It’s a strange proposition – a loan company, Le Crédit Municipal de Paris, setting up an outdoor bar in the centre of Paris – but somehow it works. The name, literally ‘The Municipal Garden’, might not be very sexy, but the place itself, with its 300-square-metre terrace, paper lanterns dangling from trees and red-and-black checked tablecloths, is utterly picturesque. And we’re not the only ones to have noticed – by 7.30pm, it’s already a struggle to find a seat, and we have to wait a good ten minutes before pouncing on a table.
Unfortunately, there’s no table service for drinks – instead, drinkers have to queue by a little wooden booth where a bartender tries his best to cope with all the requests. Plus, the food is nothing spectacular, though everything’s pretty well done (think simple salads, croque-monsieurs, sandwiches and other such snacks).
‘Le Jardin Municipal’ is open until September 25 2016.
TRANSLATION: FLORA HUDSON