reviewed
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La Voûte
The specialities of Flanders, including carbonnade and lapin à la flamande (rabbit in a white wine and prune sauce, are served in this combination bistro, restaurant and estaminet (tavern).
reviewed
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La Banane
This hidden little bolt hole in the old town is a chic spot for a drink or a Grand Marnier-flambéed crêpe or croque banane (grilled banana sandwich that is much more elegant than it sounds).
reviewed
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Le Grand Café
This modern café is spacious and airy, with a long, welcoming bar and a warm atmosphere. It's a good place for coffee, simple meals and crêpes; on weekends food is served all day long.
reviewed
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Ma Seaison Préfere
Though not exclusively vegetarian, this little lemon- and lime-coloured hole-in-the-wall is a great place for homemade vegetable tarts and lasagnes. At lunchtime, its nine tables fill quickly.
reviewed
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Café Hugo
Go for the plat du jour (dish of the day) with a glass of wine (€12.50) or brunch (€16.20) at our favourite affordable eatery on Paris’ most beautiful square – and you’ll love Paris forever.
reviewed
