Famous Cafés Throughout History
What's the most famous café in the world? Tough question. When it comes to things like this, there will always be a significant element of personal subjectivity in the answer. But chances are, an answer popped into your head at the question. The simple fact is that the world is full of cafés/coffeehouses famous for different reasons, and in this blog, I want to share some of their stories.
Read on to find out more and to see how many you've been to!
What Makes a Café Memorable or Famous?
The first thing that might spring to mind is the coffee. However, as I've experienced many a coffee that was memorable for all the wrong reasons, it's not the important point it should be. One such coffee that springs to mind involves a major chain in the centre of Dublin (who will remain nameless), when my Australian mother-in-law asked for a latte, the barista proceeded to pour espresso into a milk jug, poured cold milk on top, and then put the jug under the steam wand to heat up. True story. The latte wasn't even cheap, but the look on Julie's face was priceless.
So if not the coffee, then what? Location and decor can certainly be memorable, as can an establishment's age. With age, of course, comes a potential long list of impressive, former clientele. Age, however, is notoriously difficult to confirm, and a quick search of the term "world's oldest café" will give you numerous places claiming to be such.
Then you can have cafes that happen to be in the right place at the right time. They might only be famous for one thing, but that thing is so well-known that they deserve a spot in this blog. So essentially, this is a list of cafés that may or may not be old, may or may not be renowned for one thing, may or may not have famous clientele and may or may not have good coffee.
A Brief Coffeehouse History
The conversation about coffeehouses cannot but start in Yemen. As you may know, the coffee plant originated in the highlands of Western Ethiopia, and its discovery is attributed to a shepherd named Kaldi and his goats, if you believe such stories. What's undeniable is its popularity spread northwards through Ethiopia and across the Red Sea to Yemen, either by means of trade or by some good old-fashioned pillaging. Here, you'll find another origin story about a Yemeni mystic and healer named Sheikh Omar, who, while apparently exiled by his tribe, survived by eating the berries off a bush he discovered. But because the cherry fruit was minimal, he roasted the seeds, boiled them, and the rest is history, if you believe such stories.
Yemen
Either way, Yemen became the first place to cultivate the coffee plant. Thanks in part to Sufi monks, who quickly noticed its benefits in keeping them awake during long nights of prayer. The reason Ethiopians weren't the first to cultivate the plant was for the simple reason that it already literally grew on trees there! At this time, Yemen was part of the Ottoman Empire, which fueled coffee's spread to places like Cairo, Constantinople (now Istanbul), and beyond, mainly from the port city of Mocha; hence, the word Mocha remains synonymous with coffee to this day.
Yemen remains a producer of excellent coffee, but does so in very low volume. Unfortunately, it has a long and sad history of suffering through conflict, the fall of empires, and the civil wars that can fill the vacuum left by such things. Because of this, there is no real record of their coffeehouses, and no one place claims to be the oldest. But the first ever coffeehouses/cafés were undoubtedly in Yemen. And for now, we can only hope for a peaceful future and a chance for the people of Yemen to showcase this amazing place in the history of coffee.
Café Riche, Cairo
When it comes to bragging about history, few places can throw their weight about quite like Egypt. As mentioned above, as coffee spread outwards from Yemen, one of the first places it took hold in was Cairo. And, when it comes to famous cafés, one place stands above them all: Café Riche.
Café Riche (Arabic: مقهى ريش) first opened in 1908, meaning it's nowhere near the oldest café. That title goes to El-Fishawy Café (Arabic: مقهى الفيشاوي), which dates back to around 1771. But Café Riche takes the title of fame due to constantly popping up in modern political and social change. Initially owned by a Frenchman named Henry Recine (hence the name Riche), it was later sold to Greek businessman and art lover Michael Nicoapolits, who added a theatre which would later host one of the most famous names in Egyptian and Arabic music, Umm Kolthoum. Naguib Mahfouz, a Nobel Prize-winning author, also used this space to hold meetings and even mentions the café in several of his books.
Revolutions & Kings
In 1919, the café's basement was used as a meeting place during the Revolution against British rule. I'd hazard a guess that quite a few cafés around the world can claim to have held secret meetings against British rule at one point or another, but that's a story for another day! During this time, the basement was also used to print revolutionary pamphlets. Amazingly, this remained a secret until 1992, when an earthquake hit Cairo. During the restoration of the damaged café, a small door was discovered leading to an old storeroom that contained the printing press.
According to local lore, the then Egyptian King Farouk I met his second wife, Nermin, there. However, the café was also used as a meeting place for the people who would overthrow him, namely the first two presidents of the new Egyptian Republic, General Muhammad Naguib and Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser. So, swings and rounabouts for King Farouk, I guess. Ironically, the third president and former customer, Anwar Sadat, ordered the café closed for a short period after he became president in 1971. Apparently, he was afraid it could be used as a place for detractors to conspire against him. I wonder where on earth he got that idea from?
