BELLEVILLE

The one place I advise you to go to: the legendary Aux Folies. Situated in the Belleville neighborhood of Paris. It is chique, unassuming, simple, very, very old and if you feel like a revolutionary, this is your place to be.
But for me the charm of this place are the people who work behind the bar. Very kind, generous people who give you the idea that you are visiting their home.
Grab a cappuccino, get a french newspaper and waste your time here, you won't regret it.

The Belleville neighborhood is a special place: here you will find Muslims living peacefully with Jews, people from all corners of the world living together, you will find clochards, you will find rats sharing a loaf of bread with pigeons, tourists mixing with locals as if they are old friends, you will find the spirit of Edith Piaf in it's dark alleys and Asian noodles served in cardboard boxes. Belleville is the kind of place that reminds you of many contrasting things and has everything you are searching for. Often hidden, but those who seek, shall find. It is here that I have started my pilgrimage to find the Sacré cœur of Paris.