Café Charlot

So there is this charming little café nestled in the heart of the Marais that I just can’t get enough of. I first discovered the place when I lived just a couple of blocks away and would pass a corner space under construction every day. Being a lover, as we’ve already established, of all things food (well, almost), I was excited when I saw that the space was possibly going to be a new neighborhood boulangerie, as the sign over the corner entrance was one of those wonderful old Boulangerie signs. Day after day, I watched the progress, every day hoping that it would open before I was set to move away. When I eventually realized that it was not in fact going to be a Boulangerie but rather a café, I can’t say I was disappointed. Tant mieux if it was going to be a place for me to pop down for a tasty dinner or just a drink with a friend. I finally had the chance to make my inaugural visit one day when my friend and I had spent the morning at Carreau du Temple looking for famous people attending Stella McCartney’s fashion show. Exhausted after chasing Anna Wintour et al, we found we needed a French breakfast, so at my suggestion we headed to Café Charlot. That first time I finally made it inside after all those months of anticipation, I was mesmerized by its ambiance. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not the Plaza Athenée or anything. The attraction of it for me is that it’s precisely the way I would design a café, with its white subway tiles all over, fan light fixtures, and beautiful yet understated bar. I had a delicious croissant with possibly the best hot chocolate I have ever had. It was like a melted candy bar very much reminiscent of Angelina’s hot chocolate l’Africain only better. In subsequent trips to Café Charlot, I have taken a slightly less indulgent hot drink. The first time I ordered it, I was pleasantly surprised when my order of mint tea came out in a traditional Moroccan tea pot with traditional tea cozy and, of course, real mint leaves. As if I needed one more reason to love this place. Café Charlot is a great place to get breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or just to take a drink. If you’re in need of a place to work, you can always take your laptop and take advantage of their free WiFi.

Café Charlot is found slightly outside of the central tourist section of Paris, usually a good sign that a café will be affordable and authentic. This café is exactly what you picture when you imagine a Parisian café, only without the packs of tourists. They’re very friendly with English speakers and offer a varied menu of pasta and sandwiches in addition to heartier daily specials. Perfect for lunch, also good for a casual dinner. Personally, I occasionally need a break from heavy French fare, and it’s nice to be able to enjoy a club sandwich in a classic Parisian setting. Beware of the gourmet burgers though. They’re always too messy, requiring a knife and fork. Maybe I’m just a dumb American, but that’s not how I like to eat my hamburgers. Café Charlot is popular but you won’t have trouble getting a table. An exception is Sunday brunch, which attracts quite a crowd. If you’re only in Paris for a couple days don’t waste an afternoon waiting in line here. Brunch is a pretty recent trend in Paris and the crowd is attracted more by the novelty than the food. I always stop at Café Charlot after walking up my favorite street in the Marais, Rue Vieille-du-Temple. Take a left at the end of Rue V-d-T and you’ll find it on Rue de Bretagne, across from a popular market. It’s a great place to just enjoy a coffee and they even have free wifi, quite a find in Paris!

Cafe Charlot has an upscale, vintage vibe to it, making it a trendy and unique cafe to check out while in Paris. They start serving lunch a little past noon, but we arrived before then to have some croissants and coffee to get our morning started, so they weren't too crowded, and we were able to have a nice, quiet morning. With drink and food specials written on the windows and mirrors of the venue, its easy to get a good value for you're paying in this fashionable cafe. If you're planning on coming in for a relaxing snack or break, grab one of the newspapers or magazines they have for customer use!