own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment University of Melbourne provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU View all partners In a new series we look at under-acknowledged women through the ages from where she rushed back to Paris after news arrived of a revolution that immediately inspired her with its promise of individual freedoms and civic equality This frail and often hated woman became a passionate advocate of a woman’s place in a democratic society before a tragic episode broke her Much of her life is shrouded in silence and myth While commonly assumed to have fought at the Bastille on July 14 1789 and to have led the famous march of market women from Paris to the court at Versailles in October dressed as a man or on horseback it seems instead that she lived at Versailles throughout the summer of 1789 attending debates at the National Assembly and meeting leading political figures While the word “feminism” was not used until 1837, there is no doubt about its applicability to Théroigne, who argued women it is supremely unjust that we have not the same rights in society Théroigne’s outspoken presence and discourse provoked the ire of the counter-revolutionary press, in which she was the subject of vituperative mockery and allegations. She was ridiculed as a debauchee, the antithesis of femininity, a “patriots’ whore” whose 100 lovers a day each paid 100 sous in contributions to the Revolution “gained by the sweat of my body” It was about this time that “de Méricourt” was added to her name in the press an inference of noble background alluding to her birthplace which she did not repudiate a politically unwise step at a time when noble titles and privileges were being abolished In May 1790, Théroigne returned to Marcourt and Liège where she was arrested on the orders of the Austrian Government anxious about the possible contagion of revolutionary ideas across the border and interrogated about her revolutionary activities By the time of her release and return to Paris in January 1792 she was impoverished and suffering from depression “La belle Liégoise”, as she was dubbed, was welcomed back enthusiastically and, once France went to war with Austria in April she began campaigning, unsuccessfully, for women’s rights to bear arms: Frenchwomen … let us raise ourselves to the height of our destinies; let us break our chains At last the time is ripe for women to emerge from their shameful nullity pride and injustice of men had kept them enslaved for so long … which overthrew the monarchy and created the republic Théroigne was involved with the killing of royalists and awarded a “civic crown” for her courage But her sartorial flair – she enjoyed wearing her white riding habit and large round hat in public – and her political choices made her unpopular with women of the people she was attacked by a group of Jacobin women outside the doors of the National Convention lifted her dress and whipped her bared flesh Théroigne never fully recovered mentally or physically, and on 20 September 1794 she was certified insane and put into an asylum. It was a time when the first “scientific” diagnoses were being made of “dementia”, but the physical surrounds were medieval. She was ultimately sent to La Salpêtrière Hospital in 1807 where she lived in terrible squalor for ten years only intermittently lucid and speaking constantly about the Revolution There the “alienist” (as psychiatrists were then called) Étienne Esquirol used her as a case-study of the mental illness caused by revolutionary “excess” Théroigne was a charismatic but tragic figure who inspired later romanticised and creative works She appears as a character in Hilary Mantel’s 1992 major novel about the Revolution, A Place of Greater Safety and in the video game Assassin’s Creed Unity (2014) She has especially interested male writers fascinated by the links they imagine between women, madness and revolution. Indeed, in 1989 Simon Schama closed his best-selling Citizens with Théroigne’s sad incarceration as its epilogue as if to imply that revolution drives women to feminism and madness this male fascination was explored by the Lacanian psychoanalyst Élisabeth Roudinesco who brilliantly exposed the links between early feminism the birth of the modern asylum and masculine phantasms Whereas the English title of her biography is Madness and Revolution in French it was Une femme mélancolique: for Roudinesco rather she was in mourning for the revolution she had lost and keep an eye on everything around you: from number 2 to number 48 of rue Folie Méricourt intruders have been hiding in the street and in store windows.. It's off on a great hunt for sweets and surprises The game is organized by therue de la Folie Méricourt shopkeepers' association: to keep up to date with all the news surrounding the hunt, we strongly advise you to follow the association's Instagram account for all the details of this unusual hunt