Not traditionally part of French cuisine or culture, le brunch is starting to take off in the capital – but with a distinctly international tinge.
Brunch – a long, lazy weekend custom that combines breakfast and lunch — is not a traditional part of French cuisine.
But in recent years, le brunch has taken off in Paris, thanks in part to the international influence of other countries. Here are three of the best brunches the capital has to offer, any of which should be on the itinerary for a weekend trip to Paris.
Just a short walk from the tourist hoards of Montmartre, Le Bal is a cultural photography centre on an out-of-the-way mews, with a cafe on the ground floor facing out onto a small park. The fare is traditional British, with colonial breakfast classics such as kedgeree alongside smoked salmon and toast or scones and jam, all of which can be washed down with a pot of tea, expertly prepared coffee — or even wine if you wish to haul the experience back across the channel to France.
Claus is an all-day-breakfast hotspot set up by German expat Claus Estermann, located among the luxury boutiques of the first arrondissement. Indeed Claus himself formerly worked in the fashion industry, and his cafe is frequented by the trendy set looking for a healthy — yet stylish — way to start the day. The bright and airy ground floor space serves as a deli/shop, selling cake, homemade cereals, jams and other goodies, while upstairs you can sit down and dine on Claus’ homemade muesli or his already famous Frühstücksteller (a selection of ham, cheese, salad and eggs), accompanied by tea or coffee and a fresh smoothie or juice.
During the week, Coutume Cafe is a mecca for Paris’ coffee lovers, but on the weekend it invites guest chefs Emperor Norton, a duo originating from California, to take over the kitchen, producing a multi-course weekly-changing brunch fiesta. Taking inspiration from all around the world and using seasonal ingredients, you can fuel up on truly wonderful scrambled eggs and bacon, vegetarian frittata served with fried potatoes and a spicy sauce, the breakfast burrito, granola or French pastries – all accompanied by freshly-squeezed juice and the cafe’s excellent coffee. After that you’ll be ready to power through Paris and all it has to offer.
Kim Laidlaw Adrey is the Paris Localite for BBC Travel. She also writes unlockparis.blogspot.com.