Top Five Hipster Paris Restaurants

Hipsters have a big influence on making a place trendy in Paris, always looking for the authentic with a unique ambience that will make them feel at home. By word of mouth they discover before others the next “it” place at which to be seen and to have an original experience, sometimes based on the menu, the decoration, the location, the music or a mix of them all. Here are the top five choices for hipster Paris restaurants in 2014. Put them on your to-do list for your next trip to Paris and you’ll discover where the local trendsetters go, while adding authentic Parisian flair to your stay.

Café Pinson: Unique Decor and Healthy, Creative Food
58, rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, in the 10th Arrondissement. 01 45 23 59 42.


© Paul Bowyer.

If you are into organic food and healthy living but have a passion for gourmet food, Café Pinson (which also has an address in the 3rd Arrondissement) is the place for you. Its Parisian founders, Agathe and Damien, have combined their passions and skills to craft a unique culinary experience. 

© Paul Bowyer. 

On the menu are daily specials, mostly vegetarian, reflecting the chef’s seasonal inspirations. The decor is by the French designer Dorothée Meilichzon, who created a unique vintage atmosphere.

Le Perchoir: From the Rooftops of Paris
14, rue Crespin du Gast, in the 11th Arrondissement. 01 48 06 18 48.

Photo by Aude Boissaye.

Le Perchoir opened its doors last summer, filling a gap in the Paris bar and restaurant scene: a place on an open rooftop where guests could enjoy an amazing view of the city. The enviable location of this bar offers a 360-degree view of the City of Light. Le Perchoir is divided into two parts: a restaurant on the sixth floor, which serves special gastronomic menus designed seasonally by the chef; and a casual bar on the top floor.  

Photo by Aude Boissaye. 

It is recommended to reserve at the restaurant well in advance, especially in spring and summer. Access to the bar is easier from the restaurant; if you only intend to go to the bar, plan to be there as early as 5:30 p.m., because by 6:30 p.m. you may not be allowed to go up until 10 p.m. As the days get warmer, you can’t miss this spot.

Café Kitsuné: Hip Coffee
51, Galerie de Montpensier, in the 1st Arrondissement. 01 42 60 34 28.

Photo by Yavidan Castillo.

If there is a fashion label that hipsters adore, it is Kitsuné, the half-French, half-Japanese brand that not only creates clothes but also produces music. Its most recent venture is the opening of this cozy little café next to the gardens of the Palais Royal. The project is an organic extension of the brand—you can sense it in every corner, from the decor to the merchandising to the coffee cups signed “Kitsuné,” which you can buy on the spot. 

Photo by Yavidan Castillo. 

The menu is simple but everything is top-notch, starting with the Brazilian coffee roasted by Workshop Coffee Co. in London and professionally served by charming baristas. There are also teas, hot chocolate and healthy juices. With limited food options, Café Kitsuné is really a coffee house where you can decide to drink your coffee sur place or take a nice inspiring walk in the sumptuous gardens.

The Beef Club: Luxury Burgers and Prime Cuts
58, rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in the 1st Arrondissement. 09 54 37 13 65.

Photo by Yavidan Castillo. 

The Beef Club is one of the latest adventures of the group behind the cocktail bar revolution in Paris (Experimental Cocktail Club, Prescription Cocktail Club). After conquering the cocktail arena, the group has focused on the culinary business, creating a restaurant with “English”-style meat specialties, from luxurious burgers with decadent fries to prime cuts to satisfy the most demanding meat lovers. This is where you come not to get your regular steak frites but to kick it up a few notches and experience part of the latest Parisian international food trend, satisfying the carnivore in you.

Chez Janou: The Classic
2, rue Roger Verlomme, in the 3rd Arrondissement. 01 42 72 28 41.

Photo by Florencia Daglio. 

If you want to enjoy authentic food from the south of France, the type you would have in the best brasserie but with a young, trendy ambience, Chez Janou is not to be missed. You can find it a few steps from the historic Place des Vosges, with a simple decor also inspired by southern France. 

Photo by Florencia Daglio. 

Chez Janou is famous for its wide variety of apéritifs as well as a decadent chocolate mousse, which you can serve yourself as much of as you like from a big bowl. Reservations are recommended, and be sure to arrive on time—Chez Janou is always full and your table might be given away if you’re late.

Insider tip: When planning your trip, be sure to get the GO-Card, your access to our little black book of resources on how to eat, live, play and stay in Paris. You’ll also get great deals from all of our 250-plus partners.

Related Links
Café Pinson
Le Perchoir
Café Kitsuné
The Beef Club
Chez Janou
Visit Yavidan Violeta at Violeta Purple.