Shakespeare and Company Café

Lovely. I had been really excited to check out the bookstore for the less than 24 hours I had in town, but sadly it didn't open until I had to leave. Instead I got to have a lovely breakfast here! They had fantastic service despite being super slammed. They were so helpful when it turned out some treats were out of stock and gave us replacements with no issue. Definitely stop by it was lovely with live music playing outside on the street.

Shakespeare and Co. Café is one of those places you can visit again and again and always enjoy. The décor is charming and vintage, the atmosphere is cozy, and it’s perfect whether you want a relaxed breakfast, a quiet coffee, or a sweet treat. Their cakes and pastries are always fresh, and the menu has a great variety of options for any time of day. The staff are kind and attentive, and the service is consistently good no matter how busy it gets. I love coming here to unwind, meet friends, or simply enjoy a peaceful moment with a delicious drink. A beautiful, elegant café that makes you feel comfortable the moment you walk in. Highly recommended! 💕☕️

The staff at this place are incredibly friendly and create a welcoming atmosphere, making it worth the visit despite the large crowd. The place really gives that cosy vibe, even when bustling with people. It’s also a great spot to take a break after exploring the Shakespeare and Company bookshop. Their ube cafe looks delicious, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Perhaps it’s because we have so many ube-flavoured options in the Philippines, and compared to those, I didn’t find the ube flavour I was looking for. The pastries, however, were delicious. Unfortunately, I was full and didn’t get to try their carrot cake.

Located directly next to the bookstore, this cafe made me feel like I was back home. Let me tell you why. I’m fairly certain the staff were American based on their American accent. I really just needed a quick snack cos our first meal was a late lunch and I forgot to have anything in the morning before leaving our airbnb. Got myself a latte and a bread situation. That bread was so flaky. It was so good. All that butter. French bread is superior. Period There’s plenty of seating outside. You basically order out front then find a seat outside. That corner is the best people watching corner.

The place is quite small, so if you want to sit inside, you probably need to come earlier. Sitting outside is also nice since the view is the Notre Dame. The drink I ordered was nice (I forgot the name, but it had some spices, I think), though the taste was mostly dominated by milk.

A very nice cafe right next to my fav bookstore. The coffee and pastries are superb! The outdoor seating is so nice in December.

Lovely corner that every reader in Paris must visit. Loved that the use of phones wasn't allowed inside..way too many places are spoiled by influencers trying to take the best selfie..but here everything is just about the books..I'm only sorry I wasn't able to stay a bit in the reading room..but it's something I'm definitely planning on doing in my next visit ❤️

We stopped here for a coffee break and it ended up being one of the nicest moments of our day. The coffee was smooth and flavorful, and the cheesecake was creamy and delicious without being too heavy. What really made it special was the setting sitting outside with a clear view of Notre Dame felt unforgettable. It was the perfect spot to pause, rest, and just enjoy the city for a little while. The staff were kind and let us take our time, which we really appreciated. It’s not a fancy place, but it has charm, good food, and an incredible atmosphere. We’d happily come back and definitely recommend it.

I don't think coffee is all that great in most places in Paris, but I really love the coffee here and the hojicha lattes are dreamy! I spent a week in Paris in June and came here many times to enjoy the drinks AND the tasty treats. They have a chocolate rye cookie that is incredible and the lemon drizzle cake is divine. The staff are friendly and are patient with the many tourists lining up ti enter.

Stopped in twice earlier this month for midday snacks. The place was packed both times. The tiny indoor seating area was filled as were the outdoor tables. And, there was a fairly long line to place and to pick-up orders. The staff was pleasant and attentive. We ordered smoothies, espresso drinks, and pastry. Everything tasted as we expected. If you don't mind crowds in a tiny cafe, I'd recommend stopping in. But, if you prefer something quieter, there are a lot of cafes in the area to try.

You can't miss this café if you're snapping shots or visiting the famous bookstore with the same name. Like it's namesake, the menu is thankfully in English, so there was no need to use Google Translate or struggle with the ordering. For some reason, there was a separately attired gentleman manning the entrance to the coffee shop. Security? We ordered a double espresso and slice of lemon pie, which we shared. Service water was available in a jug, so hooray for that. This place is very small with equally limited outdoor seating. The toilet was so small that my elbows would be wall to wall if I stretched them outwards. The staff were nice and helpful. Food and coffee were 5 of 5.

