Address: 31 rue Lepic, 75018
Nearest transport: Abbesses (12), Blanche (2)
Hours: Open every day from 8:30am
Reservations: Reservations not accepted
Telephone: 01 84 79 23 40
Average price for lunch: Less than 10€
Style of cuisine: Baked goods, soups/salads/sandwiches
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Photo via L’Éclair de Génie Café’s Facebook
We first discovered Quina Lon during her pastry chef days at Au Passage and then Martin. Her pastries, never too sweet and always utilizing the freshest ingredients, were evidence of time spent in some of the best kitchens in the world (Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Mugaritz). She partnered with her sister Francine, who holds an equally impressive CV (Eleven Madison Park, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal) to open Muscovado in 2016. The breakfast and lunch menus, which change often, are served Wednesday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday feature a special brunch menu from 10am – 5pm including classic egg dishes, coffee from Belleville Brûlerie, and of course their in house pastries that are available all day, everyday. They’re experimenting with also serving dinner on Thursday and Friday nights, but you may want to confirm that by calling for a reservation.
Grilled cheese seems like the epitome of spontaneous late-night eats, yet you’ll want to make a reservation at Mabel if you’d like yours washed down with a cocktail. The small speakeasy-style bar nestled behind a family-friendly grilled cheese sandwich shop requires clients to be seated, which is great for a cozy tête-à-tête and less exciting for those who want to mingle. It also means that, while walk-ins are welcome, they could well be disappointed. If the sandwich alone is your poison, you’re better off visiting the street-facing shop, where alongside the traditional a handful of other flavors including a classic tuna melt, vegetarian pepperoni, pulled pork, and rum marinated bacon with egg are on offer. They’re authentically greasy enough despite the virtues of seeded bread.
Mmmozza has one of the bbbest selections of mozzarella that you’ll find in the city, ranging from tiny bocconcini, to a baseball-sized burrata stuffed with black truffles, to an enormous braided rope of bufala mozzarella, hacked off by the slice. The skinny sliver of an Italian specialty shop has lines out the door at lunch for its messy, affordable sandwiches featuring fresh mozzarella, cured meats and vegetables, and arugula. When the weather is nice, there’s outdoor seating or you can chow down in the Square du Temple park directly opposite. A variety of imported prosciuttos and salamis, stuffed pastas, oils and vinegars, and a small but quality range of Italian wines are also available for purchase.
— Catherine Down, January 2016
Address: 4 rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, 75010
Nearest transport: Strasbourg-Saint-Denis (4, 8,9)
Hours: Open every day noon-midnight
Reservations: Reservations not accepted
Telephone: 01 40 37 69 43
Average price for lunch: 10-19€
Average price for dinner: 10-19€
Style of cuisine: Kebab and falafel
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Le Fooding (2015) “Un «fine kebab»… Servie en gamelles rondes avec des frites de petit calibre, la viande qui tourne débarque en trois versions: agneau broche (épaule et poitrine marinées citron/épices, oignon nouveau, caviar d’aubergine et sauce curry), cochon broche (échine de porc orange/moutarde) et agneau braisé (viande cuite au jus pimenté, pickles, harissa…), plus un kebab fallafels (boulettes de pois chiches, chou vinaigré, yaourt à l’ail et salsa d’herbes).”
This sprawling 500m² space on the edge of the trendy Northern Marais does double duty. On one side, it’s an upscale market, boasting fresh fruits and vegetables, high quality cheeses, charcuterie, and deli items, as well as a bakery, an excellent selection of wines and a range of luxury local and imported grocery items. On the other, it’s a café, serving a small range of dishes made from ingredients sold next door. In a neighborhood surprisingly devoid of good grocery purveyors, the store is a revelation: The boulangerie turns out the best croissants for several blocks, the charcuterie is excellent and this is the go-to spot for top-notch pickles or proper English tea. With the Bastille market just around the corner customers might balk at the price of produce here, but if only kale will do, this is the store for you. In the café, the concise lunch menu offers very good – if overpriced – simple French classics. At a lower price point, and for smaller appetites, there’s also a nice selection of quiches, tartines and sandwiches.
