Big Shot Coffee Paris: Where Cozy Meets Cool on Rue Saint-Honoré
A local’s guide to one of Paris’s most welcoming coffee spots, perfectly positioned between the Louvre and La Samaritaine
When a coffee shop manages to nail both the specialty brew and the “stay for hours” vibe in a city where most cafés prioritize one over the other, you pay attention. Big Shot, tucked along the bustling rue Saint-Honoré in the 1st arrondissement, is that rare Parisian gem where you can sink into a proper seat, sip an expertly pulled cortado, and feel like you’ve found your neighborhood spot. Even if you’re just passing through.
As a local who’s watched Paris’s coffee scene evolve from tourist-trap espressos to third-wave temples with uncomfortable stools, I can tell you: Big Shot gets it right!
Why Big Shot Stands Out in Paris’s Coffee Scene
Let’s be honest,Paris has plenty of Instagram-worthy coffee shops with sleek minimalism and nowhere comfortable to sit. Big Shot takes a different approach. This is a coffee shop with a big heart and even bigger personality. Here the décor feels more like a well-curated vintage library than a sterile design showroom.
The space is filled with books, magazines, and memorabilia that give it an ultra-cozy, lived-in vibe. Think eclectic bookshelves, quirky finds, and enough visual interest to keep you discovering new details with each visit. The carefully selected soundtrack creates the perfect background hum,energizing without being intrusive.
And here’s the thing that really matters: you can actually sit comfortably, hahaha. Not perched one butt cheeck on a a minimalist stool wondering how long your lower back can hold out. You will be properly settled in with a view of the street.
What to Order at Big Shot
My weekend ritual involves a cortado and whatever baked good catches my eye,on our most recent visit. That meant scones that hit that perfect balance between crumbly and tender. The coffee quality is consistently excellent, whether you’re a flat white devotee or an Americano purist.
The baristas know their craft, and with English also spoken, it’s wonderfully accessible whether you’re a nervous first-time Paris visitor or a longtime resident. There’s no pretension here, just good coffee and genuine hospitality.
The Perfect Location for Museum-Hopping
Here’s where Big Shot really earns its stripes for travelers and locals alike: the location is unbeatable. Nestled on rue Saint-Honoré between cool streetwear shops and concept stores, you’re a stone’s throw from some of Paris’s most significant cultural destinations:
- The Louvre – Just minutes away, making Big Shot the perfect pre-museum fuel stop or post-gallery decompression zone
- La Samaritaine – The beautifully restored Art Nouveau department store is practically next door
- Bourse de Commerce – The Pinault Collection’s contemporary art museum is an easy walk
- Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain – has moved from the 14th arrondissement to a new emblematic location: the Palais Royal, inside the former Louvre des antiquaires building.
- Palais Royal – The iconic colonnades and peaceful gardens are nearby
This is the kind of spot where you can start your sightseeing day with intention rather than desperation, or recover from museum fatigue without wandering aimlessly in search of decent coffee.
The Big Shot Experience: Sitting by the Window
There’s something particularly Parisian about claiming a seat by the glass window and watching the city unfold in front of you. Rue Saint-Honoré delivers a fascinating cross-section of Paris life,chic shoppers, local residents, tourists consulting maps, delivery cyclists weaving through it all.
From your comfortable perch at Big Shot, with a good coffee in hand and perhaps my Local Paris guidebook (yes, they stock it here!) for planning your next move, you’re observing Paris at its most authentic. Not performing for tourists, just being itself.
When to Visit Big Shot Coffee
Weekday mornings are quieter if you want to work or read Weekend afternoons buzz with a mix of locals and visitors Pre-museum stops (around 9-10am) set you up for a successful day of sightseeing Post-shopping breaks (around 3-4pm) offer prime people-watching. Anytime!
The shop tends to fill up but never feels cramped,a credit to the thoughtful layout and welcoming atmosphere.
A Local’s Perspective
As someone who’s lived in Paris long enough to be picky about my coffee spots, Big Shot has earned a permanent place in my rotation. It’s rare to find a place that checks all the boxes: excellent coffee, comfortable seating, great location, and a vibe that makes you want to linger.
Whether you’re staying nearby, spending the day exploring the museums and shopping of the 1er, or just want to experience what good neighborhood coffee culture feels like in Paris, Big Shot delivers. It’s the kind of place that turns first-time visitors into regulars and reminds locals why they love this city.
Practical Information
Big Shot Coffee – 64 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris (Between the Louvre and La Samaritaine)
Perfect for:
- Pre-museum coffee and planning
- Post-shopping breaks
- Comfortable working space
- Weekend leisurely mornings
- Finding Local Paris guidebook (available for purchase)
Nearby:
- Louvre (5-minute walk)
- La Samaritaine (2-minute walk)
- Bourse de Commerce (8-minute walk)
- Palais Royal (6-minute walk)
- Rue de Rivoli shopping
Pro tip: Grab your coffee to go and stroll through the nearby Palais Royal gardens, or settle in by the window for prime rue Saint-Honoré people-watching.
The view below from inside Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, nearby on a Saturday exhibition general.
