Urban Life - Paris

Cafes, Restaurants, Bars and Nightclubs

Over the past few years, the Parisian dining scene has become less intimidating, more relaxed and much more open to influence from global cuisine. Fortunately, there is still a school of French restaurants that subscribe to the national delusion that lots and lots of cholesterol is very good, not bad, for your health. La Fontaine Gaillon is one of them, and it is well worth imperilling your arteries for a feast of its famous... and stuffing. For the most part, though, long, heavy lunches have been transformed into quick, healty ones. At his eponymous restaurant, Alain Senderens, one of the founding fathers of nouvelle cuisine, caused a stir in early 2006 when he announced that he was returning his three stars to Michelin. He now wants to serve food without pretence.

Other popular venues are following the once heretical, now fashionable, non-smoking approach of L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon. Perhaps, as a result of all this culinary restraint, the city's bar scene has come on apace. The sophisticated vibe at Kong, or VIP Room. ..and it is hard to the remember that until a few years ago, the best fun to be had after midnight was at one the Porte D'Ivry karaoke bars, populated by Françoise Hardyesque trannies. Or was that just us ?