{"id":50113,"date":"2017-03-27T10:20:32","date_gmt":"2017-03-27T14:20:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=50113"},"modified":"2025-02-20T01:32:28","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T06:32:28","slug":"experience-paris-1920s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/experience-paris-1920s\/","title":{"rendered":"How You Can Experience 1920s Paris Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/p>\n

If there is one era I\u2019d want to visit more than any other, it\u2019s Paris<\/a> in the 1920s. I\u2019m in love with that decade. The literature, jazz, optimism, style, and atmosphere \u2014 I love it all. Midnight in Paris<\/a><\/em> is my favorite Paris movie, and I often wish I could make that real life.<\/p>\n

However, unless you have a time machine, you can\u2019t really visit 1920s Paris. What made les Ann\u00e9es folles<\/em> special can never be re-lived \u2014 the spirit, psyche, people, and music have long since faded away.<\/p>\n

But, as we have seen with the rise of Gatsby-themed parties and Prohibition-style bars<\/a>, you can pretend! <\/p>\n

And that\u2019s what I did on a recent visit to Paris, where there are still enough spots that recreate the era\u2019s vibe to fill a visit. <\/p>\n

Here’s how you can experience 1920s Paris today:<\/p>\n


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Things to See and Do<\/h3>\n

\"Sacre<\/p>\n

20 rue Jacob<\/strong> – Back in the 1920s, a lot of American expats hosted salons that would bring together artists and writers to discuss and debate specific topics. One of the most famous was led by writer Natalie Clifford Barney. Although the building she lived in has been rebuilt since her time, during the day, you can often peer into the courtyard and garden where she held her salons.<\/p>\n

The Luxembourg Garden <\/strong>(Jardin du Luxembourg; 6th arrondissement)<\/em> – This is one of my all-time favorite places to visit when I\u2019m in Paris. These beautiful and gigantic gardens, which surround the Luxembourg Palace (now home to the National Assembly), are full of walking paths, chairs to relax in, ponds and fountains, statues, and finely manicured lawns that can\u2019t help but inspire and soothe you. On a warm day, the gardens are bursting with people. In his day, Ernest Hemingway was also a fan, and it is said he wrote a lot during his strolls around the gardens.<\/p>\n

Shakespeare & Co.<\/strong> (37 Rue de La B\u00fbcherie, shakespeareandcompany.com)<\/em> – Located across from Notre Dame, Shakespeare & Co. is one of the most iconic bookshops in the world. The original store opened in 1919 and served as a popular haunt for writers such as Ezra Pound, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and others who fancied themselves writers (Hemingway\u2019s A Moveable Feast<\/em> has a chapter about his visit). <\/p>\n

The original location closed during World War II but the current store and location date to 1951. In the last two decades, it earned widespread recognition due to the movie Before Sunset<\/a><\/em> with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy as the bookstore is featured in the film. <\/p>\n

Today, it still captures the spirit of the writer class and does a lot to support writers (it has beds writers can sleep in for free as long as they help around the shop and do some reading and writing). It also hosts readings and events throughout the year. I love wandering through its stacks and picking out unknown titles.<\/p>\n

Montmartre <\/strong>– The Left Bank was the main hangout of artists and writers, but when they crossed the Seine, they went to Montmartre, where the cheap shops, caf\u00e9s, and restaurants served as a backdrop to their discussions and work. They painted in the squares, debated in the streets, and wandered the tiny cobblestone streets in solitary thought. <\/p>\n

Today this beautiful part of Paris is also recognized due to the highly acclaimed film, Amelie<\/a><\/em>. And thanks to the cheap housing, the area is still home to artists and painters (though it is far more touristy)!<\/p>\n

27 rue de Fleurus<\/strong> – Another salon was hosted by the famous Gertrude Stein, who lived at this address. Anyone who was anyone attended them, including Joyce, Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Guillaume Apollinaire, and Ezra Pound. Today, the rue de Fleurus is a quiet street and the house she lived in has been remodeled, but there\u2019s a plaque above the address marking this famous spot, so you can sit for a moment and imagine what it would have been like to see all the greats walk in and out!<\/p>\n

If you want to splash out on a walking tour to really learn more about this era, check out this private Heminingway walking tour<\/a>. It’s led by an actor playing Hemingway himself, making it both entertaining and informative. It’s not cheap, but you’ll learn a lot!
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Where to Eat<\/h3>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Les Deux Magots<\/strong> (6 Place Saint-Germain des Pr\u00e9s, lesdeuxmagots.fr)<\/em> and Caf\u00e9 de Flore <\/strong>(172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, cafedeflore.fr)<\/em> – These two caf\u00e9s are synonymous with the Lost Generation (those who grew up during and just after World War I). Located right near each other in the now-trendy Saint-Germain-des-Pr\u00e9s quarter of Paris, these caf\u00e9s are where all the artists and writers hung out in the 1920s. Picasso, Hemingway, Simone de Beauvoir, Andr\u00e9 Gide, Jean Giraudoux, Jean Paul Sartre \u2014 they were always here. <\/p>\n

