Best Coffee Shops to Work From in Paris
The French take leisure seriously. This is a country where long lunch breaks and generous paid time off is the norm, and where employers are forbidden by law from contacting employees on the weekend. The thousands of coffee shops you'll find in Paris have always been places to take a break, not to work.
But that's undoubtedly changing. The movement toward remote work has seen more and more cafés in Paris adjust, and it's easier now to find work-friendly coffee shops in the City of Light than it's ever been before.
If you have to do some work in Paris, a cozy coffee shop could be just the place to do it. The best laptop-friendly cafes allow you to stay productive while still enjoying some of the culture of Paris. And outside the coffee shops, the city also has some great co-working spaces ideal for digital nomads.
Drop off your bags at a Bounce luggage storage in Paris and bring your laptop to one of these welcoming cafés. As well as great places to work – and places to get great coffee, of course – the coffee shops in Paris are also the ideal place to take a break when you've been doing the best shopping in the city. Whether you're in Paris for work or pleasure, it's not hard to find a coffee shop to suit you.
Blackburn
This trendy coffee shop has an authentic and unpretentious vibe that makes it a great place to spend some time in Paris. And by Paris standards, this can be quite an affordable place to spend your working day. They have tons of delicious hot drinks available, and if you get hungry during work, they also offer a full lunch menu, including vegetarian and vegan options. Herbivore travelers who have been to Paris before will know just how rare that is in the City of Light.
52 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin
Café Craft
This minimalist coffee shop is a great place to park yourself for the day if you want to get some work done in Paris. The staff is always happy to help with any questions you might have, and they offer a wide range of teas, coffees, and pastries to keep you going throughout the day. They also have free wifi and plug sockets at every table so you can stay connected and productive during your visit. That makes this an excellent coffee shop to use as your home base in Paris and a good place to get some work done while also enjoying good coffee.
24 Rue de Vinaigriers
La Fontaine de Belleville
This charming café is located in the hipster-friendly neighborhood of Belleville. With its beautiful tiled floors and vintage furnishings, it's the perfect place to enjoy a break from work and soak up some of the Parisian atmosphere. They offer a selection of hot and cold drinks, as well as a menu of light snacks and lunch options.
31 Rue Juliette Dodu
La Caféotheque
This is one of the most popular coffee shops in Paris, and it's easy to see why. Located in the trendy Marais district, it has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere that makes it perfect for spending a few hours working. They have a range of hot and cold drinks available, as well as fresh pastries, savory snacks, and light lunches if you get peckish during your work session. And if you need to stay connected, they offer free wifi and plug sockets at every table.
This is a café that really embraces the work-from-anywhere trend. Not only do they offer fast wifi, but you'll find single-person tables with multiple power outlets in the back that are ideal if you need to spend all day working. And with their impressive range of single-origin coffees, you have everything you need to keep you fueled up for a productive day.
52 Rue de l'Hotel de Ville
Anticafé
This is a co-working concept that is rapidly spreading across Europe, with multiple locations in different countries across the continent. If you want a change from a coffee shop or don't feel right about occupying a table for the whole day after purchasing a single coffee, this is the perfect place for you.
Instead of insisting that you buy a drink, Anticafé charges a low hourly rate to use their facilities. This rate includes unlimited hot drinks, so you can grab whatever refreshments you want, but you aren't obliged to buy anything. If free coffee isn't enough of an incentive, they also offer incredibly friendly staff and plenty of power outlets.
But the real secret to the success of this chain is its appeal to online workers from around the world. You never know who you might meet at the next table, and it's nice to be in a place that recognizes the importance of a good work environment. The company even provides board games so you can take a break from work and meet some of your coworkers. As a result, this is one of the best places in Paris to work remotely.
Multiple locations in Paris
Coworkshop
Another co-working space to add to the ever-growing list, Coworkshop is perfect if you want to get some work done in Paris without spending the whole day in a coffee shop.
This space is designed specifically for digital nomads and freelancers, so you can be sure that you'll have everything you need to stay productive. They offer fast wifi, plenty of plug sockets, and a range of hot and cold drinks to keep you going throughout the day. And if you need a break from work, there's even a pool table and foosball table to help you blow off some steam. They also offer a meeting room and even a vintage phone booth that is completely soundproofed so you can make totally private phone calls.
