Ménilmontant
Located in the east of the city between Oberkampf , Belleville and Père Lachaise Cemetery , you’re not likely to find Ménilmontant in most guidebooks. Originally a hamlet on the outskirts of central Paris encircled by stone quarries and vineyards, the hilly neighborhood has remained true to its working-class and bohemian roots.
Ménilmontant, one of the villages on the outskirts of Paris was absorbed by the city in 1860 under Baron Hausmann’s vast urban planning programme. Stroll through its picturesque cobbled streets, enjoy their provincial charm and spot some of the street art that is scattered across the neighbourhood. Blend into the landscape at one of the numerous pavement cafés or bistro terraces and soak up the village atmosphere.
The former private apartment of Edith Piaf is now a museum housing numerous personal objects once belonging to the legendary artist, a porcelain collection, as well as the famous black dress that is synonymous with the artist.
A new place to be discovered, the Atelier des Lumières rocks Paris 11th arrondissement with a Digital art center set in a former smelting plant from the 19th century.
The largest cemetery in Paris and one of the most visited in the world. Whether for its history, its famous people like Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison, Frédéric Chopin and even Oscar Wilde are burried there or even its legends, this place is a must to visit in the capital.
One of the most pleasant spots in the city, with a large expanse of grass, a lake, suspension bridge, and lot of paths, benches and playgrounds. you will find there 3 Restaurants and snack bars with nice terraces.
A funky alley best known for its street art. In the bustling, multicultural melting pot of Belleville, street artists use abandoned shop walls and windows as their canvas, and there’s nearly always someone there spray painting away.
A mix of art gallery, dance club, restaurant terrace and conference hall. A cooperative created in 1877 and revamped in 2005, the cultural center offers visitors a plethora of activities, from art exhibitions and organic food markets to concerts that rock into the wee hours.
Some recommendations in the area
A dreamy thirties-style bistro in the heart of Menilmontant. The menu features many of the classic french cuisine excellent dishes. It’s easy to feel at ease among the Maurice Chevalier poster, azure mosaic floor. Some tables outside to enjoy the Victor Letalle street atmosphere.
This enormously popular bar in Ménilmontant has a huge rooftop with a 360 degree view of the capital. Take the lift to the 7th floor and find a vast space surrounding a handsome bar. Watching the sun set over the Sacré-Coeur, glass in hand, under garlands of coloured lights, really is something special.
A snazzy Neapolitan pizzeria draws in diners with excellent bases and an alluring array of original toppings. Cutely decked out with trendy wooden tables, this Italian restaurant offers a brilliant menu of pizzas, split across three mouth-watering categories (Rosse, Bianche and Gourmet).
For dinner, small dishes to share (or not), and for lunch midday classic formula based on market produce. The cuisine is inspired by the traditional recipes of northern Spain. great wines from both sides of the Pyrenées.
The chef behind this attractive contemporary bistro with a vintage feel is Guy Martin (Le grand Vefour), who is gaining a foothold in Paris's 20th arrondissement. The traditional cuisine is prepared using fresh ingredients: pea tartlet, mint and feta cheese; beef chuck braised for 8 hours, celery, nashi pear and wine sauce; tarte aux pommes, almonds, Timut pepper and vanilla ice cream.
Heading up the kitchen, chef Clarie Feral Akram has devised a dynamic menu, a bridge between cultures. Drawing on an inexhaustible reservoir of global spices and silk road culinary influences, vegetables have pride of place in Clarie’s cuisine: portobello stuffed with labne, Sriracha-glazed herbed rice balls or a hallah with homemade pesto. Meat lovers’ tastebuds will also be piqued by share plates of chicken yakitori.
Craving Berlin-style doner kebab? Outstanding sandwiches filled with marinated chicken from the same butcher as the legendary Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap, delivered once a week from Germany, carefully-chosen vegetables and fresh herbs, a little feta and some freshly squeezed lemon juice and three house sauces (yogurt, garlic, spicy). Served with crispy fries!
Not only does Vantre take care of your belly, but it also pampers your gullet ! Inside this Parisian den sommelier Marco Pelletier keeps an eye on his impressive bottles, while Japanese chef Masaki Nagao (ex-Clarence) carves out ultra-precise plates. A la carte for dinner but the striking lunch menu is also worth a look.
A lively space with rough stone walls, a concrete bar and a hidden communal table, where The chef sends out flashy small plates like chewy croquettas stuffed with ‘nduja – a spicy Calabrian sausage a surprising meagre tartare with pepper water, dill cream, pickled celery and cucumber. As for the sweets, there were chocolate-buckwheat churros or a strawberry-yogurt ice cream bar.
A creative cuisine runned like a canteen throughout the day, from breakfast to dinner, with well-sourced seasonal produces and a new menu every week. Emblematic dishes have already found their place like the Vietnamese-style stuffed cabbage with shrimp and pork; flat bread, a fermented potato-based dish served as a breakfast sandwich, with cheese and bacon or the famous vegetarian rice soup. Also a nice place to Brunch on Sundays.