La Main Noire, the coffee shop we love

On a little-used street in Paris lies La Main Noire, a little gem of a Coffee Shop where you can relax all day from 8.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays, and from 10am to 5pm on weekends, to enjoy a latte break or a good brunch (except Mondays and Tuesdays). We open the door of this welcoming place to sit down at one of the spot's wooden tables to enjoy a good moment.

At La Main Noire, the 3 partners Ludovic, Quentin and Ryan wanted to recreate the image of an Australian coffee shop. In 2017, the 3 acolytes first launched their artisanal brand of products intended for the preparation ofvirtuous Latte : Chai Latte, Golden Latte, Green Latte, Black Latte, Raw Cacao Latte and Spiced Raw cacao Latte... These preparations are made in their in-house laboratory and, like the other brands, offer real blends based not on powders but on fresh, richly-flavoured products. These pastes and preparations can be purchased on site or online, and can now be found in a number of Parisian cafés, including Café Kitsuné and the Hoxton Hôtel.

In 2020, the adventure continues for the trio with the creation of the Coffee Shop in the midst of "difficult" times. Raw walls, cement and industrial decor reveal themselves to us. The atmosphere is friendly. As soon as you enter, you're drawn in by the viennoiseries, cakes and other cookies on display. The decor is set, and you can already feel that you're in for a delicious moment.

At La Main Noire, the menu changes twice a week. So it's impossible to get bored! A menu during the week and a brunch menu at weekends. The last week of the month is vegetarian, but vegetarian and vegan options are always available. We'll tell you what we were able to try when we visited, but of course, the menu has changed to constantly offer fresh, seasonal produce according to the market. Although, of course, some dishes may return to the à la carte menu.

Pumpkin velouté with rosemary, bourratina, mushrooms and pesto, granola and salted bacon pancakes were on the menu. We're particularly fond of the Toastie served before 11 a.m., a melted cheddar tartine with pan-fried mushrooms and parsley, a mushroom and pesto mousse (and a family vegan fauxmage).

When meat is on the menu, know that there's only one of it, and that it's worked in every way to ensure that nothing is wasted or spoiled. Respect for the environment is one of the house's top priorities. So, on this particular day, we discover a beef tataki and its confit of beef cheek bourguignon style, accompanied by homemade mashed potatoes made from Monalisa potatoes.

For dessert, the Australian chef lets loose with a superb graphic pavlova combining black and white meringue, blood orange, kiwi, Granny Smith and beet coulis.

• To be read
• Paris coffee shops, our best coffee addresses
• Tips for the week of April 29 - May 5, 2024 in Paris: free or inexpensive outings
• What to do in Paris and the Ile-de-France region in April 2024? Our good plans and ideas to discover

In short, whether you're looking for a quick lunch, an excellent brunch or simply a good time at breakfast or afternoon tea with a plant-based latte (oat milk available for art lattes!), this is an address to remember. For real coffee lovers, note that each month the place offers a new specialty coffee, something to delight coffee addicts like us. In any case, the coffee we tried that day was atypical and very good.