After the best spots to grab a coffee or a drink in Montparnasse in Paris? My insider list has a the best spots to stop off for a break if you’re passing by or are visiting the area.
I’ve been living in Paris for 8 years including 3 years near by in the Saint Germain des Prés area so I know the area very well. I’ve always found Montparnasse to be an underrated of the city and I personally think it’s a great area to stay in. Unknown to many, it’s home to some fantastic bars and terraces to experience the city’s famous café culture!
My Favourite Cafés & Bars in Montparnasse
The Montparnasse area is a relatively quiet residential area and is located between the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Eiffel Tower. Its famous Tour Montparnasse is hard to miss and offers incredible views over the city. It’s also a major travel hub its train station being one of the busiest in the city. With this comes a lot of terraces and cafés to serve commuters. This list contains my personal favourite bars and cafés in the are and are listed in no particular order.
Le Tournesol
Le Tournesol is a great little bar just off the lively Rue de Gaité and it’s certainly a local kind of bar. One of my go to bars in the area, their terrace has quieter section on the Impasse de la Gaité which is a deadend leading to the cemetery at the end of the road.
It’s an ideal spot for a drink or a coffee – always busy but never full, it’s perfect for watching the world go by! If you’re just popping in after 6pm they have a decent happy hour and nibbles (fries, cheese and charcuterie platters).
If you’re hungry for more they have a great menu with Parisian bistro classics such as confit duck leg and steak frites.
What to know before visiting
- Open every day from 8am to 2 am
- Food served at lunch and dinnertime
Address: 9 Rue de la Gaité, 75014
Tel: 01 43 27 65 72
La Closerie des Lilas
If you’re wanting a more historical, authentically Parisian café experience then stop by La Closerie des Lilas. Frequented by the city’s famous impressionists (Monet, Cézanne and Renoir) as well as literary figures such as Ernest Hemingway.
The beautiful, traditional terrace and bar are where you can grab a coffee and a drink throughout the day. If you’re feel hungry their restaurant serves traditional French food all day. Expect oyster platters, foie gras and roasted veal.
What to know before visiting
- Open every day from 11am to midnight
- Food served continuously
Address: 171 Bd du Montparnasse, 75006
Tel: 01 40 51 34 50
Website: http://www.closeriedeslilas.fr
Café Montparnasse
The Café Montparnasse is another one of the grand brasseries and cafés on the Boulevard du Montparnasse. Distinctly traditional with dark wood and rich red leather banquettes, you’ll feel very Parisian having a drink here.
Open all day with a continuous food service, it’s a great spot to watch the world go by with a coffee or a glass of wine. Drinks are decently priced considering the area and their terrace is ideally located on the main place.
Their food, like many of the nearby cafés and brasseries is classical French. Roast chicken, steak tartare and boeuf bourguignon are done well and aren’t too expensive.
What to know before visiting
- Open every day from 7:30am to 2am
- Food served continuously
Address: 8 Pl. du 18 Juin 1940, 75006
Tel: 01 45 48 99 34
Website: http://www.cafemontparnasse.fr
Le Falstaff
If you like your craft beer then Le Falstaff is worth checking out. A stone’s throw from the main place and tower, it’s the bar in the district if you want a good pint of beer.
Le Falstaff is not a traditional Parisian café but a bar where you’ll find a lot locals, colleagues and friends catching up. It’s got a buzzing friendly atmosphere and makes for a fun night out.
Their happy hour prices are decent (for Paris) with all their beers coming in at €6.50 per pint. They have a great selection of IPAs, lagers, stouts and other craft beers from all around Europe (and there’s a lot of Belgian beers!). If you’re hungry after all the beer that you’ve been drinking they’ve got generous cheese and charcuterie platters, fries and lots of Alsatian dishes.
What to know before visiting
- Open every day from 9am to 4am weekdays and 5am weekends
- Happy hour from 10am to 8pm
Address: 42 Rue du Montparnasse, 75014
Tel: 01 43 35 38 29
Website: https://www.instagram.com/falstaff_paris/
Le Dôme Café
Hard to miss if you’re on the Boulevard du Montparnasse, the bright red Le Dôme Café is another grand brasserie of the area. This art deco café is beautiful and a great spot to grab a quick coffee on their outside terrace.
If you love seafood then this is a great café to stop by for an apéro before dinner. Grab a plate of oysters and crispy white glass of Sancerre wine and watch the world go by. After dinner then go for one of their incredible seafood platters with langoustine, crab, lobster and of course lots of French oysters.
What to know before visiting
- Open every day from 8am to midnight
Address: 108 Bd du Montparnasse, 75014
Tel: 01 43 35 25 81
Website: https://www.restaurant-ledome.com
