Le Petit Moulin Montmartre: A Traditional French Café & Bistro in the 18e
Last Updated on 6th January 2021 by Sophie Nadeau
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Away from the Sacré-Coeur and streets apart from the cobbled lanes that make up the touristic area of the city, Le Petit Moulin of Montmartre is a quintessentially French café. Located between two Haussmannian style blocks, this vibrant building appendage serves typically Parisian fare on a daily basis (with the exception of Mondays when the café is, in fact, closed).
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Le Petit Moulin of Montmartre, 17 Rue Tholozé, 75018 Paris
This tiny little restaurant, bistro, and bar is located in the shadow of an arrondissement which is best-known for its winding lanes and village vibe. Here in the 18th arrondissement, you don’t have to travel far to find the best of vintage Paris. Instead, traces of this arrondissement’s past can be found around almost every corner.
The bistro’s motto | pour une terre et un consommateur plus sain (for a healthier world and consumer)
From the former Montmartre Windmills turned restaurants to the leafy alleyways behind the basilica, one of the best ways to enjoy the best of Paris of old can be found in visiting traditional bistros. And one of the quirkiest of these is Le Petit Moulin. Inside this minuscule establishment, you’ll find a wine cellar and wine bar serving food from lunchtime onwards.
The café itself seats few people indoors and tables scatter out onto the nearby pavement. The atmosphere is friendly and the vibe laid back. Apart from traditional French cuisine and wine, there are also plenty of charcuterie platters and cheese dishes if you’re looking for a lighter snack in between exploring…
Other attractions near Le Petit Moulin
Maison de Van Gogh
Surprise! The iconic impressionist artist Van Gogh (you know, the guy who painted ‘The Starry Night’ which now hangs in the Musée d’Orsay) lived in the 18th arrondissement and his former residence can be found in the form of Auberge Ravoux.
Located in the cobbled lanes of Montmartre and home to a blooming cherry blossom tree in the spring, the house museum is open from Wednesday through to Sunday. Today, the final resting place of Van Gogh is located in the Île de France region in Auvers-Sur-Oise.
Villa des Platanes
Although most of this beautiful villa is actually closed to the public, the non-Haussmannian architecture of its façade can still be admired from the roadside. It’s also worth noting that unlike Le Petit Moulin, the Villa des Platanes is actually located in the Pigalle area of Paris.
Cimetière de Montmartre
While other cemeteries in the city are more famous (Père Lachaise is the final resting place of Heloise and Abelard), the Montmartre cemetery is unusual and unique in that part of it is, quite literally, located below the main road!
Moulin Rouge
If you’re looking to see all of the iconic Parisian photo spots while in the French capital, it doesn’t get more touristic than heading to the Moulin Rouge (literally ‘red windmill’) to take that snap. While also technically in the Pigalle area rather than that of Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge is less than a ten-minute walk from Le Petit Moulin.
Le Mur des je t’aime
Situated in the very heart of Montmartre, close to several carousels and in a lesser-frequented spot of the 18th arrondissement, you’ll easily spot it. All blue tiles scrawled over in dozens of different languages, the is the ‘I Love You Wall’ or ‘Le Mur des Je t’aime‘ as it is so-called in French has been a permanent work of art in the 18th’s landscape since 2000.