This lovely coffee place is walking distance from the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral. Also next to the world famous bookstore with the same name. It was extremely full and to be honest a little overwhelming. We still managed to make the line and ordered some coffees, an espresso and a latte. Service was surprisingly fast. The coffees are served in fun colorful pottery. We drank the coffees in standing tables because of how packed it was. This happened this past January so it was nice to find a cozy place to shelter from the outside cold for a moment. It was a necessary stop to warm up a little and it served its purpose.

In the shadow of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, this coffee shop was a good place to stop for a quick coffee. Had a Flat White and it was a very enjoyable cup of coffee set next to a historic book store. Very lucky to grab a seat outside in the sun. The place was busy but efficiently moved people through. Good place to go if you can and also see the bookstore.

A nice spot for scones, teas and coffees right next to the eponymous and world-famous bookstore. Nite that online menus showing breakfast foods were not being served as of May 2024. No oatmeal or sandwiches. Also note that, as in much of France, opening times may not be exact.

I had been planning to visit this place for months, and I was so excited when I finally got there. Unfortunately, the bookstore was closed. To me, it looked so tiny from the outside. So I felt it to be a little overrated, but I guess it must be magical once you are inside. So parking that for the next time. Without wasting time, we went to the coffee shop and which too is also tiny. It could only accommodate less than 4 or 5 people. But the outside seating is always available and you get a great view of Norte Dame sitting there. It has a vintage charm to it, which makes the whole experience and the ambiance cozy and gorgeous. We only had coffee, nothing out of the world compared to other cafes. The service was quick and warmful. The fact that sitting in this iconic place overlooking the beautiful street of Paris and Norte Dame makes the experience enjoyable!!

J'ai entendu que les autres boissons de ce café comme le matcha sont tellements bons, malheureusement je dois avouer que mon latté charcoal sesame était un peu bizarre, le goût de noisettes qu'on s'attend m'a manqué et le saveur m'a fait pensée de roux ? Absolumment on y va pour l'ambience et les employés sont très sympas -- peut-être la prochaine j'y commanderais une autre

Really good coffee! Drinks start at around 3 euro, and the baristas speak English. Just a heads up, they don't recommend taking the drinks into the bookstore; the cafe itself is to the left of the book store entrance in the front by the corner of the building. It is so popular, there is hardly any space in there on a normal day. Recommend trying their hot food items and their coffee, if you're lucky by the time you finish ordering a table opens up. Will definitely come back again!

I tired the spiced cacao latte. It tasted just ok... the latte was pretty weak and the spice was pretty mild. The cacao also wasn't very strong. Had the latte sitting outside which was super crowded and shared a table... the table was never bussed, but made due since wanted a seat... It's a super touristy spot, so not a great hangout spot...

When I now think of Paris, I always come back to this little cafe & its adjoining bookstore on the left bank of the Seine. I stopped here 2 or 3 times and enjoyed several coffee drinks(americano, latte, noisette). Amazingly, I was always somehow, despite its touristy location, able to get a seat. There's a giant picture window facing a great view of Notre Dame and also many tables for outdoor seating. They also serve food and for the location, I thought coffee drinks were quite reasonable (about 3 or 4 euros). The bookstore is the 100 year old famed hang out of ernest Hemingway/izra pound/f. scott Fitzgeralds "lost generation" (the history of the place is actually more complicated than that but you get the gist of it. The staff speaks English and it still had a slightly American expat feeling to it (or maybe that's cuz everyone was a tourist:). I loved the little details like the signs that warn "dreamers, please me mindful of your belongings" or (something like that), and the tiny bathroom where the sliding door could either close completely or be locked - not both :). Also check out the adjoining bookstore...dont bother the cat (not a problem cuz you probably won't be able to find it).

What a gem! This was one of the nicest and coolest places we visited in Paris. Myself and my partner got a lovely coffee and dessert here, and ate in outside in the qwerky outdoor seating area with a great view of Notre Dame. Staff - were nice and helpful Location - was amazing Food - great quality Extras - interesting history

4. What book makes you want to live in a different era? 14. On what occasion do you lie? 19. What's your favorite hiding place? Expect marked-up prices that target tourists who visit the legendary Shakespeare and Company bookstore next door. But also expect this cafe to continue the trend of intellectual whimsy (exemplified by the bookstore's red stairs that read "I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being" or the typewriters and piano in the upstairs reading rooms) with the Kilometer Zero Proust Questionnaire paper placemat that includes 30 probing questions like the three I quoted above. It'll make for a fun and creative lunchtime conversation. €9 for a mozzarella, sweet potato, and mushroom quiche? Well, it managed to convert this former hater of quiche into a raving fan so I'm sure that says something about how good it was. I also liked the perfectly tart vinaigrette dressing on the side salad. At the end of the day, I'm sure you can easily find another cafe with better prices, but you'll be able to enjoy a priceless lunch with views of the Notre-Dame and soak up the historical literary vibes of Shakespeare and Co's most famous patrons like Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein at the same time.

