The 2 Historic Paris Cafés That Were Admired By Picasso (And Other Famous People)
If you've been practicing how to perfect your pronunciation of "bonjour" and singing "Voulez-Vous Coucher Avec Moi Ce Soir?" or "Lady Marmalade," then your next trip may be to Paris. If you're an aspiring writer, you may hope to dine as the Parisians do and sit at an outdoor café, sipping a cup of coffee and jotting down notes about passersby. After you ask the waiter for recommendations in your well-practiced French, you'll begin writing down ideas for a future book you hope to publish. If you prefer sketching, you may have already drawn a detailed scene of the diners around you enjoying a salade or some caviar.
If you're simultaneously looking for a dose of historical art and food, then you may want to check out a few Paris cafés that will help you step back in time. Several spots have been frequented by Picasso, famous writers, and other A-listers.
La Palette: A café frequented by Picasso
If you're looking for a traditional French café, you can visit La Palette, located in the Saint-Germain district of Paris. Guests can either feel cozy indoors or enjoy the scenery and dine outdoors. If you're a history buff, look no further. The café was one of Picasso's favorite destinations. Later, well-known visitors like Ernest Hemingway and Jim Morrison sat at the coffee shop. Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, and Anthony Bourdain have all been spotted here.
The café was purchased by Jean Louis Hilbert sometime after World War I and before World War II and updated. The spot was named La Palette in 1950. Historically, poor young writers and artists were sometimes allowed to pay their tab with their art, which still hangs on the café's walls today. While the café has undergone additional owners and color changes, modern diners can still take in its quaint atmosphere and order a cocktail, mocktail, some vin, or bière. The menu also offers salads, steaks, and omelets.
Le Select: A café frequented by Hemingway
Boulevard Montparnasse is dotted with several well-known cafes, from the famous 100-year-old Café de la Rotonde to La Closerie Des Lilas, a favorite destination for Ernest Hemingway. Its neighbor, Le Select, is renowned for its features, including its big outdoor seating area customers can enjoy. At one time, visitors coming here could have encountered famous writers and artists like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Picasso, Simone de Beauvoir, and Ernest Hemingway, who would often gather at the bar together. Hemingway, who lived around the block from the café, referred to it as the "soul of Montparnasse." This favorite haunt for artists and writers was developed in 1925.
The café, which has a 1920s style inside, offers a variety of entrées, salads, and a fairly extensive dessert menu with options like crème brûlée au sucre cassonade. If you're a drinker, the café also has a selection of about 50 whiskies and various cocktails. If you're interested in additional sightseeing, you can walk off your meal at the nearby Luxembourg Gardens as you retrace the steps of the many artists who dined in this area before you.