Ten Belles
Ding dong! It’s Monday, so we’re back to the #DailyGrind, and for those in need of a good, strong cup of coffee (like us) — look no further than Paris’ 10eme-set caffeine sanctuary of Ten Belles. They say good things come in small packages, and this little nook off the Canal Saint-Martin packs a punch with great cups of the good stuff — done right, the Australian way, with a French touch.
Opened in 2012 by barista royalty Thomas Lehoux of Frog Fight, in partnership with Anna Trattles and Alice Quillet of the BAL Café and Anselme Blayney (co-founder of Belleville Brûlerie), this one is a local’s favourite with a pedigree — and it doesn’t disappoint — serving up coffees which easily pass the test for Anglo-expats and addicts who like froth on their cappuccinos and understand what a real latte actually is.
The quality beans come from the top-notch Brûlerie de Belleville, with the house brand mixed-and-matched according to the season — whether it’s a blend from Ethiopia and Guatemala, or ‘guest coffees’ such as Sweetshop espresso from London’s Square Mile Coffee Roasters, occasionally dispensed from a second grinder on the counter.
Like many of the new wave of trendy cafés popping up all over the city, Ten Belles also takes inspiration from the coffee culture Down Under — which is another reason that this one has a special place in our hearts and on our list of faves — and we know for a fact that Lehoux actually spent quite a bit of time in the lovely city of Melbourne before bringing his barista expertise back to France, so we can happily report that he’s done the Aussies justice in that regard.
In addition to coffee, you’ll also be able to fill up on a variety of tasty sweet treats and snacks here — all home-made and freshly-prepared with care, love and attention at its big sister location, Ten Belles Bread and delivered fresh daily — with the menu varying between a selection of hearty, veggie-packed sandwiches, soups, tarts, quiches, granola bowls — and, sometimes, you can even get your hands on hot, crispy and juicy sausage rolls. Golden pastry-ed goodness. Yum.
The service is quick (and many of the staff are Australian and/or English-speaking), and they also do takeway — in proper, snazzy, Ten-Belle branded cups — for those boho-hipster types always on-the-go — but if you have some time and can get a seat on one of the little stools set up around the bar and outside, or upstairs on one of the tiny little wooden tables on the shop’s mezzanine, it’s a super cute way to spend the morning or afternoon, people watching from above or street-side.
So keep an eye out for it next time you’re in the area — it’s the gorgeous little hole-in-the wall with vines strewn across its walls, and lush pot plants dotted around its entrance —absolutely charming, always chilled-out, and still trés trés chic.
Perfect for: Pop in on a sunny Paris morning, a rainy afternoon, or any time you’re in the neighborhood and want to hear an Aussie accent, speak a bit of English and get a delicious a hit of coffee and friendly hospitality. This cosy hotspot is an ode to ‘elixir of the gods’ — done right.
What to order: Flatwhite, latte, cappuccino, cold drip, iced coffee or a banging espresso — whatever your usual poison when home (for the Aussies) or in France — these guys will deliver on the caffeine hit you crave. We think they even do decaf. But why would you want to..?
Address: 10 Rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010 Paris (Google Maps)
Trading hours: Monday-Friday: 8.30am-5.30pm // Saturday & Sunday: 9am-6pm.
Website: http://www.tenbelles.com/
Insta: @tenbelles
