While everyone else is queuing for Instagram-famous cafés, the smart travellers are slipping into quiet corners where locals take their time over tartines and espressos.
These are the places that feel lived-in, not staged - the kind of spots you'd only find if you lived here or knew someone who did.
Here’s our guide to 10 local-loved cafés and bakeries for your next Paris morning. No tourist traps, just perfect starts.
10 Non-Touristy Paris Cafés We Love:
Ten Belles - Canal Saint-Martin
Tucked by the canal, this café is all about quality. Expect expertly brewed coffee and a relaxed local crowd. Go early for the best pastries.
Café Oberkampf -11th Arr.
This Aussie-owned gem blends Parisian charm with brunch culture. Think baked eggs, fresh juices, and calm energy - especially midweek.
Fragments - Le Marais
Intimate and unassuming. The banana bread is famous, but it’s the homey feel and friendly staff that make it worth returning.
Ob-La-Di - Rue Saintonge
A design-lover’s café: blue terrazzo, plants, and beautiful plates. Tucked away enough that it still feels like a secret.
Boot Café - Le Marais
Housed in a former cobbler’s shop, it’s tiny (just a few seats) but adored. Ideal for a solo morning with a flat white and journal.
Coutume Café - 7th Arr.
Elegant, light-filled, and serious about its coffee. A calm spot near Musée Rodin, perfect before or after a cultural wander.
La Fontaine de Belleville - Belleville
Old-school charm meets great live jazz on weekends. Sip espresso like a local at the zinc counter or outside on the terrace.
Café Loustic - 3rd Arr.
Stylish and intimate with moody interiors. It draws a creative crowd — freelancers, designers — and serves up great coffee.
Passager Café - 11th Arr.
Bright and breezy with fresh, modern brunch plates. Often filled with locals catching up or quietly working with a macchiato.
Strada Café - Latin Quarter
An easygoing mix of locals and students, it’s warm and welcoming with thoughtful breakfast options and strong coffee.
Each of these spots offers a different slice of Paris, but they all have one thing in common: a sense of place, far from the crowds. If you'd like us to design your next Paris trip, we’ll take care of everything - from the perfect hotel to the best corner table for breakfast.
Ready for a Paris escape? Let’s make it effortless.