— Emily Brookes, November 2015
Ob-La-Di might be the most Instagrammed café of the 2015 rentrée, but there’s real substance at this stylish spot in the Haut Marais. Most of the baked goods are made in-house, and many of them manage to be vegan and gluten-free, and still actually taste good. Coffee is expertly prepared with Lomi beans by Lloyd, formerly of Boot Café, who also curates a killer playlist most days. Creative offerings include an affogato made with cookie dough ice cream, horchata, a vegetarian burger, and avocado toast that is worth an eye-popping €9 price tag due to the homemade purple potato bread and chimichurri sauce, plus pomegranate seeds.
— Catherine Down, September 2015
An Absolute Favorite
We have not yet reviewed this restaurant, but you’ll find practical information about location and hours on this page, along with links to other reviews. Feel free to share your own opinion in the comments.
Address: 33 rue Richer, 75009
Nearest transport: Cadet (7)
Hours: Closed Sunday; Open Monday for lunch only; Open Tuesday-Friday for lunch and dinner; Open Saturday for dinner only
Reservations: Walk-Ins Welcome
Telephone: 09 80 41 78 27
Average price for lunch: Less than 10€
Average price for dinner: Less than 10€
Style of cuisine: Soups/Salads/Sandwiches
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Figaroscope (2015) “En appui d’une épicerie (vraiment) fine, un comestible où trois frangins argumentent le «sur le pouce», le «coin de comptoir» et la levée de coude. Il y a là des produits de tempérament et un réel talent à tailler les meilleurs casse-croûte de ce printemps.”
Address: 6 rue du Forez, 75003
Nearest transport: Filles du Calvaire (8)
Hours: Open Monday-Saturday for breakfast, lunch & dinner and Sunday for brunch
Reservations: Walk-ins welcome, but book a day or two in advance for brunch
Telephone: 09 83 82 53 53
Average price for lunch: 10-19€
Average price for dinner: 10-19€
Style of cuisine: Vegetarian & vegan, soups/salads/sandwiches, healthy eating
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Address: 58 rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, 75010
Nearest transport: Poissonnière (7), Cadet (7)
Hours: Open Monday-Saturday for breakfast & lunch and Sunday for brunch
Telephone: 01 45 23 59 42
Perhaps better known for its open armed embrace of kale (in salad and chip form), Loustic also has quite good coffee. Beans are sourced from Caffènation and prepared with care. The stylish space, designed by Dorothée Meilichzon, is a bit of a place to see and be seen, but the bobo is balanced out by free wifi and friendly staff.
Colorful pastries (and some savory goods, too) at this vibrant and playful tea salon.
An absolute favorite for coffee
One of the few professional roasters in Paris is also a warehouse-y coffee shop open to the eager public willing to trek to the 18th. It’s worth the journey for coffee geeks, or freelancers looking for a casual place to camp out. Coffee offerings change all the time based on what’s being freshly roasted on-site.
Address: 62 rue Madame, 75006
Nearest transport: Saint-Placide (4), Rennes (12)
Hours: Closed Sunday; Open Monday-Saturday 8am-7:30pm
Telephone: 01 42 22 06 06
Reservations: Reservations not accepted
Average price for lunch: 20-34€
Style of cuisine: British, soups/salads/sandwiches
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Address: 25 rue Boissy d’Anglas, 75008
Nearest transport: Madeleine (8, 12, 14)
Hours: Closed Sunday; Open Monday-Friday 8am-8pm and Saturday 10am-8pm
Telephone: 01 47 42 40 00
The mini empire of benevolent Bob (aka Marc Grossman) continues to expand with this latest offering – an American style diner and bakery complete with apple, pecan, lattice-topped cherry or rhubarb pies, Belleville Brulerie coffee, hand-rolled bagel sandwiches and even their elusive brethren, bialys. There’s a pretty lovely outdoor terrasse, too.
