A perfect example of a Parisian site enjoying a second lease of life, the Petite Ceinture is now one of the capital’s most interesting spots. Over the past few years, Paris City Hall has been working to reclaim this green stretch of road. Once an obsolete railway infrastructure, it has been transformed into a veritable urban wasteland, becoming a playground for new and unusual addresses. Whether you’re looking for a bite to eat, a spot of gardening or a place to dance, here are the best addresses nestled along the rails.
Le Hasard Ludique
Workshop, performance space, bar-restaurant: Le Hasard Ludique is the hybrid venue par excellence. With an ultra-varied program, the converted former station can accommodate a large number of visitors in its 600 square metre enclosure or on the rails. Concerts, workshops, debates and parties: there’s never a dull moment in this unusual venue!
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Le Hasard Ludique – 128, avenue de Saint-Ouen, 75018
Bonus: HOBA, Le Hasard Ludique’s new ephemeral terrace!
This colorful, multi-faceted venue, beloved by Parisians, offers a concert hall, a community center, a space for reflection, a convivial bar, a gourmet canteen and a host of workshops on well-being, personal development and the visual arts.
Poinçon Paris
Like Hasard Ludique, Poinçon was born of the metamorphosis of a former train station. The Montrouge-Ceinture stop has come a long way since then, becoming a “place to live with a cultural dimension”. Poinçon Paris is now the young guest of this timeless building. Sharing and conviviality are the watchwords here! Whether you’re meeting up with friends for dinner or a night of entertainment, a stopover at Le Poinçon is always a good idea!
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Poinçon Paris – 124, avenue du Général Leclerc, 75014
TLM
Conceived by the Au Fil du Rail collective, TLM has set up shop in a former railway hall and is already ready to bring the whole of north-east Paris to life. Designed around the three axes of culture, fashion and food, it features large workshops, a thrift shop and an XXL gourmet terrace. In line with the district’s other “tiers-lieu”, it offers a hybrid experience for all local residents. Here, you can have a drink, recharge your batteries, relax, learn, bargain-hunt and take part in a wide variety of activities.
La REcyclerie
We no longer need to introduce THE reference spot on the Petite Ceinture! La REcyclerie, nestled in the former Ornano station, wears many hats. Whether it’s an urban farm, a café-cantine or a giant workshop, this one-of-a-kind space is all these things and more! Every day at the REcyclerie sounds like a new adventure, as the program is so rich and varied! Discover and rediscover!
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La REcyclerie – 83, boulevard Ornano, 75018
Le Passage à niveau
The first polyculture and insertion space in Paris, Ferme du Rail came into being following the 2014 Réinventer Paris call for projects. The young space in the north of Paris now has its own little restaurant called Le Passage à niveau. Its credo? “Eat well and live better.” In this sense, it serves gourmet and very affordable dishes, directly from the farm’s crops.
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Le Passage à niveau – 2 bis, rue de l’Ourcq, 75019
Les Jardins du Ruisseau
Located near Porte de Clignancourt, Les Jardins du Ruisseau is a community initiative run by a neighborhood association. In this place of life and sharing, numerous cultural, artistic and educational activities take place daily. A rare spot to discover!
Les Jardins du Ruisseau – 110bis rue du Ruisseau, 75018
La Gare
Just a stone’s throw from La Villette is La Gare, with its 2,000 square meters of terraces and gardens. Like the Caveau de la Huchette, this venue is the heartbeat of jazz in Paris! 365 concerts a year with free admission – that’s the crazy ambition of this spot on the outskirts of the city. That’s why it offers a wide-ranging program that reveals new talent. And after midnight, the night owls move into the basement, for under the cobblestones of La Gare lies Le Gore, an atypical techno club!
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La Gare – 1, avenue Corentin Cariou, 75019