The bagel was pretty good, especially for a touristy place. My big complaint is the bright pink drink in the picture was supposed to be "homemade lemonade" it definitely was not homemade.

Cozy cafe in a beautiful area! Fantastic place to bring a good book. Indoor and outdoor seating. Wonderful tea and delicious salads and healthy foods. I always enjoy coming to the Shakespeare cafe when I am in Paris.

Well, I'm not all that surprised that there is a cafe next to this rather famous bookshop. Basically you buy your book, and the go next door, order a coffee (or whatever), and sit down in the afternoon sun. Actually, I found out that there selection of drinks wasn't actually that great, and did have a little difficulty with our orders, but we ended get getting what we wanted. Honestly, this place is just cashing in on the bookshop (and is actually part of the shop), and there are better places around as well. Still, it's convenient.

This cafe is worth the stop for two reasons. 1) it has amazing views of Notre Dam, and 2) it's a beautiful place to cozy up with a recent purchase from the Shakespeare & Co Bookstore next door. Be ready to pay premium for the views though. My scone, cider and tea cost 17€. The scone was fresh with delicious blackberry preserve. Everything was served on a paper menu with a list of 30 intriguing questions- that my husband and I spent an hour asking each other, from what kind of animal would you be? To what poem has changed your life? Our afternoon here was definitely a happy memory from our trip!!

I had breakfast here one morning before starting my day sightseeing in Paris. It's proximity to Notre Dame and the Seine is a plus, it's right next to it! However, it doesn't open until 9:30 am which is a bit late in my opinion for a place that serves breakfast and coffee. Additionally, they did not have a ton of options for breakfast items. I had chia pudding and my friends had bagels. There was little variety. I would by no means say this was a bad experience, but I do not understand why it has so much hype behind it (or what I perceived to be hype by my American friend who had been living in Paris for 4 months and recommended it to me on my trip to Paris).

Although I have been to the bookstore many many times, this was the first chance to try out the café that opened, I believe, last year Make that the year before - 2015. It's quite small. Quaint. The coffee was drinkable, which isn't always something that can be said about coffee in France. We had those and also bagels with avocado. Well, this wasn't asking for a gourmet meal but I found this to be quite tasty, accompanied by a small salad. The only down side was that I found it to be quite expensive for what it was. No regrets going there. I have supported the bookstore for the past 30 years and will continue to do so by having the occasional coffee at their café.

This cafe was one of the best we had in Paris. The location is perfect, with a few of the Notre Dame right outside. We ordered two of the bagel sandwiches(one vegan and one salmon) and some coffee (one chai and one macchiato). The bagels were delicious and coffee was perfect for the rainy weather. To make things even better the Shakespeare bookstore next door was a dream come true for my wife who loves to read. We spent a good amount of time roaming the cafe bookstore with our coffees after having a great breakfast. Definitely recommend everyone to stop by!

Pretty cool place but a lot of tourists... A LOT of tourists. Good location, overlooking to the Notre Dame. The cafe is separate from the bookstore, so you're still able to lounge on the picnic tables outside the cafe after browsing through the store. We chose to get coffee/snacks first. Lattes were very standard and pumpkin pie was not very good. Echoing the other reviews, the cafe is definitely a rip off. Because of the crowd (I'm sure some locals come too...), it was tough to navigate inside the bookstore. The shop itself is very crammed, hardly fitting two people in the aisles. Because of this, it's actually tough to linger and browse. If you want to set aside a good chunk of time to book-shop, then great, but I don't think most people do. People come, take some photos, and walk a loop inside, then leave...

A vegan friendly cafe in the middle of a touristy area in Paris is a dream come true! I stopped in right before closing, after browsing the bookstore, thinking I'd get a snack or something. I was completely detoured when I noticed they offered mulled wine. The woman behind the counter sounded American, much to the chagrin of the older French woman in front of me who didn't speak English, but to my delight. I ordered a mulled wine and was told, "We're actually closing soon, would you mind if I gave it to you in a to-go cup?" WOULD I. Hot mulled wine while walking along the Seine in winter sounded like a dream come true. It was delicious, everything I could want and more. I'd absolutely return for food, or if I need a reprieve from trying to make myself understood in a language I damn near failed three years in a row. It's definitely touristy, but a lovely place to stop if you are, in fact, a tourist.

