Fancy a €32.50 Full Course at Paris's 300+ Years of Age Café?

In the heart of Paris’s 6th arrondissement, near the lively streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, stands Le Procope, the city's oldest and one of its most legendary cafés. Founded in 1686 by Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli, an Italian from Palermo, this café has witnessed over three centuries of intellectual ferment, revolutionary ideas, and cultural transformation. Over time, it has become more than a mere café—Le Procope is an institution that has played a significant role in Parisian and French history.

Francesco Procopio was a visionary who sought to bring the concept of cafés, which were already popular in Italy, to Paris. Coffee, a relatively new and exotic beverage at the time, was gaining popularity among the French elite, and Procopio saw an opportunity. He opened Le Procope near the Comédie-Française, a popular theatre of the time, attracting writers, artists, and intellectuals. With its offering of coffee, exotic teas, and sorbets, the café became an instant success.

From its inception, Le Procope was more than a place to drink coffee; it was a hub of social interaction and intellectual debate. Its proximity to the theatre made it a natural meeting place for actors and playwrights, and soon it became a favourite haunt of the Enlightenment thinkers who would go on to shape modern Western thought.

Throughout the 18th century, Le Procope became synonymous with the Enlightenment. The café's atmosphere fostered conversation, debate, and the exchange of ideas, and it wasn't long before the most notable philosophers of the age began to frequent its tables. The iconic philosopher Voltaire was one of Le Procope’s most famous regulars. He was said to drink up to 40 cups of coffee a day, fuelling his prolific writing and sharp wit. Voltaire, along with Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Denis Diderot, used the café as a place to develop and discuss the ideas that would form the foundation of modern democracy and human rights.

In this hallowed space, Diderot conceived his monumental Encyclopédie, a central text of the Enlightenment that sought to compile human knowledge and challenge the established norms of the time. Le Procope's reputation as a hotbed of revolutionary ideas only grew as its visitors became more radical in their thinking, laying the intellectual groundwork for the monumental changes that were to come.

By the late 18th century, the atmosphere at Le Procope had shifted from philosophical musings to political action. During the turbulent years leading up to the French Revolution, the café became a meeting place for revolutionaries and political figures. Georges Danton, one of the Revolution's leading figures, and Maximilien Robespierre, the architect of the Reign of Terror, were known to frequent Le Procope, using it as a platform to discuss revolutionary tactics.

It was in these very rooms that the call for liberty, equality, and fraternity echoed among patrons, who were often found debating the future of France. Le Procope’s proximity to the National Assembly made it a strategic location for political gatherings, and it is said that Benjamin Franklin himself spent time there, drafting the American Constitution during his time in Paris. Napoleon Bonaparte, too, left his mark—quite literally—by leaving his hat at the café as collateral because he could not pay his bill at the time.

Le Procope in today’s era

Today, Le Procope stands as a living testament to its long and vibrant history. The interior of the café is designed to evoke its rich past, with period décor, paintings of famous patrons, and artefacts from centuries gone by. The café’s antique chandeliers, velvet-lined chairs, and marble-topped tables all hark back to a time when the ideas that changed the world were born within its walls.

In addition to its historical significance, Le Procope offers a carefully curated menu that reflects both its heritage and modern French cuisine. Visitors can enjoy a full-course meal—starter, main course, and dessert—for €32.50, served from Monday to Saturday, 12 noon to 7 pm.

Among its many treasures is a collection of memorabilia, including Napoleon’s legendary hat, a fitting tribute to the café’s storied past. Visitors can also find letters, books, and portraits of the café's illustrious patrons on display, adding to the atmosphere of historical significance.

As the oldest café in Paris, Le Procope has earned its place in the city's cultural and intellectual history. It is more than just a restaurant or a coffeehouse; it is a monument to the birth of ideas that shaped modern France and the world. Writers, thinkers, and politicians from centuries past have all left their mark on this café, making it a symbol of Paris’s enduring commitment to free thought and discussion.

While Le Procope has changed in many ways since its founding in 1686, its essence remains the same. It continues to draw locals and tourists alike, all eager to soak up the café's unique ambience and imagine themselves partaking in the grand tradition of debate that once captivated its Enlightenment-era patrons.

For anyone visiting Paris, a stop at Le Procope is more than just a culinary experience; it is an opportunity to step back in time and walk in the footsteps of some of history’s greatest minds. Whether sipping a cup of coffee like Voltaire or exploring the revolutionary spirit that still lingers in the air, a visit to Le Procope offers a rare chance to connect with the past in a city where history and modernity live side by side.