Some Paris cafés rely on history. Others rely on location. Café Gaîté, in the heart of Montparnasse, has chosen another way to catch the eye.
Its façade is impossible to miss, with cascades of red and yellow flowers framing the terrace from end to end. Whether you see them as cheerful decoration or just a little over the top is a matter of taste, but they certainly make the café one of the most photographed spots on the street.
Beyond the floral display, it remains true to a Parisian tradition. The terrace is arranged in neat rows facing the street, inviting customers to sit, enjoy a coffee or meal, and watch the neighbourhood go by—a pastime that has changed little over the decades.
Paris cafés have long competed for customers, and attracting attention from the pavement is part of the business. In recent years, some have embraced increasingly elaborate floral displays, especially around Instagram-friendly neighbourhoods. Love them or loathe them, they're hard to ignore—and they certainly get people talking. Has this one gone just a touch too far?
“The terrace is where Paris breathes — unhurried, curious and endlessly alive.”
Part of the “Terraces of Paris” Series
Every Thursday we take a virtual seat on one of Paris’s many terraces — those open-air stages where the city writes its daily stories.
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