Cheap Drinks: Marlusse et Lapin

(Hey, that guy's kinda cute, I should have talked to him)

Though South Pigalle is the hot new area for hipsters and dive bars these days, I'd advise you to venture a bit northward on your next visit to the red light district of Paris and snag a cheap drink at Marlusse et Lapin. This unassuming neighborhood spot is just far enough up the street from Pigalle to escape the creepy leering men beckoning you into strip clubs, and offers ridiculously affordable drinks in its snug and old-fashioned imbibing space. Grandma wallpaper and even a table centered around an old sewing machine set the decidedly un-hookerish vibe at Marlusse et Lapin, and with friendly and fun bartenders serving up glasses of wine and beers at less than 3€, there's no better spot in the area to have a cozy drink to get your night started (or ended).

Marlusse et Lapin
14 rue Germain Pilon 75018 Paris
Métro: M2 to Abbesses, M2/M12 to Pigalle

Cheap Drinks: Le Scandale

This little hideaway tucked onto a side street just south of Pigalle is like a speakeasy in plain sight. The music is loud, the drinks are cheap, and there's a great little raised platform in the back nook where you can look down upon your minions (as I was obviously doing from the above vantage point). When I went a couple of weeks ago, our beers were 3€ and whiskey at 5€, but go now while you can - the friend who brought me there, a true Parisian who grew up in the area, seemed to think this bar and its crazy cheap drinks would be short-lived.

Le Scandale
4 rue Viollet le Duc 75009 Paris
Métro: M2, M12 to Pigalle

Cheap Drinks: Café Des Anges

I popped into this lovely little café the other day while walking around just North of the Bastille and discovered the neighborhood gem that is Café des Anges. 

Far from a tourist hangout, you'll usually find the tables occupied by newspaper-reading locals. I haven't tried their food yet, but you can bet I'll be going back: This 25cl of rosé only set me back 5€.

Café Des Anges
66 Rue Roquette, 75011 Paris
Métro: M1, M5, M8 to Bastille

Happy Hour: Le Hideout

Le Hideout has a few locations around Paris - near Bastille, rue Mouffetard, and Châtelet, but I visited the one just down the street from Gare du Nord. An Irish pub that features rugby and tennis on the telly and a bustling terrasse, Le Hideout is a fab place to chill outside, watch the people go by and have a cheap cocktail.

Cheap Drinks: Jeanne & Marcelle

(photo via Facebook)

One of my favorite neighborhood spots is the wine bar Jeanne & Marcelle. Occupying a nook on a sloped street in the 18th arrondissement, Jeanne & Marcelle has a cozy wooden terrace that overlooks the nearby steps and street of rue Diard. It's a lovely place to have a coffee on the terrace, watching the neighbors go by, or to sample some of Guillaume's daily wine specials.

Cheap Drinks - Zelda

Zelda is one of those neighborhood haunts that always feels like you just stumbled upon it. On a street just north of the Canal St. Martin that seems continually deserted, Zelda (inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald, an art deco poster of whom graces the main space) occupies a cozy space and offers a selection of both traditional and creative cocktails. (They also sometimes have Yamazaki, my favorite Japanese whiskey, so naturally they're on my list of loves). My friend had this gin fizz-meets-jalepeño creation for 8€, while my wine was 3€:

Happy Hour: Le Fumoir

This weekend I checked out Le Fumoir, a lovely café/brunch spot/martini bar near the Louvre, and discovered a cozy, old-fashioned and non-touristy nook that's perfect for a pause when you've had enough roving of central Paris.

Lenny Kravitz Likes It: L'As Du Fallafel

L'As Du Fallafel is no secret, but it's really as good as they say it is. From Lonely Planet correspondents to even my most cheapskate-y Parisian friends, people the world over seem to agree that this is the absolute best place to get falafel in Paris, and certainly one of the best cheap eats in town.