Le Dépanneur

Opening quietly over summer, new bar and restaurant Le Dépanneur has brought a touch of California casual to the 9th arrondissement. The original Le Dépanneur is fondly remembered through hazy memories as somewhat of a good-time girl of the 80s and 90s, a bistro smack-bang in the middle of the action in Pigalle (you can see the Moulin Rouge from the windows!). The old girl has been given a new lease on life thanks to Parisian-based interior design studio Weekends (also responsible for Le Mary Celeste and Candelaria) and owners Olivier and Julie Demarle, who together have transformed the space into a rosy-hued, timber-covered oasis, with custom-designed furniture and even custom-designed playlists, to complement the relaxed Big Sur meets Palm Springs vibe. The menu is predominantly Mexican/American and is created by the team behind food truck Cantine California, using super fresh ingredients – expect zingy soft-shell tacos, juicy burgers and moreish desserts. The restaurant is open from brunch, when the tacos are replaced by Cali-Mex standards such as huevos rancheros, and continues through into lunch and dinner, with plenty of tequila and excellent cocktails to top it all off. Le Depanneur’s ground floor offers plenty of room to move – a rarity in Paris – around the bar and booth tables, and there is also a smaller room upstairs for those who prefer more intimate surrounds. The big windows and soft lighting make this a perfect space to spend some quality time in the 9^th – Pigalle may have had a bit of a facelift since Le Dépanneur’s former life, but there are still plenty of good times to be had yet.

Le Dépanneur

Address: 27 rue Pierre Fontaine
Telephone: 01 48 74 48 74
Hours: M-Sun 10am-2am
Metro: Blanche (2)

Words: Jill Pope
Image: via @ylmzceline