In pictures: The inimitable Paris bistrot

SUMMARY

Stepping into the Petit Fer a Cheval bistrot is like travelling back in time. The classic Paris watering-hole's old phone wouldn't have looked out of place in the hands of Edith Piaf. The signage could have been the backdrop for a Maurice Chevalier movie. History seems to seep out of the walls. It even has an old tap, like today's beer taps, that used to serve absinthe, which was one of painter Vincent Van Gogh's tipples. Over a century old, the cafe-restaurant in the historic Marais district of Paris has a horseshoe-shaped bar, hence its name: The Little Horseshoe.

By APSept 24, 2019 9:11:05 AM IST (Published)

Coffee cups and glasses used by customers are left on an outside table of the cafe "Au petit Fer a Cheval" (The small horseshoe), in the historical Marais district of Paris, Thursday. Stepping into the over a century-old Le Petit Fer à Cheval bistrot café-restaurant, named after it's horseshoe-shaped bar, is like travelling back in time. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

A woman walking on the street is reflected in a mirror of the cafe "Au petit Fer a Cheval" (The small horseshoe), in the historical Marais district of Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

A customer takes a seat at a table outside the cafe "Au petit Fer a Cheval" (The small horseshoe), in the historical Marais district of Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

A man holds a bunch of flowers as he walks past the cafe "Au petit Fer a Cheval" (The small horseshoe), in the historical Marais district of Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

A customer waits for his bill at the cafe "Au petit Fer a Cheval" (The small horseshoe), in the historical Marais district of Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Waiter Didier Hubert, centre, indicates directions to a customer of the cafe "Au petit Fer a Cheval" (The small horseshoe), in the historical Marais district of Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Chef Philippe looks through the window of the kitchen of the cafe "Au petit Fer a Cheval" (The small horseshoe), in the historical Marais district of Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

A waiter talks with the kitchen staff of the cafe "Au petit Fer a Cheval" (The small horseshoe), in the historical Marais district of Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Waiter Didier Hubertof polishes a mirror of the cafe "Au petit Fer a Cheval" (The small horseshoe), in the historical Marais district of Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Waiters Jean Baptiste Magnique, center, and Didier Hubert talks with customer of the cafe "Au petit Fer a Cheval" (The small horseshoe), in the historical Marais district of Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Waiter Didier Hubert writes on a board the menu of the day of the cafe. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Loic, a waiter of the cafe "Au petit Fer a Cheval" (The small horseshoe), in the historical Marais district of Paris, puts away chairs at closing time. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Booba, left, a waiter of the cafe "Au petit Fer a Cheval" (The small horseshoe), in the historical Marais district of Paris, talks with a customer. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Loic, a waiter of the cafe "Au petit Fer a Cheval" (The small horseshoe), in the historical Marais district of Paris, checks bills at closing time. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)