Paris’ Right Bank cafés deserve their place in literary history. Nevertheless, the history behind Harry’s, Café de la Paix and the Ritz pales in comparison to the formidable literary pedigree of their Left Bank counterparts. The cafes of the Left Bank were immortalized in Ernest Hemingway’s classic works The Sun Also Rises and A Moveable Feast. In the books, and in reality for that matter, the cafes of Montparnasse and St. Germain des Pres were packed with intellectuals drinking, socializing and writing. We at New York Habitat are a nostalgic bunch and we can’t resist the charms of the Left Bank watering holes.

Part two of our literary pub crawl through Paris begins in St. Germain des Prés on the boulevard St. Germain. Three cafés; Les Deux Magots, Café de Flore and the Brasserie Lipp all boast a history of intellectual patrons and belle-epoque charm. The Flore was a second home to Jean Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir and was visited, at varying times, by the likes of Pablo Picasso and Truman Capote. Les Deux Magots affectionately calls itself a “literary café,” thanks in part to its frequent visits from the ubiquitous Papa Hemingway. The Brasserie Lipp beckons to passerbies in this heavily trafficked neighborhood with its mouth-watering neon beer sign. It is said that on the day of Paris’ liberation in 1944 Hemingway was the first in the Lipp’s door for a drink (a claim common among Parisian café lore). All of these eateries are conscience of their history and have raised prices accordingly, while not outrageous do expect to pay a bit extra for the ambiance.

St. Germain des Pres is one of New York Habitat’s favorite Paris neighborhoods and is immensely popular among renters. You’re lucky because we have plenty of vacation rentals in Saint Germain too!

Available this spring is this 1-bedroom apartment rental in St Germain des Pres (PA-1348). The apartment doesn’t have a full kitchen but who needs one in this neighborhood? This lovely 3-bedroom apartment rental in St Germain des Pres (PA-2646) is spacious, bright and just around the corner from the three cafés mentioned above. New York Habitat also has this awesome alcove studio vacation rental accommodation in St Germain des Pres (PA-2473). The studio sports exposed wood beams, a wall of sun-drenched windows and a long, picturesque balcony.

If you missed part one of New York Habitat’s Paris Pub Crawl check out: The Right Bank’s Literary Pubs.

The Paris Literary Pub tour continues on to Hemingway’s Montparnasse soon…