Chapter 9: The Postwar Era - Existentialism and Reconstruction

The Liberation brought explosion of café life. Coffee flowed again (thanks to American supplies), and cafés reclaimed their terraces. But the postwar café was different—marked by the trauma of occupation and the urgency of reconstruction.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés became the world capital of existentialism, with Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots as its twin temples. Sartre and de Beauvoir held daily court, surrounded by disciples and tourists hoping to glimpse the philosophers in their natural habitat. The caves (basements) of nearby cafés hosted jazz performances by American musicians like Miles Davis and French pioneers like Boris Vian.

This period also saw the democratization of café culture. The economic boom of the Trente Glorieuses (thirty glorious years of postwar growth) meant more French people could afford regular café visits. The installation of espresso machines, flipper (pinball) games, and baby-foot (foosball) tables attracted younger clientele.