The 'pause café' - a French institution by vignouse

The 'pause café' - a French institution

'Pause café' could be translated as coffee break, but that would be only a pale interpretation of this French tradition. It's better translated as café break - taking some time out of a busy day in that staple of French society - the Café: part coffee-shop, part bar, part restaurant, part meeting-place and 100% second home.

You may indeed order a coffee, or any other drink that takes your fancy - for this couple, the choice is a beer and a hot chocolate. Whatever your choice of refreshment, you'll probably want to eat some kind of cake or pastry with it, which you'll typically buy from the local Patisserie and take into the café to eat - it's perfectly acceptable to do this.

Once there, you may read the paper (provided), write a letter, hold a business meeting, catch up on your mails or, more likely, catch up on the latest hot gossip. The 'pause café' is practised by all age groups - these two teenage girls are already past-masters at the art.

Image captured this afternoon whilst Mrs S and I were enjoying our own 'pause café' with a vin chaud (spiced mulled red wine).

(This looks more intimate viewed on black.)
Love the beautiful lighting in this! And this sounds like the most wonderful thing to do!
December 21st, 2014  
Very effective casual portrait Richard.
December 21st, 2014  
Nice candid and lighting
December 21st, 2014  
Wonderful capture, beautifully composed and the expressions captured
can't help but fav it Richard
December 21st, 2014  
Neat candid, composition, lighting
December 21st, 2014  
Super candid shot!
December 21st, 2014  
Nice capture. The bokeh or lights almost give it a feel as if they are dreaming.
December 21st, 2014  
They look very relaxed. Sounds like a great place to hang out and take a break. Thank you for sharing this tradition!
December 21st, 2014  
Great shot. Cafes like this one are great for a brief pause in a busy day.
December 21st, 2014  
I love the name Pause Café. Great shot to illustrate your point
December 21st, 2014  
That sounds like Heaven Richard. I can't imagine taking a cake I didn't buy there into any cafe here. The idea sounds great, like there's no pressure to get through and free up the table. The idea spiced mulled red wine sounds blissful
December 21st, 2014  
Love it viewed on black. Great explanation of the name, it sounds a wonderful place to go and people watch. Katharine
December 21st, 2014  
Such a good peak into life in France. Love that they seem oblivious to you.
December 21st, 2014  
@joansmor Surprising really given that I was sitting about 4 feet from the nearest girl, holding a socking great Nikon D600 in front of my face - and I must have taken a dozen photos.
December 21st, 2014  
@vignouse I wondered about that. They were just into there own world I guess. LOL
December 21st, 2014  
love the image and the story - what a wonderful lifestyle
Mulled Wine - hmmmm - a friend of my fathers made a huge pot of mulled wine at my 21st birthday - it was divine and everyone enjoyed it - some of us a little too much hahahahaha
December 21st, 2014  
This is a wonderful scene! Well captured, beautiful candid. Love the b&w treatment.
December 23rd, 2014  
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