Where Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre Hung Out

Ever wondered what is it about the French capital that makes you fall hopelessly in love with it? Is it their chic and effortless style or the decadent croissant and vintage wines? Or perhaps the art of ‘flaneuring’? We’d say it’s the Parisian café culture, ingrained in the city’s identity, along with its iconic architecture and haute couture. Netflix’s latest rom-com offering, Emily in Paris is all about this French way of life. Despite all its clichés, the show is exactly what we need right now—blissful escapism. A virtual French vacation at the core of it, some of Paris’s most iconic vistas serve as the backdrop for the protagonist’s adventures and cultural gaffes. 

The iconic Café de Flore also makes a cameo in one of the episodes. One of the “coolest cafés in all of Paris”, Café de Flore has played host to some of the greatest French writers and philosophers including the likes of Sartre and Picasso. Situated on the corner of Boulevard saint-German and rue saint-Benoît, this was the spot for literary meetings, philosophical debates, and artistic daydreams. Even today the café continues to buzz with energy, a constant stream of tourists and locals and the unrelenting hum of their conversations. And while it may not be cheap, it offers you the chance to be a tiny part of Paris’s history. 

Pro tip: Try—when you can—Café de Flore’s emblematic and excellent hot chocolate for €7 and café crème for €4.60.