Loustic

Loustic is a relatively new face on the Parisian coffee scene, but it’s already made its mark. Owner Channa Galhenage is a flat cap-wearing Londoner with a sharp eye for trends: his first masterstroke was to hire designer Dorothée Meilichzon (of hip design studio CHZON) to do up the place. Sexy design lamps, geometric patterns, huge cushions and deep bamboo chairs give the slightly poky venue a voguish coating. Throw in the arty Marais address, the eclectic international food on offer (if quiche represents France and kale chips America) and the mood jazz on the sound system, and you’ve got yourself a hipster hangout par excellence.

The layout of the café is a bit awkward: the narrow front room squeezes in a row of seats along the bar, leaving about as much breathing space as a metro carriage in rush hour. But in the back the venue opens out into a snug space furnished with a large corner sofa and gentle yellow lighting – ideal for settling in with some friends or a laptop. If you’re here to work, there’s free Wi-Fi and tasty beverages aplenty – having done stints at KB and Alto Café, Galhenage knows how to serve a great cup of joe. 'Loustic' may mean 'smart alec' in Old Breton, but there's nothing smug about this warm, vibrant spot.

Note: no computers are allowed on weekends between October and March, due to a high demand for tables.