Dinner in Saint-Germain-des-Prés: The Perfect Evening Itinerary

Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the most walkable evening in Paris — if you know the order of operations. Here it is, hour by hour, from a house that's watched these evenings unfold since 1930.

6:30pm — Golden hour

Place de Furstemberg (the prettiest square in Paris at dusk), the art galleries of rue de Seine, the historic bookshops. Saint-Germain warms up slowly — let it.

8pm — Dinner where the locals are

Rue des Grands Augustins, number 26-28 : a 1930 dining room, frog legs or escargots, a bottle from one of the largest wine lists in Paris, and the Picasso story for table conversation.

10:30pm — Jazz or the Seine

The jazz caves of Saint-Michel are five minutes away ; the riverbanks facing Île de la Cité are two. Both are the right answer. Book dinner