There will also be a prize draw and special gifts for all children in costume. So, from October 31 to November 2, 2024, meet us at rue de la Folie Méricourt to take part in this great Halloween hunt! But first, don't forget to register to take part in the hunt, on the event link All that's left to do is dress up and get ready for this great family event: happy hunting to you all Refer your establishment, click herePromote your event, click here FranceChevron Ile-de-FranceChevron ParisChevron ChevronChevronPhotosSave this storySaveSave this storySavecuisine Okay, you’ve just walked in. First impressions?With its bright green facade, earthy interiors, and row of succulents behind the bar, it wouldn't be hard to imagine this café in tropical environs. Who else was there?Regulars come for coffee and a light breakfast or a casual lunch with colleagues. In-the-know Parisians seek out the novelty of shakshuka or green eggs with their specialty brews. The raison d’être: the coffee. How was it?The focus is primarily on French roasters which the owner rotates throughout the year. This is an easy stop-in for a to-go cup if you can’t stay for breakfast, lunch, or a snack.  Was there food, too, and if so, worth getting?Signature dishes range from shakshuka to breakfast sandwiches, green bowls, green eggs and during the week, dishes of the day.  How about the staff: what did you think?The place fills up fast, but the staff is swift, making sure everyone is taken care of and comfortable. They can even pair that expertly pulled shot with a dish off the menu. Who should go here?This is an ideal spot for breakfast or lunch, but if what you're after is excellent coffee, arrive late afternoon after the lunch rush. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Paris Self-taught Basque chef Iñaki Aizpitarte runs this stylish bistro Come at dinner to try the cooking at its most adventurous as a much simpler (albeit cheaper) menu is served at lunch Dishes have been deconstructed down to their very essence and put back together again You'll understand if you try starters like chunky steak tartare with a quail's egg or asparagus with tahini foam and little splinters of sesame-seed brittle The cooking's not always so cerebral - Aizpitarte's Spanish goat's cheese with stewed apple jam is brilliant Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterpinterestinstagramAbout us Contact us Iñaki Aizpitarte’s recently opened Le Dauphin a Rem Koolhaus-designed tapas-style place a few doors from Le Chateaubriand offers sub-€15 dishes such as magret séché tempura de gambas and tarte au citron meringuée sourcing is all-important – bread comes from Du Pain et des Idées which was voted best baker in Paris in 2008 by Gault Millau and the music never fails to produce a fantastic atmosphere with people getting up to dance wherever they can find room between the tables and chairs the bar teems with regulars topping themselves up with the very well priced beers or house rum cocktails There’s also a menu with things like roasted Camembert with garlic just lists ingredients in that contemporary style so if you're unsure or queasy about some of the more adventurous parts of French cuisine Another thing to note before ordering is that the portions – including the opening 'snacks' – are extremely generous.Over an excellent bottle of white (the team also give serious wine cellar) we nibbled on finely sliced charcuterie Noire de Bigorre (a black pig from the Pyrenees) and a bowl of breaded deep-friend whelks – an original idea that completely worked we're only at starters); a beautiful bowl of still-warm oysters and smoked eel with bright greens that tasted "like sea soup" and a fat scoop of creamy grated celeriac with a tower of clean white crab meat.Mains added welcome sweet with a heavenly tranche of venison accompanied by a whipped chestnut purée We finished up with a deep bowl of fluffy white mousse with a crunchy biscuit topping and a scoop of raspberry sorbet at its heart – a light perfectly satisfying dessert.Clown Bar isn't a cheap and cheerful bistro but it is something rather special – original cooking in a historic location from a powerhouse team – and it's open on Sundays With Café Oberkampf’s queue often snaking around the block it was only a matter of time before the team added another string to their bow to deal with demand there’s no eating with your elbows in someone else’s breakfast here – Café Mericourt is much more spacious Brit owner Guy Griffin has gone for a similar vibe with the décor – clean and minimalist suspended wicker planters and stacks of indie magazines The famed shakshuka remains a winner – tomatoes and is a generous serving even in the smaller size (€14 for a large) The breakfast roll (€8.50) with fried eggs bacon and chilli jam is a tonic for anyone feeling the effects of a heavy night Don’t miss the maple syrup-drenched pancakes (€10.50) with fruit and cream – they were light and melt-in-the-mouth