Le Petit Château d’Eau

Neighborhood cafe Le Petit Château d’Eau retains its old fashioned character despite its gentrifying street. It does not court what is hip and new, preferring the humbleness of its regulars who stop by – some daily – for classic bistro, family-style fare. Thus, it is an authentic glimpse into what cafe dining used to be like in Paris. Enveloped by its intact, original decor – belle epoque accents, red leather banquettes, a curved zinc bar; fading patterned tiles – you dine on traditional dishes like bloody steak tartare and creamy ouefs mayonnaise gulped down by easy-to-drink, inexpensive French wine. While, undoubtedly, Canal St Martin beckons, Le Petit Château d’Eau leaves you with an undeletable mark, a memory of when your ideal Parisian meal was satisfied.