Irish pubs are usually known for having cheerful atmosphere and good spirit. This one is no exception.

The Cork and Cavan Pub is a welcoming pub at the canal St Martin, in the area with a rich concurrence concerning cute and unpretentious places for a drink.

Step inside and you will find a rare and interesting 2 rooms place: one room with a counter (serving great Irish beers) and bookshelves where you can exchange English books and the other room with a sports TV screen. Both of them are equally enjoyable. It’s possible to sit on the outside so choices are here.

Cosmopolitan easiness, cute interior, nice look over the canal makes this place attractive and inviting. I almost forgot: you can play darts too!

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The Cork&Cavan Pub | Bars | Beer pint € 5.50
68/70 Quai de Jemmapes | Belleville/Nation | +33142081115
Mon – Thu 15:00 – 02:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 02:00

Had enough of the city centre? In the Rue de Bagnolet, 20th arrondissement, you can really enjoy a night out. Here are 2 cool places. One is a concert hall Fleched’Or (102 Bis, rue de Bagnolet) and the other is bar Le Piston Pélican. So you can combine the two, but also stay at the bar Le Piston Pélican- things are going on here as well-exhibitions, concerts. Or if you prefer no „events”, a drink at the Pélican can be just enough.

Piston Pélican is a mixture of a local friendly bar, arty on one side, style bistro Parisien on the other. It’s unusual and original, like it’s name. Le Piston means a person that is a connection in “the right places” so nepotism in the hands of pelican.

They have benches with art deco designed tables, in combination with some parodic arty works gets ironic-collage impressions. The cooked eggs at the counter are a funny detail as well as the Pelicans drawings on different parts in the bar.

The atmosphere is friendly, crowded on weekend nights when there are concerts or DJ’s. Other days are calm but not boring, with selected music.

Pelican is not going to disappoint.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/pistonpelican

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Le Piston Pélican | Art & culture, Bars, Music | Pint (happy hour) € 3.50
15, rue de Bagnolet | Belleville/Nation | +33143711576
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 02:00, Sat 10:00 – 02:00, Sun 10:00 – 00:00

La Bellevilloise is one of the important night life spots in Paris. There are lots of places where you can “live” culture during the day in the city, however the night palette of this kind is not so easy to find.

In today’s version Bellevilloise was opened in 2005 on the spot where there used to be (in 1877) an after Parisian-Commune worker’s cooperative. In those days it was dedicated to education and animation of the workers living in the area.

Today, the place took the same name and the motto is “dedication to light and creation”. Although nowadays you will meet mainly “bobo”(bourgeois boheme) public, but not exclusively.

There are different things going on even at the same time, as it is a music club, an exposition place, a bar and a restaurant with the stage (separated in 4 different rooms). From exhibitions, rock or world music concerts, to dj-ing, interactive workshops, film festivals to even bio markets there is always something interesting to participate in.

Once you are in rue Boyer you surely won’t miss a good concert, either in the nearby club la Maroquinerie (23, rue Boyer) or in La Bellevilloise. The pleasant choice is yours.

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La Bellevilloise | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Festivals & events
19,21 rue Boyer | Belleville/Nation | +33146360707
Wed – Fri 17:30 – 00:20, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 02:00

Popular Fathers is a likable coffee-bar, where you’ll feel cosy and homey. Now open for a year and a half, it took the place of another coffee shop. Today it’s a spot where you can enjoy live concerts twice a week, have lunch (during the week only) or just come to savor the atmosphere or enjoy, for Paris, pretty low prices.

The original interior will remind you of a winery transformed into a living room, topped off by the small performance stage.

The staff is approachable and casual, nonchalant, the atmosphere unpretentious and lively.

Concerts are indie rock style, and you can check upcoming concert events on their Myspace .

Armchairs and colourful lamps will make you feel as though you’re in an extension of your own home. Don’t be deceived by the exterior: once you’re inside, you’ll be charmed by the diverse clientele of all ages, the school tables and wooden trays, and other details that will draw your attention with their unusual, but not excessive, touch.

In a search for good mood and cheap drink, or if you find yourself en route to Montreuil, Popular fathers is definitely worth a visit.

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Les Pères Populaires | Bars, Music | Coffee € 1.00
46, rue de Buzenval | Belleville/Nation | +33143484922
08:00 – 02:00 daily

This is a place that doesn’t really need advertising; it is well known to Parisians and their guests. Whenever I came in the evenings, there were more people than actual room for them, and the crowd is very diverse.

The atmosphere is very easy going and nonchalant, it makes you feel like it is the weekend all the time. Especially during the spring and summer period, when the spacious terrace reminds of Mediterranean bars. Lively and vibrant, calm and relaxing in the same time, it doesn’t have a typical big city flair, because it is retracted from the main big streets.

The surroundings are attractive so you have a real choice of bars to visit and check if they are your cup of bar or not.

It is positioned near the “bobo” trendy Rue Oberkampf where there are some nice places too, but this little enclave of original somehow eccentric mix of non pretentious yet special group of bars is a one of a kind.

People come to Lou Pascalou from different parts of Paris (I travel for about 40 minutes, but never regret the trip) but it has also has the image of a neighbourhood bar. During the day neighbours come with their kids playing around, usually well known to the bar owner.

