“After 11 years of absence, what a beautiful day to renew the iconic Race des Cafés,” read a message from mayor Anne Hidalgo on Instagram.
Clocking in at 13 minutes, La Contrescarpe’s Samy Lamrous took the gold medal in the men’s category, while Pauline Van Wymeersch of Café Le Petit Pont took the gold medal in the women’s category, crossing the finish line in a little over 14 minutes.
Both winners were awarded a voucher for a night at a hotel and spa.
Other famous Parisian restaurants and cafés that competed included Bouillon Chartier, Le Train Bleu, La Tour d’Argent, Le Procope, Brasserie Lipp and Harry’s New York Bar.
The event was organised by the city, municipal water company Eau de Paris and hospitality trade unions, reviving a tradition that dates back to 1914.
It was launched to promote Parisian cafés and the skills of its staff. Previously the race has been run over six miles with participants balancing full-sized water pitchers or bottles of wine.
The event has since been exported to more than dozens of cities around the world including London, Berlin, Brussels, Buenos Aires and Tokyo.
“It’s the spirit of Paris, the café , where everyone gathers,” a spectator on the sidelines told FranceInfo TV.
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