A restaurant with people walking on the sidewalk.

Le Fumoir

So you decide to take a trip to the Louvre Museum for the day.  You go, you see the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Apollo Belvedere, Bathsheba at her Bath, and all the other worldly fortunes, but by the end of the day you are more than ready to relax.  I bet most visitors exit to Le Jardin des Tuileries where many will find refuge among the cafes on Rue de Rivoli.  But I am going to let you in a little secret…

If you walk around to the other side of the Louvre, you will find Le Fumoir, dominating the corner.  This consistently excellent café/bar exudes a diverse, unique atmosphere, as it attracts tourists looking to rest their feet, as well as, loyal locals.  The classic décor with weathered wood floors and traditional leather Chesterfield couches transports you to the 1940s Paris with the Jazz Age cosseting your ears.  You can sit outside drinking coffee as you peruse your own gallery of people, lounge inside reading a newspaper at the bar, enjoy a fine meal prepared by head chef Henrick Andersson, or make your way to the back where a library quietly welcomes you.  I often find myself sitting in the library drinking un café and using their generous wifi – all it costs is a couple refresh clicks every 30 minutes.

The food and price are delicious and reasonable, which is very unusual around such a high tourist area.  The lunch menu ranges from 8-15€ and dinner hovers around 20€.  There are options for vegetarians, and starting at 3:00pm, one can also go for tea, ordering their thé complet which includes your choice of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate with either toast and jam, chocolate cake, tarts, or ice cream.  The café also offers an extensive beverage menu transforming itself into a nighttime hot spot.

So whether you want brunch outside on a Saturday morning, an afternoon tea or wine while reading in the library, or an Old Fashioned on a Thursday night, Le Fumoir has it all.

Information:
Address: 6 Rue de L’Amiral Coligny, 75001
Telephone: 01 42 92 00 24
Hours: Everyday from 11:00-2:00am

Website: http://www.lefumoir.com/

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