Best Coffee Shops in Paris Rive Gauche


 

Touted for being the birthplace of Parisian café culture, Paris’ Rive Gauche is still home to some of the cities best coffee shops. Whether you’re looking for trendy or historical, posh or laid back, there’s a Left Bank coffee shop to suit your mood. Keep reading to discover my picks for the best coffee shops in Paris Rive Gauche.

Circus Bakery

Courtesy of Circus Bakery – Sourced from their Instagram

Circus is located in the Latin Quarter on a quiet pedestrian street just a couple blocks from Notre-Dame cathedral. Enter this cozy bakery with an open kitchen and you’ll be delighted by the array of incredible products. In fact, you can probably smell the goodies baking from down the street, and that scent alone is hard to resist. Sourdough cinnamon buns, old-fashioned fruit tarts and savory sandwiches are on the menu.

While Circus is primarily a bakery, their coffee is some of the tastiest in Paris, and it’s certainly one of the best coffee shops in Paris Rive Gauche! The coffee menu is simple and standard, but it’s quality you can taste. Smooth, full-bodied espresso from local Hexagone pairs perfectly with their baked goods or enjoyed simply on its own.

circus bakery – 63 rue galande 75005
metro: cité
open daily 7AM//8PM

Shakespeare and Co.

Courtesy of Shakespeare and Co. – Sourced from their website

Head just down the street from Circus bakery, and you’ll find yourself at one of the most iconic Rive Gauche coffee shops: Shakespeare and Co. Attached to the infamous bookstore of the same name, their little coffee shop is worth visiting.

The coffee is excellent, and you can order a flat white, a pour over, matcha latte or just a good old cup of joe. Grab a book from the shelf and a place at the bar to enjoy your drink inside with a view of Notre-Dame, or head outside to enjoy their spacious terrace.  If you’re hungry, Shakespeare and Co. also makes some great food. Healthy and decadent are perfectly balanced here. You can just easily find a rich cake as a healthy organic grain bowl.

shakespeare and co. café – 37 Rue de la petite bûcherie 75005
metro: cité
open daily 9:30AM//8PM

Colorova

Courtesy of Colorova – Sourced from their Facebook

Next on the best coffee shops in Pars Rive Gauche lands us in the 6th arrondissement, which is the quintessential Left Bank. Colorova is just a few minutes’ walk from Saint-Sulpice and Saint-Germain-des-Prés. While the area is traditional, Colorova is a modern tea house and brunch spot; combining fresh food and a relaxed vibe in the heart of Paris 6th.

Their coffee and tea selection is immense, and quality is foremost throughout their brunch-inspired menu. At Colorova, classic brunch-style dishes are intermixed with more refined Parisian cuisine. Eggs Benedict, avocado toasts, and pain perdu are the originals and savory mains like lentil salad with N’Duja stand out as creative, heartier options in a coffee shop atmosphere.

colorova – 47 rue de l’abbé-gregoire 75006
metro: saint-placide
open daily 10AM//6PM

DOSE Mouffetard

Courtesy of DOSE – Sourced from their Facebook

Located in the heart of the Latin Quarter on the bustling Rue Mouffetard, DOSE is the perfect Rive Gauche coffee shop for refueling after a day of exploration. An established micro roaster with several locations across Paris, this DOSE is the most recent, and is already a neighborhood favorite.

Their Mouffetard location is small and cozy on the inside, but my favorite feature is the takeaway window – ideal if you just want to grab a quick cup of coffee and continue exploring!  At DOSE, you can find any number of drink and food options; teas, coffees, matcha, juices; you name it, they’ve probably got it. In terms of food, you can grab a quick pastry or settle in for a heartier brunch-style meal.

dose dealer du café mouffetard – 73 rue mouffetard 75005
metro: Place monge
open tuesday – friday 8aM//6PM
open weekends 9AM//7PM

 

Treize au Jardin

Courtesy of Treize au Jardin – Sourced from their website

Treize au Jardin is a unique restaurant/café/coffee house in Paris’ 6th. When I say unique, I mean it. From the menu to the service to the atmosphere, Treize is not your typical Rive Gauche coffee shop. Featuring a delightful blend of American southern fusion dishes (think pecan-crusted chicken with biscuit French toast, pecan pie, cookies, etc.) the menu and friendly service at Treize have won over expats and Parisians alike.

