Many people don’t realize how bad the coffee is in Paris — and this coming from someone who actually enjoys and appreciates the watery American diner coffee that French people call jus de chaussette or “sock juice.”
(What an image, right?)
But there’s a new wave of coffee shops opening in Paris that eschew this tradition, and 5 Pailles falls into this category.
This coffee shop serves up delicious brews from local Café Lomi amongst others, as well as cakes, sandwiches, and granola bowls in a laid-back atmosphere.
The front of the shop is quite minimalist, with white painted brick, while the back room has a bit more of an exotic feel.
I love the fact that this coffee shop, unlike many in Paris, gives you room to sit, alone or with friends, without feeling like someone else is in your lap.
Unfortunately, this is a problem I’ve encountered a lot throughout the city, especially when trying to find a good spot to work, but there are more than enough choices of places to sit here and, at least during the week, it never gets so crowded as to make the relatively small back room feel cramped.
Even though its name is a reference to a scene in a movie by Cedric Klapisch (of l’Auberge Espagnol and one of my favorite French directors) where a disgruntled café owner demands that a group of friends order more drinks, and (a very young) Romain Duris orders “un café avec cinq pailles” (a coffee with five straws), I never felt pressured to keep ordering things to “pay rent” on my table.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxOaQcak3AQ
The staff is friendly yet discreet, the coffee is delicious, and the food is exactly what you need it to be.
5 Pailles – 79 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010