“Parisian citizens gathering to relax or refuel, that’s the heart of a Parisian café.” Place Jaffeux may not have grand monuments, but let’s imagine it as the starting point of a journey into Parisian café culture. Place Jaffeux itself might not be brimming with historical events but it is a place to start a story. Parisian cafés are more than just coffee shops. They are neighborhood hubs. They are meeting places. Cafés serve as conversation matrices. People use them as rendezvous spots.
Typical Parisian cafés offer a full restaurant menu. You can get meals any time. Many feature a full bar and wine selections. Classic drinks include the grand crème. It is a large cup of white coffee. There is also wine by the glass. Beer is also available. You can order un demi which is half a pint. Or you can ask for une pression, a glass of draught beer. Try un pastis, a drink made with aniseed flavor spirit. Brands include Ricard, 51, and Pernod. Of course, there is un espresso, a small cup of black coffee. Many cafés double as a bureau de tabac. This is a tobacco shop selling various items. They sell metro tickets and prepaid phone cards.
Cafés became centers for news exchange. They were places for rumors and ideas. Often, they proved more reliable than newspapers. By 1790, Paris boasted over 1,800 cafés. These spots were for meeting friends. People held literary and political discussions. Women rarely entered cafés. Noble women sometimes stopped outside in carriages. They were served inside with cups on silver platters.
During the Revolution, cafés became political hubs. Members of Revolutionary clubs often led discussions. After the French Revolution, billiard rooms appeared in some cafés. In the early 19th century, cafés diversified. Some became cafés-chantants. They featured singing. Others offered concerts and dancing. Many began serving ice cream. In short Place Jaffeux might be a wonderful place to start your exploration of Parisian café culture.