L'Inconnu (CLOSED)

This is one of Time Out's 100 best bars in Paris. Click here to see the full list.

Here’s a new bar in an area, Strasbourg Saint-Denis, that’s becoming a more and more interesting alternative to Pigalle, Oberkampf and Bastille. The team managing the venue know what they’re doing, and the friendly welcome, comfy sofa, soft lighting and cheap Parisian beer (Gallia) encouraging chat and chance encounters. Even better is the busy event schedule, particularly the DJ sets on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays that often feature big names like Teki Latex, Supa Never Smiles or Acid Washed. The downstairs dance floor area stays open until 2am and is a good place to meet the local population of hipsters, artists and musicians, or anyone just looking for a good tune. Opened in March 2011, l’Inconnu has a bright future – not least because its creators are planning to add a terrace.