Café Berry Paris: My Favourite Brunch in the Marais, Ten Years On

I’ve been following Café Berry since it opened almost ten years ago. My older sister Shirley had just moved into 10 rue Chapon in the Marais. At the time, I used to come to Paris regularly to see her and I discovered the newness of Café Berry with sometimes a month’s delay: a new menu, a different decor, new dishes or a new identity. Since then, I’ve really seen the café evolve. The decor has changed, the dishes have become even more beautiful and the whole Berry identity has taken shape. Of course, it’s my sister’s café, so I’m not going to pretend to be completely objective. But it’s not just because she’s my sister that I’m saying that the food is really good. For me, Berry remains one of the best brunches in the Marais. You can go and check for yourself: EVERYTHING is good.

Ten years of Café Berry

When I think back to the early days, I realize how much the coffee has changed. Over the years, Shirley has evolved the business without getting stuck with the first version. Since she shared her life with Jey, they have continued to develop the project together and it really shows.

The logo, the colors, the merch, the decor, and all the little details of the café have become stronger and more consistent. And without making it a sales outlet as well. Berry remains first and foremost a café where people come to eat, chat, enjoy the terrace, and share a meal. And of course, I love it.

What do they serve at Café Berry?

Here, we’re going to talk seriously. On our last visit with Greg, we had the bacon eggs muffin, the Turkish eggs, the grilled cheese, and the granola. Yes, yes. All of that. I’m a Libra, so I’m definitely indecisive all the time. At some point, you have to stop complicating things: you take everything and, at worst, you take away what you don’t finish. Except for us, we finished everything. I even think Greg had a small strawberry tart afterwards, just to make it complete. The bacon eggs muffin is exactly the kind of dish I love for brunch. It’s generous, indulgent, a bit sweet-and-savory, and, in theory, you don’t need to order anything else afterwards. I’m going to insist on "in theory".

The Turkish eggs were also much too good. The eggs, the tomatoes, the herbs and the sauce worked really well together. This is the dish I would choose if I wanted something a little fresher, but still very tasty. The grilled cheese is the same way. On paper, it looks very simple, but it’s really well made. It’s typically the kind of dish where you just take a bite and end up throwing it all away. And then the granola…

Honestly, this is the best granola I’ve ever had in my life. You really have to try it. The yogurt, the fruit, and the granola are perfectly balanced. It’s neither too dry nor too sweet. I didn’t think I’d ever talk about a granola with such seriousness, but they’re often quite banal or completely neglected. Berry’s deserves a lot of attention.

Beautiful dishes, but above all very good

What I love about Café Berry is that everything makes you want to eat as soon as the plates arrive. The dishes are colorful, generous, and beautifully presented, but that doesn’t stop there. The taste follows through. We all know the Parisian brunches where you mostly pay to have a beautiful plate on Instagram. It’s very pretty, but you leave feeling hungry and slightly annoyed. At Berry, that doesn’t happen. The portions are generous, the dishes are well-prepared, and the prices really correspond to what comes out of the kitchen. Of course, that’s normal.

I much prefer paying a little bit more knowing that it’s worth it, rather than paying almost the same amount for three pieces of avocado on bread. At that rate, soon enough, it’ll be you who has to finish your sandwich. I like to start some days with a workout before treating myself to a real breakfast. I’ve already told you why incline power walking has become my favourite cardio.

Shirley and Jey made Café Berry evolve together

Since Shirley is with Jey, they really pushed Berry to two. This is reflected in the card, but also in the whole image of the café. The logo has changed, the merch has taken a real place, the colors are stronger and everything seems much more assertive than at the beginning. And that’s normal: in ten years, the café has evolved with them. I especially like the fact that the merch really looks like Berry. The pieces work with the café’s universe, but you can also wear them without feeling like you’re advertising a brunch. They managed to evolve the address without making it too smooth. The place remains alive: people are chatting, the plates are coming out, and it works behind the counter.

The little terrace

I love the small terrace that’s right next to the café. It’s nice in the summer, of course, but also in the rest of the year. We’re in Paris: as soon as a ray of sunshine appears, everyone comes out. Even in a coat. The terrace isn’t huge and it can quickly fill up, especially on weekends. But when you manage to get a table outside, you can enjoy the neighborhood, eat well, and watch people go by. It’s chill.

When to come to Café Berry?

On weekends, the café can get busy quickly. I advise you to arrive early. On weekdays, it may be a bit quieter, although I can’t guarantee you that. You will normally have more time to enjoy your meal. There may also be a waiting list for the dishes. That’s a good sign: if people keep coming back and waiting, it’s probably not for nothing. The menu is constantly changing, so the best thing to do is to check the dishes offered when you visit. But honestly, everything looks delicious. My advice remains the same: if you’re unsure, order everything. Worst case, you can take something home. Best case, like us, you’ll finish everything.

A second Café Berry on Chapon Street

Shirley and Jey are currently preparing a second Café Berry on Chapon Street. I can’t say more about it yet, because part of the project has to remain a surprise. After seeing the first location evolve for almost ten years, I’m really happy to see them open a second location together. I’ll save the rest for later, but knowing my sister, it’s going to be awesome.

My honest Café Berry review

I’ve known Café Berry since day one. I saw the first decor, the first menus, and all the subsequent versions.

Today, the dishes are beautiful, generous and really well-crafted. The terrace is pleasant, the prices are consistent with the dishes and the entire identity of the café has been greatly strengthened. And above all: EVERYTHING is good. The granola is almost worth the trip in itself.