At a time when headlines about the MENA region focus on conflict, violence and war, the need to remember and appreciate the region’s rich socio-cultural, linguistic and artistic legacy becomes stronger than ever.
Even while staying in European capitals, there are countless opportunities to approach these often-overlooked aspects. Notably, Paris, with its rich multicultural fabric, serves as a prominent gateway to the vibrant and diverse region’s heritage and especially, but not solely, to the Arab culture.
From cultural and artistic institutions to bookstores, cinemas, and culinary experiences, this article highlights five key places where visitors can engage with the Arab world while being in Paris.
Culture: L’Institut du Monde Arabe
Inaugurated in 1987, the Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) has arguably become the most notorious place in Paris to explore Arab culture.
Located in the 5th arrondissement and facing the vast Mohammed V Square, the institute’s impressive building blends Eastern and Western design elements, reflecting its founding mission of promoting dialogue and cooperation between the Western and Arab cultures.
Inside, IMA hosts various spaces, including a museum, a library, a book and boutique shop, a literary café, an auditorium and different meeting rooms.
Each month, the institute offers a diverse range of activities, from Arabic language courses to film screenings, debates and book presentations, in addition to temporary exhibitions on selected contemporary themes.
A visit to IMA would yet not be complete without heading up to the terrace on the top floor. There, a restaurant serving a selection of traditional regional dishes offers a delightful culinary experience, together with a breathtaking view of the Seine.
Arts: Institut des Cultures de l’Islam
Tarek Benaoum’s monumental fresco on the facade of the Institut des Cultures d’Islam (ICI) welcomes visitors to a singular centre that highlights contemporary art in connection with the Arab and Muslim worlds.
Founded in 2006, the institute is located in La Goutte d’Or, one of Paris’s most multicultural neighbourhoods, home to a large Arab and Muslim community.
The institute represents a hub for contemporary arts, hosting exhibitions and ateliers, as well as language and calligraphy courses.
In addition, the institute has a quiet café that offers a different experience from other more touristic places like the often-crowded café of the Grande Mosquée.
Visitors can enjoy simple regional dishes, pause for a coffee or tea and soak up the atmosphere of the neighbourhood.
Indeed, ICI has strong links with the local community and introduces visitors to the vibrant life of La Goutte d’Or through various initiatives, such as walking tours of the area.
Cinema: Cinéma L’Entrepôt
For cinema enthusiasts, Cinéma L’Entrepôt represents a distinguished venue for its screenings of independent films, including a diverse selection from the Arab and Muslim worlds.
Founded in the 1970s, this atypical cinema in Paris’ 14th arrondissement goes beyond just movie screenings. In addition to three cinema rooms, it hosts a concert hall, an art gallery, a stand-up comedy club and a garden terrace with a restaurant.
While not exclusively dedicated to films from the Arab and MENA regions, l’Entrepôt stands out as one of the few spaces where visitors can engage with the region through thought-provoking cinema and documentaries, often followed by a public discussion.
Despite Paris’s rich cultural and cinematic landscape, films about the Arab and MENA world seem to be limited to renowned venues like the Institut du Monde Arabe.
Lesser-known places, such as the Louxor Cinema, with its distinctive neo-Egyptian architecture and a screening room named after the world-renewed Egyptian director Youssef Chahine, also screen movies from the region, particularly during events like the Panorama des cinémas du Maghreb et du Moyen-Orient (PCMMO). However, these places often remain niche.
Literature: Librairie de l’Orient
Paris has also been a prominent hub for Arab intellectuals, nurturing a vibrant cross-cultural exchange over time.
A prominent example of this heritage is the Librairie de l’Orient, a specialised bookshop located in Quartier Latin.
Opened in 1996 by a Lebanese family who also runs Al Bouraq Editions, the bookshop has later expanded with a second location in the 11th arrondissement and an international branch in Senegal.
This library is a unique centre in Europe for literature on the Arab-Islamic civilisations, with a wide range of books in both Arabic and French.
Stepping into the quiet and narrow space of this curious bookshop truly feels like entering another dimension, allowing a total immersion into the sea of words and ideas travelling time and space away from the city’s daily hustle.
Cuisine: Kouchery Du Bon Cœur
Amidst the growing number of Middle Eastern restaurants in Paris, ranging from refined Levantine cuisine to casual kebab shops, Kouchery Du Bon Cœur is a hidden gem not to be missed.
Located in the 18th arrondissement near Porte de Clignancourt, this simple Egyptian-run restaurant offers a unique experience of traditional Egyptian food at an affordable price.
The menu features a selection of dishes freshly prepared on-site, including the notorious falafel, the typical molokhya soup, the flavourful meat-filled bread hawawshi and the delicious stuffed vegetables mahshi.
Yet, the highlight is the national dish after which the restaurant is named: the koshari. This beloved dish is a hearty mix of rice, lentils, pasta and chickpeas, topped with tomato sauce and crispy fried onions, difficult to find in other more touristic spots across the city.
Born in Italy and educated in France and Egypt, Veronica Merlo has gained extensive experience in journalism, media, and communications, collaborating with a diverse range of media outlets, international organisations, and NGOs across Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and France. She is the author of the book Sorprendersi in Egitto
Follow her on Instagram: almuhit_theocean
