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.