La Coupole, The Legendary Parisian Brasserie

19th December 2012

A very good friend of mine made me discover the most famous Brasserie in Paris. A historical place: La Coupole

THE LEGEND OF LA COUPOLE

The moment you walk in the door you enter the legendary history of La coupole.

You see pillars treated in imitation marble and Cubist-inspired mosaics that are listed on the Registry of Historic Monuments. La Coupole is the temple of Art Deco.

“It was brought to life in 1927. Its grand opening was attended by the brightest stars of art, literature and nightlife: artists and their models, socialites and big spenders, easy women and impossible women.” It says in the menu card.

LA COUPOLE TODAY

The atmosphere is very parisian though people from all over the world come to this place to experience it as well.

In 2008, the interior dome was decorated by four artists to reflect La Coupole’s original spirit – nature, women, celebration.”

I tried the famous Lamb / curry dish! Amazing. Especially the serving: An Indian man enters the room with a table for preparations and serves your meal.

You´ll find it at: 102 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 75014 Paris, France

Tel: +33 1 43 20 14 20

The Lamb Curry dish is absolutely delicious…

HISTORY OF THE FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO HAS DINNED AT LA COUPOLE: (Found on the website of La Coupole… quite interesting to scroll down and read before you go there… it will take you on a historical journey…and Im sure it will make you experience the atmosphere at La Coupole differently when visiting… it started back in 1927…)

Aragon Louis (1897-1982)Letters: At the grand opening on 20 December 1927, the writer left the establishment in the week hours in a police van. Nearly a year later, on 6 November 1928, it was at the bar that he met the woman who would become his constant companion, Elsa Triolet.

Ardisson Thierry (1949)Gotha & People: In 1986, on his first date at the bar with the woman who would become his wife, Béatrice, the television host gave her a copy of his latest work, « Louis XX », which she forgot to take with her.

Arron Christine (1973)Sports: “May this good meal make me run even faster.” A few days after writing that sentence in the Guest Book, the European champion in the 100-metre dash won a silver medal in the 4 x 100 relay at the European Championships (1998)..

Baker Joséphine (1906-1975)Entertainment: Immortalised by Victor Robiquet on the pilaster at the back of the dining room on the right, the « banana dancer» caused a stir when she settled in with Chiquita, a female cheetah, or a lion cub.

Beauvoir (de) Simone (1908-1986)Letters: When she was young, the author of « The Second Sex » ordered hot chocolate on the terrace. Later on, she preferred the paper tablecloths of the brasserie to the linen ones in the restaurant admired by Jean-Paul Sartre. La Coupole was the backdrop for one of her novels, « The Guest».Table n°149

Birkin Jane (1946)Entertainment: On Sundays she took lunch in the brasserie with Serge Gainsbourg. Sometimes in the afternoon she would head to the dance hall. Their daughter, Charlotte, has remained loyal to the establishment.Table n°24

Blum Léon (1872-1950)Politics/span>: In September 1936, the chairman of the Front Populaire put the finishing touches to his Luna Park speech in which he justified the non-intervention of his government on behalf of the Spanish Republicans.

Bowles Paul (1910-1999)Letters: In “Memoirs of a Nomad”, the American writer describes his journey in the early 1930s: “The first morning in Paris, we took our breakfast on the terrace at La Coupole.”


Brando Marlon (1924-2004)Entertainment: According to his biographer, Darwin Porter, in 1949 the star caught the eye of Vadim and Christian Marquand: “At La Coupole they noticed an Adonis massaging his bare foot on the table. Moaning in ectasy, like a woman about to orgasm, he kept repeating: ‘Damn that’s good…'”

Breton André (1896-1966)Letters: The patriarch of surrealism slapped the painter De Chirico because he disapproved of the new realist movement.

Camus Albert (1913-1960)Letters: In October 1957, the author of «The Stranger» celebrated his Nobel Prize for Literature.

Chagall Marc (1887-1985)Arts: His most famous work is the ceiling of another dome – at the Paris Opera House. On 7 July 1984, the painter observed his 97th – and final – birthday at La Coupole.
Table n°73

Coelho Paulo (1947)Letters: ” La Coupole: “Love is the Guide”, noted the New Age writer in October 1997. He had just published «Warrior of the Light ».Table n°26

Cohn-Bendit Daniel (1945)Politics: In May 1968, Dany the Red ordered a lobster. When the waiter took too long, he climbed atop the table and shouted to the crowd.

Colucci Michel, dit Coluche (1944-1986)Entertainment: In the early 1970s, the comic wrote part of his play “Thérèse est Triste“ here. In 1971, he met Véronique Kantor, who would become his wife.Table n°128

Dali Salvador (1904-1989)Arts: ” The only difference between me and a fool is that I am not a fool.” At the table of the Spanish surrealist painter, one could spy Amanda Lear, two ocelots and a young panther. One day he threw himself at Brassai to bite his nose. “It was a natural reflex, not a mean gesture.”

Doisneau Robert (1912-1994)Arts: The photographer of Paris haunted its cafés. At La Coupole, from Foujita to Cendrars and Giacometti, he gathered with his many friends.Table n°87

Farmer Mylène (1961)Entertainment: In the 1980s, the singer of”Libertine“ lunched here many times with TV host Jackie to prepare for her appearances on “Platine 45“ and “Jackie Show”.

