I’d heard about L’OisiveThé in the village-y Buttes Aux Cailles neighborhood for a while. Owned by Aimee (which sounds French, but she is really American), the teahouse also doubles as a knitting mecca. On first glance you’d be forgiven for focusing on the yarn more than the tea.

My friend could also be forgiven for whispering, “I’m the only dude here.” Yes, it was true. But tea; yes, they have that, too. A very long list.

It’s a novel little place in a novel little neighborhood. If you have darning needles to wield, you might be interested in their Wednesday night TricoThe nights. You have to be a member of Ravelry. Crocheters and knitters, over to you.

The other place I’ve been popping into is Deylan (left). With a view of the Tour Saint Jacques it offers a good central location while managing to avoid the craziness of nearby Chatelet.

I met my friend Hayley there mid-afternoon during the week and we had the cozy upstairs almost to ourselves. (Which was great as we had so much to catch up on and grew very excited in our talking, loud Anglophones that…well, ok, that I am.) Hayley just returned from a mission with Medecins sans Frontieres/ Doctors without Borders in the Congo.

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