Shakespeare and Company Café in Paris pulls a light brunch beside the famed English bookshop. Bagels, eggs on toast, terrace coffee with the Notre-Dame view.
Must order: Toasted bagel with smoked salmon
Tip: The terrace catches the cathedral view; arrive at 09:30 for a seat before the tour buses.
Address: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris
Juvéniles in Paris's 1er is the Scottish-French wine bar Tim Johnston opened in 1987, with a brunch-leaning weekday lunch carte and scotch eggs since 2018.
Order: Scotch egg starter and the lunch plat
Tip: Closed Sunday. The brunch-leaning lunch from 11:00 is the easier ticket than the dinner crowd.
Season in Paris's 3e Marais is the modern French brunch room with vegetarian and meaty plates, a granola bowl that has been the bestseller since opening in 2014.
Order: Granola bowl and avocado toast
Tip: Closed Mon-Tue. Walk-in only Saturday and Sunday; arrive at 09:30 or after 14:00 for short waits.
Ralph's in Paris's Saint-Germain is the Ralph Lauren-owned American brunch room inside the brand's flagship store, with a courtyard terrace and eggs Benedict at €32.
Order: Ralph's burger or eggs Benedict
Tip: Closed Monday. Reservations required for the courtyard; the indoor library room is the alternative.
Café Marlette in Paris's 9e is the all-organic brunch and bakery counter on Rue des Martyrs, house-baked banana bread and a brunch carte from organic flour and eggs.
Order: Banana bread and a flat white from Marlette
Tip: Walk-in only. The Sunday brunch set at €24 is the steal; arrive at 11:00 for a corner table.
Holybelly 5 in Paris's 10e set the city's brunch standard in 2013. Sarah Mouchot and Nico Alary run a walk-in line that does not budge for influencer outreach.
Order: Pancake stack with bourbon-butter and bacon
Tip: Arrive at 09:00 or after 14:30 to skip the line. The pancake stack is the dish; eggs are second.
Café Méricourt in Paris's 11e is the all-day brunch room with Turkish eggs and a long-roasted tomato shakshuka as the daily signatures. Anglo-Australian-owned.
Order: Turkish eggs with chilli butter and yoghurt
Tip: Walk-in only. Saturday queue forms at 10:30; come at 09:30 or 15:00 for a same-day seat.
