LA FELICITÀ

It’s quickly become the latest hot spot and it’s easy to see why.

Its run by restaurant titans Big Mamma, bringing an Italian inspired oasis to the city of Paris.

It’s a venue that immediately alerts each one of my senses– the room is lit by enormous spheres, each sporting an array of interesting artwork: portraits, prints, and murals.

Scents from each different eatery consume the air in this innovative food court, so I follow my nose to try and seek out the best grub.

Fairy lights hang between the five different kitchens and three bars to choose from, so we have a wander to weigh them all up.

Its interior design is experimental chic.

A proper Instagrammable location, there’s plenty of foliage and fairy lights but it remains practical.

It seems a place for the cool kids.

There’s graffitied recycled buses that look right at home in the huge hangar, making quite the unique ornaments.

It’s a Friday night, so it’s packed.

There’s a long line at each eatery, which isn’t ideal when you are hungry.

I decide to hit the bar while my companion sniffs out the best bet and pitches a tent in one of the queues.

You can see who got the short straw.

A five-tier tower of colourful decanters reigns above the bar, each individually lit and liberating an effortless glow.

I’m like a moth to a flame and burrow my way to the front.

I go for a sweet and supple French rosé, because I know it will go with almost anything we are going to eat.

There is plenty to feast on in this vast food market; a woodfired pizzeria, a seafood bar, and an American inspired burger shack.

There is also a bakery, Le Panificio, and an ice cream-cart serving homemade gelato during the day.

Each are equally quirky and striking in their own right – they all have their original stamp on their area, whether that be the softwood furnishings smothered in flourishing greenery, or the retro food van serving seafood.

I take a 'wrong' turn in the pursuit of my friend in the queue and end up on the other side of the 4,500 square foot building.

There’s a pair of DJ’s on stage, apparently a nightly occurrence, and the tunes are decent.

It’s the perfect amalgamation of 90’s hits and a typical wedding party playlist… quite frankly, floor fillers and everyone is loving it.

I decide to regroup and return later.

We’ve opted for a place entitled: BURGER.

It does what it says on the tin.

Probably the best bet, as my French is a bit rusty.

Orders are taken on one side of the counter, before being handed a wireless pager – a principal piece of kit in most modern food courts.

The team don traditional kitchen whites but wear caps emblazoned with New York, Los Angeles, and so on.

Despite the urban aesthetic of its exterior, the kitchen exudes classic American diner.

We order their ‘special’ chicken sandwich, a bacon double cheeseburger, and fries before sitting at one of the grand benches laid between the eateries.

It’s a pleasant jumble of varying age groups, making for a refreshing atmosphere.

People instinctively budge up for others to squeeze in, some share small talk with the group facing them.

We hadn’t been sat down for five minutes before were in conversation with our bench neighbours.

It seems a place of calm despite the busy crowds, people letting go of their hang-ups, and just having a good time.

I’d say it’s like Manchester’s Mackie Mayor on steroids… in a good way, of course.

I nip to the bathroom before the food arrives, where it’s made clear the artistic expression of La Felicita has no bounds.

There appropriately indicated by an illuminous sign.
I’ll let the picture do the talking.

Instead of the typical triangle dress and stick man signifying the gender of the bathrooms, an array of distressed looking dolls and action figures are somehow stuck to the doors.

The Barbie’s still look somewhat runway-ready but their hair is bedraggled beyond belief.

Someone must have got bored in the queue for the toilets and gave them all a DIY hairdo.

Upon my return, our buzzer is having a heart attack on the table, signalling me to go and collect our food.

Sat in traditional boxes, our two humungous burgers await.

I’m weighing up the best way I’m going to fit it in my mouth, as each item on the burger is engorged.

It’s a beautiful beef patty, classic American cheese, crispy bacon strips, colossal tomato slices, lettuce, and onions.

A toasted sesame bun envelopes it all, adding a stifle of sweetness to this savoury snack.

It’s ticking all the boxes, but of course it is; it’s a fine-tuned burger combination that’s been perfected for years.

The chicken special consists of the same fillings but instead boasts a crispy buttermilk breast.

It’s tender and tasty but it looks like someone got a bit trigger happy with the mayonnaise.

Don’t get me wrong, mayo is the necessary emollient to any chicken sandwich, but too much and it masks the flavours of the other elements.

It’s a little soggy for my liking.

The fries are crispy, still scarcely covered by their skin, providing extra flavour to the salty side.

They feel a more fitting supplement to our rustic burgers than regular fries.

It’s a decent portion and appetising enough, but a bit of a long wait for a burger and chips.

Perhaps I would be more impressed if I had tried a more eccentric place to eat; the woodfired pizzas looked to die for.

Next time ay.

A cute, cosy, cool marketplace, it evolves through the day to the night delivering a constant service of entertainment in this reformed depot.

The character of the railway still remains and it's clear the developers of La Felicita have hit the nail on the head with this fancy food court.

If you don't mind a queue, it's a must visit when in Paris.