It is not only a place to drink and talk – its specialty is different exhibitions and concerts that take place here. Exhibitions change monthly and concerts are held once a week, usually at weekends.

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Lou Pascalou | Art & culture, Bars, Music | Half-pint of beer € 3.00
14, rue des Panoyaux | Belleville/Nation | +33146367810
09:00 – 02:00 daily

Théâtre National de la Colline is an important Parisian theatre. It is situated in the 20th arrondissement, founded in 1951 (today’s building opened in 1983) to decentralize theatre life and to create one relevant place of the theatre creation of the plays from the end of the 19th century till our days.

It is a National theatre meaning that it is funded by the state/ministry of culture (with only 4 other theatres in the country), it’s openly leftist with a diverse and well thought-out repertoire. At the moment the shows on the repertoire are: “Dans la jungle des villes” written by Bertol Brecht directed by Roger Vontobel in the main theatre and in the small theatre Des arbres à abbatre written by Thomas Bernhard and directed by Claude Duparfait and  Célie Pauthe.

This literature based theatre that doesn’t neglect quality acting, so if you don’t understand French it’s still worth visiting. Though you shouldn’t expect experimental theatre here. From the season 2009/10 there are some performances with English subtitles.

The present general director Stéphane Braunschweig defined his program as the one which will promote contemporary plays and openness to its public. There are often lectures, public reunions, thematic workshops and discussions with artists.

Except interesting theatrical program, Theatre National de la Colline is an architecturally powerful site, appearing around the corner in a small street where you wouldn’t expect big modernistic theatre hall.

If you are younger than 30 years or a student, the ticket price of € 13 is also inviting (in Parisian terms).

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Théâtre National de la Colline | Theaters | Ticket € 27.00
15 rue Malte Brun | Belleville/Nation | +33144625252
Box office 11:00 – 18:30 & 19:30 – 21:00

The Parc de Belleville may not be as meticulously arranged or as aesthetically perfect as many of the parks in Paris but it does boast one of the best views of the city. Perched at the top of the steep rue Belleville, the park descends in a series of grassy terraces, modern water features and narrow flower-strewn pathways towards the rue Couronnes.

It’s only a small park but the pretty foliage-covered pathways are lined with benches and little grassy enclaves: all tranquil, quaint and peaceful.

If you fancy a rest after the trek up the hill, head past the rue Piat entrance at the top of the park and you’ll come to the lovely La Mer à Boire cafe 

As in many of Paris’ parks and public spaces there is now free WiFi available.

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Parc de Belleville | Relaxing
Rue des Couronnes | Belleville/Nation | +33143284763
08:00 – 23:00 daily

OK so the sun may have snuck away for a (long) winter snooze but lounging about along the Canal St. Martin is still one of my favourite pastimes. 

Come rain or shine, urban picnickers of all ages and with and variety of produce descend upon these concrete banks to enjoy Paris’ natural charm. Whether in the prettily terraced bars that line the canal (all with outdoor heating) or with your feet dangling over the murky water (baguette in one hand, bottle of wine in the other), the canal really does cater for all tastes. And wallets.

By night the whole area throngs with people and the atmosphere is easy going and great fun. Food can be bought in all the bars and cafés, and for picnickers in need of more cheese and wine, a number of shops remain open late too.

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Canal Saint-Martin | Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing
Canal St. Martin | Belleville/Nation
Daily

Venturing out to the rue des Rigoles may seem like a lot of effort but don’t be put off by the location, Les Trois Arts is truly a gem. With Balkan troupes, jazz quintets, chanson française as well as literary soirées and story telling, its about as eclectic as it gets.

The venue attracts a happy mix of people. Plus, the musicians (often quite weird and wacky types) usually hang around after the concerts drinking with the audience. Simple food is available too, from shareable stuff like cheese plates, salads and a plat du jour for the bargain price of € 8.

Many of the concerts are free. If not, entrance is never more than € 5.00 and its a good idea to arrive early as the basement room fills up quickly making it difficult to get a seat. Their website contains information concerning concerts, location and so on.

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Les Trois Arts | Bars, Music, Snacks, Restaurants (French) | Beer (demi) € 3.00
21 Rue des Rigoles | Belleville/Nation | +33143493627
Tue – Sat 17:00 – 00:00, Sun 17:00 – 21:00

Passing by the Cambodge you can’t help but notice two things: the large and almost constant queue outside, and the heady mix of spices and fish sauce that wafts around the crowd. To me these are both very good signs where eating is concerned.

Don’t be put off by the queue outside though, the take-away option is as popular as the restaurant itself and the efficient staff see that the wait is never a long one.

The food itself is simple – Cambodian inspired noodle-soups, salads and curries with a choice of vegetables, prawns and meat, all gloriously fresh and topped with delicious crushed peanuts and coriander. The prawn Bo-Bun is the winner for me.

Reservation is not possible, instead you have to go in and leave your name and number, then they call you when your table is ready. In the meantime there are plenty of great bars and cafés in the area, not to mention the canal itself and a number of shops too should you require a canal-side aperitif.

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Le Cambodge | Restaurants (Cambodian) | Bo Bun salad € 9
10 Avenue Richerand | Belleville/Nation | +33144843770
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 14:30 & 20:00 – 23:30