Our Selection of Iconic Parisian Cafés
There is perhaps nothing more Parisian than taking a few moments out of your day to sit with an espresso in one of the city's thousands of cafés. Famous artists, writers, and musicians frequented many of the traditional Paris cafés and most have done their best to retain that old-Paris glamor. Theses cafés are perfect for breakfast, tea time or whenever you want to experiment the French lifestyle.
Here is our selection of the most charming Parisian cafés where you can grab a cup, take a seat, and plan to linger.
While it has become a hotspot for tourists and upwardly mobile types and no longer attracts as many students and artists, it still merits a visit for the ambiance. The café once hosted Sartre and de Beauvoir’s passionate discussions, among those of many others.
Address: 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 6th arrondissement
Photo : @paola_cossentino
This lovely café has two locations in Paris, one in the arcades of the beautiful Place des Vosges and the other one at Trocadéro. Their pastries are just as good as the ones at Ladurée, and the good point is that this is the only café in Trocadéro where you won’t find hundreds of tourists : it’s frequented mostly by real Parisians, who come here to enjoy the food, but also the people-watching! Make sure to stop by if you ever visit or come back in Paris !
Address: 4 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 16th arrondissement
25 Place des Vosges, 3rd arrondissement
Photo : @claire_inette
When Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir weren’t debating across the street at Cafe de Flore, they were lounging here, at this now- upscale hangout for tourists and the Paris elite. Grab a newspaper and a café crème, and plant yourself on the sunny terrace while you imagine the days when Ernest Hemingway, Albert Camus, and Pablo Picasso rubbed elbows in this very spot.
Address: 6 place St Germain des Pres, 6th arrondissement
Photo : @constancearnlt
This beautiful café is located on Place Colette, right next door to the French theater La Comédie Française. Over the centuries, it was the meeting place of artists from this institution and to this day you can spot a few of them at the tables of this establishment.
Address: 2 Place Colette, 1st arrondissement
Photo : @catching_the_sunrise
Constructed in 1512, around the same time Notre Dame cathedral was completed, the building was once home to the Canon of the nearby cathedral. By the 18th century, it had been purchased by a private citizen and was turned into a wine bar. It has remained a place for Parisians to eat and drink ever since. Today, this café is a great place to stop, sit and enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.
Address: 24 Rue Chanoinesse, 4th arrondissement
Photo : @zoederian
Declared a historic site by the French government in 1975, this iconic café is the setting for many paintings, films and poems. The ornate frescoed interior and proximity to the Paris Opera Garnier make this classic look more like a museum. Once loved by French writers such as Guy de Maupassant and Emile Zola, the café is so well-known that legend claims that you will surely run into a friend there.
Address: 12 Boulevard des Capucines, 9th arrondissement
