Le Petit Fer à Cheval Bar / Restaurant

Marais - 3eme / 4eme, Paris –

The intimate Le Petit Fer à Cheval (“The Little Iron Horse”) has managed to create one of the best venues for conversation in all of Paris, mainly because the place is so tiny that patrons can’t help but get up close and personal with everyone around.

The casual, chic atmosphere is supported by a disjointed décor largely assembled from vintage artifacts salvaged via everything from palaces to metro stations.

The upscale clientele savors fine wines at an elegant U-shaped bar of marble and engraved wood, illuminated from above by the soft light of an intricate golden chandelier.

Though the customers are sociable and ready to have a good time, the atmosphere remains relatively muted before 11pm. Regulars almost always stick with the bar’s signature tapas, served all night long, and order lots of freshly squeezed orange presse.

Even the bathrooms provide a fun and unique experience, with metal fixtures that create a distinct and unexpected 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea feel.

Le Petit Fer à Cheval is indeed petite, but like a lot of things in life, good things often come in small packages.