Just head down to the quays of the 13th arrondissement to come across one of the most remarkable boats in Paris. With its three masts and wooden hull, La Dame de Canton is unlike the neighboring houseboats. Before becoming a restaurant and concert venue, this Chinese junk sailed for several years and traveled through some forty countries.
La Dame de Canton, a Chinese junk moored in the 13th arrondissement
The story begins in the late 1970s, when two Frenchmen had the boat built at a shipyard in Canton, based on plans inspired by 17th-century merchant junks. Measuring 25 meters long, 7 meters wide, and weighing 80 metric tons, La Dame de Canton is constructed from seven types of exotic wood. Its rigging consists of three masts and 250 square meters of bamboo-lathed sails.
The junk then left China for a long voyage. It became the first of its kind to round the Cape of Good Hope and traveled the equivalent of one and a half times around the world, with stops in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the United States. In 1995, it took up permanent residence at the Port de la Gare, in front of the François-Mitterrand Library and near the Simone-de-Beauvoir footbridge.
Parisians first knew it as the “Guinguette Pirate.” At that time, the boat hosted artists such as Jacques Higelin, Louise Attaque, Bénabar, La Grande Sophie, and Thomas Dutronc, before reverting to its original name. Music remains at the heart of the venue today, with a lineup that spans pop-rock, funk, French chanson, and world music.
A unique restaurant with a terrace and live music on the banks of the Seine
Inside, the restaurant occupies a large wooden space where the tables face the stage. The menu doesn’t limit itself to Chinese cuisine: it blends various influences, featuring ponzu-glazed gyoza, za’atar hummus, chicken keftas, and marinated salmon as appetizers. Main courses range from flambéed “tiger’s tears” to beef bourguignon, including chakchouka and pastis-marinated shrimp, with prices currently ranging from 22 to 24 euros.
You can also stop by just for a drink or to share some tapas before a concert. On nice days, the action moves to a 300-square-meter terrace set up on the quay, open from May to September according to the Paris tourist office. The boat then returns to its indoor operations, generally Tuesday through Saturday evenings.
Between its maritime past, its entirely wood-paneled interior, and the concerts held just a few meters from the Seine, La Dame de Canton has a history that few Parisian restaurants can claim. A must-try spot!
📍La Dame de Canton – 5, Port de la Gare, 75013