25 Degré Est

19eme, Paris –

Despite its militaristic address, the only fighting going on at 25 Degré Est is for the best seats on the large terrace bar, where sun-kissed patrons can sip sweet cocktails as they admire the picturesque Canal Saint-Martin.

Summer ensures this open terrace is the star of the show; a magnet for mellow young professionals in Ray Bans who begin their evening sipping Happy Hour Leffes or the cocktail du jour, the gush of the fountain on the adjacent Stalingrad square serving as background noise to their conversation.

Beneath the terrace, the venue’s long and narrow building fronts the calm canal, its stone façade barren save for a series of columns that disappear behind a covered awning in winter months.

Groups of ladies catching up after work enjoy a similar view at this level – but with the added benefit of outdoor heaters – while just inside, the cozy interior features modern and often risqué paintings for sale, a tile mosaic of the 25 logo inlaid into the wood floor, and rows of bright plastic chairs, where guests can settle in to dine on French fare from hefty steaks to dainty salmon terrine.

As with the drinks, the food at 25 Degré Est is fairly friendly to the wallet, and the signature entertainment is watching local Parisians flow by, preferably as the waiter brings over another pint of Panaché.