With an expanded brunch and lunch selection €20 for a meal like this feels like great value The Hood still echoes the junk shop it used to be A bit of rusty metal and then the sign ‘Parfumerie – cadeaux – bazar – ménage,’ remins us that rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud was a bustling street in the former working class area wine cellars and coffee shops have replaced kebab shops and modest stalls at least now we know it’s not hard to find good coffee in the 11th arrondissement The Hood's offering is pretty much Brooklyn to the bone From speciality coffee to their co-working space right through to the folk music – sometimes they even host concerts Dotted about the café are guitars and a piano to entice strangers to jam together The coffee comes from the Brûlerie de Belleville – the hot ticket – and the poached egg and pesto open sandwich is prepared with love by the French-Vietnamese chef Khânh-Ly While we sipped on an Americano and an iced latte the speakers above the counter play The Strokes and long-forgotten New York bands like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Not forgetting the banana bread that was the true icing on the cake of our visit to The Hood Calling all carnivores – this address is sure to tickle your fancy. After getting your hands dirty at Flesh and then Flesh II it’s time to sink your teeth into Melt: a bona fide Texas joint created by Jean Ganizate and Antoine Martinez Like many of Paris’s barbecue joints you can smell the smoked meat from a few doors down and you can expect a row of wooden tables and food served on metal trays rather than plates meat and more meat (obviously): melt-in-the-mouth Black Angus brisket (€13) pork spare ribs and several excellent specials like sausage marinated in white wine with Malabar pepper (€12) as are the Lone Star Beers – for the full cowboy experience cooks everything slowly at 100 degrees; chicken takes four hours and up to 15 for the brisket (which explains its tenderness) The sides like dirty beans and fries won’t blow your mind well known for its retro video games stores In addition to the all the expected staples of the genre Manga Story also offers DVDs (both individual and box-sets) of Japanese cartoons The shelves are literally heaving with Japanese animation series for long before the invasion of manga in France and the arrival of Dora the Explorer Parisians were already fans of the abundant and quality animations coming from the land of the rising sun and more adult titles like the excellent 'Cowboy Bebop' by Shinichiro Watanabe or 'Paranoia Agent’ This is a great address for anyone looking to infuse themselves with Japanese television culture in Paris The 2015 opening from the team behind East Mamma on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine Ober Mamma is a handsome addition to the Big Mamma group of Italian trattorie Owners Tigrane and Victor have managed to repeat the success of their first restaurant with this Oberkampf hangout The restaurant is beautifully designed and reveals more exciting décor the further in you go you reach a room decorated with fine mouldings and a stunning marble counter A long wood-lined corridor hung with raw prosciutto and lined with bottles of wine then leads you to the kitchen and a second dining room with a glass wall Fashionable Spritz and authentic Lambrusco (a chilled sparkling red wine) flow here although the food menu isn’t entirely traditional which usually constitute ‘first courses’ on the other side of the Alps are served in a saucepan here and enjoyed as main courses (due to their sheer size) as they soak it a little too generously in the fish ink But definitely go for the Neapolitan pizza delicate in the centre with a thick and gooey crust a simple ‘Mammargherita’ (€12) or a Regina Wild pizza with fresh truffles (€15) the panna cotta has just the right consistency and comes surrounded by baked apricots and sprinkled with biscuit crumbs Below Belleville’s gourmet kebab shop OUR a Mediterranean oasis in the middle of Paris It seems an odd concept but as the owner explains: “I like the idea of a kebab shop being a friendly lively place where you can have a drink and enjoy yourself It’s very common in Turkey.”  The location isn’t ideal for a late-night bar (the only lively place on the rue de l’Orillon is its eponymous drinking hole) but with cocktails like ‘Le Shah’ – a reinvented Cosmopolitan made from Istanbul vodka and infused with lemon wild rose and lychee – the punters are sure to come despite the Parisian prices (around €11) Try the Mediterranean-style Manhattan with Greek Metaxa liqueur or the old fashioned Emir (herb infused Metaxa with za’atar liqueur (a Lebanese spice) and orange zest though we’re told that higher bar tables are soon to come along with the installation of a screen in the toilets playing old erotic Turkish films.. our stomach calls and it’s time to eat – luckily we only have to go upstairs.  