Café Benjamin on rue de Rivoli, in between Chatelet and the Louvre, is one of them. The corner storefront wraps around rue de Rivoli with an extended white awning, trimmed in cherry red and bold, capital letters spelling out the name. The white waxed rattan chairs, with red and blue woven through, and the familiar chalkboard menu are another sign that you are in a typical Parisian café.
Inside is a curved, zinc bar and the barman was busily making coffee and washing and drying white porcelain coffee cups. The people in the inside were a combination of tourists desiring the French café experience by ordering croissants and coffee, and locals, standing at the counter chatting up the barman and sipping expresso before going to work.
Café Benjamin has existed since 1933 and the authenticity of that time is reflected in the floor: a jamboree of small tiles overlapping each other in a circular pattern in attractive colors of tan, pale and medium blue, blush, apricot, slate, and cranberry.
I ordered my requisite café noisette, served with hot milk in a silver pitcher, and watched the people outside scurrying past.
Café Benjamin has a full brasserie and café menu.
53 rue de Rivoli, 75001
Perhaps 1933?
Hey Richar,
Just devoured your latest post on Cafe Benjamin — and wow, what a feast for the thoughts!
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Here's a wild idea: why not join forces and create some magic? Think guest posts that pack a punch, Insta takeovers that sizzle, or even tag-teaming for a food tour that'll leave our followers hungry for more.
If the thought tickles your taste buds as much as a well-seasoned steak tartare, let’s chat. Drop me a line at [email protected], and we can cook up some schemes that’ll have our readers coming back for seconds.
Cheers to delicious adventures and possibly the start of a flavor-packed alliance!
Best bites,
Tris
Founder, "Eat Like the French"
Posted by: Tris | March 06, 2024 at 01:37 PM