15 Famous Cafés in Paris You Have to Visit

Paris’ cafe culture began in the late 19th-century. Paris coffeeshops were the first place Parisians went to for inspiration and discussion. Many of Paris’ most famous cafes have extraordinary histories. These cafes are the birthplace of philosophies, art movements and books. The most famous Paris cafes boast a list of iconic clients. It is hard to believe that people were still watching back in those days.

1. LE PROCOPE

It is hard to believe that Paris didn’t have French cafes. In 1686, Sicilian chef Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli founded Le Procope, the oldest cafe in Paris. Coffee in Paris was a rare drink from the Middle East at the time it opened.

Le Procope, like many Parisian cafés, became a favorite meeting spot for many historical figures, including Napoleon.

Its prestige as a historical Paris cafe is further enhanced by Benjamin Franklin’s important treaty and the exchange of revolutionary ideas with Thomas Jefferson.

Many have wondered if Voltaire’s prolific writings could have been fuelled by the 40 cups of coffee he allegedly consumed at Le Procope Paris on a normal day.

Voltaire’s desk is one of the many antiques found in Le Procope. It’s almost like eating in a museum when you enter this historic monument. This cafe is one of the most famous French ones. You have to eat here, and not linger over a cup of coffee all day.

Le Procope Claim to Fame:

PARIS’ OLDEST CAFE

OrderCoq au Vin Soupe a l’Oignon, Special Of The Day/Menu Procope

Address: 13 Rue de l’Ancienne Comedie, 6th arrondissement

2. LES DEUX MAGOTS

What does Les Deux Magots mean? It has nothing to do the insects and it means “the two Chinese figurines.” You can see them in the indoor dining area. The name gives a nod to the old fabric shop at the same location that preceded Cafe Deux Magots, which opened in 1885 in Saint-Germain-des-Pres.

Many consider Les Deux Magots to be the most well-known cafe in Paris. It is ranked Number 2 at worst. It is also known as the best café in Paris.

This Paris cafe has hosted a wide range of talented artists, historians, and philosophers since its inception. Hemingway, Picasso and Hemingway are the most likely patrons of Parisian cafes. The Cafe Deux Magots has a long list of notable guests, including James Joyce, Albert Camus and Simone de Beauvoir. Gertrude Stein is also included in the Cafe Deux Magots’ guest list.

Saint Germain Mecca for brightest writers also started a prestigious literary award in 1933 for new authors. This prize is still being awarded today.

Les Deux Magots’s Claim to Fame:

PARIS’ ONE AND ONLY CAFE – UNE DES MAIN CAFES

Order: Croque Monsieur, Quiche Lorraine, Truffle Omelette

Address: 6 Place Saint-Germain des Pres, 6th arrondissement

3. CAFE de FLORE

Cafe de Flore was established in 1887. It is located right across from Les Deux Magots, in the popular 75006 Paris zip code. They have a long history and are close to each other, making them rivals for Paris’ most popular cafe.

Many of their clients were known to have frequented both these famous Paris sidewalk cafes.

This Parisian cafe was home to the philosopher power couple Jean-Paul Sartre & Simone De Beauvoir. They didn’t come looking for delicious French food or a drink. Simone was attracted to the Paris coffee shop by the heater in its center. Le Flore quickly became the preferred workplace of both partners and their home away from home.

“We settled in well: We worked from 9 am to noon, then went for lunch at 2pm, and returned to talk with friends until 8 pm. . . We had dinner and then set up meetings with our friends. Although it may seem odd, we feel at home at Cafe de Flore. Jean-Paul Sartre

It is one of the most Instagrammable spots in Paris because of the flowers that bloom over the Cafe de Flore sign.

This cafe’s Art Deco style with large red booths and mirrors and mahogany wood is responsible for the historic atmosphere.

Cafe de Flore established its own literary award, not to be outdone.

Cafe de Flore’s Claim To Fame:

THE OTHER MOST FAMOUS PARISIAN CASFE

Order: Cafe Pot (coffee is in a pot). Also, Ladoucette House Wine.

