This is the quintessential Montmartre sidewalk spot — a tiny bar-café with an all-outdoor terrace right on Place des Abbesses, perfect for soaking up the neighborhood's energy. It's not trying to be anything fancy: cheap pints, simple food, and front-row seats to one of Paris's most picturesque squares. Come for the people-watching and the location, not for a culinary revelation.
All-outdoor terrace on Place des Abbesses with cheap pints and front-row Montmartre people-watching — the perfect post-Sacré-Cœur pit stop.
Go on a weekday afternoon to snag a terrace seat without the weekend Sacré-Cœur crowds — service gets overwhelmed when it's busy.
No-fuss terrace bar with a killer Abbesses location
Au Petit Montmartre is the kind of place you stumble into after climbing down from Sacré-Cœur and realize you just need a sit and a drink. The terrace is the whole draw — it's all outdoor seating facing Place des Abbesses, and on a sunny day, there are few better perches in the neighborhood for watching the world go by. Pints start around €8.50, which for this part of Paris is genuinely reasonable, and the food is simple café fare: think ham and cheese galettes, basic sandwiches, nothing that'll blow your mind but plenty to soak up a beer.
Let's be honest about what this place is and isn't. The reviews are mixed — some love it for exactly what it is (a no-fuss terrace bar in a killer location), while others have had slow service or felt it was overpriced for the quality. It's not a destination bar. It's a convenience bar in the best sense of the word: you're already here, the square is beautiful, the sun is out, and you want a drink without walking another 20 minutes. If you go in with that expectation, it delivers. If you're looking for craft cocktails or a memorable meal, walk down the hill toward Pigalle or Soupiriaux instead.
The best move is to come on a weekday afternoon when the terrace isn't packed and the wait is minimal. Weekends bring crowds from Sacré-Cœur and service can get overwhelmed. Grab a seat facing the square, order a demi, and enjoy the Montmartre people parade.