Rooftop bars in Paris are a rare commodity, so when one pops up it’s like a golden crumb to a flock of pigeons. It’s no surprise then that the relatively new Le Perchoir (it opened under the radar in mid-July) has quickly become the it watering hole of la rentrée, attracting pretty birds and their flocks from all over the city, by chirping-of-mouth alone.

 Go there for a night when you want to rub shoulders with industry types, fashion hounds, laidback locals and fun-loving bobos who are all bored with the same-old same-old spots in its genre.

The tented wraparound bar brings back nostalgic memories of les vacances and is manned by friendly buddies of co-owner Adrien Boissaye. They’ll pour you whatever you need to get yourself back into Paris-mode, whether it’s Corsican beer, organic wine or legit mixed drinks made with top-quality liquors, and they’ll do it all with a smile, putting away your fears of elevated egos despite the high altitude.

 

If you get there early enough (the sooner the better), there’s plenty of space to grab a table and a seat on any of the refurbished chairs, benches or cozy couches, and the industrial structure is softened by kitschy-chic déco, ample plant life and relaxed tunes. You almost feel like you’re escaping to the next Hollywood film set with a panoramic view of Paris, coupled with an easy ambiance for a chilled night out with your crew or a casual tête-à-tête.

Throw in some small plates of pata negra (Iberian ham), Lozère veal tacos and the upcoming addition of mini burgers and New-York-style lobster sammies to tide over your tipsy hunger pangs, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for a 7th heaven hangout on the 7th floor of a nondescript office building in the otherwise hit-or-miss Oberkampf area.

If you feel like splurging, reserve a table at the cozy indoor restaurant (one level below) for a 42-48 euro tasting menu concocted by chef Benoît Dumas who changes it up daily with provincial-inspired dishes served tapas style — special mention for the hand-cut potato crisps topped with slices of perfectly seared tuna and spicy mayo and the Sunday beef ribs paired with seasonal veggies and hand-cut fries. With the resto’s NYC ambiance to counter the Parisian skyline above, the equation for seamless seduction is complete : Full stomach + 360° view of Paris + drinks = high potential for post-dinner coquetry.

Don’t be discouraged by the falling leaves and cold weather creeping its way in because there are plans for a huge fireplace on the terrace (for heating and wood-fired pizza-making purposes), outdoor heaters, fleece blankets and the addition of a bar on restaurant level with a carte de cocktails that will be sure to provide you with all the boozy warmth you need to survive until the beaux jours return.

Article : Stephanie Holmes

Le Perchoir
14 rue Crespin du Gast
75011 Paris
Bar open Monday through Friday from 4 pm and weekends from noon
Restaurant open Wednesday to Saturday; Sundays for lunch and dinner (Reservations only : reservation@leperchoir.fr)
Métro : Ménilmontant, Rue Saint Maur
01 48 06 18 48
Website : leperchoir.fr

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