A Legendary Brasserie in Paris: Our Terrace All Summer Long
There are some places you don’t so much discover as rediscover. La Brasserie des Arts is one of them: an Art Nouveau dining room at the end of a pedestrian street in Saint-Germain, a terrace set among the cobblestones, and service that never stops between 11 a.m. and 1 a.m. It will remain open this summer.
The facade and terrace of the Brasserie des Arts, on Rue Saint-André-des-Arts, in Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th arrondissement of Paris)
What is a legendary brewery?
The term is used everywhere and rarely deserved. A legendary brasserie isn’t just an old brasserie, nor is it an expensive one. It’s a place where you can walk in without a reservation, eat whenever you want, and where the decor hasn’t been redone to look like something else.
Three things set it apart. A dining room steeped in history that preserves its legacy. A traditional brasserie menu prepared with care, without reinventing it every season. And a pace that follows the rhythm of the street rather than that of the service.
In Saint-Germain-des-Prés, this trio has become a rarity. Many establishments have kept their original facades but changed everything else.
Where is the Brasserie des Arts located?
At 28 Rue Saint-André-des-Arts, in the 6th arrondissement. The street is entirely pedestrian-only; it connects the Odéon intersection to Place Saint-Michel, and you walk along it at a leisurely pace.
That’s what makes all the difference for a terrace. No cars, no traffic lights, no buses pulling away in the middle of a conversation. The only sound is that of the street passing by. Notre-Dame is a ten-minute walk away, and the Pont-Neuf is just a little farther.
The patio, all summer long
It opens directly onto the cobblestone street, with no barrier or raised platform. In August, the neighborhood empties of its regulars, and the street regains a leisurely pace it doesn’t have the rest of the year: tables open up, you can sit down without having to make a reservation three weeks in advance, and the afternoon drags on without anyone coming to ask you to leave.
At the end of the day, the light streams down the street and illuminates the tables until around 7:00 p.m. That’s the best time of day, and it’s also the quietest.
The terrace is open every day throughout the summer, during the same hours as the dining room.
What do people eat at a typical Parisian brasserie?
Homemade French brasserie cuisine. The meats come from Maison Lesage, and the menu is created by our chef. She keeps the classics you’d expect from a traditional brasserie on the menu year-round, because a dish that people come specifically for can’t change every three months.
The cordon bleu is one of those dishes. Chicken, breaded to a golden crisp right before serving, and a generous helping of Cantal cheese sauce that coats the breading and the melt-in-your-mouth center. It’s never been highlighted, and yet it’s the dish our customers mention most often in their reviews. It’s meant to be shared—or not.
Cordon bleu topped with Cantal cheese sauce
On weekends, the restaurant also serves brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
At the bar, our bartender curates the cocktail menu, featuring his own original creations.
What time should I come?
The restaurant is open continuously, every day, from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.—and until 2 a.m. on Sundays. So there are no restricted hours.
Mornings and lunchtime — coffee, lunch specials, outdoor seating.
The afternoon—it’s the quietest time of the summer, and the dining room is still open.
Starting at 6 p.m.—cocktail hour, and the patio fills up.
In the evening—dinner, cocktails, and a bar open until 1 a.m., 2 a.m. on Sundays.
How to Get to the Brasserie des Arts
28 rue Saint-André-des-Arts, 75006 Paris. Metro: Odéon (lines 4, 10), Saint-Michel (line 4), Cluny–La Sorbonne (line 10); RER B and C: Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame. Reservations can be made online or by phone at 01 81 70 45 70.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Brasserie des Arts have an outdoor seating area? Yes, on Rue Saint-André-des-Arts, which is a pedestrian street. It’s open all summer, every day, during the same hours as the restaurant.
Do I need to make a reservation? It's recommended in the evenings and on weekends. During the day, the restaurant is open all day, so you can come in without a reservation.
What time is the latest we can come? The bar stays open until 1 a.m. Monday through Friday, and until 2 a.m. on Sundays.
What is the closest brasserie to Notre-Dame? The Brasserie des Arts is about a ten-minute walk away, on the Left Bank.
Is the brasserie open in August? Yes, every day, including the patio.
