Each year, tens of millions of tourists visit Paris for the Eiffel Tower, the pastries, the terrasses and more.
Startup founders and investors in particular, however, may be drawn to ‘Silicon Sentier’, named for the historic neighbourhood at the heart of the French capital — and the place where la startup nation is truly made.
In the small, windy streets of the second arrondissement, tucked somewhere between the opera and Place de la République, VCs and startup founders lurk on every corner.
Over the years, they’ve established unofficial HQs in some of the area’s fancier bars and cafés, where morning coffees, business lunches and afterwork drinks are certain to gather lots of familiar faces, and plenty of chat about term sheets and go-to-market strategies.
New to the city or planning a visit? This is where you should head to meet the who’s who of French tech.
The Hoxton
30-32 rue du Sentier
The go-to pick for most VCs, the bar and restaurant area of boutique hotel The Hoxton, nestled in an 18th-century building, lends itself perfectly to meetings at any time of the day.
Sit at the bar to enjoy the cosy atmosphere of the brasserie, decorated with the vintage feel of an old library, or have lunch under the glass roof in the restaurant. There are also tables for solo visitors looking for a spot to work.
Hôtel des Grands Boulevards
17 boulevard Poissonnière
Another VC favourite, another boutique hotel, and located just around the corner from The Hoxton: head to Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, where you’ll find a bar and restaurant in a lovely courtyard filled with lush greenery and plenty of light.
Le Floor
42 rue Notre Dame des Victoires
Just next door to the HQ of one of French tech’s most high-profile companies, SaaS unicorn Pigment, Le Floor is a less quintessentially Parisian; more casual hangout.
As a self-described “neo-coffee shop and brunch”, it is the place for a matcha latte and avocado toast. Expect founders and VCs both junior and senior.
La Maison
2 rue des Mathurins
Launched last year by Motier Ventures, the family office of the Houzé, who co-own the 130-year-old, world-famous department stores Galeries Lafayette, La Maison is a 1,800 sq metre space built for Motier’s 100+ portfolio companies.
Spread across the top three floors of Lafayette Gourmet, the Galeries Lafayette’s store dedicated to food, the space includes desks, a communal space, a coffee shop, a cocktail bar, and accommodation for startups’ employees visiting from abroad.
La Maison also puts on events multiple times a week, which frequently open to external guests.
Neon Noir
14 rue Le Peletier
Launched by AI infrastructure startup ZML, robotics startup Uma and pre-seed VC firm Drysdale Ventures, Neon Noir is a community space dedicated to the Parisian tech scene.
It aims to create the “raw feel of a Berlin squat”, featuring plenty of arcade lights, neons and holograms. The organisers put on regular events, which are typically invite-only, with recent editions including hackathons, a “code and croissants” breakfast and a “hardware meetup”.
Soho House
45 rue la Bruyère
More niche, but increasingly gaining popularity among younger founders and VCs, Soho House is slightly out of the way and offers a members-only, more exclusive experience.
Station F
5 parvis Alan Turing
Very few reasons could convince investors and founders to make their way south of the river — but one of them is Station F, the emblematic startup campus launched in 2017 by billionaire and patron of French tech Xavier Niel.
Located in southeast Paris, it is home to 1,000 startups, and is where companies like Hugging Face and Alan got started. The campus hosts regular events, and is also the home of popular Big Mamma restaurant La Felicità, which is open to all and makes for a top working spot.
