I hardly dare write about this place. Is it just a (very expensive and effective) tourist trap or is it still the real deal? Like all landmark cafés, its present day worth is hotly disputed. The famous literary hangout with trees on the roof is still a place of pilgrimage for tourists wanting to catch a whiff of old-school Saint Germain but it's also a stopoff for mysteriously beautiful Parisians of both genders and a certain age wearing black trousersuits and shades. Are they highly successful editors, designers, movie producers? They sure as hell aren't writers (unless the editor's paying) but there's certainly an air of (moneyed) intellectual glamour wafting about the place.
Flore gets a better class of tourists (though perhaps a less interesting class of writers) as it is undoubtedly priced above all but the rich or visitors who are really, really keen on Simone de Beauvoir . Still, it’s worth stopping here once in your life for their home-made hot chocolate (made à l’ancienne with cream, milk and real melted chocolate) served in a silver jug (9 Euros). The room upstairs is for the regulars (allegedly); the terasse for the tourists, but the seats outside have a great view down the Boulevard Saint Germain so, take your pick.
172 bd. St-Germain, 6e Métro: St-Germain-des-Prés
Beautiful photo! Really makes me want to go there for that luxurious view (not to mention the hot cocoa!)
Posted by: Lynda | June 19, 2009 at 06:08 PM
I twitched for a long time after I first tried their hot chocolate, but I definitely think it's the best! x
Posted by: embrouillamini | June 21, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Ridiculous tourist trap. The only thing worse is the Deux Magots, which describes itself, nauseatingly, as "Le Rendezvous de l'Elite Intellectuel". Ugh.
Posted by: Expat Stu | June 23, 2009 at 04:14 PM
Skipped Le Flore, seemed too touristy by half, but enjoyed La Coupole, twice. For remembering Simone, there are only two choices: her books or the elegant and simple grave at Cimetiere du Montparnasse.
Posted by: mike | July 05, 2009 at 01:08 PM
Montparnasse is my favourite cimetiere and I spent about an hour there recently trying to locate Guy de Maupassant (writer of Mademoiselle Perle, possibly the best short story in the World ever). Post grave-hunt drinking at Raspail Vert (corner of blvd Edgar Quinet and Raspail)...
Posted by: badaude | July 05, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Just curious, how much exactly was expensive back in the summer of 2009? we also went traveling in EU at what seemed like the worst time for the US$, and EVERYTHING seemed expensive.
-jean
Posted by: foley corinna | November 03, 2010 at 01:12 AM