You can enjoy one of the best hot chocolates in Paris… Much more than a café, it’s a veritable institution in the capital. A place steeped in history, which has seen many literary icons come and go over the years… Have you guessed? Here’s a hint: it’s located in the mythical Saint-Germain-des-Prés district…
Le Flore, a hot spot since 1887
It was around 1887 that this legendary Parisian café came into being. You’ve probably heard of it: Le Flore. In 1913, the poet Guillaume Apollinaire transformed the first floor into an editorial room for his magazine Les Soirées de Paris. Then, in the 1930s, Le Flore gradually established itself as THE place to be in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. From then on, its velvety interior attracted the intellectuals, painters and filmmakers of the day.
During the Occupation, the Café de Flore changed ownership. French café owner Paul Boubal took over the establishment. It was at this time that Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre, a leading French literary couple, made it their literary refuge. Sartre himself wrote of the Café de Flore: “We settled in completely: from 9 a.m. to noon, we worked there; we went to lunch, and at 2 p.m. we returned, chatting with friends we met until 8 a.m…”. Almost a living space, in short.
A haven for artists and intellectuals, from Camus to Gainsbourg and Yves-Saint-Laurent.
Albert Camus, Ernest Hemingway... from poets to famous writers, whole generations of artists and intellectuals have strolled through the Café de Flore. With notebook or cigarette in hand, they all seem to have been inspired by the place. Shortly afterwards, in the 60s, Le Flore became a haunt of the seventh art. Serge Gainsbourg, Brigitte Bardot, Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo… all came to sit here between film shoots. And fans of the man with the cabbage head may not know it, but Serge Gainsbourg loved to sit down at the Café de Flore and order a double Pastis 51, renamed 102 for the occasion, with his trademark sense of humor.
Around the same time, Café de Flore became a meeting place for fashion’s leading lights. From Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, to Givenchy and Karl Lagerfeld, the legendary Parisian café saw the greatest designers come and go.In recent years, Parisians have met Tim Burton, Al Pacino, BHL, Arielle Dombasle and Fabrice Lucchini on the red leather benches of Le Flore.
Le Café de Flore is more than just a postcard setting: it’s a historic landmark!
Tourists and Instagrammers love to photograph themselves in front of its mythical façade. But the Café de Flore is also renowned for serving some of the best hot chocolate in Paris. Inside, the décor is typical of a classic Parisian brasserie. Mahogany woodwork, large gilded mirrors adorning the walls, marble tables… The place exudes Parisian elegance. Timeless, a source of infinite inspiration… Le Flore is far from a cliché. It’s a true Parisian institution nestled in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près. It’s a charming café where time seems to stand still…
📍 Café de Flore, 172 bd Saint-Germain, 75 006 Paris