Le Nemours is the kind of grand Parisian café that earns its "institution" label honestly — perched on Place Colette between the Comédie-Française and the Palais-Royal gardens, with a terrace under the columns that's pure postcard Paris. Inside, the décor leans old-world theatrical: vintage paintings, pink drapes, silken banquettes, the works. It's as much a salon de thé and glacier as a brasserie, with a wide salad menu (the "Molière" is a local favorite) and a setting that feels like it was designed for lingering. Yes, it's touristy and you'll pay for the location — but the terrace on a sunny afternoon is hard to beat.
A Parisian institution with a magical terrace under the columns of Place Colette, between the Comédie-Française and the Palais-Royal gardens.
Grab a terrace table on a sunny mid-morning or late afternoon — that's when the light on the columns is at its best and the crowds are thinner.
A Grand Café That Earns Its Postcard Setting
Le Nemours doesn't pretend to be a neighborhood secret — it sits right on Place Colette, flanked by the Comédie-Française and the Palais-Royal gardens, and it knows exactly what it is: a grand, slightly theatrical Parisian café built for the setting. The terrace under the columns is the main event, especially on a sunny day when you can sit with an espresso or a glass of rosé and watch the world drift between the Louvre and the theater. Inside, the décor was refreshed back in 2002 but still feels appropriately old-world — vintage paintings, pink hangings, silken banquettes — like a stage set for a Paris that may not fully exist anymore but is fun to sit inside.
Food-wise, it's a brasserie-salon de thé hybrid with a surprisingly broad salad menu. The "Molière" — a mix of potatoes, greens, and assorted toppings — gets mentioned a lot, and the ice cream counter (they're a glacier too) is a solid choice in summer. Nothing here will blow your culinary mind, and yes, you're paying a premium for the address. But that's not really the point. Le Nemours is about the experience of sitting in one of the most beautiful small squares in Paris, and on that front, it delivers. Go for a mid-morning coffee or a late-afternoon drink when the light hits the columns just right.