Nice staff and prime location. Not many options. Mostly coffee and healthy stuff., which was a nice surprise considering the cafes at every corner are riddled with pastries and coffee. Quick service. Just wish there were more options.

Hmm, what do you do when you find yourself in Paris on a cold, snowy night after you leave the Notre Dame Cathedral? You head to the Shakespeare & Co Cafe for a hot drink, of course! My friends and I ducked in here for some coffee (and a hot chocolate for me) after our visit to Notre Dame. It's a bit cramped inside, so there was only room for us to stand at a small table along the wall while we chatted and enjoyed our drinks. This is pretty common in many European countries, so I'm cool with standing. I love books, and I love cafes, so this place is perfect. You can walk around and browse the bookstore shelves, then head next door for a hot drink. Win-win. I'd definitely go back.

I came here around noon on a Tuesday and was quickly greeted by four hip employees. I ordered an avocado cream cheese on a poppyseed bagel, green tea matcha chocolate cookie, and a latte. The total came out to be 11.5€ which is great in Paris. But the girl taking my order must have been new because she had to ask a handful of questions to get my order in in the first place. But let me be clear, my avocado masterpiece wasn't on the menu board but I knew they had the ingredients to make it! I quickly found a seat by the window and quite enjoyed the ambiance of the cafe. The barista brought over my latte but ended up spilling a lot of it that he went back and repoured me a cup. The bagel was delivered quickly after. I had to ask for my matcha cookie since they forgot. The latte was exquisite. It was delicious. Same with my bagel. It had the perfect amount of cream cheese and they were not stingy with the avocado. The green tea matcha cookie was to die for but I would have liked it better if it was warm! This is my new coffee shop and I plan to come here weekly until I die. The reason they lose a star is because of the time it took to put in my order, the fact that their wifi was down, and the missing cookie. IF YOU ARE IN THE AREA COME HERE! They also have used books, a selection from their main right next door, around the cafe so browse and browse.

A perfect place for cats that like to read in English. Cosy and thorough, you can even get coffee on the left now. Likely to be the last library in Paris at the end of the world.

This area was missing a neighborhood coffee shop and Silvia has made one with great coffee, english and french speaking staff, and great cakes and muffins and snacks. The view from the window seats is stunning. All that and cheaper than Starbucks. They do a fine flat white and can make whatever weird fancy drink you get at home. They do it with a smile and take cards - Neither easy to come by in Paris. Word of warning, the place is packed in the summer. The cafe and book shop are open late and that is the best time to visit anyway. While the hords are sitting down to dinner, buy a coffee or tea and a snack, browse the book shop, buy something and get a stamp in the book. Then go have a late dinner with the locals.

The good selection was okay, and the drinks were warm... it really is not worth the hype. Friendly workers tho. I do enjoy the bookstore part

Greeted by an open front window and outdoor seating, this cafe is quaint. The interior is pretty small and offers minimal seating. However, the picnic tables outside are a good choice if you prefer more room. The line moves pretty quickly and the usual coffee house beverages are offered. Take note that no straws are available for environmental reasons (see sign in review pics), so take caution if you would like an iced drink and tend to spill.

So, so, SO happy this place exists!! We're always in this neighborhood and we tend to steer clear of full service places for breakfast so Shakespeare and Co Cafe was great because we could order and pluck things from the window without having to worry about service. They had your standard coffee concoctions, as well as some pastries. Everything was great and we were able to eat it at one of the picnic tables outside while we people watched on Bastille Day. Definitely worth a trip if you want to sit down outside and relax.

I come here every time I come to Paris. I absolutely love this place. I stumbled upon it two years ago while walking through Latin Quarter. Their cafe is delicious they have an assortment of bagels-- my favorite is the salmon and they also have a great mixed fruit juice. The bookstore is out of a storybook. Make sure you keep your eye out for the cat who usually hangs out upstairs. There are many signs posted that say no pictures, which I wish more people respected but sadly they don't. Keep that in mind next time you visit !

Pros: cosy, beautiful view, perfect for book lovers. Cons: small, somewhat expensive (5.5 € for a Moca). I would still recommend this small coffee shop for a mid-afternoon stop (especially during the summer, as they have a variety of juices).

Of all the excellent new artisanal cafés in Paris, of which there are many great ones, avoid this one in particular. The staff is rude and unpleasant, the food is prepared offsite and of mediocre quality, the wait is interminable. A tourist trap to be avoided at all costs.

