Café de Flore is a legendary Saint-Germain-des-Prés institution, famed for its artistic past and unmistakable Parisian charm. Once a favorite of writers, philosophers, and filmmakers, it continues to draw visitors with its classic menu and lively terrace. A timeless stop for coffee, croissants, and quintessential Left Bank ambiance.

Café de Flore – Paris’s Iconic Saint-Germain Literary Café

Historic Saint-Germain Café, All-Day Dining & Iconic Hot Chocolate — Key Areas

Parisian Literary Institution: one of the oldest coffeehouses in Paris, long-time haunt of writers, philosophers, artists and “tout-Paris” on Boulevard Saint-Germain.
All-Day Café–Restaurant: serves breakfasts, brasserie dishes, salads, omelettes, pastries, ice creams, cocktails and wines from early morning to after midnight.
Hot Chocolate & Classics: pot of old-fashioned chocolat chaud (around 35cl) listed among the city’s most beloved; expect Left-Bank pricing to match the address.
Signature Green & Cream Aesthetic: emblematic frontage, red banquettes and branded crockery — much of it available via the Café de Flore online shop.

Surreal Lens Artistic interpretation of a real place.

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Highlights (evergreen)

Iconic Saint-Germain Café

A Left-Bank symbol of avant-garde Paris since the late 19th century, loved by locals, artists and visitors alike.

Literary & Artistic Heritage

Linked to Sartre, de Beauvoir and generations of writers & philosophers; home of the Prix de Flore literary prize since 1994.

All-Day Café–Restaurant

Open from early morning to past midnight, serving everything from coffee & croissants to full brasserie lunches, dinners & cocktails.

Famous Hot Chocolate & Terrace

Thick, indulgent hot chocolate and one of the most photographed terraces in Paris, directly on Boulevard Saint-Germain.

Signature Crockery & Souvenirs

Green-and-white cups, plates and accessories are available through the Café de Flore shop, letting you bring a little Saint-Germain home.

With TLC Paris Concierge, you can pair Café de Flore with Les Deux Magots, a loop of Saint-Germain bookshops and a sunset walk along the Seine for a full Left-Bank literary day.

Surreal Lens Artistic interpretation of a real place.

Address, Contact & Map+

Café de Flore – Historic Literary Café

172, Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris

Phone (café): +33 (0)1 45 48 55 26

Website: cafedeflore.fr ↗

Note: no reservations — seating is first-come, first-served.

@lecafedeflore ↗ · Online shop ↗

Café, Restaurant & Menus+

Café de Flore operates as a full café-restaurant: traditional French breakfasts, omelettes, croque-monsieur, salads, steak tartare, pâtisserie, ice creams and a long drinks & cocktails list.

You’ll find the full menu (including wines, cocktails and desserts) in downloadable PDF format, available in French and English.

Menu (EN PDF): View / download ↗

Hot Chocolate, Pastries & Literary Spirit+
  • Famous pot of thick hot chocolate (around 35cl), often topped with whipped cream as “chocolat viennois”.
  • French pastries and tarts served on the terrace or in the red-banquette dining room.
  • Historically a meeting place for Sartre, de Beauvoir and many 20th-century writers & artists; home of the annual Prix de Flore literary prize since 1994.

It’s as much about the atmosphere and history as the plate or cup in front of you.

Prices & Practical Notes+

Expect iconic-address pricing: hot chocolate pots around the high-40€ range, cocktails and desserts in the mid teens, and brasserie dishes in the €20–40 band depending on choice.

The terrace carries the same prices as inside — what you’re really paying for is the setting and the name.

Payment: cards widely accepted; no reservations, so simply join the line and wait to be seated.

Hours & Access+

Opening hours (current): every day from around 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.

At peak times, queues can form along the pavement; “fringe” hours (early morning or late at night) tend to be quieter.

Métro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés (Line 4) almost at the door; also close to Mabillon (Line 10).

Perfect to pair with a stroll around Saint-Germain’s bookshops and boutiques or a walk to the Seine.

Bonne journée / TLC Paris Tip+
  • Come very early (before 9:00) or quite late at night for a more relaxed experience and shorter lines.
  • For the “postcard” moment, order a hot chocolate or café crème and a tart on the terrace and just watch Boulevard Saint-Germain roll by.
  • TLC Paris Concierge can weave Café de Flore into a Saint-Germain loop: Flore, Les Deux Magots, bookshops, galleries & a river walk.
Description

Café de Flore – Sip History in Paris’s Literary Left Bank Icons

On the corner of Boulevard Saint-Germain and Rue Saint-Benoît,

Café de Flore stands as one of Paris’s most enduring cultural symbols. Its red-upholstered banquettes, Art Deco interior, and timeless terrace have welcomed generations of writers, philosophers, and artists who shaped the 20th-century intellectual landscape.

Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus once made this their daily meeting point — debating ideas, drafting manuscripts, and observing the world over countless cups of coffee. The ambiance remains unmistakably Parisian: elegant, lively, and steeped in creative energy.

A visit to Café de Flore pairs beautifully with a stroll toward Jardin du Luxembourg, where artists and students still linger beneath tree-lined promenades. For a deeper dive into Paris’s academic soul, explore the nearby Sorbonne University, a legendary institution that shaped France’s literary and political landscape.

Fans of decorative arts will find inspiration at the Musée National du Moyen Âge (Musée de Cluny), located just across the Latin Quarter, showcasing medieval tapestries and Gothic architecture. Don’t miss a quiet detour to Rue Madame, a discreet street that mirrors the timeless refinement of the cafés themselves.

To round off your Left Bank adventure, explore the historic and visually striking Odéon Theatre, just a few blocks away—a bastion of classical and contemporary drama in a stunning neoclassical setting.

With TLC Paris Concierge, guests can enjoy custom Left Bank tours, pairing a visit to these legendary cafés with bookstores, art galleries, and the Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés, or even exclusive experiences like philosophy cafés or vintage photo shoots in the same settings where genius once brewed.

Café de Flore remains a quintessential Rive Gauche experience — a place to people-watch, savor a café crème, and feel the pulse of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Steps from Café de Flore are some of Paris’s most stylish destinations, from Saint Laurent and Emporio Armani to Gucci and the iconic Ralph Lauren flagship. The area is also dotted with luxury fragrance boutiques and sits within an easy walk of Le Bon Marché, making it ideal for a chic Left Bank shopping day. Explore more TLC Paris recommendations just moments from this legendary café.