Most people come to Paris to fulfill their dream about sitting in one of the famous cafés while enjoying wine with friends around a cheese or charcuterie board. Although these cafés are the unquestionable pride of the city, they are so intrinsic to its landscape that the former excitement soon turns into a desperate need for something different, sparking a quest for a place unlike any other to become one’s favorite, a place imbued with eclectic charm – just like Pili Pili.
Despite sitting in the hip part of the 11th arrondissement, new patrons discover Pili Pili usually by accident or through the grapevine of its regulars. With the facade giving off a slight impression of a watering hole for metalheads, the bar is famous for its interior’s signature look, blending a downtown dive bar vibe with Twin Peaks-inspired eeriness and a dash of Addams Family-like spookiness.
British vintage telephone booth on a characteristic trippy floor lurks in the back, lighted by a square Jack card neon sign that peeks out of fake leaves hanging from the ceiling rack. A few nearby tables are almost always taken, but nobody leaves for that reason. It’s not a loss since fun at the bar is too good to pass up.
While sitting at the countertop, it’s hard to keep oneself from eyeing small but peculiar details such as whimsical beer tap handles in the shapes of a vampire, a crystal ball, and a terminator’s head, a playful reference to the house’s blonde beer – Pilinator. Miscellaneous objects, like helmets and action figures, scattered behind the bar and between the bottles, are kitsch to the point of being delightful.
It wasn’t just camp decor that gained Pili Pili recognition among locals, but the brand it has become. Anyone who’s been around knows David – the bartender and owner who’s always welcoming to everyone, whether you’re a regular or just walking in for the first time, as well as Pili Pili’s themed events spiced with a broad variety of music from hip hop to black metal. The bar also sells its merch, owns a YouTube channel, and founded a trademark cult of Great Piu Piu, gathering those wanting to feel at home in their local bar.
Bar Pili Pili
70 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011 Paris
Metro station: Parmentier (line 3), Couronnes (line 2), Goncourt (line 11)
01 47 00 49 36
Open: Tuesday – Saturday from 6 PM to 2 AM
Facebook
Instagram
Comments are closed.