Mocha Monday

Early coffee from a sleepy fishing village somewhere on the French Atlantic coast.

 

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. - 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.