Les Deux Magots
Cafe · Saint-Germain-des-Pres ·
Iconic literary cafe serving classic French fare and hot chocolate
Iconic literary cafe serving classic French fare and hot chocolate
"At Les Deux Magots in Saint‑Germain‑des‑Prés I drank traditional hot chocolate made by melting Valrhona with warm milk and pouring it from a classic carafe while seated on the scarlet banquettes once favored by the literary set." - Lane Nieset
"Alongside other Left Bank institutions, Les Deux Magots projects the same chic, intellectual legacy — a historic hangout woven into the quartier's fabric and long associated with the city's literary and artistic set." - Annick Weber
"Verdict: Better than Café de Flore, which shares the same block. If you need to check off a literary café on your list, go here when it reopens in March. Doesn’t fit the itinerary? You’re not missing anything. This 140-year-old literary café facing the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés is a solid introduction to the neighborhood’s storied intellectual past. In its heyday, the family-owned spot hosted a who’s-who of writers, artists, and activists. That tradition has continued since the 1930s when it launched an annual literary prize, celebrating less academic works than France’s most iconic prize, the Goncourt. It’s that bookish energy (and old-fashioned hot chocolate made from whole chocolate squares) that locals, politicians, actors, and writers find when they come here today. Sure, you’ll have to wait in staggeringly long lines to see and be seen on the café’s wraparound terrace. But once you’re in, you’ll order from a brasserie menu full of reliably good (albeit pricey) options, and watch passersby ogle to see if they recognize anyone famous." - lindsey tramuta
"This 140-year-old literary café facing the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés is a solid introduction to the neighborhood’s storied intellectual past. In its heyday, the family-owned spot hosted a who’s-who of writers, artists, and activists. That tradition has continued since the 1930s when it launched an annual literary prize, celebrating less academic works than France’s most iconic prize, the Goncourt. It’s that bookish energy (and old-fashioned hot chocolate made from whole chocolate squares) that locals, politicians, actors, and writers find when they come here today. Sure, you’ll have to wait in staggeringly long lines to see and be seen on the café’s wraparound terrace. But once you’re in, you’ll order from a brasserie menu full of reliably good (albeit pricey) options, from salads and croques to steak and grilled fish, and watch passersby ogle to see if they recognize anyone famous." - Lindsey Tramuta
"A traditional neighborhood brasserie that sometimes serves classic morning fare such as oeufs brouillés (scrambled eggs), offering a conventional Parisian brunch-style experience rather than the newer all-day breakfast trends." - Kristy Alpert