Famous Coffeehouses Around the World: France’s Café Procope

Ever wondered where some of the greatest minds in art, politics, and literature gathered to think, argue, and create? It wasn’t always in libraries or studios—it was often over a cup of coffee in a bustling public space. From 17th-century Paris to 19th-century Barcelona, these cafés weren’t just places to drink coffee—they were incubators for ideas that changed the world.

Over 20 historical cafés are featured here, including Paris’s Café Procope, where Voltaire and Rousseau wrote revolutionary works, and Barcelona’s Els Quatre Gats, where a young Picasso sketched his first cartoons. Each spot reveals how coffeehouses became cultural powerhouses.

The World’s First Coffeehouses: From Mecca to Oxford

The concept of the coffeehouse began in 1475 in Mecca, where the world’s first known coffeehouse, Kiva Han, opened its doors. As coffee spread to Egypt, North Africa, and Turkey, these establishments quickly became hubs for political debate and social exchange. By 1650, the first European coffeehouse appeared in Oxford, England, and the trend rapidly swept across the continent, transforming cafés into open forums for intellectuals.

France’s Café Procope: A Salon of the Enlightenment

Café Procope, established in Paris in the 18th century, holds the title of France’s oldest continually operating coffeehouse. It became a gathering place for some of the most influential figures of the Enlightenment. Thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Denis Diderot (author of the first encyclopedia) penned works that shaped revolutions and societies. Revolutionary leaders such as Robespierre, Danton, and Marat also met here to discuss their plans for societal change. Napoleon Bonaparte allegedly left his military cap behind as collateral for an unpaid coffee bill. Later, literary giants like Victor Hugo and Honoré de Balzac frequented the café. Its legacy was so profound that a literary journal was even named after it.

Barcelona’s Els Quatre Gats: Picasso’s First Artistic Home

Known colloquially as “Picasso’s Café,” Els Quatre Gats in Barcelona was where a teenage Pablo Picasso spent three formative years. Amid the bohemian atmosphere of late 19th-century Barcelona—one of Spain’s most progressive cities—Picasso sketched exaggerated portraits of friends, posted them on the walls, and even designed menus and advertisements for the café. Some of his original wooden blackboard menus still hang today. Surrounded by a mix of cultural movements and free-thinking individuals, Picasso launched his painting career here and held his first exhibition with the help of local patrons, gaining early recognition.

The South of France: Van Gogh’s Nocturnal Inspiration

In 1888, Vincent van Gogh moved to the southern French town of Arles, seeking a more vibrant life. By September of that year, he had taken up residence near Café de la Nuit (now commonly referred to as the “Van Gogh Café”). Open 24 hours, the café’s glowing gas lamps and starlit skies inspired his iconic painting The Night Café. Van Gogh described the scene: “A café terrace on the Place du Forum, with a large gas lamp lighting up the balcony and the blue night sky with stars… I have often thought that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.” The café, now officially named Café Van Gogh, remains a pilgrimage site for art lovers, meticulously preserved to reflect the setting of his famous work.

Shanghai’s Gongfei Café: A Secret Meeting Spot for Leftist Writers

In the 1920s, Shanghai’s café culture flourished, mirroring Parisian trends. Among the most notable was Gongfei Café on Duolun Road in the Hongkou district. During a time of political repression, leftist literary groups, including the Chinese Left-Wing Writers’ League (also known as the “Left League”), held secret meetings here. Foreign-owned and frequented by non-Chinese patrons, it offered a degree of safety. According to writer Zheng Boqi, “The place was generally avoided by Chinese, so the foreigners didn’t pay much attention to coffee drinkers—it made meetings safer.” The café hosted preparatory meetings for the Left League, attended by prominent figures such as Lu Xun, Ding Ling, Tian Han, and Mao Dun. On October 16, 1929, the first official preparatory meeting took place in a small upstairs room. Later, on February 16, 1930, another key planning session—the “Shanghai New Literature Movement Discussion”—was convened here, as noted in Lu Xun’s diary when he wrote about going out for coffee with Rou Shi and Xuefeng.

Nanjing’s Banpo Village Café: A Hub for Artists and Academics

Founded in the 1990s by painter Guo Haiping, Nanjing’s Banpo Village Café became a longstanding cultural fixture despite changing ownership. Over the years, it has welcomed artists, writers, poets, and scholars from China and abroad. Known alongside the Pioneer Bookstore as one of the city’s two premier cultural landmarks, the café continues to be a space where creative minds exchange ideas, drawing warmth, inspiration, and innovation from its storied walls.

Japan’s Coffee Culture: The Only Official Coffee Holiday

Coffee was introduced to Japan in the 1630s by Dutch traders, but it initially met with resistance due to its unfamiliar taste. It wasn’t until the Meiji Restoration, when Western ideas gained popularity, that coffee found its niche, especially among students and radicals. Japanese coffeehouses became hotbeds for political and social discourse. Today, Japan is unique in the world for hosting an official Coffee Day on October 1st, celebrated nationwide.

The UK’s Coffeehouses: Birthplace of Modern Publishing

The first coffeehouse in Europe opened in Oxford in 1650, established by a Lebanese Jewish trader. London soon followed suit, and by 1700, the city boasted over 2,000 coffeehouses. These establishments provided one of the first egalitarian spaces for public discussion, laying the groundwork for the modern publishing industry. Literary standards were debated in gatherings at Will’s Coffee House, hosted by poet John Dryden, while the free exchange of ideas in coffeehouses informed early newspapers like The Tatler, The Spectator, and The Guardian. Much like traditional inns, these coffeehouses became central to British social and intellectual life.

American Coffee Shops: Fast-Casual Culture

The United States’ first coffeehouse opened in Boston in 1691. Modern American coffee culture, however, is closely tied to the fast-paced lifestyle exemplified by chains like Starbucks. American coffee shops often mirror the country’s emphasis on convenience and efficiency, offering a quick, casual environment that aligns with the nation’s on-the-go culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the first coffeehouse in the world?

The first recorded coffeehouse was Kiva Han, established in Mecca in 1475. It marked the beginning of coffeehouses as social and intellectual hubs, a tradition that later spread to Egypt, North Africa, and beyond.

Which French café did Voltaire and Rousseau frequent?

Voltaire, Rousseau, and Denis Diderot frequented Café Procope in Paris, founded in the 18th century. It became a key site for Enlightenment thinking and revolutionary discourse.

Where did Picasso create his first artworks?

Picasso spent his late teenage years at Els Quatre Gats in Barcelona, where he sketched cartoons of friends, designed menus, and held his first exhibition with local support.

What café inspired Van Gogh’s The Night Café?

Van Gogh’s painting The Night Café was inspired by Café de la Nuit in Arles, France, known today as the Van Gogh Café. Its 24-hour operation and illuminated gas lamps captivated the artist.

Why was Gongfei Café important in Shanghai?

Gongfei Café was a safe meeting spot for leftist intellectuals during the 1920s, hosting secret gatherings for the Chinese Left-Wing Writers’ League and notable figures like Lu Xun.

Does Japan have an official coffee holiday?

Yes, Japan is the only country with an official Coffee Day, celebrated every year on October 1st.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Café Culture

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