Address: 112 rue Saint Maur, 75011
Nearest transport: Parmentier (3), Couronnes (2)
Hours: Closed Monday; Open Tuesday-Friday 8am-6pm; Open Saturday & Sunday 12pm-6pm
Reservations: Walk-Ins Welcome
Telephone: 01 71 93 16 24
Average price for lunch: 10-19€
Style of cuisine: Gluten-free, soups & salads & sandwiches, cakes
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David Lebovitz (2013) “Tiny gluten-free bakery and café with very good coffee.”
Photo via Thank You, My Deer’s Facebook page
Delphine Zampetti, recently of Le Verre Volé, has opened this bright spot, serving sandwiches, salads, and plats du jour for under 10€, to stay or to go. Natural wines, too.
Smart students line up for the killer sandwiches at this Mediterranean shop, which offers French, Italian, and Spanish meats and cheeses, plus an assortment of groceries and wine.
A popular place among the Marais fashion set for healthy lunch options ranging from bagels to futomaki to colorful curries. The last time I was there, actor Owen Wilson was sipping a wheatgrass smoothie across the communal table. All natural, organic and vegetarian.
Address: 15 rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010
Nearest transport: Jacques Bonsergent (5)
Hours: Closed Sunday; Open Monday-Saturday for breakfast & lunch
Reservations: Reservations not accepted
Telephone: 09 50 06 36 18
Average price for lunch: 10-19€
Style of cuisine: Soups/salads/sandwiches, vegetarian, healthy eating
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Le Fooding (2015) “Dans la cabane boisée-carrelée du pape brooklynite de la healthy food, Marc Grossman… on se signe au jus pressé à froid Bob Cold Press, centrifugé (pomme-carotte-betterave-gingembre) ou mixé (banane-mangue-fraise, de 4 à 6,50€), avant de partager un top rouleau de futomaki fourré de riz complet, avocat, mangue, concombre et ciboulette, relevé d’une pointe de wasabi.”
This is no ordinary kebab joint: The bread at this Kurdish sandwich shop is made before your eyes, split and filled with lamb, beef, or chicken that's been grilled to order, garnished simply with a few greens, red onion, sliced tomato and herbs.
Fashion types flock to to this boutique hotel for lunch in the secluded back garden.
Address: 69 rue d’Argout, 75002
Nearest transport: Sentier (3)
Hours: Closed Saturday & Sunday; Open Monday-Friday for lunch
Reservations: Reservations not accepted
Telephone: 01 42 21 44 36
Average price for lunch: 10-19€
Style of cuisine: Soups/salads/sandwiches, vegetarian options, healthy eating
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Address: 40 bis rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, 75010
Nearest transport: Bonne Nouvelle (8, 9)
Hours: Closed Saturday & Sunday; Open Monday-Friday for lunch
Telephone: 09 83 69 90 71
Address: 23 rue des Vinaigriers, 75010
Nearest transport: Jacques Bonsergent (5)
Hours: Open Sunday-Wednesday 12pm-4pm; Open Thursday-Saturday for lunch and dinner
Reservations: Reservations not accepted
Telephone: 01 42 01 03 44
Average price for lunch: 10-19€
Average price for dinner: 10-19€
Style of cuisine: Health food, Vegetarian & vegan
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My Paris Notebook (2011) “In addition to selling things like raw chocolate, cat’s claw, guarana, maca and purple corn, they serve a vegan, organic lunch menu Tuesday-Sunday. I’m not sure I buy into the therapeutic claims of many of their products, but the food is as delicious as it is unusual. I’d have no problem switching to a vegan diet if it all tasted this good.”
This cozy coffee shop run by the Anzel sisters has a limited menu of veggie centric dishes that change each day.
This might be the most pedigreed kebab you’ll ever eat: prepared by Le Chateaubriand alum Frédéric Peneau with meat from butcher Hugo Desnoyer, homemade spelt flatbread, and herbs from Annie Bertin. Veal, lamb, or pork (depending on the day), the kebabs are served with your choice of white sauce (fromage frais and horseradish) or green (a barely spicy, green tomato and pepper sauce). A vegetarian option beyond the fries will be available soon. There aren’t any seats on-site, or even in the immediate vicinity, so be prepared to eat it on the go.