Fitzgerald Scott (1961)Letters: In the Roaring Twenties, the author of “The Great Gatsby “ took breakfast with his wife Zelda. And with champagne.

Giacometti Albert (1901-1966)Arts

The sculptor arrived around midnight, straight from his neighbouring studio and covered in plaster. He would head home in the week hours with a tablecloth full of his drawings.Tables n°95-96

Girardot Annie(1931-2011)Entertainment: “To La Coupole, the most beautiful and illustrious witness to my youth. All my affection forever.” The following year, the actress – abandoned by the cinema – received the César for best actress for a supporting role in “Les Miserables“ by Claude Lelouch.

Hayworth Rita(1918-1987)Gotha & People: The star dined with her third husband, Prince Aly Khan, whom she wed on 27 May 1949, in Hollywood pomp and splendour in Vallauris.

Hemingway Ernest(1899-1961)Letters: Legend has it that the future author of “Moveable Feast“ liberated La Coupole alongside the Second Armoured Division in 1944.

Higelin Jacques (1940)Entertainment: With actors Pierre Clementi, Jean-Pierre Kalfon, Bulle Ogier and Maria Schneider and singers Sapho and Nico, the singer was one of the pioneers of the underground with the “La Coupole gang” in the 1960s.Table n°70


Jagger Mick (1943)Entertainment: The lead singer of the Rolling Stones was filmed by Japanese television before a platter of oysters.

Joyce James (1882-1941)Letters: At the bar, the author of «Ulysses » lined up his whiskeys.

Kennedy Jackie (1929-1994)Gotha & People: The former First Lady of the United States had lunch with a friend after the assassination of her husband, John F Kennedy; she had not yet married Aristotle Onassis.

Kessel Joseph (1898-1979)Letters: The author of “Belle de Jour “ lined up his glasses then caused a stir by eating them: “You’re overlooking the best part”, the painter Kisling told him, holding out the stem of his glass.

Kerry John (1943)Politics: In 2004, after his unsuccessful White House run, the Democratic candidate dined at Jean-Paul Sartre’s table with his cousin, Brice Lalonde. When he left the brasserie, the dining room gave him a standing ovation.

Kisling Moise (1891-1953)Arts: The painter was awarded the Legion of Honour by the Minister of Fine Arts at La Pergola, in 1950.

Klein Yves (1928-1962)Arts: Famous for his use of blue in his paintings. On 28 April 1958, to commemorate the “Exhibition du Vide “ show, the bartender invented the “Blue Cocktail” : 1 part gin, 1 part Cointreau and 1 part methylene blue. On 21 January 1962, he got married at La Pergola. On 8 October 1961, Yves Klein, François Dufrêne, Raymond Hains and Martial Raysse dissolved the group at tables 10, 11 and 12 of La Coupole.
Table n°10

Matisse Henri (1869-1954)Arts: He came from his workshop at 132, Boulevard du Montparnasse, to spend time with his friend Derain or members of the “Ladder Group”.

Mitterand François (1916-1996)Politics: In November 1995, the former President of the Republic, who had his habits, ordered his last meal. He dined on lamb curry.Table n°82

Piaf Edith (1915-1963)Entertainment: With her coarse voice and scorching comportment, “La Môme” twirled and bewitched many of her admirers and lovers, from Yves Montand to Georges Moustaki.

Picasso Pablo (1881-1973)Arts: The painter met with his friends from the School of Paris: Derain, Léger, Poliakoff and many others. He showed his work at La Coupole on 15 June 1951.

Platini Michel (1955)Sports: “90 minutes of happiness, plus extra time.” Guest Book, 2003.Table n°35 pour l’ex n°10

Rabanne Paco (1933)Arts: On 27 March 2007, the couture designer celebrated his 74th birthday. He was awaiting the end of the world, predicted for 2012.

Ray Man (1890-1976)Sports: “I photographed the way I painted,” he said, “transforming the subject as a painter would.” The American photographer-filmmaker dined with one of his favourite models, Youki.Table n°56

Renaud (1952)Entertainment: In 1973, this street urchin panhandled on the terrace, playing Aristide Bruant’s songs on the accordeon. Two years later, one of the songs on his album “Amoureux de Paname” was called “La Coupole”.Table n°102

Ringer Catherine (1957)Entertainment

“”In Montparnasse, La Coupole, a soft spot, a bit of money, a few oysters and a crazy evening spent dancing the salsa.” That summer – 1997 – the singer of Les Rita Mitsouko sang “Jazz à Saint Germain”.

Sartre Jean-Paul(1905-1980)Letters: The high priest of existentialism sat at a table near the cloakroom where he could observe the young girls.Table n°149

Stone Sharon (1958)Entertainment: She signed the Guest Book in 1996. Onscreen she played the mistress of a university professor in a remake of “Diaboliques”.Table n°90

Trenet Charles (1913-2001)Entertainment: La Coupole, where I spent the best moments of my young life as a student,” wrote the singer of “La Mer”..