The Best Bars and Cafés in the 18th Arrondissement

Les Petites Gouttes is a bar, bistro, and concert-exhibition venue situated in the Pajol neighbourhood, also known as the first éco-quartier of Paris. The area, which was built and renovated from an old train station to incorporate renewable energy sources and natural materials, has a beautiful terrace that is heated during colder months. The venue hosts many small concerts, art openings, and exhibitions, like the ‘Top to Bottom’ graffiti festival, but it also caters to different music styles throughout the week.

The multicultural La Cave Cafe is a cosy bar with a largely Anglophone clientele and offers simplicity, quality, charm, and not to mention a warm atmosphere. While their menu consists of a selection of burgers and salads, their Sunday brunch is not to be missed. Try their ‘Irish breakfast’ or the fish and chips served in a newspaper in the classic British style.

This original concept of La Trincante is part oyster bar and part antiques shop. Here you can enjoy a platter of six oysters (from Brittany and Normandy) and a glass of wine at an affordable price. The majority of items found at this bar is for sale, including the very chair you sit on. La Trincante also has copious charcuterie, cheese, or prawn platters if you don’t like oysters.

Marlusse et Lapin owes its name to the owners of this small bar. They serve a range of drinks that include tasty cocktails and absinthe, served in an old-fashioned style. Despite the small size and young crowd, the bar seems to have plenty of space notably because of the ‘Grandma’s room’, a room that resembles one from a past century. The decor is what you would expect: flowery wallpaper, black-and-white photo portraits, an old telephone, and a sewing machine that doubles as a table for your drinks.

This German-style beer garden is named after the German word for ‘neighbourhood’, or a place where one feels comfortable and at home. What makes KIEZ special, aside from the German-inspired decor, is the outdoor beer garden located behind the door of the bar. In addition to a variety of beverages, they serve dishes such as bretzeln, apfelstrudel and Currywurst, as well as many other delicious daily specialities.

This discrete bar, which is located on the popular rue Muller, has a cosy, vintage-themed decor, with furniture intentionally placed to give guests the feeling of visiting a friend. When visiting Le Rosie, expect to find wine, beer, and inventive cocktails set to relaxing background music with a DJ playing at weekends.

La REcyclerie is a café-cantine, cultural centre, and urban garden. Built on the remains of an old train station, you can still walk along the train rails. The decor is made up of unique recycled pieces, in a large, luminous, and green space. The many activities here include a weekly market by La Ruche Qui Dit Oui, workshops for children, tours of the urban garden and farm, and ‘l’atelier de REné’– the handyman’s workshop – for repairing and/or upcycling items. La REcyclerie is especially noteworthy during the summer when people take advantage of the gorgeous and sunny terrace and garden.

La Chope du Chateau is a simple Parisian cafe with no extra frills – it’s an old and cheap bar that caters mostly to locals. It’s perfect for a quiet day as it has good coffee, cheap pints, WiFi and food, although you are free to bring your own. While the venue has a rather relaxing vibe, it comes alive during the weekends when a DJ is brought in for the night.

Cafe Lomi was first known for its signature roast, which supplied many cafés in Paris. From the outside, it appears bland but this large warehouse-designed space is complete with peeling paint and visible pipes for a stylish finish. Cafe Lomi also has sweet and savoury treats to accompany the excellent coffee and a substantial food menu. Try the café fromage, a combination of cheese and espresso that is meant to be enjoyed by taking a sip of coffee after a bite of the blue cheese.