This bar-café-restaurant, just off avenue Parmentier in the trendy 11th arrondissement, is a joyous mix of arabesque crossed with Caribbean cool. The décor is a complete mish-mash, with walls painted in different happy colours, funky wall-papered shelves, and furniture ranging from battered Formica to wicker armchairs.

A yellow concrete bar is manned by the friendly dreadlocked Alexis, who makes fabulous fresh fruity cocktails against a soundtrack of ultra-lounge beats. Life is so relaxed here; friends, who include local DJ Moulinex, just turn up unannounced with a bag of tunes.

Don’t get confused if ‘a pint of cabbage’ or ‘pigs’ brains’ comes up on your bill, as they’ve replaced the beer name-tags with old labels from a general food store. You can’t help leaving this joint with a big smile on your face.