Savory Saturday

 

 

Stepping into Le Procope, Paris’s oldest café founded in 1686 by Sicilian visionary Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli, is stepping into a living museum of revolutionary ideas and literary brilliance. And it's a pretty fine restaurant too.

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Nestled in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, this iconic spot was the beating heart of the Enlightenment, where Voltaire sipped his legendary 40 cups of coffee a day, Diderot penned Encyclopédie entries, and Benjamin Franklin hashed out alliances that shaped nations. Its walls, adorned with 1830s “Liberty Equality” wallpaper - and even one of Napoleon’s hats - echo the French Revolution’s fervor. This is where Robespierre and Danton conspired, and where the Phrygian cap of liberty made its debut. It became a hub for intellectuals like Voltaire and Rousseau, fostering Enlightenment ideas.

Today Le Procope serves up classic French dishes like Boeuf Bourguignon and Baba au Rhum (above) alongside a storied past, crystal chandeliers and wrought-iron balconies (listed as historical monuments), casting a spell over intellectuals, artists, and curious diners alike. - BPJ

 Below: upstairs, tables and rooms can be reserved for private groups

 

 

Le Procope 

13 rue de l'Ancienne Comédie 75006

 

Floral Friday

 

A spring day in the Jardin des Tuileries.

 

Window Wednesday

 

  

This stylish coffee shop housed at the entrance of the Galerie Richer, a former passage, is a standout with its soaring black wrought-iron glass portal, elegant old-world interior and high-quality, ethically sourced Arabica beans, roasted in-house at their Saint-Ouen atelier.

 

NOIR

33 rue Richer 75009

 

Terrace Tuesday

 A sunny afternoon on the Left Bank.

Mocha Monday

A trio of mini desserts: a Mother's Day Café Gourmand

Above: an espresso takes a back seat to crème brûlée, a crumbly pastry, a scoop of salted butter caramel ice cream

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For those with a sweet tooth the Café Gourmand, often mistakenly passed over as "gourmet coffee," is a welcome sight on any menu. It's that delightful after-meal espresso served with at least three mini desserts posing as one. A unique French coffee-plus-sucré pairing concept, it's perfect for sharing, or just sampling some of the day’s desserts without going overboard on sugar. - BPJ

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Fête des Mères / Mother's Day in France 2025:

Sunday May 25

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Stand-up Sunday

 

From her retro hairdo to her polka-dot heels she might have stepped out of another era. Except for the phone.

 

Sit-down Saturday

 

Friends enjoy brunch on a tree-shaded Montmartre square.