Bringing a slice of East Village cool to Paris, the wonderfully monickered New York expat Merce (pronounced Merci) set up her coffee shop Merce and the Muse in the Northern Marais in 2010.

Priding themselves on their excellent coffee, Merce and her team bridge the gap between the oft-lamented French espresso and the god-awful mocha-choca-chino abominations from the American coffee chains springing up around the capital. Chez Merce utilize top-dollar equipment, carefully selected beans and a well-honed technique to ensure top-quality espresso, americano and even lattes, a rare commodity in Paris.  

As well as superlative coffee, there is also a daily changing menu of salads, quiches, soups and cakes, often inspired by old family recipes, and a hearty brunch featuring smoked salmon and Philadelphia is served on weekends. All this is indulged in at the cosy communal tables, around which the creative-type regulars chill out as if they were at home. Takeaway is of course available, in keeping with the New York vibe.