La Dame de Canton

Time Out says

Thu Aug 2 2012

The former Guingette Pirate is now known as the Dame de Canton, befitting its home in a superb Chinese junk made from exotic wood. In its previous life, it sailed the seven seas, but now in retirement on the banks of the Seine, this delightful Dame is now all about living it up in her golden years. With the concert space and its striking wooden dance floor, the captain’s room with its ancient library, the intimate, romantic restaurant in the hold and the sun-drenched bridge with a view of the Seine, you never get bored of exploring this floating labyrinth.

The musical programme has evolved since its revival: previously focusing on French artists, the Pirate shook with sounds of the guitars of Mathieu Chédid, Noir Désir, Thomas Dutronc, Bénabar and Sanseverino. Today, it’s more avant-garde: there are VJ projects on giant screens, break beats, electro-swing gypsy jazz and tzigano-keupon, electro-tropical candomblé DJs, thaï-funk electro disco, ragga, kompa, mash up or bootleg, and plenty more alternative world music you’ve never heard of.

In the kitchens in the hold of the boat, the menu will also keep you on your toes – we recommend the brilliant oyster risotto with saffron-infused shellfish coulis and a killer choclate cake.

By CG/HC