![A fishmonger on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MU3IWSM55JEZVGEPGTECTYCEAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=60c0b00cc711e8c7c76d577921e0e3bee50135794179d72c08a6f817aa1bdfe7&width=400&height=225)
![Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis is a vibrant, cosmopolitan melting pot of nationalities, religions and cultures. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JW2NQN6DOBH2BCT4LAO5AM3DVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e75b2624ae16bc2747cd8e0c15c6c3f346acdfc32f223ecb2c0567c6606cd121&width=400&height=225)
![The entrance to Faubourg Saint-Denis sits at the imposing Porte Saint-Denis city gate, marked by a towering victory arch commissioned by Louis XIV. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S57KVZ4PY5BMZOTDEP2U6FE2BY.jpg?smart=true&auth=82806241eb00ad570e58d7c577d254ce7156bcbb821c027d35e4cba10f3739e3&width=400&height=225)
![Teeming crowds pack out the street’s restaurants, cafes and food stores. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RKDBLOFNWJD4ZIDA3DHOZNO37Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=32a5aad1448688f696a7b0ee7190d71156148c290c78c9a821e74668a8af7fef&width=400&height=225)
![Street art peppers Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KM65M2D5ONGD5HBM5ZCQKGA5VE.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b524cccdb3661c38be773f85236b6a5253707bfa59017f40ef565af7cb6f2c1&width=400&height=225)
![Dates and grapes at a local shop. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JWT46SAJVRB2TPJKL4ZL57IT2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e2a8b0e8b812049dfc290e886e7316e371bfea78e17cdd28da9d16d80e58629&width=400&height=225)
![The area is also dotted with eclectic boutiques. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3IEKEYQYGZASPNKCUKWRCO7IXE.jpg?smart=true&auth=296c369a7ae3cfd260654d9b07f0f207c531fd0c0444050edb769151268eeeb6&width=400&height=225)
![A traditional cheese shop on Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6ZS4JJGOKRCKNPMVRSXF5NQLU4.jpg?smart=true&auth=7bdaca584c095af8a4f893df40924671f43d366de96f1787174a8a535f2ba7d9&width=400&height=225)
![Serving African and Pakistani cuisine, Restaurant Anga is reflective of the area's multicultural vibe. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2KF6Z277VJFWPHQDL3YTZ5SPMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7e849ef77368d08f7e3c7277015ad9517438446f8e85ad86666f9fa80ad1e3b3&width=400&height=225)
![A cafe serving Turkish food. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JYHQA5P27BEI3ADCD6ZPO2CGTU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d84112618996002bd21988ce6779bf823799fbeeb091d76ff7e9a78e83583ff&width=400&height=225)
![Grand Cafe D'Athenes. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PTQ46DJWOFAWREY6C5BI336E5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=1a12ed584c4085659d4b3ca93814f12b166bb20e7733ddb4889b1b7e63312980&width=400&height=225)
![A fishmonger on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MU3IWSM55JEZVGEPGTECTYCEAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=60c0b00cc711e8c7c76d577921e0e3bee50135794179d72c08a6f817aa1bdfe7&width=400&height=225)
![Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis is a vibrant, cosmopolitan melting pot of nationalities, religions and cultures. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JW2NQN6DOBH2BCT4LAO5AM3DVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e75b2624ae16bc2747cd8e0c15c6c3f346acdfc32f223ecb2c0567c6606cd121&width=400&height=225)
![The entrance to Faubourg Saint-Denis sits at the imposing Porte Saint-Denis city gate, marked by a towering victory arch commissioned by Louis XIV. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S57KVZ4PY5BMZOTDEP2U6FE2BY.jpg?smart=true&auth=82806241eb00ad570e58d7c577d254ce7156bcbb821c027d35e4cba10f3739e3&width=400&height=225)
![Teeming crowds pack out the street’s restaurants, cafes and food stores. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RKDBLOFNWJD4ZIDA3DHOZNO37Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=32a5aad1448688f696a7b0ee7190d71156148c290c78c9a821e74668a8af7fef&width=400&height=225)
![Street art peppers Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KM65M2D5ONGD5HBM5ZCQKGA5VE.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b524cccdb3661c38be773f85236b6a5253707bfa59017f40ef565af7cb6f2c1&width=400&height=225)
![Dates and grapes at a local shop. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JWT46SAJVRB2TPJKL4ZL57IT2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e2a8b0e8b812049dfc290e886e7316e371bfea78e17cdd28da9d16d80e58629&width=400&height=225)
![The area is also dotted with eclectic boutiques. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3IEKEYQYGZASPNKCUKWRCO7IXE.jpg?smart=true&auth=296c369a7ae3cfd260654d9b07f0f207c531fd0c0444050edb769151268eeeb6&width=400&height=225)
![A traditional cheese shop on Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6ZS4JJGOKRCKNPMVRSXF5NQLU4.jpg?smart=true&auth=7bdaca584c095af8a4f893df40924671f43d366de96f1787174a8a535f2ba7d9&width=400&height=225)
![Serving African and Pakistani cuisine, Restaurant Anga is reflective of the area's multicultural vibe. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2KF6Z277VJFWPHQDL3YTZ5SPMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7e849ef77368d08f7e3c7277015ad9517438446f8e85ad86666f9fa80ad1e3b3&width=400&height=225)
![A cafe serving Turkish food. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JYHQA5P27BEI3ADCD6ZPO2CGTU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9d84112618996002bd21988ce6779bf823799fbeeb091d76ff7e9a78e83583ff&width=400&height=225)
![Grand Cafe D'Athenes. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PTQ46DJWOFAWREY6C5BI336E5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=1a12ed584c4085659d4b3ca93814f12b166bb20e7733ddb4889b1b7e63312980&width=400&height=225)
![A fishmonger on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis. Photo: John Brunton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MU3IWSM55JEZVGEPGTECTYCEAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=60c0b00cc711e8c7c76d577921e0e3bee50135794179d72c08a6f817aa1bdfe7&width=400&height=225)
Algerian butchers meet African barbers on Paris's Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis
Also find Indian curry houses and French fishmongers on a street that acts as a colourful, kaleidoscopic, multicultural symbol of the City of Light
John Brunton
June 01, 2022