Au Rocher de Cancale

Les Halles / Rivoli - 1er / 2eme, Paris –

In a city like Paris, finding a café that dates back a century or two is hardly unusual, but Au Rocher de Cancale – est. 1846 – stands out among these enduring gastronomic sites as a reliably festive place to eat, drink, and meet new people.

Creaking wooden floors, slanting tables, and spindly staircases transport the diverse clientele to a classic 19th-century tavern, aided in no small part by the original frescoes of famed caricaturist Paul Gavarni preserved under plexiglass in the upstairs dining room.

Novelist Honoré de Balzac was a regular here, probably sitting out on the same sidewalk patio where today’s well-heeled shoppers relax alongside scarf-wearing bobos, observing the lively characters on Rue Montorgueil, from the shouting fruit vendors to the twenty-something fashionistas in sky-high heels who zip between high-end boutiques on their scooters.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the bar usually fills with the chatter of area young professionals, history-seeking tourists, and trendy but casual couples as everyone gets to know each other over traditional French salads, seafood, and steins of 1664.

The place is also popular for its weekend brunch, if only for the people-watching and indulging in a few liquor-filled chocolates before noon.

Ah, Paris.

Laid-back but lively, Au Rocher de Cancale perfectly embodies the sense of history that pervades the City of Light, and brings unexpected people together in appreciation of French food and culture.