Enter the history: dine at the Procope !

As you know, we like to surprise you with original restaurant addresses, full of discoveries, to complete your stay in Paris. Today we are heading to the 6th arrondissement to discover the Procope, which first opened its doors in .... 1686 !

You are not dreaming, you have just entered the oldest café in Paris, no less. Located on rue de l'Ancienne Comédie, in the 6th arrondissement, the Procope is an institution in the heart of the Saint-Germain des Prés area. Opened in 1686 by Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli, who gave the establishment his French name, it went on to become the favourite address of 18th century Parisian writers and intellectuals. Among its famous and historic regulars, let's talk about artists such as Verlaine and Musset, or Enlightenment philosophers such as Diderot and Rousseau, who even made it their headquarters during the French Revolution. So it's full of history. And its decoration is there to prove it.

The café became a bouillon at the end of the 19th century, but was restored in the late 1950s to its original atmosphere. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen has been reproduced on the walls of one of the rooms; a Napoleon hat, left here by the Emperor himself, sits in the entrance of the establishment...

A charming experience, with a tasty menu featuring traditional French cuisine. Coq au vin, onion soup, ravioles du Dauphiné, vol-au-vent, blanquette de veau, Paris-Brest, île flottante... Plus a few inspired Italian specialities, which promise an excellent taste experience ! 

Practicalities :

Le Procope, 13 rue de l'Ancienne Comédie, 75006 Paris

Reservations : https://www.procope.com/o/reserver/, open every day from 12pm to midnight.

Metro Odéon (line 4)

 

Photos : Amandine Goetz