Situated just across the street from Jardin du Luxembourg, this is a great place to warm up with a cup of coffee after a walk through the gardens. There’s all kinds of coffee and beverages on offer here. From detox shots to fresh-pressed juices and creative teas and coffees from Caffe Vita; you’ll find it at Treize. They also make most of their drinks to go – perfect for enjoying a coffee in the Jardin.

treize au jardin – 5 rue de medicis 75006
metro: odéon
open daily 10AM//9PM

Ten Belles Rive Gauche

Courtesy of Ten Belles – Sourced from their Instagram

Ten Belles was one of the first new wave coffee shops to hit Paris nearly a decade ago. Today, they’ve expanded beyond the original Canal Saint-Martin locale and opened up a shop in Paris Rive Gauche. If you’re not familiar with this place already, it’s time to head to Paris’ 6th arrondissement and discover Ten Belles.

One of the most impressive things about Ten Belles is that the quality is there every single visit. Top-notch service, delicious (and local) coffee, and well-rounded tasty food options make it worth a repeat visit. Beans are sourced from Parisian Telescope Café, and Ten Belles makes their own sourdough bread and baked goods. While space inside is limited, the atmosphere is laid back and friendly, so it’s the kind of Rive Gauche coffee shop where you can get comfortable and stay awhile.

ten belles rive gauche – 53 rue du cherche-midi 75006
metro station: rennes or sevres-babylone
open tuesday – friday 8:30AM//5:30PM
open saturday 9AM//6PM

Good News Coffee Shop

Courtesy of Good News Coffee – Sourced from their Facebook

Located in the more residential 15th arrondissement, Good News Coffee Shop is a rather unexpected addition to my list of the best coffee shops in Paris Rive Gauche. But if you’re looking for a great cup of coffee, the journey to Good News is worth it.

The atmosphere is laid back and reminiscent of casual New York, but they take their coffee seriously. Choose from expertly crafted flat whites, lattes, and classic espresso, and pair it with one of their delightful sweet treats for a true coffee shop experience. And if you’re in the mood for something savory, their sumptuous breakfast offerings don’t disappoint either!

good news coffee shop – 27bis rue mademoiselle 75015
metro: commerce
open monday – friday 8AM//5PM
open saturday and sunday 10AM//5PM

La Palette

Courtesy of La Palette – Sourced from their website

If you’re looking for a coffee shop with a rich history, La Palette is your go-to. Nestled between art galleries and antique shops on Rue de Seine, La Palette was once the stomping ground of Rive Gauche intellectuals and artists. Picasso, Hemingway and Braque were all regulars in their day. In more modern eras, celebrities like Julia Roberts and Jim Morrison frequented the classic terrace to enjoy a coffee or a bite to eat. Today, you’ll find La Palette is less touristy and certainly less cliché than Café de Flore a couple blocks away.

While not a coffee shop in the strictest sense of the word, I think you’ll find La Palette to be a café full of classic Parisian charm. Their coffee offerings are nothing out of the box, but I think it’s more about quality and taste sometimes. And La Palette has both. There’s also a fabulous selection of desserts; éclairs, tarts, cakes, etc. that the servers bring round on a tray; showcasing the goodies and usually convincing me to get one.

la palette – 43 rue de seine 75006
metro station: mabillon
open daily 8AM//2AM

Café Coutume

Courtesy of Café Coutume – Sourced from their Instagram

If you’re a coffee connoisseur, Café Coutume is the best coffee shop in Paris Rive Gauche for you! At Coutume, the focus is on sourcing and brewing exceptional coffee. A French-Australian duo are behind Coutume’s prestigious reputation – both of them winning France’s best coffee roaster awards.

At Coutume, you’ll find quite the selection of coffee beans; each roasted differently and sourced from all over the world. The process from roasting to brewing to serving the coffee is followed strictly according to Coutume’s guidelines, and their baristas undergo a long training process. You can rest-assured that at Coutume, you’ll enjoy an excellent coffee, but I’m warning you, it is habit forming.

Their location in the heart of Paris’ 7th is calm and collected, just a quick walk from the Bon Marché department store. Coutume is a great place to bring your laptop and get some work done, or simply cozy up with a good book after a day of shopping.

café coutume – 47 rue de babylone
metro: sevres-babylone
open monday – friday 8:30AM//5:30PM
open saturday and sunday 9AM//6PM

Well, now you know all about the best coffee shops in Paris Rive Gauche. I hope you’ll try some of these places and let us know what you think.

 

See you soon in Paris!

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !


These are Amazon’s best-selling travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

Bookstore

  1. The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 – Learn more here
  2. Fodor’s Paris 2024 – Learn more here

Travel Gear

  1. Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack – Learn more here
  2. Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage – Learn more here
  3. Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle – Learn more here

Check Amazon’s best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.

Also check this
Discover the Best Tours in Paris with Local Guides. Check Paris Walking Tours
We run free tours: Montmartre walking tour and Trendy Marais Tour are our best sellers. Free walking tours in Paris