We've selected the ten most photogenic cafés in France, from a former hardware store turned surf and motorcycle café in Biarritz to the café with 2,800 dolls. All of them welcome laptops, as long as you come at the right time and play along with ordering something now and then. They're not the most high-tech, but they are the most memorable.
Looking for cafés with reliable WiFi? If WiFi is your priority, see our nationwide pick of the best cafés with WiFi to work from.
Saint-Malo, La Java Café (Intra-muros)
A historic café inside Saint-Malo's walls, with completely unusual décor with over 2,800 dolls suspended from the ceiling, old zinc bar, chequered floors, a thousand small objects tucked into every corner. Photos guaranteed even without a professional angle. For work: a lively bistro atmosphere, variable noise level. Ideal for 1 to 2 hours with a coffee and the view of the décor.
Paris, Hanoï Cà Phê (9e)
A Vietnamese brasserie and cocktail bar on the Grands Boulevards, open all day: the unexpected option for working over a cà phê sữa đá or a bo bun. Distinctive décor that's a radical change from most Parisian cafés. Aim for off-peak hours, outside meal times, to open your computer.
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. Open kitchen, AllPress coffee, surfboards and custom motorbikes between the tables: an industrial décor you won't find anywhere else. For work: free Wi-Fi, power outlets everywhere and an area designed for remote working. The place stays lively all day, so it's better for an inspired session than for deep focus. Open every day from 9 am to 7 pm.
Bayonne, Akelarre Café (Petit Bayonne)
A vegetarian café-studio tucked into Petit Bayonne, a stone's throw from the Nive. Three spaces: a bright café for working in peace, a cosy lounge, and a sunny terrace. 100% homemade food using products from the Basque Country, thoughtful décor with reclaimed materials and handmade objects. A gentle atmosphere that makes productivity feel almost effortless.
Cassis, Mamahé Café (centre)
A specialty coffee shop at the heart of the village, a stone's throw from the port. Gently urban atmosphere, Lauca coffee, homemade food made from fresh local produce. The contrast between the carefully designed modern décor and the light of Provence is striking. The spot for a quiet weekday brunch, laptop out, without the port's bustle at peak season.
Annecy, Slake (centre)
An authentic coffee shop, beans roasted on-site, all-day brunch. Relaxed atmosphere and ambitious homemade food for a café, you eat well here, which counts. Very busy: come right at opening if you want quiet. A local reference that's worth the walk from the lake.
Lyon, Le Perko Café (Croix-Rousse slopes)
On place du Griffon, at the foot of the Pentes, Perko Café is a tearoom set in a small, old, patchwork house. Light woodwork, carefully chosen coffees and teas, cakes and snacks: it's easy to settle in with your computer, and the terrace on the square is a bonus on sunny days. Aim for mid-morning or mid-afternoon, outside lunchtime.
Paris, L'Ours et la Vieille Grille (5e)
A soulful café-bookshop in the Quartier Latin, that also hosts theatre performances. High ceilings, bookshelves reaching the top, mismatched armchairs. The place naturally draws readers, writers, PhD students, and laptops find their place here without getting in anyone's way. One of the last genuine literary cafés in Paris.
Nantes, Distillerie Fizet (centre)
A micro-distillery and coffee shop in the same address. Specialty coffee, homemade pastries. The décor mixes copper alembics and modern coffee shop furniture, the result is unique in France. For work, come on a weekday morning to enjoy the calm before the curious arrive.
Paris, Café Verlet (1er)
The oldest Parisian coffee company still in operation, founded in 1880, near the Palais-Royal. Period woodwork, bags of beans from around the world lined up on the floor, the smell of roasting permeating every square centimetre. It's less a coffee shop than a living museum. Only a few seats, but priceless if you grab one with your laptop for a memorable hour of work.
Beauty and productivity don't always mix well: some of these places are better suited to an hour of inspiration than a full day of deep focus. That's fine. A beautiful café's main job isn't to replace a coworking space, it's to remind you that working away from home can be a luxury, not a chore.
