Founded 338 years ago, this institution in the 6th arrondissement is one of the oldest café-restaurants in Paris

Oldest Café in Paris

Located in the bustling Odéon district, Le Procope proudly claims to be the oldest café-restaurant in Paris. Founded in 1686 by Francesco Procopio Dei Coltelli, a Sicilian who settled in the French capital, it is the very first place to introduce coffee (and especially to popularize it) in France, served in small porcelain cups and directly at the table. Today, the decor seems almost unchanged and immerses us directly into another century.

A place full of history

What makes Le Procope unique is undoubtedly its history. In the old Paris, it was the meeting place for philosophers and writers of the Age of Enlightenment, visited by Rousseau, Voltaire, and Diderot. Legend has it that the beginnings of the Encyclopédie were born here and that Benjamin Franklin conceived some elements of the United States Constitution here. In short, the place has become a prominent artistic, intellectual, and political landmark of the capital, frequented by the most illustrious figures of our history.  

French Cuisine

The walls of Le Procope hold centuries of history, even in its kitchens. Here, you can sit down to enjoy traditional French gastronomy with ancestral specialties such as coq au vin, braised beef cheek, or veal head in a casserole dish, on the restaurant's menu for almost 332 years. During the warmer months, you can even enjoy your dishes on the hidden terrace in the Saint-André courtyard, to savor the Parisian weather in a peaceful little setting.