Le Perchoir Ménilmontant

Le Perchoir Ménilmontant is the original venue of the Perchoir group, which has since opened rooftop bars in other parts of Paris. It sits on the top of an industrial building on Rue Crespin du Gast in the 11th arrondissement, between Ménilmontant and Oberkampf, and it helped popularise the idea of informal rooftop drinking in the east of the city. The bar is on the seventh floor, with a restaurant one floor below.

The rooftop terrace is decorated with plants, wooden furniture and strings of lights, and it looks west over the zinc roofs of the 11th and 20th arrondissements, with Sacré-Cœur on its hill in the distance. The drinks list focuses on cocktails, wine and beer, and the mood is relaxed, with music in the background rather than a club atmosphere. On the sixth floor, the restaurant is run by Vecchio, which serves an Italian-American menu, so you can combine dinner with drinks upstairs. Part of the venue can be privatised for events.

The bar suits groups of friends, couples and anyone looking for a sunset drink with a view in a less touristy part of the city. It is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm to 2am, except on days when the venue is privatised, so check the website before you go. The terrace is most popular on warm evenings in spring and summer, when queues can form at the street entrance from early evening.

Arrive at opening time for the best chance of a spot on the terrace, particularly at weekends, or come later in the evening when the after-work crowd thins out. Prices are moderate for a rooftop bar in Paris. Bring a layer in spring and autumn, as the terrace is exposed and gets cool after dark. For the restaurant, booking ahead is wise. The venue can be contacted at [email protected].

Ménilmontant station on metro line 2 is about five minutes' walk away, and Parmentier on line 3 is also nearby. The surrounding streets around Rue Oberkampf and Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud are full of bars, wine bars and late-night restaurants, so it is easy to continue the evening, and Belleville, with its street art and park views, is just up the hill.