New York Habitat Blog

Of all the quarters in Paris the one with the most English-literary history and tradition is Montparnasse. Five cafés, all situated on a corner of the Boulevard Montparnasse, retain the feel, charm and look of the Lost Generation of Paris. When Hemingway, Ezra Pound and F. Scott Fitzgerald first moved to Paris they took small flats on the rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs, a few blocks from the mythic cafes. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda were notorious drinkers and regulars in many Montparnasse cafés as were Gertrude Stein, James Joyce and Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises characters Jake and Robert Cohn. New York Habitat has Montparnasse accommodations that will make it easy to add your name to the list of famous café patrons.

Photo of the La Rotonde Pub: Montparnasse, Paris, France

We fittingly end our literary café crawl on the Boulevard Montparnasse, making stops at La Coupole, La Rotonde, Le Dome, Le Select and La Closerie des Lilas. Exiting at Metro Vavin our first cocktail break will be at La Rotonde, of which Hemingway said, “No matter what café in Montparnasse you ask a taxi driver to bring you to from the right bank of the river, they always take you to the Rotonde.” The café is a renovated old-world gem, serving excellent meals and reasonably priced glasses of wine and cocktails. Next stops are La Coupole, Le Select and Le Dome. All the cafés have similar menus and are filled with Parisians grabbing after-work drinks. The food is quite good but, of course, the biggest draw is a dining room filled with the ghosts of Josephine Baker, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Pappa Hemingway.

We’ve saved La Closerie des Lilas for last, it’s the perfect place to end our literary tour. The Lilas was Hemingway’s favorite Paris café, he worked here diligently during the 20s, perhaps penning parts of his great novels at one of the tables. And if you ever forget the company you’re in the copper plaques etched with the names of famous patrons grace the café walls.

Photo of a Paris Accommodation: Studio in Luxembourg, Montparnasse (PA-3663)

New York Habitat has plenty of apartments in Montparnasse, steps from the famous eateries. This studio accommodation in Luxembourg, Montparnasse - Porte de Versailles (PA-3663) is on the boulevard Montparnasse. This book-filled 3-bedroom furnished rental apartment in Montparnasse - Porte de Versailles (PA-1600) is just steps from are restaurants. Also, this 1-bedroom rental accommodation in Montparnasee - Porte de Versailles (PA-1706) lies directly in the shadow of the Montparnasse Tower.

A short walk from Montparnasse the Jardin du Luxembourg, a great place to take a walk, people watch and perhaps start a novel of your own.

Hemingway’s Paris memoir A Moveable Feast is an absolute must read before any bookworm’s trip to the French Capital.

Don’t forget to revist all of our Pub Literary Pub Crawl Posts before venturning off:

• The Right Bank’s Literary Pubs
• Literary Pubs in Saint Germain des Pres

Pablo Picasso. Josephine Baker. Ernest Hemingway. The Montparnasse region of Paris has long attracted the creative and artistic. To this day the region continues to support the arts through its abundance of museums and theaters. Celebrate a rich history of culture and explore Paris with New York Habitat. This One-Bedroom Apartment near Montparnasse (PA-3048) could be your perfect starting point.

Bright, One-Bedroom Apartment in Montparnasse, Paris:

This modernly designed one-bedroom rental is located on the third floor of a contemporary building. The building (unlike many in Paris) is equipped with an elevator.

Also for your convenience, the owners of the apartment live in the building and have proven to be very helpful to tenants.

The windows stream in sunlight during the day and the modern lighting of the apartment warmly illuminates the space at night.

Located a ten-minute walk from Montparnasse, the rental is also conveniently near Line 13 (Plaisance stop) of the Parisian subway system.

Montparnasse, Paris:

The ancient Greeks believed “Mount Parnassus” to be the home of Apollo, the god of poetry, music, and beauty. In 17th century Paris, students began to gather on a small hill to recite poetry. The students nicknamed the area after the home of Apollo and soon the name morphed into Montparnasse.

Since its artistic inception, Montparnasse has continued to attract the truly creative. Patrons of the world-renowned cafes of Montparnasse have included writers such as Scott Fitzgerald and T.S. Eliot, painters such as Kandinsky and Modigliani, and directors such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Roman Polanski. In addition to cafes, the area boasts many shops, restaurants, and theaters.

Montparnasse is also home to the Tour Montparnasse, which was, at one time, the tallest office building in Europe. 

Why is this one-bedroom rental a Hidden Gem?

The warm lighting combined with the modern colors and designs of the décor are standout features of the apartment. When you add the nearby cultural and artistic hotspot of Montparnasse, this one-bedroom rental is uncovered as a hidden gem.

For more information on Paris, read:

• Paris in Song - “Paris – Picture Perfect”
• Paris in the Movies - Indulge Your Inner Film Buff

Feel free to post any comments or questions below.