Address172 Boulevard Saint-Germain 6th arrondissement

4. BRASSERIE LIPP

The most famous Brasserie of Paris, Brasserie Lipp, is located in the heart of Saint Germain’s cafe corridor. Brasserie Lipp was founded by Leonard Lipp, an Alsatian fugitive who fled to Paris in 1880. It is well-known for its delicious food and excellent beer. Lipp started his own brewery on the premises, which is why he called his establishment a Brasserie rather than a Cafe.

Many of the original dishes are still available today. Choucroute Garnie, an Alsatian sausage-sauerkraut dish, is one example. The Art Nouveau decor is worth taking a look at, with its exotic mosaics and belle-epoque chandeliers. You can also sit outside in the first or the second room. The tourists are usually seated upstairs.

This famous Paris brasserie, located across the street of Cafe de Flore and Les Deux Magots, decided that it also deserved a literary award. Camus and Proust were also regulars. Hemingway, for his prewar dispatches, wrote at the Lipp.

Recent celebrity clients include President Francois Mitterand and President Jacques Chirac. Jack Nicholson, Harrison Ford, Gerard Depardieu. Sylvester Stallone, Richard Gere, Sharon Stone, Richard Gere and Jack Nicholson are just a few.

Brasserie Lipp’s Claim To Fame:

MOST FAMOUS BRASSERIE PARIS

Order:Choucroute Ganrnie, Beef Tartare and Beer

Address:151 Boulevard Saint-Germain 6th arrondissement

5. CAFE DE LA ROTONDE

There are a few key locations in Paris that make up the famous cafes. Montparnasse is one of these places. La Rotonde can be found here.

La Rotonde was the first cafe to open in Paris in 1911. It is located at the intersection Montparnasse and Boulevards Raspail. Victor Libio, the owner, allowed them to stay for hours over one cup of coffee. Libio offered to pay the artist for drawings made on napkins, even though he didn’t have enough money.

This made La Rotonde a favorite hangout for artists such as Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera and Ameo Modigliani.

You can see the importance of this Paris cafe in the lives and times of these artists in paintings such as Picasso’s “In The Cafe de la Rotonde.”

Hemmingway was not content to leave Paris’s most famous cafe off his clientele list. He also visited La Rontonde and mentions it in .

La Rotonde’s Claim To Fame:

HISTOGRAPHICALLY, THE BEST CAFE in PARIS FOR STARVING AESTHETICS

Order: Homemade Foie Gras, Oysters, Quenelle

Address: 105 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 6th arrondissement

6. LE DOME CAFE

It is also located at the intersection of Montparnasse Boulevard and Raspail Boulevards. However, its address places the building in the 14th arrondissement.

Le Dome Cafe claims it was the first Montparnasse cafe to attract artists and intellects when it was established in 1898. The “in crowd” had their own name, the “Domiers”, who enjoyed discussing the 1905 Fauves Exhibition at Salon d’Automne.

Le Dome Paris was the first home of the “Academie Matisse”. It is where Man Ray, the photographer, met Kiki de Montparnasse, his muse. It was also where Meret Oppenheim, a Swiss artist, discovered Surrealism for the first time when she met Alberto Giacometti.

Wassily Kandinsky and Amedeo Modigliani were also among the Paris elites to enjoy lively debates at Le Dome.

Le Dome’s Claim To Fame:

FIRST FAMOUS MONTPARNASSE CASFE

Order: Seafood Platters, Oysters, Bouillabaisse

Address: 108 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 14th arrondissement

7. LE SELECT

Le Select, another favorite haunt of Picasso and Hemingway is located across the street from Le Dome. It’s also right next to La Rotonde. Although Le Select was one of three Montparnasse cafes that closed, it quickly became one of Paris’ most loved cafes.

What is its hook? It was the first Paris cafe to offer 24-hour service, although it closes at 2 AM. You could find Samuel Beckett and Henry Miller working at Le Select, as well as Giacometti, discussing the issues at any hour of the night.

This Paris cafe was a popular spot where intellectuals, artists, and writers could enjoy hours of relaxation while only spending a small amount.

Le Select Montparnasse is proud to keep the 1920’s style intact and serve traditional French cuisine that attracts current stars. According to rumours, Scarlett Johansson likes the roast chicken. Bill Murray orders the Croque Monsieur.

