There is no one “best” Cafe in Paris, but you will find YOUR one best Cafe.
Spent months on this Sub planning our trip looking for tips on the “best” this or the “best” that so was super excited when I found the best Cafe in Paris… for me.
There are reportedly over 44,000 cafes and restaurants in Paris and while I’m sure there are many that aren’t great, my guess would be the majority offer a very good experience and food, and a boatload are in the excellent category.
I searched this Sub, I went to Google Maps Street View, I looked through reviews, I got overwhelmed. Then I got to Paris and let Paris happen to me, and I found MY best cafe.
I stayed in the 7th, there are lots of Cafes. I tried several over the week we were there and on the 3’rd-ish day I settled on the one that vibed the best… for ME. It wasn’t the closest to our hotel, but it was only a few blocks.
I’m not going to name it because it might not be the best for you, but it became my best.
I went back every day for the rest of the week Some days first thing in the morning for a coffee and a cigar, some days later afternoon for a snack after roaming the streets, some days both. I felt the rhythm of it, I became not cordial with the staff but briefly recognized as a return customer.
I took a coaster from it and it will be one of the fondest mementos from my trip.
And in this era of influencers teasing lemmings with “the best” it creates a false narrative of me-too’ism to chase.
So my wish to you is, don’t buy into it, find YOUR own best. Let serendipity happen, don’t chase somebody else’s “best”.
I believe it will mean a whole lot more to you when you find it.
And you might even save a coaster from it.
Bon voyage.