Café
Les Deux Magots
A historic café facing the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés since 1884, open from breakfast until late and home to its own literary prize.
Café de Flore
A Saint-Germain café dating from around 1887, famed as a haunt of Apollinaire, Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir and home of the Prix de Flore.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic literary café
- Area
- Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris, France
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Official site
- cafedeflore.fr
Good to know
- Terrace
- Upstairs room
Why we recommend it
The Café de Flore has stood on the corner of Boulevard Saint-Germain and Rue Saint-Benoît since around 1887, and it is one of the two great literary cafés of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, along with Les Deux Magots next door. The poet Guillaume Apollinaire held court here before the First World War, and during the Occupation Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir worked at its tables because the café was warm. The interior has kept its Art Deco look, with red banquettes, mahogany, mirrors and white-aproned waiters.
The menu is classic café fare at Saint-Germain prices: breakfast with croissants and tartines, omelettes, croque-monsieur, Welsh rarebit, salads and club sandwiches, followed by pastries and ice creams. The hot chocolate, served thick in a small jug, is a favourite in winter, and coffee, tea, wine and cocktails are served all day. Prices are high for what is on the plate, but the setting and history are what you are paying for.
The café suits people-watchers, literature lovers and anyone who wants to sit on one of the best-known terraces in Paris. The terrace on the boulevard is the most popular spot, while the upstairs room is quieter and has long been preferred by writers and regulars. Since 1994 the café has also given its name to the Prix de Flore, a literary prize awarded each autumn to a promising young author.
Terrace tables are hard to find at peak times, so arrive early in the morning or mid-afternoon on weekdays for the best chance of a seat outside. Breakfast time is the calmest and most atmospheric, before the shoppers and tour groups arrive. Allow about an hour, though many people linger longer over a single coffee, which is perfectly normal in a Paris café. Card payment is accepted, and waiters are used to international visitors.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés station on metro line 4 is a short walk away, and Mabillon on line 10 is nearby. Brasserie Lipp faces the café across the boulevard, the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés is next to Les Deux Magots, and the galleries and bookshops of Rue Bonaparte and Rue Jacob lead north towards the Seine and the Musée d'Orsay.
Café de Flore FAQs
Who were its famous regulars?
Apollinaire, and later Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir during the Occupation.
What is the Prix de Flore?
A literary prize founded at the café in 1994.
When is the best time for a terrace seat?
Early morning or mid-afternoon on weekdays, before the busiest periods.
What should I order?
The thick hot chocolate, a croque-monsieur or an omelette are long-standing choices.
Is it expensive?
Yes, prices are high for a café, reflecting the location and history.
Is there a quieter area?
Yes, the upstairs room is calmer than the terrace and ground floor.
What is the nearest station?
Saint-Germain-des-Prés, on metro line 4.