The book ” Paris Cafe : The Select Crowd” explains the attraction of Le Select Paris, both in the past as well as today.

Le Select’s Claim To Fame:

THE FIRST PARIS CAFE OF 24 HOUR CONTINUAL SERVICE

Order: Roast Chicken, Croque Monsieur, Duck Confit

Address: 99 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 6th arrondissement

8. LA COUPOLE

Just a few doors from Le Dome, La Coupole was opened in the roaring 20s. Its goal was to be the best Paris brasserie. The decor was carefully considered and the Montparnos, a group made up of artists, painted frescoes on columns in the large main room. Marie Vassilieff and Matisse were notable contributors. Leger and Kisling are also noteworthy.

La Coupole, the largest Paris brasserie at the time of its opening had a downstairs dance hall. The literary and art crowds were ready to party and they did! On opening night, 1,200 champagne bottles were consumed by 3,000 guests. The crowd was so boisterous that the police were called.

La Coupole’s Lamb Curry is as famous as its parties and remains one of the most loved dishes. You wouldn’t believe that this came from one of Paris’s most famous French cafes!

La Coupole’s Claim To Fame:

THE PLACE TO PARTY DURING THE 1920’S

Order: Lamb Curry and Seafood Platters

Address: 102 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 14th arrondissement

9. LA CLOSERIE DES LILAS

La Closerie des Lilas was once a popular Montparnasse meeting spot for American and French writers. It is now a well-known Parisian café.

The cafe inscribed the names of the famous historical regulars at La Closerie des Lilas on brass plates and attached them to their tables as a tribute. You can see where Paul Cezanne and Oscar Wilde, Charles Baudelaire and Charles Verlaine once sat, or perhaps you will find your own inspiration.

Hemingway, the king patron of Paris’s most famous cafes, wrote about La Closerie des Lilas for “A Moveable Feast”, where he described it as “one of Paris’s best cafes.” F. Scott Fitzgerald shared “The Great Gatsby”, his first book, with Hemingway.

This cafe is also known for its beautiful outdoor terrace, which is adorned with lilacs. The property now boasts a gourmet restaurant that serves famous French dishes such as quenelle with crayfish and beef tartare, fresh oysters, and fresh seafood.

La Closerie des Lilas’ Claim to Fame:

One of the BEST CAFES IN PARIS, PER HEMINGWAY

Order: Hemingway Steak in the brasserie section of the establishment

Address: 171 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 6th arrondissement

10. LE CAFE TOURNON

A major historical hotspot for African American writers and musicians, Le Cafe Tournon can be found in the 6th arrondissement between the famous Paris cafes of the Saint-Germain-des-Pres and Montparnasse areas.

Legend has it that the Paris jazz scene was established when Duke Ellington’s band played in this Parisian cafe.

In the 1950’s James Baldwin, Chester Himes and Richard Wright gathered at Le Cafe Tournon every day to drink coffee, play pinball (true tale), and talk about anything from racism to art.

Tournon is a great place to stop by if you’re near the Luxembourg Gardens. They offer a reasonable snack and a history lesson. Here, the servers are known for sharing old celebrity photos.

Le Cafe Tournon’s Claim To Fame:

PARIS’ FAVORED CAFE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN WRITERS FROM THE 1950’S

Order: Croque Monsieur, Cheese Plate, Salads

Address: 18 Rue de Tournon, 6th arrondissement

11. LA BONNE FRANQUETTE

Although the structure dates back to 16th century, La Bonne Franquette Cafe opened in Montmartre in 1925. The space was occupied by “Aux Billiards En Bois”, or Wooden Billiards. They had one of the largest customer lists. It actually looks like a room in the Louvre-Van Gogh. Renoir, Pisarro and Degas. Sisley, Cezanne. Monet. Gauguin.

Vincent Van Gogh also painted outside “Guinguette”, aka “Terrace of a Cafe On Montmartre”, between sips of absinthe.

Edith Piaf, a filmmaker who lived upstairs in Montmartre, filmed a movie there in the 1940’s.

