Le Look

WHERE: 17 rue Martel, 75010 (10ème arrondissement)
WHEN: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
HOW MUCH: espress0 2€; crème 3.80€ (3€ to go)
METRO: Château d'Eau (line 4); Strasbourg Saint Denis (lines 4, 8, 9)
BEANS: Lomi
FOOD: Lots of really good breakfast and lunch options
CONTACT: Web; Facebook; Tel: +33 9 50 10 20 31

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As a place that, until recently, has managed to keep off the good coffee radar, Le Look is a gem that should be appreciated for its vintage charm and original character. Opened in 2007, Le Look resides in a quiet street not far from la rue du Faubourg St Denis–a bustling, colourful district home to myriad African hair salons, Turkish tea rooms, trendy banh mi joints, bobo bars and hipster nightclubs–to name a few. 

The owner, Ludivine, is also behind Pan, the French/Pan-Asian restaurant in the converted antique light boutique opposite Le Look. Wanting to do things slightly differently in 2012, Ludivine invested in a Marzocco Linea, started buying quality Lomi beans and employed only well-trained baristas. 

These days, Le Look is a favourite spot for locals to head to during the week for breakfast, lunch or le goûter. Lunchtime formules start at around 11€ for a soup+salad deal, and for 4.5€ more you can add a succulent beef burger  to the mix. Besides coffee, you can pick from a range of teas (3.50€ to stay), fresh juices (5€ to stay), as well as a good selection of Belgian, English and German bottled beers (4-7€). Homemade quiches and quesadillas that are quick to disappear are other reasons the place is so packed at rush hour. If there are no seats, don't despair: takeaway is quite a bit cheaper and there's plenty to see in the local environs. 

With a spot like Le Look, and a Café Coutume workshop set to open up a few doors down, rue Martel has more than earned its place on the Paris good coffee itinerary. 

Here's Le Looking at you, kid.