Paris - La feline at last

At last a different bar in Paris, where there's not much left apart from the ubiquitous counter cafes, uber-trendy nighstops and conventional bars you find in every other city.La feline sets a different scene. Set in what used to be Paris east headquarters for hash and crak dealers and street hip hop wannabees, La feline says no to drugs (inside at least) but yes to rock'n'roll. We're talking '50s, '60s, '70s records (no CDs) in what could look be a retro american diner. The beach boys could be followed by Pink Floyd and Paul William's rare phantom of the Paradise soundtrack. And if you start talking music with the owner and bartender, you'll spend the night learning about all the underground record shops in Paris. The crowd is cool - a mix of neighbourhood folks -still arguably the coolest in paris, and east-london like trendy kids who know the owner from back when he was bartender in Paris' hip bars. Come alone, you'll have a blast. The rare parisians open enough to speak to a stranger are here (yep -even the pretty girls have that east-london like openness). And if you're hungry in the wee hours, the carribean dive next door will make you great food that they even bring to the bar. It's not dodgy or too trendy but just like it's supposed to be.
La Feline bar // 6 rue Victor Letalle, Metro Ménilmontant // 18-2 daily except Monday
opened since July 2006