Paris Cafe Culture

The Parisian cafe is an institution and a way of life, where a coffee, a glass of wine or a citron presse buys a seat on a pavement terrace and the right to linger and watch the theatre of the street. From the literary cafes of Saint-Germain to the corner bistros of every quarter, the ritual of the terrace is central to the rhythm of Paris.

What you actually see

• The pavement terrace - the rows of chairs facing the street for people-watching.
• The cafe ritual - the coffee, wine or aperitif and the art of lingering.
• The literary cafes - the historic haunts of Saint-Germain like the Deux Magots.
• The corner bistro - the everyday neighbourhood cafe.

When to go

Year-round; the terraces are loveliest in mild weather, but heated in the cold. Mid-morning, the aperitif hour and after lunch are the classic times to sit.

Honest expectations

The famous literary cafes are touristy and pricey; a neighbourhood cafe offers the same ritual for less. Coffee is often ordinary espresso rather than specialty, though the wine and the seat are the point. It is about the terrace and the watching, not the drink.

Nearby

Cafes are on every corner across Paris; the terraces face the streets and squares of every quarter.