L'Alimentation Générale Bar / Club / Live Music Venue

Bastille / Oberkampf - 11eme, Paris –

A far cry from the literal translation of its name – “the general food store” – L'Alimentation Générale welcomes a diverse mix of music lovers looking for an eclectic mash-up of DJs and live performers.

An audience of chill students and hip intellectuals promises a calm midweek vibe, as patrons perch at the scattered picnic tables to down cheap beers and cocktails and catch a showcase of folk rock, samba, soul, reggae, jazz, and even classical.

The mostly open space sports a barebones décor of posters and flyers, bizarre lamps made of sponges, a retro foosball table in one corner, and a stage that plays host to the range of musical genres.

Guests enjoy a menu that reflects the simple nature of the venue itself – appetizers, cheeses, assorted meats, burgers, and pasta – but Générale’s spartan grub and midweek mellowness belies its weekend fervor, when an assortment of diverse DJs transform the space into a buzzing international fiesta.

A relatively easygoing door policy and affordable cover means the dance floor fills up quickly, with vibrant but uniformly casual club kids piling in for dubstep one night, banging Balkan techno beats the next, and a whole mess of other styles in between.

A down-to-earth haunt that satisfies the ears and won’t break the bank, L’Alimentation Générale is ideal for open-minded music fans in the market for a good time.