☕️ Paris Has 1,000 Cafés. This One Broke All The Rules.
First glimpse at a Moroccan Palace in the middle of Champs-Élysées.
👨✈️ The Briefing Room:
Notes and open topics from the editor’s desk.
Welcome Departures. The place to be for where to go and what to see.
Paris without a doubt has one of the most iconic café cultures in the world. Dating back to the 17th century, the Parisian café has been often considered the quintessential stomping ground for bohemians, artists and intellectuals to gather around discourse. For the rest of us they are part of the social fabric of everyday life. Venues of leisure, where slow service and lingering at a table are not a fault but a feature. It is an almost sacred domain where people watching or reading a book is expected, but pulling out your laptop or taking a phone call is discouraged. Another particular attribute of the roughly 1000 cafés you’ll find throughout the city is their consistency. Even the most historical establishments like Café de Flore, Les Deux Magots and Café Procope follow a very similar blueprint. Coffee and food are usually not the main course but more so a fine garnish to the social experience. So when Bacha Coffee appeared on my radar, I was very curious to see exactly what they would bring to the table. Spoiler alert: They bring more than just coffee and if you are the type that values unique crafted experiences, you will not be disappointed.
Now without further ado, let’s take it away!
Alvin
☕️ The Location:
Situated on Champs-Élysées halfway between Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde, the location feels a bit removed from the busier shopping area the world’s most famous avenue is known for. Moreover, there are no tables, rattan bistro chairs or any of the other stereotypical visual queues outside to hint passerby’s to sitdown for a bit. Anyone unfamiliar with the Bacha brand would be forgiven for walking by the unassuming façade that almost blends in with the Regus co-working space next door. But do not let the minimalism deceive you. This seems to be by design. Where every café in the city centers around the experience of enjoying Paris, Bacha revolves around the experience of enjoying coffee.
I would recommend those with a limited time in the area plan their visit towards the beginning or the end of their tour around Champs-Élysées. For those aiming to walk the entire avenue, the cafe is a perfect spot to wind down after several hours of shopping. Franklin D. Roosevelt metro stop is across the street so it is also a very convenient trip if coming from Trocadero / Eiffel Tower via Line 9 or Louvre / Tuileries via Line 1.
☕️ The Ambiance:
To fully appreciate the experience it is important to have a bit of context about the world you will be transported to the second you walk through the glass doors. Bacha Coffee traces its roots to the Dar el Bacha palace in Marrakech in 1910 where it served as a diplomatic hub hosting the likes of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Josephine Bakes and Charlie Chaplin among others. Permanently closed down after WW2, the brand remained dormant until 2019 when it was revived by Franco-Moroccan businessman Taha Bouqdib. Tapped to bring the original coffee room at the palace back to life, the visionary saw an opportunity to export the essence of what made the salon the highest authority on coffee in Marrakech. Over the last few years the brand has expanded to 26 stores around the world with the one at Champs-Élysées opening up its doors to the public in 2025.
Once inside, this flagship store immerses you in 3 floors of rich Moroccan aesthetics that fuse the texture of the brand’s Arabic heritage with French haute cafe sensibilities. The retail boutique located on the street level, offers a selection of more than 200 different coffee beans from all over the world along with plenty of branded coffee paraphernalia. For those limited on time, there is also a take away coffee bar with a variety of drink choices and pastries.
Upstairs, the main dining area expands on the boutique’s opulence and divides into several rooms. Each with a unique theme. After glancing around it was clear there were no bad tables in the dining room. But knowing the visual mood I was after for this piece, I asked for a table by the stairs in an area that resembles a bit of a foyer. It was basking in direct sunlight which was perfect to get the dramatic shots I needed without intimidating the patrons and staff with my fancy photographic accessories. As a bonus, the wall next to the table served as a clean backdrop to highlight the food while showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail that is present throughout the entire space.
☕️ The Experience:
Once I sat down I was finally able to pause and peal back the layers that make such an interesting interior. Art Deco Elements of the original “House of Pasha”, checkered marble floors, intricate zellij mosaics and carved wood ornaments. They all complement the gold touches of the chandeliers, coffee pots and brightly colored coffee canisters. It is a feast for the eyes that creates an ambiance where an otherwise mundane drink like coffee becomes worthy of its own ritual.
Of the many things Paris (and France in general) are known for, world class service is not one of them. After many years of exploring the best the city has to offer, I have enough mileage to always walk in to a new establishment with my expectations grounded in reality. So needless to say I was very pleased with the warm welcome I felt from every single person I interacted with. From the second I entered and approached the hostess I was met at every turn with well mannered, knowledgeable staff that were proactive in ensuring I got taken care of throughout.
🍽️ The Menu & Final Thoughts:
The menu is divided into different components starting with a gorgeous hardcover book called “Marvelous Moroccan Moka”. The book covers the over 200 types of beans you can choose for your drink as well as a bit of history of their source of origin. Along with the book you get a smaller booklet with the different food and pastry options.
I included a .PDF of the shorter food menu below that you can download and dive in a little closer. Note the menu is only for the Paris store and the options will vary from what’s available in other countries.
I went for the “Bacha” set menu which is a multi course breakfast that includes:
x1 Carafe of coffee from the “Marvelous Moroccan Moka” menu, or organic herbal tea.
x1 Glass of fresh fruit juice.
x2 Sweet or savory gourmet croissants or pastries.
x1 Baguette of bread and butter.
x1 Dish of scrambled black truffle eggs.
x2 Sticks of pain perdu.
x1 Dish of fresh seasonal fruit.
x1 Fresh whipped cream.
x1 Syrup.
I am planning to do a more comprehensive write up dedicated to the coffee and food. So to not give out any spoilers and keep things moving I will give you the TL;DR:
Everything was great. I had a Bolivian bean for my main drink. It was properly brewed with good water and had no traces of bitterness or any of the unsavory qualities associated with improper pour-over techniques. Pastries and baguette were all fresh as were the juice and fruit plate. The stand out item though was the eggs. I’ve been having trouble recalling if I’ve ever had black truffles outside of pasta and in a million years would have never expected to ever be pairing them with eggs. But I am now convinced that’s exactly where they belong.
I’ve always been a huge fan of luxury brands with strong theatrical themes. When properly executed they can resemble a fine fragrance. If I had to summarize my first time visiting Bacha Coffee in Paris that is exactly how it felt. Like a fine fragrance it is a story told through a balanced potpourri of great ingredients that stimulates the senses, bottled in a beautifully sculptured package.
From someone who for years has been turning away from material objects in favor of bespoke intangible options, even the €48 breakfast feels less like a luxury culinary experience and a lot closer to an affordable afternoon expedition to Morocco. For those just in town on holiday, it is a great way to make a short stopover to a different time in a different country. For those like me who call Paris their home, it is the convenient way to escape the city for a while without packing our bags. In conclusion, Bacha surpassed all my expectations. No doubt I will be back to indulge on some of the other menu options.
Bacha Coffee: 26 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris
Phone: +33 (0)1 71 25 19 10
Website: bachacoffee.com
Instagram: @bachacoffee
*Please note reservations are only accepted on weekdays from 9:30am to 2:30pm and not available on weekends or public holidays.
🛫 About Us:
Departures is a free newsletter about photography, travel & lifestyle. To find out more about what this is, who I am and why should you be here, visit our dedicated about page here:
Beautiful photos!
Gosh this is such a beautiful Cafe, love the photos of this place