A twenty-seat restaurant housed in the former canteen of the Cirque d'Hiver, where the original ceramic clown tiles from the circus era cover the walls and the kitchen produces some of the most creative cooking in Paris. The room is tiny and the historic tiles are extraordinary: detailed, colourful depictions of circus performers that were installed when this space fed acrobats rather than food critics. The Clown Bar has been a launchpad for talented chefs — Sota Atsumi cooked here before opening Maison — and the kitchen continues to operate with the same restless creativity that has defined the address. The natural wine list is exceptional, curated with the same adventurous spirit. The menu changes constantly, built around whatever is best at the market and filtered through a sensibility that draws on French technique and global influences. Getting a table requires persistence — twenty seats fill quickly — but the combination of historic beauty, creative cooking, and natural wine in a space this small creates an intensity that larger restaurants cannot replicate.
Location
11th, Paris
Insider Intel
The menu changes constantly — ask what the kitchen is excited about and follow their lead. Sea urchin when available. The smaller dishes allow you to taste more broadly, which is the correct approach in a kitchen this creative. The natural wine pairings are chosen with the same adventurous spirit. Trust the sommelier and the chef equally — they are working in concert.
Dinner for the full experience — the twenty seats fill the room and the energy becomes concentrated. Book well ahead by phone. Walk-in bar seats at 7pm are sometimes available — arrive early and be prepared to sit at the bar, which is actually the best seat for watching the kitchen work.
Twenty seats maximum — book well ahead or arrive at 7pm for walk-in bar seats. The circus-era ceramic tiles are original and extraordinary — the Cirque d'Hiver is across the street and this was its canteen. The kitchen has been a launchpad for talented chefs and continues to attract creative cooks. Natural wine list is deep. Filles du Calvaire métro is nearby. Expect €50-70 for a full meal with wine. The most beautiful walls in any Paris restaurant.