The Paris Starbucks That Looks Like The Palace Of Versailles
If you're dreaming of flying along the Champs-Elysées on a motorbike, admiring art at the Louvre while adorned with a scarf and beret, or walking along the Seine River with a coconut macaroon in one hand and a crêpe in the other, then you may be heading to Paris. The cinema may have made it even easier to fantasize about the delicious food and beautiful destinations you can experience while visiting the City of Light. Perhaps you're thinking about having a baguette fight in front of the Eiffel Tower like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in "Passport to Paris" or touring the iconic Palace of Versailles like Owen Wilson in "Midnight in Paris."
Versailles is located just outside of Paris. However, if you're hoping to spend the day in the middle of Paris and dive into the city's beverage scene, there's another surprising spot that may help you experience royal vibes. This spot is located on Paris' Boulevard des Capucines, a street that was once depicted in a painting by Claude Monet. Ranked as one of the "World's Coolest Starbucks," Starbucks Capucines has a number of photoshoot-worthy features that may make you feel like you've stepped back in time and into Versailles.
Enjoy your coffee like a royal
Although Versailles was built in 1634, this Parisian Starbucks has a rich history of its own. Before becoming a coffee shop, this Starbucks location's initial structure included a courtyard that was built during the 17th century (via Starbucks Stories & News). About 20 years later, it was transformed into a well-known textile store. The French Starbucks first entered the scene in 2006, and around 2017, the cafe reopened its doors after some intense renovations meant to revive some of the building's history. The once-courtyard includes a see-through roof to let in plenty of natural light and houses art that was restored from the structure's 19th-century decor.
While it would take a little over four hours to walk between Starbucks Capucines and Versailles, you'll find that, like the palace, this Starbucks features art on the ceiling that includes angels, flowers, and clouds, as well as golden chandeliers galore. In a Tripadvisor review from 2021, one customer writes, "Awesome interior! I have never been to a Starbucks cafe as beautiful as this- its astonishing and it doesn't look like a place that sells coffee but more of a museum...it felt like I was inside a castle."
This YouTube video provides an in-depth tour of the building's interior. Francis Caruso says that while the shop doesn't have distinct French drinks, it has some French foods like Brioche facon Pain Perdu, Croques, and mugs with French landmarks. Another perk? Free Wi-Fi.
What else can you find at Starbucks Capucines?
Nearby attractions may contribute to the castle-like feel of this Starbucks. The Palais Garnier, or Opéra Garnier, a famous opera house that was built in the 19th century, is about a one-minute walk from Starbucks Capucines. That building's architecture is also fit for royalty. As one Tripadvisor reviewer shares, "If Versailles had a Starbucks, it would look like this. My husband and I were on a desperate hunt for iced orange juice and happened into this Starbucks on our way to the Palais Garnier ... the decor was — in a word — breathtaking."
In addition to the opera house, the Louvre is a 15-minute walk from Starbucks, in case this coffee stop inspired you to explore more historic artwork. If you're looking to walk off some pastries, it takes a little over 45 minutes to reach The Eiffel Tower on foot.
If you've already ticked experimenting with escargot off the bucket list and want a taste of home, Starbucks Capucines offers many U.S. menu items. For example, they sell a Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino and Cookies & Cream Cake Pops. You may want to contact this Starbucks directly to confirm whether certain items are still available. However, as far as atmosphere goes, this Starbucks is anything but traditional. As one Twitter user writes, "is it a museum? no. is it a castle? also no. it's the world's most extra Starbucks here in Paris."