La Bonne Franquette’s Claim To Fame:

THE MONTMARTRE CAFE AT VINCENT VAN GOGH’S “GUINGUETTE”

Order: Soupe a l’Oignon, Escargot, Duck Confit

Address: 18 Rue Saint-Rustique, 18th arrondissement

12. LE CONSULAT

Another great cafe in Montmartre is Le Consulat, located just a stones throw from La Bonne Franquette. Because the cafes are so close together, Le Consulat has served many of the same artists as La Bonne Franquette, such as Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec.

Today, Le Consulat Cafe is a well-known cafe in Paris. Le Consulat Paris is located in Montmartre, just steps away from Sacre Coeur. It’s also one of the most Instagram-worthy cafes in Paris.

It’s on our list of top Paris cafes so it’s not hard to find. So, get there early to avoid crowds. It is also a great cafe with views of Montmartre and La Bonne Franquette. You should make reservations as soon as possible to secure a table outside Le Consulat Paris if you plan on ordering a drink or a meal.

Le Consulat’s Claim To Fame:

PARIS’ CUTEST CAFE

Order: Steak Frites, Croque Madame

Address: 18 Rue Norvins. 18th arrondissement

13. CAFE DES DEUX MOULIN
Cafe des Deux Moulins is a cafe in Montmartre that has been more popular than the rest. It was featured in the 2001 French movie Amelie.

Audrey Tautou, the actress in the film, waited tables in this well-known and highly-regarded coffee shop in Paris. The walls are decorated with movie memorabilia, while a ceramic dwarf hides in a bathroom.

The Gouter d’Amelie is a creme brulee served with a hot beverage (coffee or tea) for fans of the film.

Cafe des Deux Moulins’s Claim to Fame:

PARISIAN CAFE FEATURED in AMELIE

Order: Creme Brulee

Address: 15 Rue Lepic 18th arrondissement

14. CAFE DE LA PAIX

It is possible that you noticed in the beginning, Paris’s best cafes were catering to writers and artists. Cafe de la Paix is the most famous Paris coffee shop that started off swanky.

The opulent Paris Opera Garnier is one of Paris’s most beautiful street cafes. Cafe de la Paix was a huge hit among the French elite, thanks to its fancy location and ornate decor. It is still the best cafe in Paris’ theater district.

This grand Parisian cafe was declared a historic place in 1975. It hosted some of the most important literary figures of history. Emile Zola and Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde. Guy de Maupassant. Victor Hugo. Sergei Diaghilev. Ernest Hemingway even made it to this Right Bank for many visits.

Cafe de la Paix has received numerous accolades in all media. It has appeared in music, films, poetry, and paintings.

Cafe de la Paix’s Claim to Fame:

UPSCALE PARIS CAFE WITH A SEE OF THE OPERA HOME

Order: Mini Desserts, Breakfast Pastries, Coffee, and 3 Mini Desserts

Address: 5 Place de l’Opera, 9th arrondissement

15. ANGELINA PARIS

An Austrian confectioner opened Angelina on Rue de Rivoli in 1903, just steps from Jardin des Tuileries. Coco Channel was attracted to Angelina’s elegant space and decadent desserts. Angelina is a Paris institution since then.

Although I did not say you have to eat at all these Paris cafes, I recommend Angeline’s Chocolat Chocolat L’Africain. This rich, thick hot chocolate is what I crave when I’m away from Paris. By no means am I a chocoholic! Balance it with Angelina’s signature Angelina pastry, Mont-Blanc.

Angelina Cafe offers a variety of breakfast pastries that are a great way for you to start your day. Visit their shop to find the best gifts of Paris that you can take home.

Angelina Claim to Fame:

BEST HOT CHOCOLATE WORLDWIDE

Order: Mont Blanc, Chocolat Chaud L’Africain

Address: 226 Rue de Rivoli, 1st arrondissement

Although many cafes in Paris are great neighborhood treasures that offer great value, the prices for most famous French cafes in Paris are higher, especially for beverages. They can charge more because they are so unique to Paris’ history and culture. It’s almost like paying more for the Eiffel Tower views. You don’t have to eat at all of them, but you can still enjoy a few. Pick a few to take a look at and give them a try!