Just steps from the Canal Saint-Martin, this shoebox-sized café is serving beautiful coffee drinks made from Has Bean (UK) beans with food catered by Le Bal Café. Sometimes cramped and a little uncomfortable, but the scones, healthy sandwiches and devilish sausage rolls make up for a lot.
Practical information
Address: 10 rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010
Nearest transport: Jacques Bonsergent (5) or Colonel Fabien (2)
Hours: Open every day, 8am-6pm Monday through Friday and 9am-7pm Saturday & Sunday
Telephone: 01 42 40 90 78
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Reviews of interest
Le Figaro (2014) “Ouverte en septembre 2012 par Thomas Lehoux (depuis à la tête de la Brûlerie de Belleville, qui fournit donc les grains ici), cette micro-adresse à deux pas du canal Saint-Martin est l’une des plus réputées de la capitale. La clientèle très anglo-saxonne est particulièrement friande de ses salades, sandwichs et autres pâtisseries préparées par l’équipe british du Bal Café.”
Serious Eats (2013) “This charmant spot near the canal is an easy favorite: a rotating selection of beans from different roasters (Has Bean, among others, and they used to use Telescope back when they roasted coffee as well) complement a lovely menu of small lunch items and perfect housemade pastries, all in a sunny-windowed spot along rue de la Grange aux Belles. Those in charge are serious about espresso as well as well-prepared filter coffees. (We tried a Chemex alongside a few lovely espresso drinks.)”
Eater (2013) “Ten Belles is a charming, light, and airy café in the 10th arrondissement that bakes its own pastries in-house. The baristi here are incredibly friendly and knowledgable.”
New York Times (2012) “So much talent behind the bar: the cafe is a collaboration between Anselme Blayney, Alice Quillet and Anna Trattles (all of le Bal Café) and Thomas Lehoux (a cult barista). Depending on when you go, you might be served by Christopher Nielson, formerly of Sydney’s Mecca Espresso and London’s Prufrock Coffee. The beans are from Télescope’s David Flynn, the sandwiches, cookies and tartlets from Quillet and Trattles, and the clever chairs from Pierre Hourquet.”