Coffee Culture & Central Mini Itineraries

I'm back in Paris and honestly? The happiness is just pouring out of me. One of the things I always look forward to most about returning to the city is coffee culture - visiting my favorite shops and discovering new ones.

Out in Brittany, I make my own coffee every morning, which is perfectly fine, but there's something magical about settling into a warm café with a perfectly made chai latte and watching Paris wake up around you. It's one of my absolute favorite autumn activities.

This week's theme is exactly that: coffee shops I adore, paired with mini itineraries that make geographic sense when you're exploring central Paris. But you can also use these itineraries to inspire you for a perfectly caffeinated autumnal day, no matter where you are in the world!

Why These Particular Shops

All of the coffee shops I'm sharing this week are within walking distance of the Seine River. I chose this area because so much of what draws us to Paris happens along this central corridor - temporary exhibitions at the Musée d'Orsay, walks along the river, checking in on Notre Dame's reconstruction progress.

Since you'll likely find yourself in this area anyway, why not know where to find the perfect chai latte or that cozy corner where you can journal between adventures?

I also specifically chose places with indoor seating where you can settle in. During autumn and winter, I want somewhere to escape the rain, warm up, and spend time with a book. These micro cafés that are popping up everywhere are charming for a quick coffee on the go, but when the weather turns, I crave that cozy atmosphere where I can truly linger.

A Little Coffee History

When I first started visiting Paris, good coffee was genuinely hard to find. KB Coffee in the 9th arrondissement was one of the pioneering shops that changed everything - founded by Australians who actually knew how to roast coffee. They're still thriving on this beautiful corner with a little carousel at the top of Rue des Martyrs, that fantastic food street just below Montmartre.

If you're curious about Paris coffee culture origins, KB is worth the journey.

What I Love About These Places

Each coffee shop I'm featuring has that cozy aesthetic I crave during cooler months - places that feel warm and comforting rather than stark or overly bustling. If you're someone who loves intimate spaces, seasonal tea varieties, and the kind of atmosphere where you can lose yourself in a good book, I think you're going to love these discoveries.

And honestly? These itineraries work year-round. I'm sharing them now because coffee culture is at the top of my autumn bucket list, but every route includes gardens, bookstores, or little museums that make any season feel special.

The Week Ahead

Tuesday through Thursday, I'll share three mini itineraries featuring different coffee shops along with the perfect walking routes that connect them to other seasonal joys. Each route is designed around that coffee shop as your cozy anchor point.

Two Quick Honorable Mentions

Before we dive into this week's featured spots, let me mention two places you might already know: Shakespeare and Company's café next door serves an excellent chai latte and gets their baked goods from Kitchen and Ten Belles Bakery - if you see their sesame cookies, trust me and buy them immediately. Everyone I've shared them with becomes obsessed.

And Noir, a local chain you'll find throughout the city, offers consistently good espresso and filtered coffee. They roast their own beans, and while I prefer other places for chai lattes, they're reliably excellent for coffee.

An Invitation

If you're planning your own autumn in Paris, add these coffee shops to that seasonal Google Map we talked about creating. Or if you're dreaming of cozy coffee culture in your own city, use these itineraries as inspiration for your local discoveries. There’s a lot that could cross over to any location in the world - parks, bookstores, museums, and cozy nooks!

This week is all about one of my absolute favorite things: finding those perfect spots where seasonal comfort meets urban adventure.

Ready to discover some new favorites together? See you tomorrow!

With love and caffeine enthusiasm,

Shannon