Les Fontaines

One of my favorite ways to kill an hour or two in Central Paris is to pull up a chair and order a pint at Les Fontaines. Set right alongside the Fontaine Stravinsky, with those colorful mechanical sculptures spinning just a few feet away and the iconic Centre Pompidou looming behind, it has one of the best locations of any terrace in the city.

And yet, somehow, it’s far from a tourist trap.

The patio is enormous, which is a rare thing in a city where outdoor seating often means two wobbly chairs squeezed onto a sidewalk. There’s almost always space to pull up a seat, especially if you come early afternoon, which is exactly when I like to go.

The draft beer menu is solid and the prices are genuinely hard to argue with, especially for the location — a blonde goes for 4€, a Super Bock for 5€, and you can even grab a ‘demi’ for as little as 2.50€. You’re not going to find much cheaper drinks anywhere in Paris.

This Châtelet bar is open much all day, making it the perfect spot to meet up for a drink with a friend after lunch or to simply quench your thirst after a stroll through Le Marais. I’ve spent many an afternoon here doing nothing in particular and catching up with pals passing through Paris — and that’s really saying something given how many tourists pass through this part of town.

The setting does a lot of the work. Watching people drift past the fountain with the Pompidou’s famous colored pipes rising overhead, you get that rare Paris feeling of being somewhere truly special without anyone trying too hard.

The vibe’s casual and quite chill with a mostly student and twenty-something crowd. It’s a real local favorite, despite the touristy surroundings.

Do be warned thought — come apéro time, the place fills up fast! The combination of a great location and cheap beers is too good for it to stay a secret. My recommendation? Get there early, order yourself a beer on tap, and then just sit and enjoy watching the world go by.