Best Historic Places in Paris

Palais-Royal arcade institution since 1784, historic monument with a kitchen in transition

The Ritz's wood-paneled cocktail room, bookless reservations and a serious dry martini

Mahogany expat bar from 1911, birthplace of the Bloody Mary, between Opéra and the Place Vendôme

The Goncourt Prize restaurant since 1914, Place Gaillon institution under chef Romain Van Thienen

1898 Place Vendôme palace, Coco Chanel's home, Hemingway's bar, Espadon's dining room

One Michelin star inside Place des Vosges' most discreet pavilion, Marais gastronomy without the spectacle.

1864 Belle Époque brasserie under a stained-glass dome, choucroute, plateaux de fruits de mer, full theatre.

Paris's oldest covered market, since 1615, 21 stalls, all of lunchtime Marais, on one block.

5-star hideaway behind ivy on Place des Vosges, 56 rooms, a courtyard, a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Sartre and Beauvoir's corner of Boulevard Saint-Germain since 1887.

The other Saint-Germain café, with the better view of the church.

Alsatian choucroute, landmarked Art Nouveau, the Académiciens' lunch.

Hemingway's table, a piano bar, and the steak that bears his name.

The Académie française's secret canteen, in Voltaire's own building.

The 1932 bistro classique, Ducasse-stewarded since 2013.

The Saint-Germain sourdough institution since 1932.

Mourad Mazouz's Marais Maghreb institution since 1990, tagines and pastilla under 17th-century beams.

The oldest café in Paris, opened 1686, Voltaire, Diderot, Franklin all ate here.