Paris

Café de Flore is the literary heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, where the ghosts of Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Albert Camus still linger over the coffee cups. It’s touristy and always bustling, but there’s a reason it’s famous — the history, the vibe, the people-watching. Even if you’re jostling for a table, sipping a café crème here feels like a rite of passage in Paris.

Breizh Café is a Japanese import that has become one of Paris’s most beloved crêperies. Founded by Breton native Bertrand Larcher, who lived in Japan, the café blends the best of Brittany with Japanese culinary influences. The Marais location offers a cosy atmosphere with communal seating and a menu featuring organic buckwheat galettes and sweet crêpes made with high-quality ingredients like Maison Bordier butter and Comté cheese. Chef Raphaël-Fumio Kudaka, who also leads the Michelin-starred La Table Breizh Café in Cancale, brings his expertise to the Parisian outpost. Reservations are recommended.

Café Charbon has been part of Rue Oberkampf since 1863, one of those old cafés-charbons run by Auvergne artisans who sold coffee, wine, and coal (charbon in French). Inside, the zinc-and-wood bar, high ceilings, red benches, and worn mirrors give off an authentic, turn-of-the-century vibe. By day, it’s mellow and unpretentious; by night, the DJ turns up the tunes, the crowd thickens, and it easily becomes part of Oberkampf’s livelier side.

Café de la Paix has been a Paris institution since 1862, sharing its architect — and its sense of grandeur — with the neighbouring Opéra Garnier. The interiors, all gilded mouldings and high ceilings in the Napoléon III style, have been carefully restored, with a touch of modern warmth. Outside, the terrace offers a front-row seat to the bustle of the Opéra district. Whether you’re here for brunch, coffee and pastries, or a full French meal, it’s a place where a little glamour is part of the experience.