So whether you're looking for a place to park yourself for the day or wanting to meet some other digital nomads, Coworkshop is definitely worth checking out.
29 Rue de Vinaigriers
Hubsy
Another new co-working space that provides an alternative to working in cafés in Paris, Hubsy has quickly become a popular choice for digital nomads and freelancers.
One of the things that sets Hubsy apart from other coworking spaces is its focus on providing a community for its members. In addition to offering fast wifi and plenty of power outlets, they also host regular events such as meetups and workshops. This makes it easy to meet other like-minded people and form connections that can be beneficial both professionally and personally.
So if you're looking for somewhere to work that will also help you build your network, Hubsy is definitely worth considering. Plus, its location across from Musée des Arts et Métiers means you can't argue with the view.
41 Rue Reamur
Café-Cantine
Trying to find an affordable café in Paris can sometimes feel like a futile endeavor. However, Café-Cantine bucks this trend by offering delicious hot beverages at incredible prices. If just a coffee is all you need, you can get one here for a single euro. But as the name implies, this café also offers some great food, and you can get breakfast from just three euros.
The café also offers a great outdoor space, so you don't have to sacrifice enjoying a sunny day in Paris to get some work done. If you need somewhere affordable to work from in this notoriously expensive city, this is one of the first cafés in Paris you should try.
83 Boulevard Ornano
Café Lomi
Choosing a café to use as a coworking space doesn't mean you have to sacrifice the quality of your coffee. Café Lomi is a place that takes the art of coffee making very seriously, employing some of the best baristas in the country and housing their own coffee roasting school. So if you're a coffee lover, this is definitely the place for you.
Of course, the quality of the coffee isn't the only thing that makes this café a great working space. It also has plenty of power outlets, fast wifi, and a comfortable atmosphere that will make it easy to get some work done. Plus, it's located in the heart of Le Marais, so you can enjoy exploring one of Paris's most vibrant neighborhoods when you take a break from work.
3 Rue Marcadet
Gaîté Lyrique
This isn't so much a coffee shop as it is a cultural hub. In fact, this huge space contains multiple coffee shops along with bars and restaurants, not to mention galleries and exhibition spaces. But it also offers comfortable chairs and a serene atmosphere to get some work done, and it's completely free to visit. You could spend all day working here, and no one will bother you at all.
3bis Rue Papin
Used Book Café
There's something about working surrounded by books that brings out the creative in all of us. This charming café also functions as a library and bookstore, and if you're not a big coffee drinker, you'll be pleased to see the enviable selection of tea on offer here, along with delicious pastries.
A small purchase will be enough to let you spend hours here. However, plug sockets may be at a premium, so it's better to get here early if you can and stake out a good spot if you know you'll need to charge up at some point.
111 Blvd Beaumarchais
Season Takeaway
Delicious cakes aren't the only selling point of this small restaurant. The speedy wifi and abundant power outlets make it a great place to do some work. Also, it's generally not too busy, so you can spend much of the day here doing productive work and as long as you purchase something, you'll most likely be left completely alone. However, it is worth noting that they don't provide a customer bathroom, so it may not be the best option if you have a long day of work ahead of you.
67 Rue St Sabin
Conclusion
In France, the idea of work-life balance is heavily weighted toward the 'life' side of the equation. Traditionally, French cafés have been places to eat, drink, and socialize, providing respite from the daily grind of making money.
But Paris is a modern city and one that is rapidly embracing the latest trends in remote work and online employment. The coffee shops of the city are becoming increasingly welcoming to customers who want to use their establishment as a makeshift office. And with so many great working spaces springing up around the city, Paris is becoming a more and more appealing place for digital nomads.
Don't forget your café etiquette. Generally, if you purchase even a cheap drink, you'll be left alone for hours. But if someone else needs the table, you may be asked to move along or buy something more substantial. And while the cafés listed above are remote-work-friendly, some others in the city don't allow laptops or at least heavily discourage their use. That's why it may be a good idea to stick to this list of the best cafés to work from so that you don't annoy anyone else.
Another important thing to remember is not to carry more than you need to. Drop off everything but your laptop at a Bounce luggage storage, and you'll find it much easier to get some work done on your Paris trip.
