Theatres and cinemas in Canal Saint-Martin, Ourcq and Villette

The twin MK2 cinemas on either side of the Bassin de la Villette offer an all-in-one night out: multi-screens, restaurants, decent waterside cafés and two-person 'love seats'. A paragon of imaginative programming, MK2 is growing all the time, cleverly appealing to both art-house puritans and blockbuster lovers with an eclectic range of films from around the globe (usually in VO - version originale)...

Founded as a monastery in the 17th century when still outside the city walls, this barracks, spinning factory and hospice was a military hospital from 1860 to 1968. Left empty, the convent was squatted by artists, Les Anges des Récollets, in the early 1990s. The buildings were renovated and reopened in 2004. One half, the Maison des Architectes, hosts a garden café and architectural debates. The other is the Centre International d'Accueil et d'Echanges des Récollets...

Lady Gaga played in this Art Déco style music hall before she was famous, and now streams of artists (both up-and-coming and confirmed) grace the stage for concerts that include pop-rock, slam, chanson française and a sprinkling of jazz and heavy metal. The venue holds between 600 and 800 people, so it’s the perfect size for atmospheric, but intimate gigs. It's also in a top spot for a post-concert night out along the Canal St-Martin...