The Village Atmosphere of La Butte aux Cailles

From Place d'Italie, you can choose to take the tube to Mairie d'Ivry (line n°7). Ivry offers a dynamic art scene, with the Crédac (Contemporary Art Center of Ivry - Centre d'art contemporain d'Ivry) gathering all kind of visual arts from big names to young artists. A few steps away, the Trafic Gallery is a cutting-edge art space (at n°40-44 rue Jules Vanzuppes).
Getting back to place d'Italie, take the time to discover the village neighbourhood of La Butte aux Cailles. It has a true rural feeling! The paved streets of Butte aux Cailles and Cinq-Diamants are lined with little townhouses hiding gardens (a very rare privilege in Paris), and small piazzas welcome Wallace fountains (Former public drinking fountains, sponsored by the Englishman and philanthropist Richard Wallace at the end of the Nineteenth century). Your stroll will also allow you to discover nice shops, such as the Bijoux de Nico (at n°5, rue de la Butte-aux-Cailles) or the Abeilles (at n°21, for honey, it's managed by a beekeeper)

At night the district wakes up. Student and boho revellers enjoy the numerous restaurants. For the true Parisian atmosphere of an old "bistro", check the Temps des Cerises (at n°20, rue de la Butte-aux-Cailles). A quieter option may be Chez Nathalie, a restaurant set at n°45 rue Vandrezanne.
The atmosphere gets electric as the night goes by. Sing and dance to 80's hits in a tropical setting at the Merle-Moqueur (at n°11, rue de la Butte-aux-Cailles), or enjoy a concert of World music, indie or Jazz while sipping a rum at the Folie en Tête (at n°33).