Studying in Paris. Not the easiest endeavor for two major reasons - a) it’s so beautiful that you just want to sip your coffee and people-watch rather than actually do work; b) cafes are more for doing just that (see point a) in Paris than they are for being study spots. But I had a mission in mind, and over the course of my few months living in the city, I tried to try my fair share of new places. Here is my comprehensive list of cafes that you will love, whether you need to study or not.

Kann Coffee

I stumbled into this cafe while walking along the river in the 9th, looking for a place to settle and write a paper. I wound up spending five hours here to crank out my writing. The space is well-designed, and the atmosphere was lovely, modern, and calm. Kann has great coffee, yummy cookies, and avocado toast. There is also a little back meeting room with couches, because the space is a design and architecture company as well. There is free wifi and water, and you can use your laptop at any of the tables.

What I Worked on Here: a ten page paper on the history of Notre Dame. Timely.

Les Pavilion des Canaux

This place is INSANE. It’s a coffee shop I an old house, and you get to dine, work, or sit and chat in any of the rooms upstairs or downstairs. You can sip your latte in a retro kitchen, a colorful bedroom, or even in a bathtub in the little bathroom on the second floor (there’s even a little table inside the tub for your convenience). There is a cute little open patio in the front with great views of the river. There is free wifi, but no laptops allowed for certain hours inside the house. It is the cutest and most unique coffee shop experience you will have while in Paris. Promise.

What I Worked on Here: I made a study guide for French here, spreading all my textbooks out across a wooden desk in one of the “bedrooms”, looking like a little schoolgirl.

Lou Lou Cafe

This was a crowd favorite for most of us attending NYU Paris, as it sits right across the street. The Latin Quarter is always bustling and exciting, and this cafe is no exception, but the coffee is great, as is the food. It’s Australian, and the inside has great couches and lots of seating. I recommend the Golden Latte and the Buddha Bowl for a grand time.

What I Worked on Here: I did a lot of blog writing here in the corner couch spot by the window, which provided me the best view to people-watch while writing.

Strada Cafe

This place is so nice, always equipped with tables and wifi, a great study atmosphere. There are a few of these cafes around town, but the one I most frequented was in the 5th. There are big tables, plenty of space, and a friendly staff. This cafe felt the most like the ones in New York where I spend my time studying or writing.

What I Worked on Here: I actually remember working on an acting scene here, memorizing the script at the back table over a little double espresso. You always need espresso to act.

Hoxton Hotel

This place is cool as heck. The open, outdoor/indoor lobby of this hotel is home to a cute little cafe stand where you can order an assortment of coffee, alcohol, and treats. There are huge plants and funky lighting. They will also come and serve you at your seat, should you choose to sit at one of the tables. There are comfy couches, an outdoor patio, an upstairs seating area, and a reading room. The vibe here is open and fun, and the place transforms into a lively bar at night. If you’re a student, it’s a great place to go to feel like you aren’t. ;)

What I Worked on Here: I wrote a paper here on sustainability and fashion by the big window and I ate the b e s t muffin while doing it. Living the dream - really.

Peonies Cafe

This place is adorable, with lots of flowers, tiny tables, and pink lattes, you can’t help but smile while working here. The pink matcha latte is amazing, and I highly recommend choosing your own flowers and making your own bouquet to take home.

What I Worked on Here: I first came here on my 22nd birthday to get a pink latte, but I’ve also done some writing and reading among the flowers. And I can’t help but always buy bouquets whenever I go.

Neighbours

The food here is some of the best I had in Paris - which is saying a LOT - and their coffee does not disappoint. It is a tiny space, and when it gets busy on the weekends there can be quite the wait. During the week it is a little less crowded, and you can study here, but this place is a favorite for brunch. The banana bread with roasted espresso butter is to DIE for.

What I Worked on Here: I had a few brunch dates and had meetings here, so I mostly just did a lot of dreaming here - and a little bit of crying over how good the eggs were.

Merci Used Book Cafe

This place is amazing and adorable. Used books line every wall, there are plenty of spaces to sit, and the atmosphere is dark and cozy. I would come here to read and study on rainy days, and shop in the Merci store that is connected in the back afterwards. I highly recommend this place for a cappuccino with a friend, or to stay and read a good book for a long while. This also gets crowded on weekends, but it’s worth the wait.

What I Worked on Here: Mostly research and planning for a few different projects here. But this place always makes me want to read real, tangible books. I read Brené Brown’s Braving the Wilderness here. Highly recommend.