Vintage Photos of Paris Cafes in the 1930s That Reveal the City’s Timeless Charm and Social Culture

As we explored in a previous article, the cafes of Paris in the 1920s, these establishments were central to the city’s artistic and intellectual life. Entering the 1930s, Parisian cafes continued to be vibrant social hubs, but the decade brought its own unique set of cultural and historical circumstances that influenced cafe culture.

The 1930s were marked globally by the Great Depression, and Paris was not immune to its effects. Economic hardships led to changes in the cafe scene. While some cafes struggled to maintain their previous level of business, others saw an increase in patronage as cafes remained relatively affordable places for leisure and socialization. This era saw a slight shift in clientele, with a broader cross-section of society frequenting these establishments.

Political Discussions and Intellectual Debates

The 1930s were a politically charged period, and Parisian cafes mirrored this shift. Cafes like La Coupole and La Closerie des Lilas, which had been popular among artists and writers, began to attract political activists and intellectuals. Discussions in cafes often centered around the rise of fascism in Europe, the Spanish Civil War, and the looming threat of another global conflict. These conversations marked a departure from the more artistically focused discourse of the 1920s.

Continued Legacy of Artistic and Literary Figures

Despite the growing focus on politics, cafes continued to be gathering places for artists and writers. Figures like Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Henry Miller were regulars in some of these establishments. Their presence maintained a connection to the artistic legacy of the previous decade, even as the nature of the conversations and the atmosphere of the cafes began to change.

Architectural Evolution and Atmosphere

The architectural and interior styles of Parisian cafes in the 1930s evolved from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco influences of the 1920s. There was a movement towards more modernist designs, reflecting broader changes in art and architecture. However, many cafes retained their traditional decor, providing a sense of continuity amidst a rapidly changing world.

#1 Cafe Terrace in Paris, 1930

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#2 Fouquet’s Restaurant on the Corner of Champs Elysées and George V, Paris, France, 1930s

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#3 Elderly European Couple Enjoying Beer at a Sidewalk Cafe in Paris, 1930s

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#4 Fishermen and Barge Men at a Cafe in France, 1935

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#5 Cafe De La Paix with Pedestrians and Patrons, Paris, 1930s

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#6 Cafe Meeting in Honor of a Fireman, France, 1935

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#7 Composer Maurice Ravel at a Cafe Terrace in Paris, 1930

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#8 Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier at a Parisian Cafe, 1930

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#9 Jockey Café, a Popular Spot for American Art Students in Montparnasse, Paris, 1930

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#10 Les Portiques des Champs-Elysées, Paris, 1930

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#11 Exterior of ‘Le Berry’ Cafe in Paris, 1930

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#12 Café Des Arcades Facade, Place de la Bourse, Paris, 1930

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#13 Patrons at Café-Bar Léon, Paris, 1930

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#14 Patrons at a Parisian Cafe Terrace, 1930

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#15 Parisian Cafe Terrace Scene, 1930

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#16 Diners at Cafe Le Dome, Montparnasse, Paris, 1930s

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#17 Sidewalk Cafe on the Champs-Elysees, Paris, Undated

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#18 Cafe de la Paix in Bright Sunlight, Champs Elysee, Paris, Undated

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#19 Cafe de la Paix with Patrons During a Rain Break, Paris, 1930s

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#20 Cafe De La Paix at Place De L’Opera, Paris, 1930

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#21 Cafe Le Cheval Blanc on Rue De Lappe near Bastille, Paris, 1930

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#22 The Little Coffee House at the Bois De Boulogne, Paris, 1936

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#23 Cafe Le Monaco in Paris, 1930

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#24 Aftermath of a Truck Collision with a Cafe in Colombes, France, 1930

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#25 Overturned Chairs and Broken Windows After a Clash at a Parisian Cafe, 6 March 1930

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#26 French National Holiday Celebration in Paris, 14 July 1930

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#27 Cafe De Berri on Avenue Des Champs-Elysees, Paris, 1931

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#28 People at a Pavement Cafe, Paris, 1931

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#29 Patrons at a Renowned Parisian Pavement Cafe, 1931

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#30 Cafe ‘Chez Jenny’ at the Colonial Exposition, Paris, 1931

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#31 Cafe Terrace at the Colonial Exposition, Paris, May 1931

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#32 Cleaning Cafe Tables in the Boulevards, Paris, 1932

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#33 Preparing the Tuilerie Gardens Cafe for Reopening, Paris, 1932

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#34 British Fascist John Amery with Fiancée Una Wing at a Paris Cafe, 24 August 1932

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#35 Café de la Rotonde, Paris, France, 1933

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#36 Café de la Rotonde, Paris, France, 1933

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#37 Terrace of ‘Le Colisée’ Cafe, Champs-Elysées, Paris, France, 1933

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#38 Refugee Field-Workers at a Café in Paris, World War I Era, 1914-1918, Photographed in 1933

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#39 Cafe Terrace in Winter, Paris, January 1933

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#40 Terrace of Cafe Weber, Rue Royale, Paris, January 1933

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#41 Customers at Cafe de Paris, Monte Carlo, Near the Casino, Circa 1934

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#42 Tourists at a Cafe Terrace, Eiffel Tower, Paris, France, 1934

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#43 Deserted Cafe de la Paix Terrace, Paris, France, February 1934

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#44 Bustling Cafe Terrace, Champs Elysées, Paris, 2 April 1934

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#45 Crowded Cafe Terrace, Champs Elysées, Paris, 2 April 1934

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#46 Street Cafe Crowded on Easter Sunday, Champs Elysées, Paris, 3 April 1934

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#47 Le Dome Cafe, Montparnasse, Paris, Postcard, Circa 1935

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#48 Paris Cafe, Circa 1935

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#49 Cafe Terrace, Champs-Elysees, Paris, 1935

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#50 Pam Pam Open Air Cafe and Russian Bookshop, Avenue des Champs-Elysees, Paris, Circa 1935

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#51 Cafe ‘Le Triomphe’ Terrace, Avenue des Champs Elysées, Paris, 1935

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#52 Cafe ‘Le Triomphe’ Terrace, Avenue des Champs Elysées, Paris, 1935

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#53 ‘La Rotisserie du Cardinal’ Cafe Closure, Paris Boulevards, 2 February 1935

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#54 Cafe in the Halles District, Paris, 1936

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#55 Typical Street Cafe, Paris, 11 September 1936

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#56 Parisian Restaurant and Cafe Employees Strike, 3 October 1936

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#57 Cafe de la Paix, Paris, 1937

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#58 Heated and Covered Cafe Terrace, Paris, April 1937

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#59 Students at Cafe Capulade, Paris, 18 March 1938 (Photographer: Malina)

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#60 Crowded Cafe Terraces Near La Madeleine, Paris, 1938

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#61 Cafe Patrons Discussing War News, Paris, Late 1930s

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#62 French and British Troops Toasting Victory, Paris Cafe, Circa 1939

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#63 Paris Sidewalk Cafe Scene, Late 1930s

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