Thursday, January 24, 2008

Les Philosophes


I initially discovered Les Philosophes (28, rue Vieille du Temple) on one of my too-many-to-count shopping days in my neighborhood, the Marais. With a lively sidewalk terrace that is open all year long (gotta love heat lamps!) and a wide range of drinks (from French wines to chocolat chaud, from caipirinhas to Marriage Frères tea), it is the perfect spot to rest your weary feet, and enjoy the eye-candy. I once read that, contrary to its name, you will never hear a serious conversation take place at Les Philosophes.

To my great pleasure, I soon discovered that Les Philosophes also serves good food! (Though really, think of it more as a glorified wine bar). Brunch is one habit that this ex-New Yorker can't kick, and for 19 euros, theirs is an excellent choice for a lazy Sunday morning. It includes a bread basket, eggs, fromage blanc, fresh fruit, and your choice of warm drink. For lunch or dinner, definitely try the tarte tatin à la tomate.

Not to miss ... the bathrooms! The café was designed by Xavier Denamur who also did several of the other cafes nearby, including L’Etoile Manquant, which is a few doors down.