5 places to discover for the next Paris Fashion Week
To change your routine, a few lesser-known venues
Lifestyle
October 4th, 2023
October 4th, 2023
There is nothing quite like the overwhelming energy of Paris during fashion week.The bars are full, the clubs are packed, the hotels are packed with bookings, and it can be hard to find somewhere to party without spending your entire paycheck, or getting stuck in endless queues. Instead of the most popular venues, we've compiled a list of five places you should discover that are fun-proof and unpretentious.
La Chope des Artistes
Located in the 10th arrondissement, La Chopes des Artistes and its parallel wine bar Chop Chop are known for hosting some of the city's biggest influencers and artists. As its name suggests, this quaint bistro is located below the Théâtre Splendid, in fact some 60 years ago it used to serve almost exclusively the actors who graced its stage.Today the venue has become so much more; since it was featured in Vanity Fair a year ago, when it welcomed some of the biggest names in world fashion for a celebration dedicated to the latest collection of New York ready-to-wear label Miaou, La Chopes has become increasingly popular. Run by Ramy Ndione, the bistro serves as a bar, restaurant and disco during the wee hours. Located a short walk from the Strasbourg Saint Denis metro station and a stone's throw from République, Chopes offers reasonably priced drinks and an energetic atmosphere. Also within walking distance of the bistro is the recently opened Chop Chop bar, which offers some of France's best organic wines. This season, the venue hosted Ottolinger's after party.
48 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, 75010
The Little Red Door
Winner of numerous awards, including fifth place in the 2022 World's Best Bars list, The Little Red Door and its farm-to-table style is the perfect place for creative and unique cocktails. With an ever-changing menu dictated by seasonal ingredients, you can always expect something different. Tucked away in the infamous Marais district, this secretive and secluded bar has no signage to attract customers, but just look for the little red door that marks its entrance.Once inside, customers are guided by the creative menu and modernist décor that contrasts perfectly with the ecological model with which it operates. In this regard, the bar won the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2022, a testament to its eco-friendly initiatives and practices. If you want to impress your guests with your Parisian savoir-faire or spend an evening in one of the most mysterious places in the Marais, keep your eyes peeled for the little red door.
60 Rue Charlot, 75003
Hotel Providence
While the inexperienced are used to choosing the famous Grand Amour Hotel, The Hoxton or Soho House Members Club, if you are looking for a fabulous restaurant at reasonable prices in Paris, with floral decorations and great service, turn to the Hotel Providence. Over a glass of Chablis or one of the house cocktails, such as the Essaouira with Bourbon and Raz el Hanout, we recommend starting with the arancini with truffles, a perfect bite to start the evening. From there, opt for the Entrecôte with perfectly crispy fries or a simple but delicious bowl of linguine with lemon. Out of season, the hotel is often crowded, but during Fashion Week, remember to book days or weeks in advance, especially if you want to stay in one of the elegantly decorated rooms, which evoke the Roaring Twenties with their green and gold décor.Besides dinner and delicious cocktails, the hotel can be an ideal meeting place for colleagues, both indoors and outdoors on the terrace protected by a wall of large plants, which gives the hotel an air of intimacy that is often hard to find.
90 Rue René Boulanger, 75010
Le Carmen
If you live in Paris, you have already heard of it. The red lights of Le Carmen are a key feature of the Pigalle district, inviting passers-by to dance until the sun rises every night. Once inside, guests' eyes are immediately drawn to the steps leading up to a sort of giant birdcage, before turning left towards the bar and dance floor. Getting your picture taken sitting in the Carmen's iconic birdcage is almost a rite of passage into Parisian nightlife, although you'll probably only want to do it once.The techno/house music is overwhelming, as is the iconic red lightning bolt that covers the club and the Versailles-style decor (except for the disco ball in the centre of the ceiling). The cocktails are simple, unlike the people who frequent the venue, often a mix of different creatives and artists, always on the cutting edge and always ready to have a good time. Thanks to the lighting, it is difficult to distinguish one face from another and you feel almost anonymous. Although Le Carmen is always recommended for those in the mood for an almost always full dance floor, it is not always so easy to get in. If you are with a large group, we recommend splitting up. And, of course, it is best to be well dressed.
34 Rue Duperré, 75009
Caché
Literally hidden, as the name suggests, this restaurant is located at the end of a cobbled alley in an industrial-style building that is difficult to find if you don't know where to go. Chef Sylvain Roucayrol's menu focuses heavily on seafood, with a raw and a cooked fish food menu. It is worth noting that oysters are listed on the menu at only EUR 3 each. As in most of the best restaurants in town, dishes are designed to be shared, from fresh sashimi to whole grilled lobster. We also suggest you visit Amagat, the new opening of the Caché team in the same area, which offers tapas instead.Once you have tasted their patatas bravas or pan con tomate, you will quickly be transported to the streets of Barcelona, all at an incredibly reasonable price. For an upscale group dinner away from the streets of central Paris, this restaurant is the place to be. Of course, reservations are also necessary here.
13 Villa Riberolle, 75020
