18th Arrondissement (Pigalle)
L'Olympic Café
L’Olympic Café serves African-influenced fare in the energetic Goutte d’Or district, a multiethnic immigrant neighborhood also known as “Little Africa.” Housed in a 1930’s Art Deco building, the café has an upstairs dining area and a downstairs concert hall, both of which are designed with subdued lighting, simple furniture, and African-style artwork. Among the specialties here are the salmon poached in mint tea and the braised chicken with lemon seasoning. At night, the basement hosts a wide variety of entertainment, from plays and film screenings to live jazz, Balkan folk music, and Cameroon hip-hop.
Insider Tip:
Stop by on a Wednesday evening, when the café serves free West African mafé (a traditional meat and peanut stew); diners simply donate what they can in a wicker basket.
