Hey there! Great post, I just wanted to add the cafe Yves Saint Laurent to the list as it’s run by a REAL barista and is so far the only place in Paris i have found a real flat white. Located just behind the YSL store rive droit on Rue Saint Honoré.
Aussie trained baristas, who make flat whites. Try the cakes at Madame’s’ atelier next door.
Rosemary Kneipp
January 6th, 2021 at 9:31 am
Hi Nic, thank you for the information which I have added. I used to live in the Palais Royal (for nearly 10 years) but Kitsuné did not exist in those days.
Holly Jennings
January 5th, 2021 at 10:05 am
Thanks for the, as usual, enlightening look into food and French culture. I’ve often wondered why the preparation of coffee often seems to be an afterthought, especially considering how much good flavours are savoured by the French. Thanks very much for the coffee shop tips, and to the your readers who offered up their favorites. We’ll be checking them out!
Rosemary Kneipp
January 6th, 2021 at 9:34 am
Hi Holly, I like the way you’ve described coffee as an afterthought here. Many years ago, my father, after observing the way people would dash into a café, order a coffee at the counter, drink it straight down, pay and rush out, asked me what it was laced with. When I was adamant that it was only coffee, he wouldn’t believe me. “You’re not telling me that grown men are drinking coffee in that way without something in it”. I had to ask for back-up from a number of French men before he would accept this strange behaviour!
Please let me know when you’ve tried the one in Amboise.
I think I might have seen that cappuccino photo on your Instagram? It’s hilarious. I guess the Normandy style coffee might be like a Vienna coffee but with rubbish coffee obviously. To be fair though, Normandy cream would make almost anything taste better. Most of Central Europe has pretty great Australian style coffee. I don’t know why it’s so late to take off in France and Italy.
Rosemary Kneipp
January 10th, 2021 at 12:11 pm
Yes, you probably did see that photo. It was a shock at the time! The Normandy style cappuccino isn’t quite the same as Vienna coffee, which they actually do in France. I have no compunctions about ordering cappuccino in Eastern Europe (and even in Germany) as it’s invariably good. They love their short black coffee here so I doubt if they will change …
Jeremy Billingham
May 13th, 2022 at 10:17 am
I travel throughout France and often check to see if there is a decent coffee available near my destination, alas im almost always disappointed. I now live approximately 12 miles from Annecy and I now have to make a 24 mile round-trip to get a decent coffee. BUMES in Annecy is excellent, could you please add to your list.
Gerri Savage
June 18th, 2023 at 12:51 pm
Just discovered Grounded in Paris XI. It’s a vegan brunch spot, but their cappuccino was the closest I’ve found to an Italian or Australian one. Made with oat milk, might not be to everyone’s taste – but I’m used to alternative milks and didn’t even notice…
Hey there! Great post, I just wanted to add the cafe Yves Saint Laurent to the list as it’s run by a REAL barista and is so far the only place in Paris i have found a real flat white. Located just behind the YSL store rive droit on Rue Saint Honoré.
An Aussie in Paris xx
Thank you Madeleine – I’m adding it!
Keys & Co in Caen, Normandy (run by NZers) do a perfect flat white. Definitely not to miss! https://www.facebook.com/keyscoffeeco
Thank you Kate!
Cafe bazar- Arles.
Lucy makes a good flat white!
Thank you, Anne Maree.
Don’t forget;
CAFE KITSUNE
51 Galerie de Montpensier,
Palais Royal
Aussie trained baristas, who make flat whites. Try the cakes at Madame’s’ atelier next door.
Hi Nic, thank you for the information which I have added. I used to live in the Palais Royal (for nearly 10 years) but Kitsuné did not exist in those days.
Thanks for the, as usual, enlightening look into food and French culture. I’ve often wondered why the preparation of coffee often seems to be an afterthought, especially considering how much good flavours are savoured by the French. Thanks very much for the coffee shop tips, and to the your readers who offered up their favorites. We’ll be checking them out!
Hi Holly, I like the way you’ve described coffee as an afterthought here. Many years ago, my father, after observing the way people would dash into a café, order a coffee at the counter, drink it straight down, pay and rush out, asked me what it was laced with. When I was adamant that it was only coffee, he wouldn’t believe me. “You’re not telling me that grown men are drinking coffee in that way without something in it”. I had to ask for back-up from a number of French men before he would accept this strange behaviour!
Please let me know when you’ve tried the one in Amboise.
I think I might have seen that cappuccino photo on your Instagram? It’s hilarious. I guess the Normandy style coffee might be like a Vienna coffee but with rubbish coffee obviously. To be fair though, Normandy cream would make almost anything taste better. Most of Central Europe has pretty great Australian style coffee. I don’t know why it’s so late to take off in France and Italy.
Yes, you probably did see that photo. It was a shock at the time! The Normandy style cappuccino isn’t quite the same as Vienna coffee, which they actually do in France. I have no compunctions about ordering cappuccino in Eastern Europe (and even in Germany) as it’s invariably good. They love their short black coffee here so I doubt if they will change …
I travel throughout France and often check to see if there is a decent coffee available near my destination, alas im almost always disappointed. I now live approximately 12 miles from Annecy and I now have to make a 24 mile round-trip to get a decent coffee. BUMES in Annecy is excellent, could you please add to your list.
Just discovered Grounded in Paris XI. It’s a vegan brunch spot, but their cappuccino was the closest I’ve found to an Italian or Australian one. Made with oat milk, might not be to everyone’s taste – but I’m used to alternative milks and didn’t even notice…