Savor Literature in the Aroma of Coffee at Paris’s Shakespeare and Company

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department
 
If you have the chance to stroll through Paris and experience the romance and elegance of this French city firsthand, it will surely be one of the happiest moments of your life. In the Left Bank of Paris, Shakespeare and Company, which once hosted the famous novelist Ernest Hemingway, is not only an important cultural landmark for locals but also a must-visit destination for travelers passionate about humanities and the arts. And now, when you visit Shakespeare and Company, you can enjoy not just the scent of books, but also the aroma of coffee.

Once selected as one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores, Shakespeare and Company opened in 1951. Its small shop is filled with a rich artistic and literary atmosphere. For many Parisians, this bookstore is a grand spiritual edifice and a cultural landmark of the Left Bank. The “I SEE YOU” commercial by EVA Air featuring Takeshi Kaneshiro was also filmed here. In October 2015, Shakespeare and Company rented the adjacent vacant space to open Shakespeare and Company Café, creating a perfect pairing. The café serves light meals and coffee, with shelves lined with literary works and novels, allowing visitors to savor coffee and sweets while immersing themselves in the elegance of France through reading.

Shakespeare and Company Café features a cozy dining space adorned with refreshing color schemes and retro tile decorations. In addition to coffee, tea, and pastries, the names of the café’s dishes are also full of literary charm. You can order a Shakespeare Shake or a “Moveable Feast” picnic basket inspired by Hemingway, which includes drinks, cheese, and short stories—full of French flair. Furthermore, in conjunction with the bookstore, the café has become a venue for events, including book readings, book signings, cookbook and food tastings, and even coffee sessions with authors. If you’re in Paris, don’t forget to set aside some time to visit Shakespeare and Company and its café—enjoy a cup of coffee and a good book, and experience Paris through Hemingway’s eyes.