Andy Wahloo

The name of this bar may sound like a slightly perverse play on Andy Warhol, as in, "In the future everyone is going to be famous for 15 minutes" - as I'm sure many of it's patrons would like to be. However, Andy Wahloo actually means "I have nothing" in Arabic - a rather odd name for a place that is so richly furnished. Created by the owners of the eponymous Sketch and Momo in London who also own the chic little restaurant 404 next door, Andy Warloo is a serious destination for the young and beautiful of Paris.

The bar is nestled into a fairly small space, one that is replete with arched colonnades and tiled floors, brightly coloured woven lanterns and more throw cushions than you would expect to find in your average harem. With an Arabic/ Moroccan theme to the music, the food, the bar and the decorations, one can settle in for the evening and watch (or imagine) a contemporary version of 1001 and Arabian Nights unfold before them.

That is, as long as you have brought a small fortune in gold coins along with you: at 10 euros for Mojito, a night in this little Morocco is going to set you back a bit (one round for you and your 5 closest friends almost buys you a discount ticket to the real thing- but let's not dwell on that). If you do as I do and stick to the Heineken beer, it's a little less hard to swallow at 5 euro a pop. Alternatively, get in early for Happy Hour, between 5 and 8pm daily, as many of the cocktails drop down to 5 euro and the beer to 3.50.

From lunchtime onwards you can sit around sipping mint tea and picking at Arabian-inspired mezze, such as carrot salad or marinated olives, and from around 9pm the seriously gorgeous decor is off-set by a seriously gorgeous crowd. Later in the evening European DJ's get to work, pushing the in-crowd from their upturned paint cans and into the writhing throng that is the 'dance floor'. If this is all a bit much, needle your way out the back and pull up a compacted-cardboard ottoman in the courtyard - that is, if you can find one free...


Andy Wahloo / 69, rue des Gravilliers / 75003 Paris / Ph: (+33) 01.42.71.20.38 / Hours: noon - 2am Monday - Saturday / Metro: Arts-et-Métiers or Rambuteau / http://www.myspace.com/andywahloo