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Writer, photographer (and blogger!) Marissa Cox , takes us around the French capital – currently in the throws of a coffee revolution. With new cafes are springing up on what feels like a monthly basis, Cox gives us a peek at the new restaurants and shops, offering a modern design contrast to Paris’ traditionally old buildings. Take a look!
I recently discovered this new café in the 11th arrondissement and it has some serious design cred. Owned by a food designer and chef, the duo have done a brilliant job creating an inspiring space.
There’s always an interiors element to Margeret Howell’s stores with its 50s Ercol furniture and they often sell homewares, including ceramics, soft furnishings and coffee table books. This new one in the 3rd is no different.
Ob-La-Di, named after the iconic Beatles song, is another newly opened café. I love this little marble bar and the turquoise blue and white tiled floor creates a striking contrast.
Folks and Sparrows is one of my favourite cafes in Paris. The French owner, Frank lived in NYC for a while and you can see the city’s influence on the design of this space with its wooden beams, white walls, exposed brick walls and cool vintage furniture.
The Palais Garnier is one of my favourite buildings in Paris. It’s just so opulent and over the top – a classic representation of the beauty of Parisian architecture. The hall also looks like the one in Versailles with all its chandeliers.
This is a café with a fashion concept store attached. I love the tiled flooring (it’s one of the original cafes in Paris to adopt this design), vintage chairs and tables and the big windows that allow the light to stream in. Well dressed Parisians and visitors always make a beeline to this place during fashion week.
Claus was opened by a former fashion PR, which explains its beautifully-designed interior. It also does some of the best breakfast options in Paris.
You can’t travel to Paris and not visit Merci. A huge warehouse space spread over three floors, it houses a concept store selling clothes and homewares, two canteens and a café, making it so much more than a shopping destination. The space has been carefully curated and laid out so that you want to while away a few hours there, followed by coffee in their café. And the car in its courtyard is the most photographed car in Paris.
The classic Paris patisseries are beautiful, but I really like Liberté as it looks a little different. It’s clean, modern and minimal – with a white marble counter and white floor tiles to match. It also sells the tastiest pastries.