Café A 20s / All Types / Artsy Dresses / Brunch / Button-downs / Concerts / Courtyard / Dinner / Diverse / DJ / Downtown Chic / Drinks / French Food / Friendly / Fun-loving / Good for Groups / Great View / Groups / Italian Food / Jeans / Laid back / Late 30s / Lively / Live Music / Locals / Lunch / Moderate / No Fuss / Outdoor Area / Spanish Food / Street Parking / Vodka / Wi-Fi / Café

My Take: Hidden behind high walls in the not-so-charming Gare de l'Est district is Cafe A, a hip bar and cafe with one of the best courtyards in Paris. It's a local's secret and not easy to find if you're not looking. Cafe A is housed in Maison de L'Architecture, an architect school and former convert. From the outside, with its high iron fencing and mysterious corridors, the building gives no clue it houses a bar/cafe. Cafe A is very spacious. It's divided into 3 areas; a romantic chapel for private events, a minimal indoor area with a bar and occasional live music and a tree-filled courtyard that gets very busy in summer. The venue is great but more often than not, it's overshadowed by poor service from the waiters. The Scene: In the afternoon locals head to Cafe A for lunch or coffee and a good read. They soak up the sun and breath in fresh air in the courtyard. Despite the busy lunch hour it's very serene. The evenings are more festive. The locals come in for a well-earned after work drink or to fill up before heading somewhere else for the night. The music is not too loud and they enjoy great conversations. Cocktail and Cuisine: Cafe A doesn't have an extensive menu, it's very basic with only a few choices under each category. For starters there's salads,smoked salmon, fish of the day or tarama. For mains try the lamb, veal or fish of the day. They also serve bruschettas. For drinks there's everything from sodas, coffee and tea to beer, wine and cocktails. Prices: The prices are moderate. Beer (on tap): 3€-6.50€ Beer (bottle): 6€ cafe: 2.30€-4€ Liquor: 2.80€-8.50€ Starters: 6€-14€ Mains: 13€-24€ What to wear: Not really important! Casual, trendy, anything goes. Insider info/when to go: Cafe A is very busy around 1pm and 10pm, arrive just a little bit early to get a table.