Photo by Hotel de Crillon
Welcome to our monthly series: MFCH Staff Favorites!
Every month, the members of the My French Country Home team will share a recommendation for their favorite thing in France right now.
When the Paris chill sets in and the air turns crisp, there’s nothing quite like the simple comfort of a warm drink to bring the city back to life. There’s a special kind of pleasure in stepping off the bustling boulevards to cradle a warm cup between your hands. In these quiet moments, the City of Light reveals a softer side, one best savored through the scent of roasted coffee, melted chocolate, and honeyed steam.
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Every person on our team here in Paris has their go-to places that bring us warmth when the days grow short. Each café, tearoom, and chocolaterie holds its own story – a favorite corner, a drink remembered, a feeling of being perfectly at home. These are the spots we return to again and again, where the simple act of sipping something hot becomes an experience to linger over, and where Paris, in all its charm, feels close and familiar.
On your next trip to Paris, add one (or a few) of these delightful cafés to your list for when you’re craving a warm drink – you won’t be disappointed.
Devotions Café
Recommended by Sarah, MFCH Subscription Box & Boutique Manager
5 Rue Ramey, 75018 Paris
If you’re looking for a cozy spot to grab a coffee in Paris, head to Devotions Café in the 18th arrondissement. Tucked in a residential corner of Montmartre, this welcoming café is a favorite among locals. When I lived in the 18th, I came here regularly for their signature Golden Latte – a comforting mix of turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, honey, and espresso that’s both nourishing and delicious.
Check out our itinerary to Montmartre here.
Just a short walk from Sacré-Cœur, it’s the perfect place to warm up if you get caught in the rain while exploring Montmartre. With its relaxed atmosphere, excellent coffee, and neighborhood charm, Devotions Café is one of the best cafés in Paris to take a break, enjoy a warm drink, and soak in a truly local Parisian experience.
Plaq
Recommended by Maddy, MFCH Magazine Writer & Editor
4 Rue du Nil, 75002 Paris
Slip down the cobbled rue du Nil, tucked inside the bustle of the 2nd arrondissement, and you’ll find yourself in a pocket of calm where the air is richly scented with chocolate and warm bread. This narrow street is lined with small boutiques, each with its own appeal, but the first stop should be Plaq — a modern chocolaterie where everything is made in-house, from bean to bar.
The space folds together workshop, boutique and café, where sophisticated cups of thick hot chocolate are served up, alongside pastries and bars to take home. Order, then linger a moment beneath the string lights outside before wandering on to the neighbors: a bakery, creamery, greengrocer, butcher and fishmonger, set up by the Terroirs d’Avenir artisans, that together make this street feel like a small village within the city.
Plaq now has a second address. Find them on the Left Bank at 57 rue du Cherche-Midi in the 6th.
Mardi
Recommended by Jessy, MFCH Customer Service Coordinator
29 Rue de la Villette, 75019 Paris
Mardi walks the line between Paris, London, and New York, offering something cozy and familiar when you’re on the hunt for elevated cafe classics. English and French are equally welcome here and you can pass the afternoon sipping a warm drink from an artisanal mug while people watching. Unlike many Parisian cafes, Mardi offers the possibility to take your drink on the go, which is perfect for exploring the Buttes-Chaumont Park nearby.
I enjoy ordering a cup of hot chocolate with a kanelbullar on the side for dipping. They regularly have generous slices of cake and snacks which don’t always lean French. Mardi is a cool hot spot while teeming with little international comforts and indulgences. Seating is welcome inside or outside, weather permitting, and, as all good French cafes, is dog friendly.
Grand Mosque Teahouse
Recommended by Nicola, MFCH Magazine Writer & Editor
39 Rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, 75005 Paris
Tucked beside the Grand Mosque of Paris in the 5th arrondissement, the mosque’s teahouse is a tranquil oasis steeped in history. Built in the 1920s to honor fallen Muslim soldiers who fought for France in WWI, the building reflects North African architecture with tiled courtyards and ornate arches. The teahouse continues this legacy of hospitality, serving sweet mint tea poured from silver pots into small glasses.
I love to linger under the leafy pergolas and mosaic walls, savoring pastries like baklava and gazelle horns. A serene, exotic escape from the Paris bustle that is the definition of dépaysant.
Le Jardin d’Hiver at Le Crillon
Recommended by Sharon, MFCH Founder & Editor-in-Chief
10, Place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris
If you want to enjoy an afternoon tea in style, then head to the Crillon on the Place de la Concorde. Their plush and cozy Jardin d’Hiver is where they serve tea from 3-6pm, Friday to Sunday. Definitely best to reserve a table.
If the weather is clement, the wide double doors will be open from the lounge onto an inner patio. The service is no less than you would expect from a Palace hotel, and the pastries by Matthieu Carlin are quite delicious!
Carette
Recommended by Olivia, MFCH Brand Strategist, Writer, & Editor
25 Place des Vosges, 75003 Paris
The first time I took a sip of Carette’s hot chocolate, I felt like I was drinking from the river in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. This smooth and velvety cocoa is the perfect accompaniment to a chilly fall day, best enjoyed out on the terrace facing the crisp autumn trees across the street in Place des Vosges.
Check out our itinerary to the Marais neighborhood here.
If you really feel like indulging, make sure to get a side of their famous chantilly (whipped cream) which comes in a charming silver chalice. The generous serving is enough to make sure that a dose of the thick cream matches every sip.
Les Deux Magots
Recommended by Alizée, MFCH Travel & Tour Manager
6 Place Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006 Paris
I know Les Deux Magots is a bit of a Paris cliché, but I still love it. When I’m in the 6th arrondissement, I like to stop there in the afternoon for a hot chocolate, one of the few sweet treats I actually indulge in.
Check out our itinerary to the Saint-Germain neighborhood here.
It’s rich, old-fashioned, and somehow always hits the right spot. I sit there for a while, letting time slow down a little before getting back to whatever’s next.
We hope you discovered a new French café and drink to love! Check back next month for another roundup of our French favorites.