Café Procope
| Company type | Café / Restaurant |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality, Food and Beverage |
| Founded | January 1, 1686 in Paris, France |
| Founder | Procopio Cutò (Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli / François Procope) |
| Defunct | 1872 |
| Fate | Original café closed; current restaurant version opened in 1957 |
| Successor | Current restaurant version of Café Procope |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | Paris, France |
Key people | Procopio Cutò (founder) |
| Products | Coffee, sorbets, food, beverages |
| Website | www |
The Café Procope (), often referred to as Le Procope (), is a historic Parisian café situated on Rue de l'Ancienne Comédie in the 6th arrondissement. Established in 1686 by Sicilian chef Procopio Cutò—also known as Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli or François Procope—it emerged as a prominent gathering place for artists and intellectuals throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Although it is sometimes touted as the oldest continuously operating café, the original establishment ceased operations in 1872; the current restaurant version was inaugurated in 1957, rendering this claim inaccurate.
Background
Procopio Cutò initially trained under an Armenian immigrant named Pascal, who ran a lemonade stand on rue de Tournon. When Pascal relocated to London in 1675, Procopio assumed control of the business and subsequently moved it to its present location in 1686.
History
In 1686, Cutò shifted his kiosk to rue des Fossés-Saint-Germain-des-Prés and transformed it into an elegant venue featuring crystal chandeliers, mirrors on the walls, and marble tables—elements that would become typical in European cafés. The establishment attracted fashionable gentlemen who enjoyed coffee and sorbets served by waiters dressed in Armenian-style attire.
The opening of the nearby Comédie-Française theatre in 1689 drew a diverse crowd including actors, writers, philosophers, revolutionaries, and political figures to the café. It quickly became an intellectual hotspot frequented by notable personalities such as Voltaire, Denis Diderot, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson.
By 1702, Cutò had adopted the French version of his name, François Procope, and officially named his business Café Procope. Throughout the 18th century, the café remained central to Parisian intellectual discourse and social networks that were often under police surveillance. It is reputed to have been the birthplace of the Encyclopédie, conceived by Diderot and d'Alembert.
The clientele was socially diverse but initially excluded women. Literary figures like Alain-René Lesage depicted its atmosphere as a vibrant democratic mix of nobles, chefs, wits, and eccentrics. During the French Revolution, revolutionaries such as Robespierre, Danton, and Marat were among its patrons.
In the 19th century, Café Procope continued to attract intellectuals like Alexander von Humboldt along with writers such as Alfred de Musset and George Sand. It also served as a meeting place for political leaders including Léon Gambetta who discussed social reforms there.
Despite a plaque claiming Café Procope as the world’s oldest café continuously in operation, this assertion is inaccurate. The original venue closed in 1872 before becoming an artists’ club and later a restaurant; it eventually resumed functioning as a café under its historic name. A major restoration between 1988 and 1989 reinstated its 18th-century décor.
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