Exploring bars in rue Mouffetard, 5ème

On Friday night we explored some bars in the 5th arrondissement, where a few of my international friends are living. There's a really vibrant street called rue Mouffetard which is lined with bars, and creperies, and restaurants, and ice cream parlours, and brasseries and on a Friday night it's buzzing with people.

The first place we went to was called Le Requin Chagrin, which I had heard about online. It had a kind of english pub feel to it inside, with french-style brasserie tables outside. On Thursday it's happy hour all night for ladies and cocktails are only 5€ so mental note made to spend a Thursday evening there (especially since I have no lectures on a friday). I didn't take this picture myself because I often don't think/forget to take photos when i'm out. They're showing all the Rugby World Cup games here and though i'm not exactly a huge rugby fan and I don't know how many of the games i'll watch, I reckon it would be a good atmosphere if you did want to watch a game and support your nation.

The second place we went to was a tapas restaurant/bar called Le Bar de Fer. This was a really small space, they struggled to squeeze us in, but it had a great atmosphere and the food looked amazing. They had a guy playing live music, just his voice and his guitar, and he was seriously good. He had a perfect repetoire mix from more chilled acoustic songs to more upbeat tracks like Stand by Me and Cheerleader which had quite a few people up and dancing and others singing along. It was also really cool decor in there because they had literally just got people to write all over the wall, quotes, drawings, messages, where they were from etc. and it just had this kind of lived-in vibe which I liked a lot. I wish I had taken a picture of it! The drinks weren't that cheap, 5.50€ for a glass of wine, but it was nice wine, and the atmosphere, music, vibe etc. was great.

 



Word of advice: don't order a tea. A friend ordered a tea, 15 minutes later (having been bought the wine/beer we'd ordered) we ask where the tea is and the waitress looks at us like we're completely stupid because obviously the tea is being made and will arrive. Another 15 minutes later, and eventually they bring out a cup of hot water and a tea bag on the side - how that took half an hour to make I don't know, and for 4€ my advice would be to just order alcohol instead!