Looking for a classic cocktail made with finesse using the best quality alcohol The concept of Fifty Fifty is to offer delicious craft beers (artisanal beers from France and international regions as well as high end cocktails made by passionate mixologists.  Add two or three tapas made from fresh products (cured meats from the Corsican mountains depending on the day) for a snack or to pair with your choice of drink The organic chestnut stout from the Ribella microbrewery goes wonderfully well with tapas.The mood is like a speakeasy without being one (candlelit jazz at during the week and blues/rock at the weekend While this might usually be found in the Marais or Pigalle Fifty Fifty offers something different for this corner of the 11th arrondissement near Oberkampf/Jean Pierre Timbaud €16-20 for starters and €30-40 for mains Argentinian and gourmet to describe one restaurant Enter Biondi: an 11th arrondissement barbecue joint with distressed brick walls and two menus while the à la carte includes dishes between €30 and €40 The former featured a platter of boudin noir with parsnip and green apple followed by roast veal cooked to perfection with yellow carrot purée and oyster mushrooms Dessert is a super moist chocolate cake with camomile-orange marmalade jam there’s an excellent dry and flowery Argentinian white – Bodegas Colome Torrontes at €7 a glass There’s only one non-carnivorous dish on the menu (octopus) so it’s possibly not the best spot for a date with a vegetarian. And the name? Well, it’s after a famous Argentinian clown, a tribute to the origins of the owner (who is also a chef at La Pulpéria), as well as the Cirque d’Hiver next door Foucher developed a special affinity for the sea that eventually translated into a passion for sailing When he stumbled into tattooing almost by accident – only a chance encounter with the Californian tattoo artist Sunny Buick convinced him to try his hand at it – nautical designs were an obvious choice of specialisation giving him the sobriquet by which he's known today.In the comforts of his boutique in the 11th Foucher paints the skins of the Navy Seals and ship captains who flock to him in droves Yet his client base is by no means confined to seafarers 'I'm interested in using my style of drawing to express what the customers want to say about themselves,' he tells us but I'm also a traveller – and travellers aren't restricted to ships.' Having only set up shop in 2011 Foucher may be fresh off the boat; yet his uniquely romantic style has already made his name on the scene Les P'tites Indécises caters primarily to large appetites and pinched wallets Set in the middle of a sunlit square near Parmentier this brightly lit restaurant boasts a generous brunch that comes in two varieties: the ‘p’tit dej’ and the ‘complet’ both of which include freshly squeezed juice your choice of hot drink and an unlimited bread basket with a selection of spreads If you choose the 'p’tit dej' (reasonably priced at €14.50) you also get a choice of entrée and dessert: the entrée nearly always includes fried eggs and bacon to mop up your hangover plus a seasonal treat like melon & ham or Italian mozzarella salad you can pick up a light option such as yoghurt with berries or – if you’re feeling a bit more wicked – a decadent chocolate and hazelnut brownie from a selection of good French bistro classics and Petites Indécises specialities.  The décor is bright and cheerful and the menu is simple but solid Ultra-affable waiters score bonus points for happily translating the menu if need be but in a venue this popular they can be hard to pin down This is the sort of place to head to with a crowd of friends to comb over last night's debauchery while gently nursing a hangover choose one of the tables that snake around the outside of the conservatory to sip a café crème in the sun It also has free Wi-Fi and so attracts students and freelancers during the day who come for the cheap prices and relaxed ambience – and then stay on for the Happy Hour.  Behind this new restaurant raisonné is Normandy-born Côme Jousset who escaped the world of hotel finance to return to farming and livestock breeding which he inherited from his father and their farm tours together in the Pays d'Auge The young proprietor is therefore taking every precaution to open Le Rigodon fair remuneration of the small independent producers from whom the short-circuit products are sourced the carbon footprint of this first restaurant or even labels - organic Lunch menus are competitively priced - €19 for a starter/main course or main course/dessert €25 for a full menu - proof if any were needed that it's possible to eat good food without racking up a hefty bill all seasonal and sourced directly from producers that Côme Jousset manages to keep costs down chosen from among the 25 references carefully selected by Côme Jousset is the perfect setting for a cheerful toast the sandwiches created by Côme Jousset and