The One Exception to France's Sweet-and-Savory Rule: Brunch in Paris

The French way of eating can be summed up as "salty, then sweet": savory and sweet dishes are kept apart, by unwritten rule. Brunch, which mixes the two at the same sitting, was never part of French food culture. It began in the United States, reached England in the late 19th century, and is said to have arrived in France in 1980.

France tends to be slow to embrace foreign novelties, and is somewhat wary of big chains in particular. Starbucks only arrived in 2004, Krispy Kreme in 2023, and Baskin-Robbins isn't here at all. Young people, though, are far more open to new things, thanks to social media. Photographing beautiful food and sharing it online is now an everyday habit for them. Let's start with brunch spots that suit social media.

Kafkaf is a brunch-only restaurant open seven days a week, nonstop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The interior is gorgeous, the food is made to be photographed, and it's hugely popular. Weekend mornings are especially hectic, so go on a weekday.

For a calmer scene, try Braun Notes. It's smaller and dimmer than Kafkaf, with a moody, intimate feel that's ideal for a quiet time out. It's personal enough that nobody will look twice if you come alone, so it suits anyone who likes that vibe. The sound system must be a good one, because the music there still lingers in memory.

Colorova is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends. It's a strong pick if you want both the taste and the atmosphere to feel trendy and refined.

These brunch spots are Instagram-ready and delicious, but they're not great value. So here are two budget-friendly picks.

First is Café des Anges, a café in the French sense of a casual restaurant. On Sundays from noon to 3 p.m., you can get a brunch set for 24 euros, a rare deal in Paris. It includes a mini burger, scrambled eggs, avocado toast, yogurt with homemade granola, a homemade croissant or pain au chocolat, a hot drink such as coffee, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. A very generous spread.

Second is Breakfast in America, open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. without a break. It's similar to the previous one and priced about the same, at 23.50 euros, but here you can choose from several options, and Americanos are unlimited. As an American-style diner, it wins on portion size, so if filling up matters more than pretty photos, go here. The branch visited was in the 5th arrondissement; there's another in the Marais, with identical hours, menu and prices.