La Coupole

The story

Opened in 1927, La Coupole remains one of Montparnasse's defining brasseries, its Art Deco interior listed as a historic monument. Service runs continuously from breakfast through dinner, with an American bar for creative cocktails and a terrace for sunny lunches. The kitchen sticks to the great Parisian brasserie repertoire: tiered platters of Breton, Normandy and Charente oysters, skate wing with capers, pepper steak, onion soup au gratin and an Indian lamb curry served since the opening year. Its Alsatian roots show in sauerkrauts cooked to a traditional recipe, including a seafood version with lobster. One Saturday a month, the Paris Follies take over the Dancing in the basement, where burlesque, tap dancing, live music and swing revive the spirit of the Années Folles until the early hours. Seafood platters are also sold to take away.