Café Riche found itself at the centre of uprisings again in 2011 during the Arab Spring and the overthrow of President Mubarak, with the basement once more used as a place for secret meetings. It is still open to this day and retains its wooden front and the early 1900s charm of the original café. However, it has got some hilariously bad online reviews, so whether or not you go inside is your call.
Le Procope, Paris
When it comes to a list of famous former patrons of any café, few will rank anywhere near Le Procope, Paris. This is helped by the fact that it's also the oldest café on this list. Initially opened in 1686, it claims to be the oldest cafe in Paris and, in some circles, the oldest continuously operating cafe in the world! However, the original cafe closed in 1872, and the space was used in various ways before reopening in 1957, so only an 85-year gap in the claim there. Queen's Lane Coffee House in Oxford, England, also lays claim to this title, first opening in 1654! However, they've only been in their current building since 1970! Groovy.
You can see now why "age" hasn't been a factor in my attributing fame to places on this list. And in defence of Le Procope, Paris did go through quite a bit during 1872 and 1957! But, no matter how long it was closed for and why, I think you'll agree that the following list of former patrons is fairly impressive.
Former Customers
- Voltaire: Voltaire was a key figure of the French Enlightenment, known as a writer, philosopher, and satirist, and one of the first internationally successful authors. He championed freedom of speech, religion, and the separation of church and State, influencing both the French and American Revolutions. He is buried at the Panthéon in Paris and was a frequent patron of Le Procope café, where he enjoyed chocolate in his coffee.
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau: A Swiss-born philosopher, writer, and another key figure of the Enlightenment. His works, especially The Social Contract and Émile, had a significant influence on modern political thought, inspiring democratic movements including both the French and American revolutions. He is also buried at the Panthéon.
- Denis Diderot & Jean le Rond d'Alembert: Co-creators of the Encyclopédie, a groundbreaking 18th-century work that ambitiously tried to collect all human knowledge, championed reason, challenged authority, and spread Enlightenment ideas. Essentially, it was an early paper version of the internet that just included the clever stuff.
- Benjamin Franklin: One of the founding fathers of America and the face that appears on the U.S. $100 bill. Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution and served as a diplomat in France during the American Revolution, during which time he frequented Le Procope. He apparently once said, "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy". But it turns out he was probably talking about wine. Perhaps he actually meant to say coffee.
- John Paul Jones: British-American naval officer, often referred to as the "Father of the American Navy". Amazingly, also played the bass in Led Zeppelin. But, it's possible that's a different guy.
- Thomas Jefferson: Founding Father of America, primary author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States. He was also the first-ever U.S. Secretary of State under George Washington and the second-ever vice president. He also served as Minister to France and lived in Paris for 5 years, during which time he frequented Le Procope.
- Cordeliers Club: This populist political club, formed during the French Revolution, held many of its meetings there and included some of the most important people of this time, such as Georges Danton and Jean-Paul Marat. Although not a member, another huge figure of the Revolution, Maximilien Robespierre, used to meet the group at Le Procope. It is also said that the Phrygian cap, the symbol of the Revolution and the inspiration for the mascot of the Paris Olympics 2024, was first displayed at Le Procope.
- Napoleon Bonaparte: Where to start with this guy!? Perhaps one of the most famous historical figures of all time. French general who rose to prominence in the political vacuum left after the Revolution. He reunited the country and decided to kindly spread the revolutionary ideas by invading as many countries as possible. Kind of missed the point of abolishing the monarchy, though, by later declaring himself Emperor of France. He was also King of Italy for nine years! Anyway, he was also a former customer at Le Procope, where one of his iconic bicorne hats is on display, apparently left by himself as collateral for a bill.
- Victor Hugo: One of the most prominent French writers of all time, whose works include The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables. Not the Disney movie and the musical, but the stories that inspired them. Also buried at the Panthéon.
There are more by the way, including Honoré de Balzac, George Sand and Alexander von Humboldt, but, that's probably enough about Le Procope for now.
The Elephant House, Edinburgh
The Elephant House certainly ticks the box when it comes to location, situated in the beautiful old town of Edinburgh, Scotland, with spectacular views of Edinburgh Castle from the back room. It can also claim a decent list of customers, including writers, actors, comedians, and musicians, thanks in large part to Edinburgh's world-famous fringe festival held every August. But it is what one of these former clients created while enjoying a coffee there that gets its place on this list.
In 1993, Joanne Rowling arrived in Edinburgh as a recently divorced, single mother after a horrific marriage in Portugal. With her, she had her daughter and a draft manuscript about a wizard named Harry. Joanne would go to cafés to work on her story and found the ideal place was the Elephant House. This was for a couple of reasons; firstly, they offered free refills on filter coffee, a handy perk for a writer with very little money. And secondly, those views of the castle from the back room were inspirational. And when you see it, you can tell you're clearly looking at the inspiration for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The Birthplace of Harry Potter
It was in the backroom of the Elephant House that Joanne Rowling, better now known as JK Rowling if you hadn't figured it out yet, completed the first novel of Harry Potter. Other cafés claim her as a customer during this period, but it's the Elephant House that proudly proclaims itself "the Birthplace of Harry Potter". JK herself has endorsed this claim and allowed its use, on the condition that they take down a photo they had in their front window of her dressed like a wizard. Seems like a good deal to me!
