Working from a bland café is fine. Working from a place that makes you want to pull out your phone every five minutes is better. We've selected seven spots across France that are as beautiful as they are functional, or nearly. Because yes, sometimes the setting is so extraordinary you wonder whether you're really there to work or to feed your Instagram.
Paris, The Hood (11e)
A Singapore-inspired bistro-café on rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, in the 11th. Wooden tables, warm lighting: the décor goes for stripped-back chic, and every corner gives you a polished photo without looking like it's trying. On the work side, aim for the afternoon lull after the lunch rush (it opens at 11:30am on weekdays). Not the most instagrammable spot on the list, but the most honest about productivity.
Grenoble, L'Orangerie Perchée (Île Verte)
An 1895 building on boulevard Jean Pain turned into a hybrid venue: a bouldering gym, a restaurant and a bar under one roof. The combination is rare, and so is the photo opportunity. For working: food on site, and things get lively mostly at lunch and in the evening, so aim for the morning or mid-afternoon.
Montpellier, Halle Tropisme (Beaux-Arts)
A former military school transformed into an entrepreneurial village for creatives. Exposed stone, high ceilings, an interior garden, a coffee bar, rotating exhibitions. Halle Tropisme is where Montpellier goes when it wants to work in an inspiring setting. Studious but not cold atmosphere, food and bar on site. One of the most beautiful community spaces in France.
Bordeaux, Darwin Éco-Système (Bastide)
The institution. A former barracks converted into an eco-responsible community space on the right bank, with monumental street art, a skate park, organic restaurants, a farmers' market and coworking under glass roofing. The rooftop overlooking the Garonne is a classic of the Bordeaux feed. For working: food everywhere on site. The atmosphere can get festive later in the day, so go for mornings.
Lille, Moxy Hôtel (Vieux-Lille)
A design hotel on rue Jean Bart whose large lobby can turn into an improvised workspace. The aesthetic mixes heritage with the cosy décor of a design hotel. Order a drink at the bar and settle into the lobby, open 24/7. Hushed atmosphere, often quiet during the day.
Saint-Malo, La Java Café (Intra-muros)
The oldest café in Saint-Malo, open since 1820 and listed as a Historic Monument. Voted most beautiful café in France in 2008, it also received a European distinction. Totally unusual décor with more than 2,800 dolls suspended from the ceiling, an old zinc bar, chequered floors, a thousand small objects in every corner. Photos guaranteed even without a pro angle. For working, it's trickier: bistrot atmosphere, variable noise level. Perfect for 1 to 2 hours with a coffee and a view of the décor.
Biarritz, Deus Ex Machina (Avenue de la Marne)
The European flagship of the Australian surf and motorcycle brand, set in a 200 m² former hardware store 500 metres from the beach. Surfboards and custom motorbikes on the walls, an open kitchen, AllPress coffee: every corner looks like a photo-shoot set. For work: free Wi-Fi, power outlets everywhere and an area designed for remote working. Shoppers coming and going keep the place lively all day, so forget deep focus. Open every day from 9 am to 7 pm.
The most beautiful spots aren't always the most productive, and that's ok. Sometimes you need a setting that inspires, even if the atmosphere means closing Slack and just being present for an hour. The important thing is knowing what you're looking for before you set up your computer.
