France, a dynamic country known for its food and history. One thing that I’ll never allow to slip my mind is how vibrant the night life is there. Specifically, their bar scene. Exploring the streets of Paris on many occasions throughout the last five months, it was difficult to find a semi empty bar. People may argue that this is due to Paris unique culture.
I disagree, I had been staying in the city of Reims for my studies for the last several months. The city is relatively small with under two hundred thousand inhabitants. It was not the most vibrant city you could find, although it has the many great bars to enjoy a drink or a snack with mates. Also to add, the bars were also often packed with patrons enjoying a relaxing night with the family or mates.
This story isn’t about Paris or Reims as a whole. Its focused on one of my favorite bars in the city of Reims, Le Cabasson. At the time I had been living in a student residence in the southern part of the city. Its location was relatively remote but close to the university of my choice. It, however, made it a pain trying to get around. This especially rung true whenever we wanted to enjoy a night out.
(Source: http://sacreesblogueuses.com/le-cabasson-estaminet/)
The Cabasson was no exception. Located around a twenty-five-minute walk from my residence, it was always a bit of a trek to get there. However, that never impeded us when we want to head over for a good night there. It is a little bit out of the way of the main bar areas, but it’s worth the detour. This bar is surrounded by many historical figures and statues. Great squares, cultural architecture and more.
After making the trek, you’ll have a seemingly normal looking bar from the outside. However, the inside is its own little world. When you enter you immediately feel a sense of hominess. The area is very well decorated with the most random of things. You can see the walls lined with all sorts of trinkets and ornaments. My favourite pieces are the guitars. An electric and acoustic guitar. They also have a small rowboat hanged vertically packed with books as a makeshift library.
The Interior
There are many photos hanging from unknown and some known artists covering almost every inch of the walls. You can spot many vintage wine bottles hanging from the shelves, and even more books accompanying them. In the corner you could see a couple of skis prompted up against an inaccessible door. Next to them an empty easel stands proudly on display its lack of artwork.
(Source:https://leblogdegui.net/2016/04/24/mes-lieux-o-il-fait-bon-de-se-poser-reims/)
A bookcase stands with a large bulb-shaped glass with corks from hundreds of different wines. The shelfs of the bookcase are covered in many different types of board games and card games. They are predominantly in French, but you don’t really need a diploma in the French language to play monopoly, which my mates and I did once. It’s a great game to play over a few drinks and food. I wouldn’t recommend playing it thirty minutes before closing time.
(Source: https://www.facebook.com/lecabasson/)
The alcohol
This brings us to their alcohol. The bar has a wide selection of reds and whites to choose from. One of my mates spends practically every second day relaxing at the Cabasson. She explains that the hominess, the food, the wines and the regulars coming in makes this place feel like a real home. Many of my other mates seem to make their way to this bar from time to time when they’re looking for inspiration for their essays, away from the crowded libraries of the university. From the many different wines my regular mate tried, she definitely recommends the reds.
I highly recommend you try out their beers. I’ve had the pleasure of trying their locally crafted house beer and would vouch for its flavour a hundred times over. They also have sweeter beers for those that enjoy light beer such as Le Banquier rouge. However, their other craft beer is definitely worth a try. Often enough, a group of mates and I would arrive for pleasant night out chit chatting. I would always skip dinner so I could enjoy one of their many different types of quiches. I would recommend the quiche Lorraine although they have different ones based on local cheese and Strasbourg cheeses like Munster with a side of salad for only three euros.
Entertainment
So, we would usually grab a deck of cards or Uno and order several drinks to spend the next hour or so enjoying our time together. Often, we would receive salty snacks such as nuts and pretzels or peanuts to go with our beers. Sometimes a couple of our mates would buy platters or proper meals to go along with their drinks.
It is also possible to reserve a table. This is something we had to do for a large birthday party. We managed to book a table and fit in around a dozen people. It might be tightly packed, but I reckon it as it forces an element of socialness rather than gazing into your phone for the majority of the time.
Often throughout the week they serve a very delicious brunch option. This place is just as good for its alcohol as well as its food. I recommend making your first meal of your day a tasty brunch from here.
The venue also hosts weekly live music performances. Usually its locals with musical talent having a jam session. If you’ve got an instrument and know how to use it, you could always try your hand in this cozy bar. Quite often we’d get singers, guitar players, violins and even accordion players. If you’re visiting the Cabasson, make sure to sync your visit with their performance. You’ll have the pleasure of hearing many famous French songs, some original ones, some even in Greek and Italian, depending on who’s performing.
Excluding the time of performances, the Cabasson plays a variety of classic songs from the last several decades. This includes bands like the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Queen, Creedence Clearwater Revival and more. If you’re polite enough, you could ask the owner, an afro sporting man with a permanent smile, if you could add your own tunes. You’ll have a lot of luck as long as you don’t put anything too heavy that might ruin the mood of the bar.
The bar is also located a ten-minute walk from the main pub area of the city. During our time the area of the Cabasson was lit with Christmas lights and decorations. Next time you find yourself roaming the streets of Reims, do yourself a cultural favor and visit this amazing bar with its friendly staff, good food and musical atmosphere.
(Source: http://thetastysidetolife.blogspot.com.es/2010/11/perfect-day-trip-from-paris-champagne.html)