The café has become a pilgrimage site for fans of the book, as it overlooks the Greyfriars graveyard, with headstones bearing the names Thomas Riddle, McGonagall, Potter, Black, and Moodie, all very familiar to fans of the books. Unfortunately, in August of 2021, the café was severely damaged in a fire and has remained closed ever since due to structural damage and complex litigation over ownership. However, its reopening is imminent, with early 2026 looking likely. Whether or not the refurbished café will retain any of the charm of the original will wait to be seen. But the views of Edinburgh Castle from the backroom will remain as inspirational as ever.
Buena Vista Cafe, San Francisco
The story of the Buena Vista Cafe is similar to that of the Elephant House in that it is famous for one thing, but a really big thing at that. But the story does not begin in San Francisco or in the magical world of Hogwarts, but in a place just as beautiful and mystical as both: Foynes, Co. Limerick.
In the 1940s, Foynes was a critical, transatlantic hub for air travel, serving as a vital refuelling stop for flights from North America to Europe. On a wet and windy night in 1943, a Pan Am flight was forced to turn back due to the weather. As the passengers disembarked and made their way across the tarmac, they arrived back in the terminal they had left not long before, cold and sodden. Joe Sheridan, the head chef at the terminal restaurant, decided to make them something to warm their spirits. And in classic Irish style, this involved whiskey.
But as it was for a group of cosmopolitan travellers, he had to get creative. And so, he brewed some coffee, added some sugar and a good splash of whiskey and topped it with fresh, whipped cream. As the group enjoyed this unknown concoction, one of the group members apparently said, "This coffee is fantastic! Is it Brazilian?" to which Joe replied, "No, that's Irish coffee".
From Limerick to San Francisco
So, how do we get to San Francisco? Well, Irish Coffee became a favourite staple for people who travelled through Foynes Airport. In 1952, a travel writer named Stanton Delaplane, who had travelled through Foynes many times before, arrived in San Francisco determined to recreate this drink at home. He convinced the owner of the Buena Vista Cafe, Jack Koeppler, to add it to his menu and offered to help perfect the recipe. This led to a night of heavy thinking and trying to master the cream's consistency so it would rest on top of the coffee without mixing. Once they achieved this, they added the hot cocktail to the café's menu, resulting in instant success.
So even though the Buena Vista Cafe isn't the birthplace of the Irish Coffee, it is undoubtedly the springboard to the global success it is known for today. On top of that, Foynes was never a café. It's not even an airport anymore. Mind you, there is a good aviation museum there nowadays, where you can get an Irish Coffee.
FiXX Coffeehouse, Dublin
You'll have to allow us to finish with some shameless self-promoting. Because if you can't talk about yourself in a blog, you are writing yourself, what's the point in any of this!
FiXX Coffeehouse opened in 2010 on Dawson Street, Dublin. Our flagship, 90-seat coffeehouse, quickly became a popular part of the vibrant café scene of Dublin and was only a stone's throw away from Dáil Éireann. That's the house of government in Ireland, by the way. I also don't encourage the throwing of stones at the Dáil, either, by the way! This ensured a steady stream of very well-known politicians, including the former President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins and former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar (Taoiseach is what the Prime Minister is called in Ireland, by the way).
NAMA
2010 was a busy time to be a politician and a hell of a time to open a café. The Global financial crisis of 2008 severely impacted Ireland's economy, prompting the country to seek a bailout from the EU and IMF, totalling €90 billion. As part of the government's response to the crisis, it established NAMA (National Asset Management Agency), tasked with acquiring problematic property-related loans from banks and managing these assets to achieve the best economic return for the State.
In 2016, NAMA became our landlord, and the building was earmarked for development, meaning we had to vacate the premises. The plan was always to return to the revamped new building. However, once it came to renegotiating rents, it became clear they had increased dramatically (can you imagine such a thing happening in Dublin!). Unfortunately, our pockets were not as deep as others vying for the same location, and so, with a heavy heart, FiXX Coffeehouse was consigned to the history books.
But the whole experience was priceless in the understanding it gave us of running a successful café under trying circumstances. And if you ever need a FiXX for your own café in Ireland, you can always tap into our pool of knowledge on the challenges and rewards of being part of the hospitality sector.
In Conclusion
The things that define the most famous anything will always be fluid and subjective. Lists like these will always be a living, breathing thing, and it's hard for any one place to claim the title of best. It's possible that someday there will be a universally accepted most famous café, but it's also possible that the place hasn't opened yet.
Running and owning a café is a challenging thing, and it takes the support of good people, like yourself. So, when and where you can, go out and support your local café, and hopefully you'll discover something truly memorable. Fingers crossed, for all of the right reasons.
Thanks for reading.
Kevin
