CAFES AND TEA ROOMS
The Cafe
Ah, what thought of Paris would be complete without the vision of sitting on the sidewalk, sipping a small but really strong coffee and watching the city put on its show! I confess that I could make a whole vacation doing this and never visiting a museum and be a happy, happy lady!
Cafe's have been around for hundreds of years, begun when coffee was first available - thus the name cafe or coffee in English. These are the perfect establishments at which to stop and relax. Cafes serve lite food and beverages. When you're feet are throbbing and you think you can not move another muscle or need to plot your next attack on the city, this is where you come. Gloriously, you can snag a table for as long as you want. When I lived in Paris back in the '80s, I learned that you could tell the prestige of the neighborhood and cafe by the price of a coffee. Often I had mere centimes to spend and so did a lot of looking! Cafe's run the gamut of simple neighborhood establishments to tourist traps to posh, glamorous hangouts. So you can decide between convenience, tourist tolerance, tranquility, or seeing/being seen with the elite. Always check the menu outside the door to be sure the fare and prices meet your needs. If they don't, there is nothing rude with, "No, merci," and moving on. |
SALONS DE THE - THE TEA ROOM
When you think of a Salon de Thé, think of tea time in England - a proper afternoon snack with pastry and a beverage. However, you can often find lite lunch items such as soups and salads. You'll find a dizzying array of tea at some, along with hot chocolate and coffee.
Tea rooms range from the extremely elegant - such as the famous Angelina, dating back to 1903 - to a neighborhood patisserie (pastry shop) with a few tables on the side walk and inside. And of course, there is everything in between. An afternoon snack is essential as the French do not eat until after 7pm. So go ahead an indulge. With all the walking, there should be no feelings of guilt! |
A Personal Cafe Story
I lived in Paris in the '80's with barely two centimes to rub together. I used to walk from my tiny chambre de bonne (servant's quarters) near the Musee d'Orsay to a favorite cafe in the Latin Quarter at Odeon. While I walked the mile plus, feeling poor and out of style, I would pass the famous Les Deux Magots cafe. The rich and beautiful people hung out there and enjoyed their expensive boissons (drinks).
Years later, I returned with my husband and insisted on stopping there. The waiter, who'd heard my husband and I speaking English with each other, came over to take our order. I asked, with very good French and accent, for two cassises sorbets and two Ginis (my favorite soda). He took our order and quickly added, in French, "et du champange," (and some champagne). I corrected him TWICE! Finally, I was so annoyed I asked him, in French, if he was having trouble with the French language. He indignantly trotted off and got what we ordered. Then, just as quickly, went to another table to do the SAME thing.
When our bill came, it was $26 for two small sodas and two small sorbets - remember, this was the 80s. My husband and I nearly fainted. But hanging with the famous isn't cheap. I can only imagine how much the champange would have cost! But, that waiter clearly understood the concept of increasing sales to get bigger tips!
Bistros, Brasseries, and Restaurants
Years later, I returned with my husband and insisted on stopping there. The waiter, who'd heard my husband and I speaking English with each other, came over to take our order. I asked, with very good French and accent, for two cassises sorbets and two Ginis (my favorite soda). He took our order and quickly added, in French, "et du champange," (and some champagne). I corrected him TWICE! Finally, I was so annoyed I asked him, in French, if he was having trouble with the French language. He indignantly trotted off and got what we ordered. Then, just as quickly, went to another table to do the SAME thing.
When our bill came, it was $26 for two small sodas and two small sorbets - remember, this was the 80s. My husband and I nearly fainted. But hanging with the famous isn't cheap. I can only imagine how much the champange would have cost! But, that waiter clearly understood the concept of increasing sales to get bigger tips!
Bistros, Brasseries, and Restaurants