Deuxieme Classe | ドゥーズィエム クラス オフィシャルサイト

The Left Bank — Rive Gauche.
A neighborhood infused with art, culture, and everyday charm.
From her life in Paris, freelance announcer Toko Amemiya invites us into her world through her new series La Vie Rive Gauche.
Join us for the first chapter, where she shares her view of today’s Paris.

— Brasserie Lipp —

Along Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris’s 6th arrondissement, some of the city’s most iconic cafés stand side by side.
You may already know names like Les Deux Magots, which once had a branch inside Bunkamura in Shibuya, or Café de Flore, where Tetsuya Yamashita became the first non-French waiter since its founding — a story that even made Japanese television.

The place I’d like to introduce this time, Brasserie Lipp, might sound a little less familiar to many in Japan than those two.
Yet for people who have lived in Paris for a long time, it’s a beloved favorite — a place they hold dear.
Some well-known Paris-based designers and even a photographer friend of mine, whose work is highly regarded by the French, count themselves among its regulars.

Unlike Les Deux Magots or Café de Flore, which are cafés, Lipp is a brasserie.
The word originally meant a “brewery,” but over time it came to describe a casual dining place with a lively, beer-hall atmosphere—more relaxed and unpretentious than a bistro.

It’s said that Hemingway used to come here whenever he received his writing fees, enjoying his usual dish with a glass of draft beer. Perhaps that sense of “a man’s romance”—the spirit of those who chase dreams in Paris—still lingers in the air.

That might sound masculine, but the interior tells another story. Preserved in its original Art Nouveau style, Brasserie Lipp exudes not only the charm of old Paris but also a feminine, graceful beauty. Its guests range from businessmen at lunch to families, couples, and women meeting for dinner. Many are chic, elegantly dressed Parisians.

When I spot a silver-haired madame dining elegantly in a pastel cashmere turtleneck and a string of pearls, I can’t help but feel delighted. I’ve even heard that Kate Moss once dined here—and it’s easy to imagine how naturally she must have blended into the scene.

One of the most striking features is the waiters’ attire: black vests with bow ties and long white tabliers (aprons) — a rare, traditional uniform even in Paris. Being greeted by someone dressed so properly has a way of making you sit up a little straighter. In today’s world, where comfort and casualness often prevail, it’s a refreshing reminder of how a touch of formality can make a moment feel truly special.
And when one of the waiters throws a slightly heavy-handed joke your way, you can’t help but wonder how best to respond—it’s all part of the charm.

Lately, even young Parisiennes have taken a liking to Lipp, which I find delightful. True style, after all, comes from knowing tradition before you break it—and from being casual with grace.

If you ever find yourself in Paris, I hope you’ll spend some time here and soak in its timeless allure.

BRASSERIE LIPP

◼︎ACCESS
151, boulevard Saint-Germain 75006 Paris
01 45 48 53 91
◼︎WEB SITE
https://www.brasserielipp.fr/en/

Profile | Toko Amemiya

Freelance announcer and essayist.
After six years as a TV announcer, she left TBS and moved to Paris, where she studied French language and Western art history.
From 2016 to 2019, she served as a news anchor for NEWS23.
She is currently active as a writer and also runs her YouTube channel, Toko AMEMIYA in Paris.
Her latest book, MY HOME, MY LIFE. (Kobunsha), offers a glimpse into her personal reflections on life and living.