Gina McLintock are in keeping with the establishment's philosophy: homemade This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation best bars in Paris" width="" height="" border="" />This is one of Time Out's 100 best bars in Paris. Click here to see the full list With all the wandering joie de vivre of its gypsy namesake this lively little local bar just two steps from République specialises in slide shows jazz and DJ sets against a backdrop of colourful while sipping a few caipirinhas or beers at prices (€4 a pint) that are more than reasonable for the area The fusion food is also a draw – it mixes Asian French and Italian on a regularly changing menu packing the rooms out for lunch and dinner reflecting the vibe and the spirit of the local clientele Pili Pili is a Parisian institution – like the extra-spicy red pepper of the same name this characterful rock’n’roll bar will stick with you for a long time as do their attractively priced cocktails (€5 during happy hour) €4 beers and their Planter’s Punch (by the glass or pitcher) who are intrigued by its eclectic decor and nod to African culture The music is always deliciously old school – from rock to hip-hop to punk – and they put on some great themed nights out (think Twin Peaks or Dark 80’s) as well as a clothes-swap on Sundays PreviousNext/5PreviousNext/5Review The only thing that’s certain at Pierre Sang on Gambey is the number of dishes you’ll consume – two priced between €20 and €48 at lunchtime and €49 to €88 in the evening but don’t tell you what was in in them until you’ve finished This sort of conceit makes the experience one big mystery and means that every plate invites careful tasting and discussion We were proud to have successfully identified butternut squash puree mustard leaves and ‘Korean ketchup’ ssamjang (chilli often with the South Korean touches associated with chef Pierre Sang who was adopted by a French couple and grew up in the Haute-Loire Sang has become particularly well known in France after he got to the final of ‘Top Chef’ in 2011, opened his first restaurant Pierre Sang Boyer in 2012 he was passing between the tables in the pretty talking animatedly about the Oberkampf suppliers he works with He was also talking about creating a dessert called ‘Paris-Seoul’ his version of the famous ‘Paris-Brest’ you’ll have to taste it to find out what’s inside This little venue hiding behind the Belleville boulevard has a simple recipe for success: top quality products at the bar and in the kitchen There are classic beers (from €2.50 for a demi) as well as a monthly featured brew (around €5 a bottle) plus a good selection of wines (from €2.20 a glass) and cocktails (€7) The food offering is just as good: cheese and charcuterie boards prettily garnished and with an excellent quality/price ratio (€8) – there’s tomato bread in there plus sandwiches and even foie gras for a bit extra There's a solid soundtrack of classic tunes and lots of little details that make all the difference: coffee for €1 at the bar little wooden shelves outside for smokers to balance their pints on The lunchtime menu changes daily and the formule is only €13 for generous portions with well considered flavours Plus the staff are charming – no wonder it’s a favourite with local regulars but Paperboy's fruit juices are certainly fresh off the press The juices are only one aspect of a menu rammed with attractive brunch options: every weekend families and hungover twentysomethings gather here to sample the eclectic set meals – try the Fatty (€23) one hot drink and one of the abovementioned juices all hovering around the €10-€15 mark The only shivers you’ll get at the Chair de Poule [goose bumps] are those of pleasure – both from their electric cocktails and from their menu which fuses all sorts of exotic ingredients in high-class tapas Order a whole bunch of things to share and you’ll be able to taste everything from baba ghannouj (puréed aubergine with spices) to oysters sea bass tartare with pomegranate and pain perdu with figs the fork fights for the last scraps can be quite dramatic.Natural or organic wines are available à la ficelle (you only pay for what you drink) which is a great opportunity to discover some independent vineyards and locals and Brits (friends of the cheerful proprietor) rub shoulders here Happy hour is the time to try imported beers or indulge in a Pimms on the terrace an old Piaggio scooter parked in the dining room and the loos papered with kitsch posters and cute vintage adverts Some evenings they put on a gig or a DJ to warm up the atmosphere though it’s always already very jolly A slice of Anglo-American literary culture in the heart of Parmentier Au Chat Noir (not to be confused with the Montmartre cabaret of almost the same name) is known by all the budding poets of the area Head into the basement on a Monday evening (from 8.30pm) and you’ll find an eclectic bunch of beatniks actors and would-be rappers taking it