The intact soul of the Parisian bistro.
Since 1941, Café Max has been a living part of the Invalides neighbourhood. A traditional bistro, a Resistance refuge, the table of chef Frédéric Vardon — each era has left its mark without erasing those before.
« When tradition becomes an art of living . »
Since 1941
Café Max opened its doors in 1941, at 7 avenue de la Motte-Picquet, steps from Les Invalides. From the start, the bistro became part of neighbourhood life — a place of passage, conversation and Parisian conviviality.
During the Occupation, Café Max became a discreet meeting point for members of the Resistance. The very name echoes 'Max', the alias of Jean Moulin. A history whispered rather than proclaimed, but one the walls have never forgotten.
Since then, the bistro has endured without ever losing its identity. It has seen generations of regulars, travellers and bistro lovers pass through — always the same bar, the same warmth, the same spirit.
Frédéric Vardon at the helm.
Chef Frédéric Vardon took over Café Max with one conviction: to keep the Parisian bistro alive in its most generous form. Trained in prestigious kitchens, he chose to return to essentials — produce, seasons, the right gesture.
His cooking is honest, precise, free of trends. Dishes with character, a wine list conceived as a collector's cellar, and a welcome that makes you want to return.
Cooking is above all a story of encounters: with a product, a winemaker, a regular who comes back.
Warm and Convivial.
28 seats, white tablecloths, red banquettes and an open kitchen. Café Max is the spirit of the Parisian bistro in its most authentic setting — a place where you feel at home the moment you walk in.
Book your table in the heart of Paris.
2 minutes from the Dôme des Invalides and 10 minutes from the Eiffel Tower. We welcome you Monday to Friday.
