Café Shin 咖啡馆丨法国巴黎丨Uchronia

In Paris’s 10th arrondissement, a new café is quietly revolutionising the city’s coffee culture. Café Shin, a collaboration between chef Julien Sebbag and pastry chef Shin Eun Jung, brings Seoul’s vibrant café culture to the City of Lights with its clever design.

The partnership between Sebbag and Shin began in 2020, leading to successful collaborations at Tortuga and Créatures before culminating in this latest venture. Their shared vision? To create a space that bridges the gap between Korean café culture and Parisian sensibilities.

Uchronia was tasked with designing a space that balances traditional Korean elements with contemporary design. At the heart of the scheme is a modern interpretation of a Hanok (traditional Korean house), housing the kitchen and counter. “The idea was to create a place that is halfway between Paris and Seoul,” explains Julien Sebban, Uchronia’s founder.

The structure features a striking combination of hammered metal and light wood, while handmade Japanese washi paper adorns its walls and roof—a detail that speaks to the project’s attention to materiality and craft.

Perhaps the most intriguing design element is the Jjimjilbang-inspired room at the rear of the café. Reminiscent of traditional Korean bathhouses, the space is completely clad in custom Palet tiles, creating an intentional contrast with the main room’s paper-lined walls. Vintage fans suspended from the ceiling and specially commissioned Korean-made seating complete the transportive experience.

The café extends seamlessly from interior to exterior, with a terrace that offers a peaceful respite in the bustling 10th arrondissement.

True to Seoul’s café culture, where establishments often operate from morning until late evening, Café Shin serves as more than just a coffee spot. The menu reflects this duality, featuring everything from specialty coffees to kimbap for lunch, alongside Shin’s expertly crafted pastries.

[Interior photography by Jules Focone. Food photography by Kim Akrich.]