in turns to perform some kind of spoken text to the audience – and never for over five minutes at a time then this only reflects the relative popularity of this kind of event in the UK and US and other languages are by no means forbidden aside from the time limit there are no rules whatsoever It’s this spirit of ‘anything goes’ that marks Au Chat Noir out from the hordes of trendy and that may well convert you into one of the bar’s many faithful regulars Gigs and poetry workshops are also on the programme As sweetly tuned as Chuck Berry's cherry-red '53 this quite marvellous rock 'n' roll bar is the pick of the bunch on rue Jean-Pierre-Timbaud Not that the owners have fitted it with Americana or waitresses on rollerskates; the L'il Garage is as basic as the real car-fit business a few doors down the road Stuffing bursts out of the bar stools and skip-salvage chairs accompany wobbly tables of ill-matched colours Regulars cluster around the twin decks at the bar while music-savvy Frenchettes giggle and gossip at the back As soon as you step into L’Embuscade this lived-in bar hums with French chatter lending it a relaxed vibe that contrasts with the bustle of the nearby Boulevard Richard Lenoir With its cute mosaicked floor and walls plastered with photos of mid-20th century stars (Elvis Presley it’s generally a cosy place to while away the evening and certainly isn’t concerned with appearing ‘cool’ like the superb red craft ale from Parisian microbrewery La Baleine (just €5 a pint) while food follows a simple yet comforting provincial slant We highly rate the duck pâté (€5) and the Espelette pepper terrine (€5) as well as the generously sized cheese board (€7) Got a yearning for the scenic beaches of Southern France You should probably lay down your towels at La Surferie With wooden boards plastered across its walls both inside and out this bar doesn’t feel like it’s in the 11th arrondissement So there’s no terrace and we’re miles from the coast but La Surferie still has an atmosphere reminiscent of beachside cafés in Biarritz or Cap Ferret united his professional life with his long time passion for surf and the dream has clearly paid off: the bar is heaving especially at happy hour: pints are €5 (and bottles are ‘buy three get one free’) bottles of wine €20 and soft drinks €3 admire the photo exhibits and enjoy footage of surfing competitions projected onto the back wall The ceiling is strewn with surf-related philosophical quotations spewed out of a wave-shaped fresco and lapping up against the top of the bar This gesture neatly encapsulates the very essence of the place: a near-perfect marriage of surfing and fun It’s been a long wait for a venue dedicated to new acts in Paris but now l’International has filled the void all playing to an enthusiastic crowd – and it’s all for free l’International is distinguished by its friendly aura a sort of best mates’ hangout that also doubles as a gig venue Relaxed punters gather for well-priced drinks in the bar a huge open space furnished with second hand furniture that gets very animated after cocktail hour everyone crams into the downstairs event space that much like a garage converted into a private club is all pillars and walls in reinforced concrete the Café Charbon is an institution that has been attracting nocturnal Parisians for more than a century Created in 1900 in what was then an artisan’s quarter this café dates from the Second Empire of Napoleon III and has all the style of the brasseries of another era you’ll find magnificent wrought iron lamps liberated from a night fishing boat pop and electro that keeps the local bohos happy as the bar is always rammed and the waiters overwhelmed The terrace is a particularly good bet in summer Be warned: don’t rock up at Aux Deux Amis on a Friday night expecting to sit down you’ll be staking out a few square centimetres at the bar Here you can chat with your neighbours while good-naturedly knocking into each other The melting ‘Tortilla de Janine’ the princely acorn-fed ham with grilled almonds the brilliant house mozzarella… according to the whims of the chef there will also be things like fresh sardines and sterling classics like burrata and manchego cheese which is all 100% natural and served by David Vincent-Loyola who has transformed this old neighbourhood dive into an unmissable stop on the Rue Oberkampf his acolyte Mathieu Perez joins the kitchen the lovely terrace is a great place to let the party spill over and outside but Alimentation Générale is no supermarket – rather ultra festive and always affordable – entrance is usually around €5 to €10 with a drink furnished with big convivial wooden tables and a table football set allowing revellers to get up close and personal with the acts with decorous drinks and nibbles ­– there’s cheese and charcuterie and some pricey but good things à la carte (pasta and before you know it the table football is being pushed to one side and the volume