Café MAMA KIN — Restaurant in Paris

Looking for a local bar with real Parisians and real personality? Mama Kin is your answer. A neighborhood joint which has also gained a reputation as a live music venue, this small bar takes up residence on the ground floor of one of those odd triangular buildings that make up the angle between two converging streets (in this case rue de l’Ourcq and rue de la Meurthe). The red brick façade is a cheerful sight on an otherwise nondescript street, though if you’re coming from avenue Jean-Jaurès you’ll pass an impressive wall of brightly colored graffiti on your way. Here’s a typical evening. A handful of regulars props up the bar, chatting with each other and the friendly barman in the first, narrower room, and enjoying the impressive selection of Belgian beers. Tribal masks and objets d’art are scattered across the walls, giving the place an ethnic, earthy vibe. Step through into the second, larger room, and you’re immediately struck by the vibrant shapes and colors of the artist Da Cruz’s fresco. It takes up the entire back wall and the wall behind the stage. The acoustic sounds of blues, folk or jazz fill the room on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, as well as DJ sets spinning anything from funk to reggae. The music draws quite a crowd, and the small space fills up quickly, meaning a lively atmosphere for even the smallest concerts. Even though the style of the place leans more towards evening bar than typical Parisian café, it works well as a peaceful, cozy neighborhood café during the day, serving good coffee, quiche and Welsh rarebit at...

Extremely dirty place. OK, I will add some details:

As per the picture attached, my glass had something sticky inside (I realised that only after a while), after been probably quickly rinsed before being reused. At the bottom of the peanut bowl I found a small piece of coaster (I guess those poor peanuts had been recycled several times). As for the bathroom... ouch.

It's apity, because if it wasn't for the dirt, that would be a really nice bar, in a lovely...

As an solo American abroad for my work, all I have to look forward to usually is a good beer in a lovely place. It took me a bit of trial and error before I finally ducked in to Mama Kim for a beer or two, being lazy while looking over the canal.

Relaxed. Friendly. Hazy IPA. Love it.

Of course I finally drop in on my final day in Paris. But I’ll be back.

Thank you Mama Kin for making some of my last beers in Paris (this time) so...