Messy, busy, mangled, cheap, friendly and relaxed bar in Belleville. Unchanged for years, just layered with tags, stickers, laquered beer spillage and cigarette ash; but bright and light at the same time.

A grubby, ugly and grey crossroads, yet strangely beautiful by the evening sun. It always makes me happy when I pass through because ten minutes walk in any direction leads to some of my favourite places: the best fromager, thrift stores, the best boulangerie for tartes, the canal, bars, my apartment, B.D. (comix) shops, the best butcher, the huge deco Rex cinema, the best veg markets, my band's underground rehearsal room, my part time job, art galleries, etc etc!

This is my favourite brasserie. Very close to my school, I often have lunch there. Every dish is delicious (no surprise there!) and service very nice. A great place for some traditional French cooking!

Art deco brasseries in the 1st near by the Comédie Française

The gallery and bookshop never disappoint a curious mind, but the café is worth the trip alone.