Café Tournon

Café Tournon, located near the Luxembourg Gardens, opened in the early 20th century and quickly became a hub for literary gatherings, philosophical debates, and artistic exchanges, as well as discreet political lunches owing to its proximity to the Senate. In the 1950s it emerged as a key meeting place for expatriate African-American writers and artists, including Richard Wright and Beauford Delaney. Duke Ellington’s jazz band made its Parisian debut at the Tournon, contributing to the jazz culture that animated Saint-Germain-des-Prés during the postwar years.