Les Deux Magots, Literary coffeehouse in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris, France.
Les Deux Magots is a café and restaurant on Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. The space features wood paneling, red leather benches along the walls, marble tables, and a terrace facing the church and square.
A silk-lingerie and novelty shop called Les Deux Magots, named after Sewrin's 1813 play Les Deux Magots de la Chine, moved from 23 Rue de Buci to this spot in 1873. In 1884 it became a café and liquoriste, keeping the name. Auguste Boulay bought it for 400,000 francs in 1914, and the Art Deco decor dates from the 1920s, when the Surrealists gathered here.
The name comes from two Chinese figurines, called magots, that stood on the sign of the silk-lingerie shop at 23 Rue de Buci and moved here in 1873; since the café opened they have sat on the central pillar inside. The shop took the name from Sewrin's 1813 play Les Deux Magots de la Chine. Waiters still wear the black waistcoat and white apron of the Parisian café and serve from trays.
The coffeehouse opens daily in the early morning and closes after midnight, with continuous service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The terrace offers good views but can get crowded in summer, especially during afternoon and evening hours.
A literary prize has been awarded here annually since 1933, honoring authors who take new directions in French literature. The jury meets directly in the coffeehouse to choose winners, continuing a tradition that ties the place to literary life.
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