Au Fût et à Mesure

Every table at this spacious bar in Saint-Denis comes equipped with its own beer pump, meaning you can help yourself to pints and halves without even going up to the bar. Everything else is relatively normal (large wooden tables, slogans on the window, neo-brasserie style furnishing); but rather than banter with the barman, you use a pre-paid magnetic card to get the beer flowing. Each pump contains a different brew and is fitted with a touch screen, so if you want something else you just tap your selection and the waiter will receive a notification.

And the beer on tap is the good stuff – like fantastic Chimay Bleue, a Trappist ale, Cuvée des Trolls, Triple Karmeliet, Kwak, Queue de Charrue and many, many others. There’s plenty for beer novices to discover, and all at reasonable prices (it’s roughly €6 a pint at happy hour or €8 afterwards). Though the concept behind Au Fût et à Mesure may strike some as the digital age run mad, their system works perfectly well and it’s proving incredibly popular – so book in advance if you can.

TRANSLATION: HUW OLIVER