B L A C K
B O O K
01
I
Jardin du
Luxembourg
“It’s well-known,
but never disappoints.
Everything there is
iconic, whether it’s
the sailing boats on
the ponds or the
Guignol [marionette
theatre].”
6th
Arrondissement,
senat.fr
02
I
Le Old Navy
“It’s the cheapest
bar: it’s dusty,
everything looks
bad and the bar
staff are pretty rude.
I can’t help but love
it though. I’ve been
coming here since
I was a teenager.”
150 Boulevard
Saint-Germain,
+33 (0)1 4326 8809
03
I
Les Palais des
Sportst
“This is strange 1960s
arena used for boxing.
The Beatles played
here in 1965, and we
wanted somewhere
unique to play, so we
performed here for
two nights back
in February.
1 Place de la Porte
de Versailles, Paris,
+33 (0)1 4828 4010,
palaisdessports.com
04
I
O’Paris Pub,
Versailles
“This is my dad’s
pub. I was a bartender
here as a teenager
with the other guys in
the band. You’ll know
you’re in the right pub,
because there are
pictures of Phoenix –
he’s a proud father.”
15 Rue Colbert,
Versailles (20km from
Paris), +33 (0)1 3950
3612,
puboparis.com
05
I
La Cigale
“This is a gig
venue in the heart
of Pigalle. Its floor
is on springs, so
the whole room
shakes and vibrates
when you play. It’s
impossible to have
a bad show here.”
120 Boulevard
de Rochechouart,
75009 Paris
+33 (0)1 4925 8999,
lacigale.fr
06
I
Le Bistrot
de Paris
“There’s a special
room with a bar in the
back, and when light
comes in, it looks like a
dream for any painter.
You could go for lunch
or dinner, but because
of this light, both
times would look
very different.”
33 Rue de Lille, Paris,
+33 (0)1 4261 16 83
07
I
Bar Hemingway
“I like this bar in the
Ritz Hotel, because
they have a typewriter
where you can leave
messages. One of my
friends left me one
and three years later,
I picked it up. I love
the fact that it’s so
old-fashioned.”
15 Place Vendôme,
+33 (0)1 4316 3365,
ritzparis.com
Thomas Mars’s guide to
Paris
The Phoenix frontman chooses his favourite haunts in the City of Light
R E G U L A R S
PHOTO
ALAMY, ELIZABETH F CHURCHILL, VIEWPICTURES
0 1 8
