Writers, painters, poets, thinkers, actresses, photographers... In Paris, many artists have frequented the capital's restaurants, bistros and cafés, making them veritable meeting places where it was good to laugh, eat, think, drink, debate vigorously and exchange ideas against a backdrop of alcohol and cigarette puffs, whether at the counter, on the terrace or at their regular tables.
Over the years, groups of artists and friends moved from neighborhood to neighborhood, but the Parisian and expatriate intelligentsia still had a certain fondness for life in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area, the main thoroughfares around Montparnasse and Montmartre, and theOpera district.
So, for a glimpse into the Paris of yesteryear, don't wait any longer to discover the historic addresses in the capital where the artistic and intellectual elite of Paris used to meet . Legendary restaurants, bistros, and cafés that have marked the history of Paris to this day!
A brief history of the great restaurants of Paris: La Rotonde, the hustle and bustle of the Belle Epoque
Opened in the early 20th century, La Rotonde Montparnasse is a legendary brasserie on the Left Bank, frequented by Picasso, Modigliani and Hemingway, where you can enjoy traditional cuisine in a luxurious, timeless setting. [Read more]
A brief history of Paris's great restaurants: Le Select, in the rhythm of the Roaring Twenties
Opened in 1923 on Boulevard Montparnasse, Le Select has embodied the artistic and literary spirit of Paris for a century, with its mythical figures, unchanged decor and ever-present effervescence. [Read more]
A brief history of Paris's great restaurants: Le Dôme Montparnasse, a Left Bank legend
Born in the late 19th century, Le Dôme Montparnasse is a historic Left Bank brasserie, famous for its artistic past, exceptional seafood and Art Deco decor. [Read more]
A brief history of the great restaurants of Paris: Drouant, literary temple of the Prix Goncourt
Since 1880, Drouant has been home to the Prix Goncourt and French literature. An elegant brasserie in the heart of the 2nd arrondissement, it has combined classic gastronomy and literary heritage for over a century. [Read more]
A short history of Paris's great restaurants: Le Café de la Paix, breeding ground for emperors
Facing the Opéra Garnier, Le Café de la Paix is a prestigious address in the 9th arrondissement, open since 1862. Its majestic Second Empire setting has witnessed the passing of celebrities and the history of Paris. [Read more]
A brief history of Paris's great restaurants: Le Procope, meeting place of the Enlightenment
Paris' first café-restaurant opened in 1686, Le Procope is a temple to literary and political history, frequented by Voltaire, Rousseau and Diderot, in the heart of the Odeon district. [Read more]
The history of Paris's great restaurants: La Coupole, symbol of the Roaring Twenties
An art deco institution in Montparnasse since 1927, La Coupole is a monumental brasserie that has seen the Parisian avant-garde come and go. A festive temple to popular Parisian gastronomy. [Read more]
A brief history of Paris's great restaurants: La Closerie des Lilas, a literary bastion
A former coaching inn turned literary café, La Closerie des Lilas has reigned over Boulevard du Montparnasse since 1847. A place beloved of Hemingway, Apollinaire and Picasso, with its hushed charm. [Read more]
A brief history of the great restaurants of Paris: Le Café de Flore, literature and elegance
A legendary café in the 6th arrondissement, the Café de Flore is the symbol of the German-Pratin intelligentsia. Since the late 19th century, it has attracted writers, philosophers and coffee-lovers to its unchanged setting. [Read more]
A brief history of Paris's great restaurants: Les Deux Magots, artistic life in Saint-Germain
A landmark of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Les Deux Magots embodies the Paris of letters and cafés. Opened in 1885, it was the Art Deco haunt of Sartre, Beauvoir and Hemingway. [Read more]
Originally christened Café Pigalle, it was given the nickname Café du Rat Mort (Dead Rat Café) because of the smell that apparently reigned in the establishment, reminiscent of a putrefied rodent (glamorous).
A fragrance that doesn't seem to bother Alphonse Daudet, Courbet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Virginia Woolf and Degas, who like to spend long evenings there. It's even said that the first arguments between Verlaine and Rimbaud broke out at the Café du Rat Mort.
Cited in Balzac's La Muse du Département, Zola's La Curée and Maupassant's Bel-Ami, the Café Riche left its mark on a whole generation of artists. Taken over by restaurateur Louis Bignon in the late 1840s, it became an essential part of any successful social evening, with its luxury food, fine wines... and high prices!
Among its most famous customers were Flaubert, Alexandre Dumas, Offenbach and Gustave Doré. The Café Riche closed its doors for good in 1916, to make way for a bank.
A veritable institution with a worldwide reputation, Paris's Café Tortoni was a huge success in the 19th century. Founded during the Directoire period, the café, with its luxurious decor reminiscent of Venetian cafés, welcomed politicians, intellectuals, dandies, socialites and financiers - the Stock Exchange being just a stone's throw away.
Opened by Italian artisanal ice-cream makers, the trendy venue treats gourmands to choice dishes, such as Italian-style frozen desserts and hot chocolates. Mentioned many times in literature, by Stendhal, Maupassant and Proust among others, Café Tortoni counted Manet and George Sand among its regulars, but closed its doors in 1893.
A meeting place for English-speaking artists and writers in the 1920s-1930s, such asHemingway, Scott Fitzgerald, Man Ray and Isadora Duncan, who lived just across the street, the Dingo American Bar and Restaurant was inaugurated in 1923. For a long time, it was one of the few establishments in the capital to remain open all night. The address is now occupied by an Italian restaurant.
Find the location of all these addresses by clicking on the map at the bottom of the article.
Follow in the footsteps of the greatest writers, artists, architects and historical figures in Paris
To unlock the secrets of Paris, follow in the footsteps of the greatest writers, musicians, painters, architects, couturiers and even historical figures who have visited the capital in their time. [Read more]
Follow in the footsteps of the greatest writers, artists, architects and historical figures in Paris
