Croix de Chavaux is Montreuil's homegrown brewpub — a microbrasserie that grew out of a 20-year passion project between old friends into one of the most respected craft beer spots in eastern Paris. They brew on-site (1,000-litre batches, five 1,000-litre fermenters, two 2,000-litre ones) and the beer you're drinking was quite possibly made metres from where you're sitting. On weekends the taproom transforms into a café-concert, and the terrace is where half of Montreuil congregates when the sun comes out. It's not polished or designer — it's a neighbourhood project with a bricolage soul, and that's exactly why the whole eastern Paris beer scene respects it.
On-site brewing, weekend concerts, and a terrace that draws all of Montreuil — this is eastern Paris's most authentic craft beer institution.
Check their schedule before going — if there's a concert on, arrive early to grab a spot on the terrace or you'll be standing room only.
Montreuil's homegrown brewpub with a concert habit
If you're looking for Paris-area craft beer that doesn't come out of a marketing meeting, Croix de Chavaux is the real deal. They brew on-site in a 1,000-litre setup — five 1,000-litre fermenters and two 2,000-litre ones — so the beer you're drinking was quite possibly made metres from where you're sitting. The rotating taps cover a solid range from sessionable blondes to more adventurous seasonal brews, and the team behind the bar actually knows what they're pouring you. Go for a flight to get a sense of their range, then settle in for whatever's on tap that night.
What makes this place more than just a brewery is the café-concert vibe. On weekends, the taproom turns into a proper live music venue, and the energy shifts from chill afternoon beers to a packed, sweaty, singalong crowd. The terrace is a major draw in warmer months — it's where half of Montreuil seems to congregate when the sun comes out. It's not a polished, designer-brewery experience, and that's exactly the point. This feels like a neighbourhood project that grew into something the whole eastern Paris beer scene respects.
If there's a concert on, you're in for a good time — just expect it to get loud and crowded. The space is set in a former graffiti squat turned multidisciplinary artists' atelier, which tells you everything about the spirit here. Come early for a calm beer and a chat with the brewers; come late for the noise and the crowd.
La Croix de Chavaux, c'est l'histoire d'une microbrasserie de quartier qui a grandi sans jamais perdre son âme. Ils brassent sur place — 1 000 litres par cuve, avec une capacité annuelle de 1 000 hectolitres — et tu le sens en entrant : l'odeur de malt, les cuves bien visibles, le côté bricolage assumé. Les pressions tournent régulièrement, de la blonde facile à boire aux bières de saison plus pointues, et les brasseurs derrière le comptoir sont toujours prêts à te raconter ce que tu as dans le verre. Prends une dégustation pour faire le tour des pressions, puis installe-toi.
Le vrai plus de l'endroit, c'est le côté café-concert. Le week-end, la salle se transforme en scène live et l'ambiance passe de l'apéro tranquille au concert blindé où tout le monde chante. La terrasse est un incontournable dès qu'il fait beau — c'est là que tout Montreuil se retrouve l'après-midi. C'est pas lisse, c'est pas design, et c'est exactement pour ça qu'on y va. Un projet local devenu une institution de la scène bière du Grand Est parisien.
S'il y a un concert, reste — mais prépare-toi à ce que ça envoie du bruit et du monde. L'endroit est installé dans un ancien squat de graffeurs devenu ateliers d'artistes pluridisciplinaires, ce qui te dit tout sur l'esprit du lieu. Viens tôt pour une bière tranquille et discuter avec les brasseurs ; viens tard pour le bruit et la foule.