A Coffee with Edith Piaf: A Parisienne’s Café Adventures

Did you know that only 30% of Parisians were born in Paris? Well, I’m part of that 30%. Born in Belleville in the northeast of Paris, I grew up in this popular and cosmopolitan neighborhood, an authentic Paris that, despite transformations, still retains its soul. Of course, Belleville has also undergone gentrification, but there’s still a part of this vibrant Paris that resists homogenization.

Belleville is also the neighborhood of another Edith, the one whose voice marked the world: Edith Piaf. Coincidence or a twist of fate, we share a name and an attachment to this corner of Paris.

If you love Edith Piaf, there’s an unmissable spot you must visit: the Edith Piaf bar. Located on Place Edith Piaf, just next to the Tenon Hospital where she was born, this café is a tribute to the singer. Here, you won’t find hipsters glued to their MacBooks drinking almond lattes. This unpretentious café stays true to the spirit of the 20th arrondissement and Piaf’s personality.

The walls are covered with black-and-white photos and posters capturing moments of the singer’s life: portraits, loves, and concert scenes. The place, a little rustic, doesn’t try to impress you. To accompany the moment, I had a noisette: an espresso with just a touch of milk, giving it that characteristic brown color.

As I savored my noisette, I watched Edith Piaf’s life unfold on the walls of the café. Then I chatted with the owner, who told me that he organizes Saturday night events where artists perform Piaf songs. “You should come,” he told me, “there is no fuss and everyone sings.”

No doubt she would have loved this place, I thought to myself as I paid for my coffee. A place that resembles her: raw, unpretentious, and reflecting the soul of this neighborhood.

If you want to fully enjoy the atmosphere, you can also sit on the sunny terrace. From there, you’ll have a view of the statue of Edith Piaf — her arms raised to the sky as she sings, capturing that emotion she so masterfully conveyed.

As I left the café, absorbed by the atmosphere of the place, a wave of melancholy swept over me. Memories of my childhood in Belleville came rushing back. Suddenly, I too saw my life flash before me. And then, I remembered a quote from Edith Piaf, one she said during an interview. A simple but true phrase:

“What matters in life is love. Love for your craft, love for people, love in general. When you have that, you can face anything.”

DETAILS

Bar Edith Piaf
22, rue de La Pye, 20th
Tel” +33 (0)1 43 61 09 32