This is the part that I tell you it wasn’t as dreamy as it looks. The sidewalk overlooking the park was crowded, so we got placed around the corner facing a building, but could still peek at the park if we looked to the side. At least it was quieter than the main sidewalk. But the sun glared in our eyes and the wind blew bits of dust onto our table. And still, it felt perfect to me.
Sat on a Parisian bistro chair under the deep red awning in front of the old period typeface, I was transported from Philly to Paris for less than a plane ticket. Apparently the restauranteur had sent his designer to Paris four times to get it just right!
Parc isn’t the kind of cafe where you pull out a laptop and hack away with eyes glazed over, but where you sip on coffee and chat with your favourite people. Ann, Kat, Steph, and I each ordered a coffee, and Steph and I also split a creme brulee. To our surprise, our server also brought over a complimentary bread basket of cranberry walnut bread, sourdough, and baguettes. The cranberry walnut bread was my favourite! So good!
This was last month, but I returned again last week — this time alone. I took myself there bright and early with a book in hand. The main sidewalk had plenty of space and people were sat at every other table, rather than back to back like the first time I visited. I settled into my own with a cappuccino and two sugars, exactly how I took it in Paris, and watched the city wake up.
227 S 18th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 545-2262
PS: 2 days in paris, walnut street cafe, j’aime french bakery, ladurée, caffè florian