Le Cafe

Yes, it's a cliche, but Paris abounds with cliches, they are mostly true to some extent. French cafes are great places to sit and do a spot of people watching (outside chairs are usually facing the street), read, write, meet, or just sit and smoke. Yup, le smoking is still in fashion here big time. The beauty of the cafe is that everyone goes to them, doesn't matter if you are old, young, alone, in a crowd, it's really relaxed, you can sit forever -no one will hassle you- and there is one every 10 metres. The French make great coffee, and it's cheap, but don't go asking for a soy decaf. There is no such thing.