12 Best Breakfast Places in Paris For More Than a Croissant

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and as an American living in Paris, I faced a serious adjustment when I moved here. While I was used to full plates of pancakes, eggs, and bacon, the French opt for a simple, carb driven approach – pastries like croissants, half a baguette with butter and jam, or more commonly, an espresso and a cigarette.

Driven by a love for a hearty morning meal, over the past two years, I’ve made it my personal mission to seek out the best breakfast places in Paris for a full spread. And let me tell you, while the city can bake, it can definitely do brunch too. 

These are the best places for breakfast in Paris that go beyond a bakery, coffee stop, or Café de Flore.

1. Holybelly

When my mom was pregnant with me, she had IHOP nearly every day, so I consider myself somewhat of a pancake connoisseur. Holybelly, without a doubt, has the best American style pancakes in Paris, and unreal savory breakfast options, too. The restaurant focuses on seasonal ingredients, with ever changing specials, sides, and drinks, plus their classic all day breakfast menu year round. My go to is drip coffee, fluffy scrambled eggs, a plain stack of pancakes (with butter and maple syrup, duh), and a side salad. 

Holybelly is definitely one of the most popular breakfast places in Paris, with a line out the door most mornings. They don’t take reservations, but recently added a live wait-time monitor on their website so you know what the line’s like before you arrive. You can usually snag a table if you get there right when they open at 9 AM, but it’s best to avoid weekends. If you do hit a busy time, Georgia and Blondie next door are two other great breakfast places in Paris.

2. Inform Cafe

I’m a sucker for a good breakfast sandwich, and Inform does them so well. I stumbled into this place while looking for coffee near Montmartre and ended up enjoying a quiet solo brunch. It’s shockingly calm considering how close it is to the tourist mess, so let’s keep this spot between us, okay?

Beyond the heaping bacon and egg sandwiches, Inform does “fat stacks” of pancakes, eggs benny on croissants, and homemade cinnamon rolls. The people who work there are also super sweet and speak great English!

Love to eat? Take a food tour of Paris with a local guide to discover the best spots. 

3. O Coffee

If you’re staying near the Eiffel Tower or plan to visit first thing in the morning, O Coffee is one of the best breakfast places in Paris for a full feed. With an Australian style menu, you get all the classics like eggs benny and avocado toast, along with massive flat whites. I’m a huge fan of the scones, and they have a little terrace in the warmer months. It does get busy, so if you don’t feel like waiting for a table, grab a snack from the counter and a coffee to go to eat on the Champ de Mars.

4. Partage

Partage is a neighborhood spot where the staff are friendly, the coffee is strong, and the food is delicious. They use seasonal ingredients to whip up a menu that changes every week. The counter is covered with fresh baked goods, too, which you can enjoy with your coffee inside or on the terrace, or take to go and eat with a view of the Eiffel Tower nearby. Aside from having some of the best breakfast in Paris, Partage also does a killer lunch (think soups, salads, and fresh bowls), and has great prices, too. 

5. My Homie

My friend and I randomly tried this place for brunch a few months back because it was in between our houses, and I’m still thinking about it. The concept is unique: breakfast sandwiches served on scones, which work surprisingly well, with options like salmon or New York style with pastrami. If you’re more of a purist, have a fresh scone with jam and butter, or opt for a seasonal dish like shakshuka or scrambled eggs with mushrooms. They also have American style pancakes and all day breakfast, which is hard to come by in Paris.

6. Jozi

The area around the Pantheon has some of the best brunch places in Paris, but Jozi is my favorite because the food is so fresh. I used to eat here all the time when visiting the city, and now I bring my jet lagged friends here for breakfast when they come to visit me! There are pancakes covered in fruit and granola, smoked salmon toasts with guacamole and seeds, and croissant breakfast sandwiches that hit the spot every time. 

It’s a pretty small Paris breakfast place, and gets busy on the weekends. If you don’t want to brave the wait, some honorable mentions nearby are Strada and Tram Cafe. If you want a more Parisian breakfast, Le Saint Victor has eggs, croissants, and a sunny terrace. 

7. La Marine

If you’re by the canal, La Marine is one of my favorite bistros in the area and has light breakfast every morning until noon with a view of the water. They have fried and scrambled eggs, cheese, ham, pastries, and fresh bread – simple, but satisfying, especially with fresh squeezed orange juice and a hot café creme.

I love to sit here in the morning to watch the buzz of people going to work, walking their dogs, and coming back from the bakery along the canal. It’s a really perfect taste of local Parisian life.

8. Cafe Obrkof

I actually discovered this place on Uber Eats one morning when I was too hungover to brave the outside world, and I was so impressed that I had to scope it out in person. Cafe Obrkof is a neighborhood cafe in the Oberkampf area with amazing breakfast sandwiches. We’re talking bacon egg and cheese, smoked salmon and avocado, and even a veggie version. Plus options like yogurt and granola, pastries, and sweet treats, with a chilled out terrace to enjoy.

9. Les Philosphes

Le Marais is well known for its trendy cafes, but if you’re hankering for more than a coffee, Les Philosophes is a classic bistro with a breakfast menu and a big terrace to enjoy it on. Choose from a variety of scrambled eggs (with ham, cheese, smoked salmon, or a combination), or a pastry or half a baguette with butter and jam. It’s not so much about the breakfast, but pure Parisian vibes to start your stay with. 

10. Bar du Marche

Bar du Marche is pretty similar to Les Philosophes in the sense that it’s a bistro with breakfast, but in another lively part of town. This is my absolute favorite place to sit in Paris for people watching, and where we take our friends for breakfast when they come to visit. The breakfast sets come with fresh orange juice, a hot drink, omelets, croissants, and fresh bread, and the big corner terrace is prime real estate for watching the Parisian morning bustle. Kick back with a coffee and enjoy the scene.

10. Echo

Echo is right in central Paris, slinging up California-inspired breakfast and burgers. Eggs your way, French toast, breakfast sandwiches and wraps, and all sorts of funky sides like fennel spiced bacon, 6 minute honey egg, and zatar potatoes. Pretty much everything is hearty and nourishing, without a croissant in sight, which is sometimes just what you need after drowning in pastries on a big Paris trip.

11. Kozy

Kozy has a couple of locations throughout Paris, and as far as a “chain” goes, this one does breakfast pretty well. There are pretty much endless options with waffles, eggs Benedict, and French toast in all sorts of styles. Kozy also does seasonal dishes, smoothies, and coffees to go. And they have proper iced coffee – we’re talking cold foam, oat milk, and beyond – which is hard to come by in Paris. If you’re gunning for an all around crowd pleaser, this is definitely one of the best breakfast places in Paris. 

12. Good News Coffee Shop

This is another one of the best breakfast places in Paris near the Eiffel Tower, with a cozy interior and a small terrace in the summer. I love the scones here, which you can have with a hot drink and a fresh juice for €10. If you want something more substantial, there are chia and granola bowls, and avocado toast, which you can dress up with a poached egg and/or bacon. The pastries at the counter are also fit for any sweet tooth, with homemade cakes and cinnamon rolls!

Any places I missed for where to eat breakfast in Paris? Drop me a comment below, I can’t wait to try. And check out more cafes, restaurants, and insider tips in my Paris travel guide and in the articles below.

More From the Paris Travel Blog