Cafe Charbon

One of the first cafes to revitalise the Oberkampf district in the 1990's, Cafe Charbon covers all the major food groups - brunch (on weekends), lunch, dinner and cocktails (try the house cocktail "Ti Punch Charbon" - it's a killer) and does so very well. A very accommodating space crammed with booths, banquettes and little round tables strewn throughout, the mood can be either intimate or boisterous, depending on your own expectations. After midnight on weekends the DJ fires up with a crowd-pleasing mix and the elegant bar/bistrot suddenly turns into a packed-out dance hall.

A former coal merchant's premises, the space has been fully restored to the height of its Belle Epoque charm. Grand mirrors, chandeliers, high ornate ceilings and plenty of brass make an otherwise immense space feel welcoming. This is the kind of setting where beautiful things happen to beautiful people.

One of the best brunches in Paris make this spot a Sunday morning ritual. However, considering how hard it is to get a seat, it may be tempting to not go home after a hard night's drinking and dancing: rather, lurk around somewhere nearby for first dibs at a table.

Worth go out of your way for, any time of the day or night, Cafe Charbon is a hipster destination unto itself. Just don't expect the wait staff to bend over backwards for you: you may choose what to drink, but they may choose whether or not to serve you.

Cafe Charbon / 190 rue Oberkampf/ 75011 Paris / Ph: +33 (0)1 43 57 55 13 / Metro: Parmentier / website: http://www.nouveaucasino.net/