Just minutes from Gare du Nord with its big glass window, red lights and the words “La Colonie” (the colony) defiantly crossed out on its shop front, you’ll find La Colonie: a big, beautiful bar with mint green walls, a glass roof, plants, couches, simple white tables, and a lovely heated veranda. In the evening, wine (try their red), beer, cocktails and appetisers abound.
But when you see the newspapers lying all around, its well-stocked library and everyone deep in animated discussion, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary bar. First opened on October 17 2016 to commemorate the Paris massacre of 1961, this space is primarily intended for debate, exhibitions and conferences with political commentators, artists and academics, all with the aim of developing greater understanding between the formerly colonised and the former colonisers. A beautiful, intelligent, important project from the French-Algerian contemporary artist.