Les Deux Magots sits on the corner of Boulevard Saint-Germain and Rue Bonaparte and fills the sidewalk with its chairs and tables, while the inside retains its old look: white walls, columns, and large mirrors. Caf\u00e9 de Flore, with its large plants and flowers in the entranceway, is cozier but also retains its old-style marble floor and red leather seats.<\/p>\n

La Closerie des Lilas<\/strong> (171 Boulevard du Montparnasse, closeriedeslilas.fr)<\/em> – At the far end of the Luxembourg Gardens, you\u2019ll find this tiny little caf\u00e9 with a dimly lit interior and large outdoor patio hidden from the street by giant plants. It is said that Hemingway first read The Great Gatsby<\/em> here. Like the other venues, the interior is still identical to how it was in the 1920s.<\/p>\n

Le Polidor<\/strong> (41 Rue Monsieur le Prince, polidor.com)<\/em> – In Midnight in Paris<\/a><\/em>, this is where Gil meets his idol, Ernest Hemingway. During the 1920s, this was actually a popular location for the likes of Joyce, Hemingway, Andr\u00e9 Gide, and Antonin Artaud. Thanks to the movie, the restaurant is doing a booming business, but if you can find a seat, you\u2019ll see that the hard-wood interior and d\u00e9cor have changed little since the \u201920s. Imagine yourself sitting next to some famous artist of the day over delicious food and wine!
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Where to Listen to Music<\/h3>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

There aren\u2019t many original music and jazz clubs left that have been around since the 1920s. Most have shifted focus, but if you want to listen to some good music, I recommend these three jazz bars:<\/p>\n

Le Caveau de la Huchette<\/strong> (5 Rue de la Huchette, caveaudelahuchette.fr)<\/em> – This place has become increasingly popular since it was mentioned in the hit movie La La Land<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Le Caveau des Oubliettes<\/strong> (52 Rue Galande, caveau-des-oubliettes.com)<\/em> – An awesome club in the Latin Quarter. This small venue is an ex wine cave dating back centuries. Small and intimate, it’s my favorite of the three.<\/p>\n

Le Duc des Lombards<\/strong> (42 Rue des Lombards, ducdeslombards.com)<\/em> – On the right bank, this jazz club is probably the most famous (and touristy) of the city but it gets incredible acts and pumps out some of the best jazz and blues in the area!
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Where to Drink<\/h3>\n

\"Three<\/p>\n

Harry’s New York Bar<\/strong> (5 Rue Daunou, harrysbar.fr.)<\/em> – This is where they created the Bloody Mary and the Sidecar. This nondescript bar opened in 1911 and was a popular hangout for Fitzgerald and Hemingway. The tiny bar, with its deep wood finish, carved ceilings, and red leather seats, still remains intact.<\/p>\n

Dingo Bar<\/strong> (10 Rue Delambre)<\/em> – This is where Hemingway first met Fitzgerald. It was popular with the Lost Generation because it was one of the few places that were open all night (and they liked to party late into the morning). Today, it\u2019s an Italian restaurant called L\u2019Auberge de Venise, but the original bar remains and you can still come and pretend to have a drink with \u201cPapa.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Prescription Cocktail Club<\/strong> (23 Rue Mazarine, prescriptioncocktailclub.com)<\/em> – From the street, all you see is a curtained window, but when you get inside, you\u2019re reminded of a 1920s NYC-style speakeasy. True, this place didn\u2019t exist in the 1920s, but if you\u2019re looking for incredible cocktails and an ambiance and class that says \u201cwelcome to history,\u201d slide up to the marble bar and enjoy a drink in this darkly lit bar with exposed bricks and old-fashioned furniture.<\/p>\n

The Little Red Door<\/strong> (60 Rue Charlot, lrdparis.com)<\/em> – Located in the Marais, this is another bar looking to recreate that 1920s speakeasy vibe. It\u2019s easy to pass the little red door of a nondescript building that hides this beautiful small bar with brick walls, eclectic furniture, and amazing (strong) cocktails. While it lacks the true \u201920s feeling of the Prescription Cocktail Club, it\u2019s still a fun place to visit!
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Recommended Books and Movies<\/h3>\n

Here’s a list of books and movies that showcase my favorite era in Paris:<\/p>\n