What began in 1877 as the first cooperative association in Paris is now a sprawling pleasure complex on the Ménilmontant hill, hosting regular film and music festivals on the top level.
The founding commies' original mission - to provide cultural education to people of modest means - continues today with an excellent lineup of concerts and expos.
Enjoy brunch in the Halle aux Oliviers or decent views of the quartier from the charming terrace.

Named after a 1970s film starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, this snazzy cocktail bar is a real retro treat. The decor, dominated by wood, dark leather and animal furs, is elegant, with a hint of porno chic that leaves you picturing Warhol and his posse partying in a corner. The place comes to life after midnight, when the bar turns into a club with a soundtrack of dancefloor-fillers from the past three decades. The fantastic cocktail menu, a selection of sushi (€8-€30) and the separate fumoir add to the appeal.

Les Furieux is one of the rockingest and trashiest bars in Paris.
The music is usually heavy metal or glam rock, and the beer is less overpriced than most other bars in Paris.
Locals flock here for the happy hour (6pm to 8pm), when cocktails with rockin' names like Grunge, Scud, and, er, Boris are half price. Diehards can pay tribute to Paris's hedonistic heyday with 12 different absinthes.

Panic Room is one shelter that offers the survival kit completed for a successful evening. Original cocktails in an affordable price were imagined by the team. During happy hour (18:30-20:00), cocktails and champagne are an astonishing 5 Euros.

Weekly line up of local and mildly famous DJs rounds out the crowd, which includes bar-hoppers from neighboring spots like Zero Zero, Pop In and the Murano Hotel Bar.

Offering a long list of wines from just €3, free assiettes apéros (peanuts, olives and tapenades on toast) and decor that is perfect vintage chic, the formula is spot on. A small but mouthwatering selection of hot dishes, salads, cheese and saucisson platters (set lunch menu €20, mains from €15) help soak up the wine. Look out for the tasting classes, given by a guest sommelier.