New Paris Taste | THISTIME magazine

Food And Drink Culture
In Creative Paris

When you ask about the hottest spots in Paris right now,
the answers are more likely to be restaurants than fashion boutiques or art galleries.
Paris has always been synonymous with fine dining, so exceptional food is nothing new.
What is new is the way dining experiences are being intertwined with music, art, fashion,
and other cultural elements, often captured under the broader concept of “gastronomy.”
This shift has given rise to a wave of inventive and engaging restaurants across the city.
Here, we feature some of the unique dining destinations
that have captured the attention of Paris’s creative community.

Bambino

Enjoy Both Food And Drinks at
A Music Bar In Paris

Inside, large Palladium Audio speakers and shelves of vinyl records define the bar’s distinctive look. Owner Lombardi pours a glass of Bambino’s signature wine, noting, “I first wore a G-SHOCK when I was twelve.”

Bambino is a music bar that draws stylish patrons from around the world every night. While music bars are common in Japan’s major cities, they remain a rarity in Paris. Opened in 2019 by owner Fabien Lombardi, Bambino features a brutalist-inspired interior, with shelves lined with records and oversized speakers setting the tone. Guests can sip wine or cocktails while enjoying Mediterranean cuisine. “Most of the records here were collected during my five-time trips to Japan, in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Kanazawa. The concept itself is inspired by Japanese music bars,” says Lombardi. Step inside and you might briefly feel as though you are in Tokyo, thanks to the inviting atmosphere. Yet the bar’s historic architecture, chef-driven menu, and a wine cellar boasting around 300 selections make it unmistakably Parisian. “I only serve music, food, and drinks that I personally love,” Lombardi adds. It is this personal vision that shapes Bambino, a bar that continues to thrive on the energy of its devoted regulars.

This is a photo of shelves displaying wine and specialty food products inside Bambino café in Paris.

Left : The menu offers French and Mediterranean dishes, with a Japanese chef on staff adding subtle touches of Japanese flavor, such as tuna specialties.

Right : In the basement, a cave-like wine cellar invites guests to browse and select bottles by examining their labels in person, one of the many pleasures of the experience.

25 Rue Saint-Sébastien, 75011 Paris
@bambino_paris

Dreamin Man

A Café That Supports
Paris’s Creative Community

At the 1st arrondissement location, Sugiyama carefully brews coffee. In Paris, where many buildings are historic, installing a new chimney is a challenge, so few cafés roast their own beans. Preparations are in progress to allow roasting in-house in the future.

“Dreamin Man” is a café where Paris’s creative community comes together. It has appeared at events for major fashion houses and operates a coffee stand inside the renowned boutique “Broken Arms” in Marais (district). Japanese owner Yuichiro Sugiyama opened the first location in the 11th arrondissement in 2019, followed by the Broken Arms stand, and most recently a third store in the 1st arrondissement in 2024. Its popularity among fashion designers, artists, and architects stems from Sugiyama’s philosophy of creating a space. “Serving delicious coffee and food is a given. What truly matters is the community that forms here. In today’s world, where personal connections are becoming increasingly rare, building community has always been my focus,” he says. In the age of the internet and social media, cafés with a similar style can be found all over the world, but what cannot be replicated is the community created by those who gather here. At Dreamin’ Man, the atmosphere is shaped by creative crowd who connect with Sugiyama’s vision and the welcoming environment he has built.

This is a photo of coffee and dessert items served at Dreamin Man in a warm café setting.

The menu features a generous selection of sweets, especially baked goods. In a nod to its largely Japanese staff, the café also serves onigiri, a signature offering unique to Dreamin’ Man.

31 Rue Coquillière, 75001 Paris
@dreaminman_paris

Dumbo Marais

Smash Burgers Taking Paris By Storm

Dumbo is the burger shop bringing America’s smash burger craze to Paris. Founded in 2019 by Samuel Nataf and Charles Ganem, its mission was to offer simple, refined food in an increasingly complicated burger scene. In just a few years, it has gained a devoted following both in France and abroad, expanding to four locations in Paris and one in London. The menu is intentionally small, focusing on a single item to ensure customers get the very best. The juicy, flavor-rich patties are topped only with pickles and onions, seasoned simply with ketchup and mustard. What sets it apart from its American counterpart is the use of brioche-like buns, rich with butter and eggs. Dumbo’s design is another defining feature. Its minimalist interior distinguishes it from the typical burger shop, a deliberate choice to keep the cheeseburger in the spotlight. This attention to detail, evident even in its carefully curated Instagram feed, is part of what draws creative-minded customers through its doors.