turned as the gyrating crowds overrun the dance floor gypsy jazz… all the sounds of the world have their place on this stage tropical electro) are the meeting point of a young and very friendly cosmopolitan crowd Just be aware that there’s no re-entry after 10pm and that the smoking area because the ALG is the only bar/club in the area that closes at 5am anima osteria | © Margaux Thiery / Time Out Paris reveals a long narrow corridor that can only fit one line of tables from which issues orders in strong Northern Italian accents and a flour-covered table bearing a pasta machine The familial décor is all warm colours and simple canteen-style table settings – one fork There are two set menus at €12 or €16 (starter and main or starter Our starter of mortadella and parmesan got things going nicely then home made lasagne and the pasta du jour with black olives tomato sauce and parmesan were hugely satisfying though­ – fine slices of pineapple dusted with cinnamon L’Osteria Dell’Anima is a safe bet perfect for a reliable meal around the Rue Oberkampf What was once the HQ of France’s metallurgy union is now a hotbed of culture offering gallery and performance space to both up-and-coming and confirmed artists La Maison des Métallos (just south of Ménilmontant in the heart of a North African quarter) offers everything from slam and photography There are also streams of urban culture workshops for teenagers including highly coveted digital art sessions All this cultural activity is rather fitting: the building started out as a musical instrument factory in 1881 It was here that Paris’ jazz musicians This circus has been in the same family for decades It now has a new façade to match its revamped interior and crowds flock for its twice-yearly seasons (including the Winter Circus from October to March) which include tigers Last Updated on 15th April 2022 by Sophie Nadeau I know this little lunch place in the heart of the city… There Recently opened Café Mericourt is located in the 11e arrondissement of Paris just off Boulevard Voltaire and close by to Le Marais area of the city making it a great stopping point for a quick coffee Paris has no shortage of fantastic brunch places and one of these spots is Café Méricourt. Located in the chic and trendy 11th arrondissement of the city, nearby spots of interest include the peaceful walkway that is the Coulée Verte and the famous concept store of Merci. Opened in mid-2017, Café Mericourt comes from the creators of Café Oberkampf, a coffee shop which is already wildly popular across Social Media. Please note that, unfortunately, as of August 2021, Café Oberkampf is permanently closed. Luckily, Café Méricourt is in the 11th arrondissement younger sibling comes complete with longer opening hours and the option to reserve online for morning sittings (something you’ll want to do considering that the café is already incredibly popular It was a cloudy day when I headed to Café Mericourt with a few blogging friends We visited on a French National Holiday and ended up queuing for a little while since the place was already so packed hungry and a little cold from the crisp autumn air we soon made our way inside to find that staff are friendly while the decor is light and bright (think light green walls If you’re looking for specialty coffee in the city of lights you’d be hard-pressed to find a more extensive coffee list at many other independent coffee shops in the city While the hot drinks are a little pricier than elsewhere in Paris I’ve yet to find a better Dirty Chai (the drink is a beautiful blend of a chai mixed with an espresso shot) Fans of nearby Café Oberkampf (which has permanently closed as of August 2021) will already be familiar with the well thought out menu and ‘Instagram-famous’ Shakshuka dish Other familiar favourites can also be found on the menu; Green Bowl Pancakes (this is my favourite dish and comes complete with orange blossom Last orders from the kitchen are taken at 15:00 although orders for pastries and drinks are taken right up to closing at 17:30 The nearest metro stations are Parmentier (line 3) Richard-Lenoir (line 5) and Oberkampf (line 5 & 9) Sophie Nadeau is a full time travel writer and photographer focused on cultural experiences in Europe and beyond When she's not chasing after the sunset (or cute dogs she sees on her travels) she can be found reading and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. I started this site back in 2015 with one mission in mind: I wanted to create useful travel guides with a historical and cultural focus Today it has blossomed into my full time job and together with a small team of writers (including my husband and sister) we craft articles to help you travel better throughout Europe © 2015- 2025 Sophie Nadeau. Nadeau Pasquier LTD. All Rights Reserved. solosophie participates in various affiliate marketing programs. solosophie is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Privacy Policy