10 Famous Paris Cafés You Can’t Miss
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Paris is a city of café culture. While the French capital is dotted with cafés on nearly every corner, only a handful have become true institutions.
These are the spots where you can sip an espresso, people-watch like a local, and get a real feel for everyday life in the city.
Many of them also come with a dose of history. You might end up in the same seat where Hemingway once wrote or where Picasso sketched between conversations. For decades, several of these Paris coffeeshops have been gathering places for artists, writers, philosophers and intellectuals.
From historic haunts to time-honored icons, here are 10 famous Paris cafés you need to know about. Even if you can’t make it to all of them, these are the ones you’ll hear about most. And if you do stop by, make sure you know how to order coffee in France for the best experience.
1. Café de Flore
Café de Flore is one of the most iconic Paris cafés. Located in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, it has been a symbol of the Left Bank since the late 1800s. What started as your average corner café eventually became a favorite gathering place for some of the most influential thinkers, writers, and artists of the 20th century.
During the 1930s and ’40s, Café de Flore became the unofficial headquarters of Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, who would spend hours here writing, debating, and watching the world go by.
Its deep red booths, mirrored walls, and classic Art Deco details still feel unchanged from that era. It’s easy to imagine the café in its intellectual heyday.
Today, Café de Flore is both a historic landmark and a modern-day hotspot. Travelers often stop to take photos in front of its flower-covered façade, while chic locals slip inside for a quiet moment over a coffee.
The café serves traditional French fare like omelettes, croque-monsieurs, and classic hot chocolate, but most people come for the experience as much as the food.
Address: 172 Bd Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris
2. Les Deux Magots
Photo credit: Les Deux Magots
Just across the street from Café de Flore, Les Deux Magots is another Saint-Germain-des-Prés institution that you won’t want to miss. Established in 1885, it quickly became a favorite of writers, artists, and intellectuals, including Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir.
Grab a sidewalk table or a seat on the red banquette, and you might be in the same spot where John Lennon and Paul McCartney once shared coffee before they were famous.
To English speakers, the café’s name might sound like a certain insect, but it actually translates to “the two Chinese figurines,” which still sit perched on a pillar inside. As you take a moment to find them, be sure to admire the classic green-and-gold interior that has changed little over the decades.
Nowadays, Les Deux Magots remains a popular spot for coffee, pastries, and people-watching along Boulevard Saint-Germain.
Address: 6 Pl. Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006 Paris
3. Le Procope
Photo credit: Le Procope
Founded in 1686, Le Procope is Paris’s oldest café, and it’s still in operation today. Located in the historic 6th arrondissement, it immediately became a hub for writers, philosophers, and revolutionaries.
Voltaire (who reportedly drank 40 cups of coffee a day!), Rousseau, Diderot, and even Benjamin Franklin were known to frequent its tables, and it later played host to political thinkers during the French Revolution. Legend has it that Napoleon once left his hat as collateral for a bill, and it’s still on display today.
When Le Procope first opened, coffee was still a novelty, largely unknown to Parisians. The café was the first restaurant in Paris to introduce coffee and democratize it by offering table service in a porcelain cup.
Step inside, and the café feels like stepping back in time. Dark wood paneling, antique mirrors, and vintage chandeliers evoke its centuries-old history.
The coffee lounge is open Monday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., no reservation required. Otherwise, you can order French classics like coq au vin and braised joue de bœuf. There’s even a hidden terrace if you desire to dine en plein air.
Address: 13 Rue de l'Ancienne Comédie, 75006 Paris
4. La Rotonde
La Rotonde has stood as a landmark of Parisian café culture since it opened in Montparnasse in 1911. Its grand circular dining room, complete with Art Nouveau details and large windows, quickly became a favorite gathering place for the artists, writers, and intellectuals who flocked to the Montparnasse neighborhood in the early 20th century.
The café earned a reputation as a haven for starving artists. Owner Victor Libio allowed them to stay for inexpensive cups of coffee, and when funds ran out, he sometimes accepted sketches on napkins as payment.
Painters like Chagall, Modigliani, and Picasso, along with writers and poets, drew inspiration from its lively, creative atmosphere. Many works of art and literature were reportedly conceived over coffee and long meals at its tables. Picasso even captured the café in his painting In the Café de la Rotonde.
La Rotonde still retains its historic charm while serving modern Parisian cuisine. Its terrace, framed by the iconic red façade, is perfect for people-watching and gives a glimpse into the Paris of the artists’ golden age.
Address: 105 Bd du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris
5. Café de la Paix
Photo credit: Café de la Paix
One of Paris’s most elegant cafés, Café de la Paix is located just steps from the ever-opulent Opéra Garnier in the 9th arrondissement. From its opening in 1862, it became a symbol of Belle Époque grandeur, attracting aristocrats, politicians, and artists alike—a far different crowd than the avant-garde cafés of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
The café’s ornate interior, with gilded mirrors, Napoléon III décor, and plush seating, has changed little over the decades, preserving the luxurious atmosphere that made it a hub for Parisian society.
Famous figures such as Émile Zola, Guy de Maupassant, and Giacomo Puccini were known to frequent its tables, and it continues to be associated with the glamour of historic Paris.
With its prime location, Café de la Paix gives you a front-row seat to the opera house and the chic Parisians passing by. The menu features quintessential French dishes, from foie gras and Burgundy escargots to classic French onion soup.
I also wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to savor their Sunday Grand Brunch (Le Grand Brunch) for a sumptuous start to your day or a more traditional French breakfast.
