Ann Jeanne in Paris

a Friend in Paris

8Feb

“Cafe Laurent”, a 17th century cafe in Saint Germain des Pres – Paris

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: Cafés-Pastries
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Champagne with raspberry liqueur

A former 17th century townhouse

The Cafe Laurent is located in Saint Germain des Prés neighborhood, a stone throw from the Seine, in the Hotel d’Aubusson, a 17th century building.

It’s a bar with an elegant and cosy interior,  furnished in Louis XV and Regency antiques with a large fireplace lounge, just next to the bar and an enclosed patio.

You can attend a live Jazz evening at the Cafe Laurent, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Take a quick walk in the Café Laurent with this 50 secondes video : 

Some History

The Cafe Laurent first opened in 1690. Amongst its customers : Robespierre, Rousseau and Voltaire.

After WWII, in 1947, it was rename “Le Tabou” and became a real legend on the Saint Germain des Prés scene

After Le Flore or « Les 2 magots », had closed their doors for the night, it was the haunt of the existentialists. The intellectuals, the musicians and poets of Saint Germain and Montparnasse used to come to Le Tabou.

doisneau_robert-le_tabou_paris_circa_1950~OM071300~10505_20080622_11510_144

©Robert Doisneau

Amongst the regulars : Boris Vian, Jean Cocteau, the legendary jazz musician players Miles Davis and Louis Amstrong, Juliette Gréco, Camus, Jean Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Yves Montand, Simone Signoret … And also Juliette Greco*, the muse of the Saint Germain des Prés 50s.

Le Tabou en et BlancIn 1948, the cafe changed its style and became a closed Jazz club. The intellectuals left Le Tabou and chose to go to a newly opened club : Le Club Saint Germain (rue Saint Benoit). But “Le Tabou” remained a very popular Jazz club.

In the 80’s, and until the end of the Le Tabou was still a iconic club where people used to go dancing, but on different styles of music (often disco). A club where I used to go. The Tabou closed its doors in the late 90s.

It has now reverted to its original name, Café Laurent and hosts regular jazz evenings. The cellar in the Hotel D’Aubusson is now a room dedicated to seminars

What  did Le Tabou look like ?

Le Tabou was a cellar club downstairs bar. The entrance door to Le Tabou opened directly on Rue Dauphine. Upstairs, there was a cloakroom, toilets and a small bar. Down the stairs, was the cellar club, a beautiful vaulted cellar. There was a tiny stage at the far end, a dance floor and a bar at the other end.

Who is Juliette Gréco ?

Juliette Gréco, a French singer became a symbol of French intellectuals after WWII : the muse of the existentialists (she invent the word. Juliette Gréco is still very popular. 

My advice

  • Le Cafe Laurent is a confortable bar with a wonderful service and welcoming.
  • This is the place to come and enjoy some live jazz music and have a cocktail (cocktails with champagne and many others)
  • The evening you go to Café Laurent, you could take a walk  Saint Germain des Prés neighborhood, an historic, classic and quite sophisticated part of Paris. A charming part of the city.
  • For a private visit of Saint Germain des Prés neighborhood with Ann Jeanne in Paris, a native parisian, please contact me for more details

Practical informationsCarte repérage Café Laurent

  • Café Laurent / Hôtel d’Aubusson – 33 rue Dauphine – Paris 6 – 01 43 29 43 43
  • Opened everyday from 9am to midnight. Métro stop : Odéon, Mabillon ou Pont-Neuf
  • Live Jazz : every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. From 6pm. Music starts at 9.30 pm. Free entry (You just have to order a drink)
  • Drinks from 10 euros.

 

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28May

Café de Flore

Posted by: afriendinparis Categories: Cafés-Pastries
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Café Le Flore

A famous and charming cafe… Probably the most famous and charming cafe in Paris. Though a touristic cafe too, Le Flore is a cafe where you’ll find Parisians, alone or with friends. Spending time discussing, watching the passers by. The Art Deco interior of this café, all-red seating, mahogany and mirrors, has changed little since the war.

Le Flore is located on the left bank of the river Seine, in Saint Germain des Prés neighborhood, nearby the Saint Germain des Prés church, one of the oldest Paris’ church. 

Le Flore offers tes, coffees, hot chocolates, alcoholic drinks and juices, snacks and full meals

A  bit of History :

Le Flore was opened in the 1880s

In the 1950s, french intellectuals used to come and stay there, talking about new philosophical ideas. Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir developed their philosophy of existentialism here.

In the 30’s, the gathering place for the surrealist, the publishers, the artists and directors.

After the WWII, Le Flore was the headquarter for the existentialists : Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, Boris Vian and writers and artists such as Ernest Hemingway, Picasso, Brigitte Bardot, Françoise Sagan, Romain Gary…

Nowadays, Le Flore is still a popular location for celebrities. Many artists, writers, intellectuals, politics use to come to “Le Flore”.  Since 1994 the “Prix de Flore”, a literary prize is awarded annually at the Café de Flore.

Practical details : 

Le Flore – 172 boulevard Saint-Germain – Paris 6 (at the corner of Boulevard St Germain and rue Saint Benoit)  Metro Stop : Saint Germain des Prés (line 4)

Below : a 40 secondes video about “Le Flore” (I am not on this video, nor filming it)

My advice : 

  • If you prefer to sit outside, choose the Saint Benoit street side of “Le Flore”, more “Parisian” and quiet.
  • You can buy Le Flore crockery if you wish to (cups,  saucers, glasses… etc with the words in green “Café de Flore”). Just ask a waiter who will show you the display case ). A nice gift to bring back home for your friends or family…. or yourself (!)
  • Nearby : “Les 2 magots”(the Flore’s sister), located in front of Saint Germain des Prés’s church. In “Les 2 magots” you can ask for a Pierre Hermé mille feuille which is gorgeous.

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