Aux Deux Amis

"This wine bar along popular Oberkampf might cause you to make a major life decision. It’s the kind of Parisian hangout where you’ll refill your glass so much that before calling it a night, you’ll declare on your socials that you’re moving to Paris, if you don't live here already. It's loud, busy, and there's not a lot of fuss, but a ton of heart. There's also just the right amount of chaos. Aux Deux Amis is a bit more chill during the day when they’re open for lunch and serve an inexpensive prix fixe meal. But mementos in the form of wine stains on the yellow formica tables remain (and proliferate), as do overflowing ashtrays on the tables outside." - sara lieberman, lindsey tramuta

"This wine bar mainstay along popular Oberkampf might cause you to make a major life decision. It’s the kind of Parisian hangout where you’ll refill your glass so much that before calling it a night, you’ll declare on your socials that you’re moving to Paris if you don't live here already. Loud, busy, and just the right amount of chaos, there are few frills, but lots of heart. Aux Deux Amis is a bit more chill during the day when they’re open for lunch and serve an inexpensive prix fixe meal. But mementos in the form of wine stains on the yellow formica tables remain (and proliferate), as do overflowing ashtrays on the tables outside." - sara lieberman, tanisha townsend

"In search of coffee and pastries after arriving in Paris, we landed at Aux Deux Amis and ended up having so much more than a quick croissant. The restaurant is known for its busy hum in the evenings—music, cool clientele, thoughtful dishes, and lots of wine—but we were rewarded midday with a more relaxed bistro environment. Alongside a roster of cool natural wines, the restaurant serves small plates without a lot of fuss or pretension: ribbons of cured meat, piles of fresh seafood, and plenty of simply prepared and seasonally rotating vegetables. A plate of marinated zucchini, charred and topped with herbs and hunks of salty cheese and silky red peppers, was as delicious as it was simple." - ByThe Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors

"This wine bar mainstay along popular Oberkampf might cause you to make a major life decision. It’s the kind of Parisian hangout where you’ll refill your glass so much that before calling it a night, you’ll declare on your socials that you’re moving to Paris if you don't live here already. Loud, busy, and just the right amount of chaos, there are few frills, but lots of heart. Aux Deux Amis is a bit more chill during the day when they’re open for lunch and serve an inexpensive prix fixe meal. But mementos in the form of wine stains on the yellow formica tables remain (and proliferate), as do overflowing ashtrays on the tables outside." - Sara Lieberman

"Apéro Hour at Aux Deux Amis When I first moved to the 11th arrondissement, rue Oberkampf hadn't yet shaken off the vestiges of its grungy, working-class past and was lined mostly with dive bars, ethnic take-away joints and merchants (fishmongers, cheese-mongers, florists, etc.). Once a new bakery set up shop, the older one on the block underwent renovations to compete. From there, a chocolate shop settled in, then a couple of independent boutiques and wine shops. The area's ascent from up-and-coming to wholly established and eminently cool was a rapid one. But my favorite transformation occurred at Aux Deux Amis, a dive bar that used to be a magnet for retired old men who camped out at the bar starting at 9 a.m. for a morning of drinking. Cigarette butts coated the tiled floor until the end of the day when the owner swept them into the trash. It has since been taken over by a young crew who maintained the throwback decor but evolved the concept into a natural wine bar with fresh small plates. My favorite time to go is around 6 p.m. for an apéro with a plate of whatever cheese they have on hand. Snag a spot out on the terrace if you can."