Les Idiots (CLOSED)

This tiny bar on the boulevard Ménilmontant is hard to find, but once located, quickly becomes a firm favourite. A local favourite thanks to its vintage vibe, easygoing staff, low prices and friendly atmosphere, it's full of brainy bobo types playing with the bar’s chess set and drinking the house rum punch, served in a jug or at €3 a glass, or giant mojitos at €6. Beers, refreshingly, are just €2.50 a throw. Packed at cocktail hour, if you do manage to get a table there are cheap and good homemade sandwiches, salads, and soups in winter. Dishes of the day are also a good bet, things like salmon with yakitori sauce and vegetables in coconut milk, chicken and pork flan with Fourme d’Ambert cheese, and oven-baked lasagne. You can follow the menu on the bar’s Facebook page. Bands often play during the early evenings, there’s a world/free/jazz manouche guitar jam every Monday and storytelling for kids on Sunday afternoons. All in all, a welcoming and laid-back neighbourhood bar.