Don’t come to Café Marly expecting to be dazzled by the food, although it’s satisfying enough. Come because of where it is, on the Cour Napoleon of the incomparable, Musee du Louvre.

The omelettes are lovely, salads and pasta dishes re-invigorate the weary, over-stimulated museum-goer. Owned by the Costes brothers, the café is definitely on the hip parade.

Chill here. Let’s talk history. In 1190, King Phillipe-Auguste commenced the building of a great wall, to be fitted with towers and gates, in order to protect the city. Outside this wall, a fortress was built, called The Louvre. It served as a royal treasury, a prison, an arsenal, and then in the 1300’s became the residence of King Charles V. Art was amassed, plundered, the Louvre underwent expansions and destruction, survived neglect and fire, and in 1793, after the French Revolution, its collections were opened to the public for the first time.

Take it all in. The palace, the I.M. Pei Pyramid, the significance of the place. Linger over a beverage, people-watch, read your Guide to the Louvre, plan the rest of your day.

Get a grip, man. You are sitting outside the Richelieu Wing of the Musee du Louvre and Napoleon III’s apartments.
Take a photo. Archive the moment.

LE CAFE MARLY
93 Rue de Rivoli
1st Arrondisement
Metro: Palais-Royal Musee du Louvre