Address: 5 Pl. de l'Opéra, 75009 Paris
6. Café des Deux Moulins
Nestled in the heart of Montmartre, Café des Deux Moulins became world-famous thanks to the 2001 film Amélie. In the movie, Audrey Tautou’s character works as a waitress at this quaint Parisian café, frequented by an eccentric local clientele.
The café has preserved much of the same interior seen in the French rom-com, with red booths, vintage wooden counters, and a small bar. Now, movie memorabilia adorns the walls, including a framed poster signed by the director Jean-Pierre Jeunet.
Visitors can sip coffee in a spot made famous on screen or indulge in the iconic crème brûlée d'Amélie, the very dessert she famously cracks with a spoon in the film.
Fun fact: it’s name comes from two historic windmills of Montmartre, Moulin Rouge and Moulin de la Galette.
Address: 15 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris
7. Brasserie Lipp
Brasserie Lipp, located in the famed Saint-Germain café quarter, has been serving Parisians and visitors alike for over a century. Founded in 1880 by Alsatian refugee Léonard Lipp, it was originally called "Brasserie des Bords du Rhin" and brewed its own beer on the premises (a tradition that’s why Lipp called it a brasserie rather than a café).
Known for its beautiful Belle Époque ambience, Lipp right away became a favorite among writers, journalists, and political figures of the Left Bank. Its tables were filled with spirited debates, creative discussions, and the animated conversations that defined café culture in Paris at the time. Literary and intellectual figures like Louis-Ferdinand Céline, Ernest Hemingway, and Jean-Paul Sartre were patrons.
The brasserie remains renowned for its classic Alsatian and French fare, including choucroute garnie (sausages with sauerkraut), steak tartare, and foie gras.
For those who can’t get enough of the French-meets-German flavors, a trip to Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace, makes the perfect day trip from Paris.
Address: 151 Bd Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris
8. Angelina
Photo credit: Angelina
Established in 1903 by Austrian confectioner Antoine Rumpelmayer, Angelina is one of Paris’s most mythical tea rooms, located on Rue de Rivoli near the Tuileries Garden.
The tea room rapidly gained a reputation for its decadent pastries and signature hot chocolate, L’Africain, which is rich, velvety, and famously indulgent. It’s so good that it made my list of the best hot chocolate in Paris. Also not to miss is the exquisite Mont-Blanc pastry, a true must-try for any visitor to the City of Light.
Writers, artists, and fashion icons have all been drawn to Angelina over the decades. Coco Chanel helped cement its status as a cultural landmark, and it was a favorite meeting spot for literary giants like Marcel Proust too.
Stop by after a visit to the Louvre, and you’ll be enchanted by its breathtaking Belle Époque interior, featuring intricate crown molding and Rococo-style paintings.
There’s often a queue out the door, but if you can’t find a seat inside, a small cart outside offers the famous chocolat chaud to go.
Address: 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
9. Le Select
A few doors down from La Rotonde at the Vavin crossroads, Le Select has been a cornerstone of Parisian café society since it opened in 1923. It soon became one of the most prominent meeting spots for artists, writers, and intellectuals of the interwar period and played a significant role in the Bohemian culture of Montparnasse.
Le Select was famously frequented by members of the “Lost Generation,” including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Man Ray. Hemingway even described it as “the soul of Montparnasse.”
Part of its appeal was that it offered 24-hour service in its early days, though today it closes at 2 or 3 a.m. Nostalgic and welcoming, it continues to serve traditional French comfort food, cocktails, and café classics, all within an interior that preserves its refined 1920s-inspired décor.
Le Select also made its mark on cinema history when Jean-Luc Godard filmed a legendary scene from Breathless here in 1960.
Address: 99 Bd du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris
10. La Closerie des Lilas
When it opened in 1847, La Closerie des Lilas started as a simple brasserie. Its name evolved from a theater piece, La Closerie des Genets by Frédéric Soulié, to its current moniker when owner François Bullier began planting lilac flowers around the terrace. These purple blooms still frame one of the most beautiful outdoor seating areas in Paris, particularly striking in spring.
The café is notably associated with the literary and artistic elite. Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Oscar Wilde were regulars, while Émile Zola, Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, and Paul Cézanne also frequented its tables.
Hemingway—a name you’ve probably noticed a lot on this list—even described La Closerie des Lilas in A Moveable Feast as “one of the best cafés in Paris.” It was also here that Fitzgerald first shared The Great Gatsby with him.
Today, the brasserie serves classic French cuisine in its gourmet restaurant, including quenelles, steak tartare, and fresh oysters, all to be enjoyed as piano music drifts through the space.
Address: 171 Bd du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris
Map of Famous Paris Cafés
More Famous Paris Cafés
Along with La Rotonde, Closerie des Lilas, and Le Select, Le Dôme and La Coupole were two iconic cafés where artists and intellectuals gathered in Montparnasse in the early 20th century.
Other famous spots include La Maison Rose, the picturesque pink café perched on a Montmartre corner. It’s easily one of the most Instagrammable spots in Paris.
Le Consulat is another historic café and restaurant, just steps from Sacré Coeur. In this small, but distinguished establishment, you can savor onion soup and escargots on its charming cobblestone terrace.
When it comes to the most famous cafés in Paris, this list represents the crème de la crème of the capital. You certainly don’t need to visit them all, especially not in a single trip! There are plenty of excellent newer coffee spots worth exploring, but there’s something truly special about experiencing the history and atmosphere of these iconic establishments.
Have you visited any of these famous cafés in Paris? Let me know in the comments below.
