Paris is one incredible city, but sometimes the hectic city life can feel overwhelming. Take a breather and escape from the crowds for a few hours, or even a day, to have a little ‘me’ time. Curl up with a book amongst the shelves of an old, vintage bookshop, sink into a plush armchair with a glass of wine or warm up with a delicious coffee and croissant in a quaint, Parisian cafe. Read on and discover the best cosy spots in Paris - a chilly autumn day is the perfect excuse.
SHAKESPEARE & CO
37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris
Step inside Librairie Shakespeare & Co, a sweet little independent bookstore, famous amongst Paris’ bookworms, sitting just over the river from the Notre Dame. From the quaint exterior to the vintage vibes inside, if you’re after a new book to read then you could spend hours picking them from the shelves and flicking through the pages. Once you’ve made your purchase and had it stamped at the counter (a lovely touch to show where you bought the book), find a seat in the cafe next door and get stuck in.
CAFÉOTHÈQUE
52 Rue de l'Hôtel de ville, 75004 Paris
Sink into a cosy living room chair, muse over a book and sip on a delicious coffee at Paris’ cosy café, Caféothèque. From the outside it isn’t much, but once the smell of coffee beans freshly roasting inside hits you, you’ll have already stepped in and ordered without a second thought. La Cafeothèque stocks and roasts coffee from 31 different countries, meaning whatever your taste is, you’ll probably be in luck. Sit back and relax in amongst the rustic interior with all its cosy quirks and an amazing cup of coffee - the time will fly.
Check out Where to Get The Best Coffee in Paris
ABBEY BOOKSHOP
29 Rue de la Parcheminerie, 75005 Paris
Books upon books upon books… Abbey Bookshop might resemble a jumble sale from the outside, but it really is a book lover’s heaven. The shop couldn’t contain more books if it tried! The books are new, used, rare and often in English, and they’re absolutely packed into every inch of this little book nook. Abbey Bookshop oozes charm and the staff will welcome you with open arms and a free cup of coffee while you mooch around, picking at books and reading their extracts in one of the cosiest setting imaginable. Not far from the famous Shakespeare & Co, this one is certainly more of a hidden gem.
LE COMPTOIR GÉNÉRAL
80 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
Hidden just off the banks of Canal Saint-Martin, Le Comptoir General is worth the search. Escape the crowds in the late afternoon and enter the secret courtyard and you’ll be transported to an exotic room filled with an awesome yet odd assortment of objects. Take a seat in a cosy, old-school armchair and sip on a cocktail with jazz music playing in the background. Make sure you get there early, as all the cosy seating gets snapped up fast and the queues outside can get crazy.
CAFÉ DES CHATS
9 Rue Sedaine, 75011 Paris
Meet some of the cutest cats in Paris at the adorable Café des Chats in the 11th arrondissement. Friendly felines go about their daily business while you sip on a cup of coffee and enjoy their relaxing company. Being around animals has been proven to be a great way to destress and help you relax, so if you feel like you may need a break from fast-paced Parisian life, this place is purr-fect and paws-itively adorable.
LA COMPAGNIE DES VINS SURNATURELS
7 Rue Lobineau, 75006 Paris
Want a glass of wine but don’t want somewhere crazy? La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels is warm, cosy and has a fantastic wine list. Our advice is to wine and not dine here as it’s a little on the pricey side, but especially if you’re looking for a cosy and romantic place to share a delicious bottle of wine, this is the place to go.
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