Yes, this place is in the tourist area and bla bla.. but if a place like this gives comfortable seating, great food, topped with a good view of the Notre dame .. makes it a brilliant combination! We stopped there for lunch, not wanting to eat a full meal but grab a quick bite after visiting sites around. Ordered: a quiche - was the yummiest I've had between places like Singapore and US. espresso - coffee was great and kept me energised till the evening, just in time for the next meal and drink! and after the recommendation, we tried the mixed berry pie - OMG! a must try and the best sweet fruit pie we had in France & Italy. You won't be disappointed if you order these. I'm sure they also do a great job with eggs and other items on the menu. Please don't get dissuaded by the tourists, if you get a table indoors by the window, or outdoors.. enjoy the weather, sip coffee, get your sweet fix while watching the world go about their activities.

My wife and I went in to grab a coffee and ended up having a two hour coffee break. We had our favorite Type "Flat white" and a fruit pie. We recommend this place and we will be visiting again sure. Price average

Drinking a delicious coffee while overlooking the Notre Dame, what else could you ask for? The cafe was closing in 10 minutes but they were nice enough to allow for two more orders. The barista whipped up two cappuccinos which were delicious. They have plenty of outdoor and indoor seating as well.

Bad service! I mean really bad service. You walk in and you feel like you've stepped into someone's home but at a bad time. Everyone's ignoring you and acting as if they'd like you to leave. Took 5 min to be acknowledged by the servers (and this is a small place), they seemed really uninterested and when one of the customer's raised the wait time they only got attitude back. The coffee's good, better than the avrage coffee in Paris, but polite people can make good coffee too. Hope they hire some! Also, there are other cafes with good coffee not too far from there, but with friendly servers, so I won't be back here.

I recommend stopping into the coffee shop & the bookstore. Pretty good coffee & avo toast. Their bagels don't come until 10, which is too late for this American girl. The bookstore is so charming!

Definitely a more tourist-y spot. I'm not sure that there were any locals when I visited this cafe. This is connected to the bookstore and is a nice little joint. Also important that this was one of the ONLY spots that I found that serves cold coffee of any kind. I got myself a cold brew... and was very happy. I personally cannot do as the French do and still drink cafe noir hot in 95 degree weather. I salute them. There are a lot of nice snacks that are very various diet friendly (vegan, gluten free, lactose free options). And definitely if you are coming here explore the bookstore! It's beautiful although you aren't allowed to take any pictures inside.

Delightul cosy cafè, very London-style, think Primrose-Hill, Muswell Hill. The have a good choice of hot and cold coffees and teas, sweet snacks and cakes, salad-bowls, sandwiches, wraps. So far, I have had coffee and sojamilk ice-coffee, very tasty. A perfect spot to chat with a friend. Very busy during weekends/holidays. Must-Do: Check out the bookstore next door!

Cute and homey, got a juice as it was a bit too early for lunch and it was honestly so delicious! Everything is freshly made and the tables outside are so cute!

Had lentil soup, pecan pie, and lemonade. It was all so good. This was such a cute little cafe and the atmosphere was fun but relaxed. It is a small area and took a little to find a place to sit and enjoy our lunch but so worth it.

Just about the perfect accompaniment to the best English bookstore in Paris. Not necessarily the best coffee/pastries/etc., but probably one of the only places you can browse at least a handful of books while you sip your coffee. "Bob's Bake Shop" supplies all the non-coffee goodies in here.

Stopped here for lunch and absolutely loved it! The atmosphere of this place is great, the workers are super friendly and the book store next door is super fascinating, they even sell second hand books out front at a reduced price, I picked up a thriller that I'm very excited to read. As for the cafe the food was awesome, I'm vegan so I ordered the avocado toast on a sesame bagel. It came with a house made hummus, avocado and a side salad. Definitely some of the best avocado toast I've had. I also got a matcha latte, my dad got tea and a quiche, we both enjoyed everything we ordered. This place is awesome, I'd make time out of your day just to go here.

I didn't realize this cafe has been around for some time, I'm sure there are older ones. Staff was great and super friendly.

Loved this place so much! A must visit for people not from Paris- good menu and English speaking staff

The café is pretty expensive but it's lovely to eat lunch surrounded by people reading books and right next to the wonderful Shakespeare and Co!

Love this place! Cozy, and amazing vegan and gluten free options....one of my favorite places to daydream in Paris.

Cool place with fresh stuff to eat and drink BUT service was pretty lousy. They charged me one Euro to little by accident and two minutes later they wanted me to pay that extra Euro. Just leave it guys! And then they gave me a plastic cup for the coffee because it was ONE HOUR before closing and they didn't want more dishes. Lazy and rude to the nature. Peace out.