Ernest Hemingway is considered one of the most influential American writers of all time. Many of his famous books, however, were written abroad in Paris, France, or inspired by his experiences there, including The Sun Also Rises (1926), A Farewell to Arms (1929), and A Moveable Feast (1964).
Luckily for American writers and bibliophiles, many of the Parisian haunts where Hemingway’s fountain pen touched upon topics like war, love, and existentialism are still around and accessible for travelers to visit.
“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man,” Hemingway once wrote, “then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”
But even if you’re only in the City of Light for a few days, travel back in time, feast your eyes, and dig in with our guide to Hemingway’s Paris. Bon appétit!
Image Credit: Getty Images, Alexander Spatari. Image Location: Rue de l'Ancienne Comédie, Latin Quarter, Paris
Hemingway's Paris | Things to do
At what bar did Hemingway hang out in Paris?
Ernest Hemingway was known to be perhaps a little too fond of drinking, and there were a couple of Parisian bars where he was considered a regular.
Bar Hemingway
One of the most famous bars Hemingway would frequent is inside the Ritz Paris hotel, located in the Place Vendôme, which has since been renamed Bar Hemingway in the author’s honor.
Apparently when the hotel first opened, it didn’t have a bar, but American creatives like Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Cole Porter who were fleeing Prohibition back home, inspired the hotel’s owner, César Ritz, to open a men-only bar in 1921.
Today Bar Hemingway is open to everybody. To really channel Hemingway, order a single malt whiskey and raise your glass to one of the many portraits of him decorating the establishment’s wall.
Image Credit: © Vincent Leroux. Image Location: Bar Hemingway, Ritz Paris Hotel, Paris
Harry’s New York Bar
The other bar Hemingway frequented was Harry’s New York Bar, perhaps because it reminded him of the good ol’ USA. Located near the Paris Opera since 1911, the bar was visited by many famous expats living in France’s capital city.
Stop in for a refreshing French 75, a tart and boozy Sidecar, or a savory Bloody Mary, all of which were allegedly invented at Harry’s.
At what cafés did Hemingway hang out in Paris?
When Hemingway wasn’t drinking booze, he was sipping on tea and coffee in cafés all around the city.
Les Deux Magots
Les Deux Magots has been a favorite spot for prestigious creatives and thinkers—including Hemingway of course—like Jean-Paul Sartre, Guillaume Apollinaire, Simone de Beauvoir, and Louis Aragon, to name a handful.
Grab a chair outside the establishment, order a coffee or cocktail, and bring along a copy of Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, which features the café in the story.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Julian Elliott Photography. Image Location: Les Deux Magots, St-Germain-des-Prés, Paris
Café de Flore
Café de Flore was also a favorite of Hemingway’s and is also a popular spot for today’s celebrities.
Stop by the eatery located in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood for some ice cream or crème brûlée. You might just see Robert De Niro or Quentin Tarantino—both have previously been spotted at the café.
At what bookstore did Hemingway hang out in Paris?
Shakespeare and Company bookstore was a haven for expat legends like Hemingway, Joyce, Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, T.S. Eliot, and Ezra Pound, in addition to being a favorite place for leading French writers at the time. Hemingway frequented the original, which was located on 12 rue de l'Odéon and which shut down in 1941. But another incarnation has been on the banks of the Seine opposite Notre-Dame since 1951. Peruse the novels there and grab one of their iconic totes as a souvenir.
Where did Hemingway live in Paris?
Ernest Hemingway first lived in the Latin Quarter neighborhood of Paris. He was said to have loved his street Rue Mouffetard for the bountiful outdoor markets, which are still around. We recommend visiting in the morning, since they are closed at lunchtime.
Eventually, the author moved to the wealthy Montparnasse neighborhood, which became an artistic hub full of big artists like Pablo Picasso and writers like Joyce. The Closerie des Lilas restaurant in the 6th arrondissement is where Hemingway wrote most of The Sun Also Rises. Go there for a drink and lounge on the terrace while having an existential crisis, and you will be quintessentially Hemingway.
Image Credit: Getty Images, jenifoto. Image Location: Latin Quarter, Paris
How long did Hemingway stay in Paris?
Hemingway lived in Paris on and off from 1921 to 1928, though the city was etched into his heart—and his books—for the remainder of his life.
Feeling inspired?
If you want to have a taste of Hemingway's 'moveable feast' for yourself, download the Trainline App and grab your train tickets to France's capital. If you're looking for even more nightlife options in the City of Light, check out our article on the best speakeasy and secret bars in Paris. And for more Parisian literary inspiration, see our guide to the best books about Paris.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Annik Susemihl