$ - Café - 10th Arrondissement (Canal St Martin)
48 Rue Bichat, 75010 Paris, France
La Chambre Aux Oiseaux is a very cute, classic café tucked in a side street to the east of the Canal St Martin. I was looking for a place to get some work done after strolling through the 10th arrondissement and I had heard about this café so I decided to give it a try.
NOTE: LAPTOP POLICY
Laptops are not allowed between 12pm-3pm. There are outlets but the staff (very kindly) ask you not to use it to excess as they “have a very high electricity bill.” :)
THE VISIT
The space is really cute with a warm wooden decor inside and a classic terrasse with chairs/tables outside. It has a fun vintage feel which is augmented by classic french chanson played on vinyl (a lot of new music was added to my playlist that day).
It can get quite busy, especially for brunch, but I was there on a July Monday afternoon and besides a few people trickling in and out it was mostly just me.
I started off with an amazing Thyme, Chamomile and Honey Tea and a Carrot Cake.
I stayed and worked for a while and enjoyed the atmosphere. Upon departure, I didn’t want to leave without having tried another baked good so I got the Cheesecake (10% off to go).
WINNERS
Tea: Wow, this tea is so good! I’ve never had anything quite like it (as an herby chamomile tea, it had a similar flavor profile and texture to a chai tea) and it was so good, I immediately ordered another one when I had finished!
Space/Service: The couple who run the café are very friendly and helpful. The café is very homey and has a great atmosphere. The gentleman who was helping me was very helpful when I was trying to figure out how to set up my laptop.
COULD BE BETTER
Carrot Cake: It got better but the first few bites were pretty dry. Besides the beginning it was very good but it could have been better.
NB: I had recently gone to Fragments where I’d had the best carrot cake I’d ever eaten so I was very spoiled. Their food was amazing but La Chambre aux Oiseaux definitely had them beat on everything else.
Prices (Food): While generally pretty reasonable for Paris (and such a popular location), some things are definitely on the expensive side. Weekend brunch is €24, salads/sandwiches are €11, and some drinks are more on the expensive side. However, there are plenty of inexpensive options and the general experience definitely makes it worth it.
FINAL VERDICT
I was a big fan of this café and would have definitely gone back if it wasn’t my last day in Paris. If you want to take a break in your wandering of the Canal St Martin area, I would highly recommend La Chambre Aux Oiseaux!
P.S.
To see more of this and of this trip to Paris, check out my Paris 2019 Travel Diary (29 July). Click here to find more food/drink in Paris and here for Paris travel tips!
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