This is a photo of a staff member holding a burger meal at Dumbo Marais in Paris.

Left : A smash burger served with Dumbo’s signature beer. Their simplicity makes them all the more enticing.

Right : Founder Samuel Nataf packing burgers into takeout bags.

6 Rue de Poitou, 75003 Paris
@dumboparis

This is a photo of smash burgers being cooked on a grill at Dumbo Marais.

Left : A smash burger served with Dumbo’s signature beer. Their simplicity makes them all the more enticing.

Right : Founder Samuel Nataf packing burgers into takeout bags.

6 Rue de Poitou, 75003 Paris
@dumboparis

Sonny’s Pizza

A Street-Born Pizzeria
Rooted In Graffiti And Hip-Hop

Co-owners Bryan Azzouzi and Jonathan Monteix grew up surrounded by graffiti and hip-hop culture. Trips to New York in their youth played a major role in shaping the style of their pizzeria.

Graffiti, hip-hop, and pizza. Sonny’s Pizza channels the spirit of New York and has become a vibrant gathering place for Parisians who love street culture. Alongside the American classic pepperoni, the shop’s signature is its creative pizzas, each one treated as a blank canvas and crafted with the freedom of painting. This approach comes naturally to a team whose roots are in graffiti and hip-hop. Their strong identity has inspired collaborations across genres, from creating exclusive items with the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets to hosting live parties with top rappers and DJs. At Sonny’s, the pizza dough itself becomes a blank canvas and a platform for cultural creation. It is New York style, reinterpreted through a Parisian lens, and well worth experiencing.

Co-owners Bryan Azzouzi and Jonathan Monteix grew up surrounded by graffiti and hip-hop culture. Trips to New York in their youth played a major role in shaping the style of their pizzeria.

This is a photo of the Sonny’s Pizza storefront with neon signage in Paris at night.

Center : Displayed in the shop window are paper plates covered in graffiti drawn by customers, a vivid reminder of the strong connection with the community and the affection the shop inspires.

Right : A photograph reminiscent of New York’s 1970s graffiti scene. Look closely and you’ll find the words “SONNY’S PIZZA.” We wonder who wrote that?

5 Rue de la Fontaine au Roi, 75011 Paris, France
@sonnyspizza_paris

Bonjour Jacob

Daily Specialty Coffee
With Rare Independent Magazines

The walls are lined with carefully selected magazines from around the world, many rarely seen elsewhere. It satisfies both as a coffee shop and as a bookstore.

At Bonjour Jacob, guests can enjoy specialty coffee, with over 300 varieties rotating throughout the year, while browsing independent magazines sourced from around the world. It is a place where time seems to disappear as you explore new ideas and perspectives. Fashion-conscious Parisians with a sharp eye for art and lifestyle flock here to relax, while monthly release parties, DJ sets, and exhibitions keep the atmosphere vibrant. The magazine selection follows three principles: timeless pieces you want to keep forever, designs with strong object-like appeal, and exceptional quality. Notably, 20% of the titles are so rare that they can only be read here in Paris. The coffee program is equally distinctive, featuring beans processed exclusively with innovative methods such as anaerobic fermentation and double fermentation, ensuring each cup offers a new flavor and experience. Bonjour Jacob is a rare find, utterly unique in the world, yet it feels as welcoming and familiar as your own home.

This is a photo of the exterior of Bonjour Jacob with a customer standing at the entrance.

Owner Hani Belahcene has loved printed matter since childhood. That enduring passion inspired him to create Bonjour Jacob, turning what he loves most into his life’s work. When we met for this interview, he had just returned from a business trip to Italy, his bag packed with books he had picked up there.

28 rue yves toudic, Paris, France
@bonjourjacob_

The walls are lined with carefully selected magazines from around the world, many rarely seen elsewhere. It satisfies both as a coffee shop and as a bookstore.