Boom Boom Villette: we tested the first Food & Leisure Market in the heart of La Villette

Say goodbye to Vill'Up, and hello to Boom Boom Villette! The La Villette shopping and leisure center, located right next to the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, has undergone a facelift to become Boom Boom Villette, France's first Food & Leisure Market, accessible from January 20, 2024 (for the food section). The project was imagined by Apsys, already behind Vill'Up, and features a " bold and completely new concept of eatertainment ", including numerous restaurants and leisure outlets for the whole family!

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A total of 25,000 m2 of space will be dedicated to food and entertainment, catering for families and groups of friends alike, so that they can all have a good time together. Escape games, climbing walls, catering... a real place where everyone can share their experiences. The idea: let go to the rhythm of your emotions. And a hybrid concept, above all, the most innovative in the whole country.

But what's in Boom Boom Villette? In addition to the existing Pathé cinema andIFly , which are staying put, we'll also find Batman Escape, announced over a year ago and due to open in spring 2023.

Batman Escape: the escape game that takes you to Gotham City at Boom Boom Villette - our photos
Attention Batman fans! Warner Bros., DC and Dama Dreams are bringing you the largest escape game of its kind in France, based on the universe of the Mousey Batman, at Boom Boom Villette. A total of three universes now await you: the Joker, the Mystery Man and the Batcave. Ready to hit the streets of Gotham City? [Read more]

In addition, Seven Squares will feature a leisure area including a connected interactive mini-golf course with a stunning décor, arcade terminals, chess tables, a fully digitalized bowling alley and laser games with space races and alien battles. Scheduled to open in the first half of March.

Seven Squares: we tested the new indoor leisure space at Boom Boom Villette
Looking for an unprecedented playful adventure in Paris? Head for Seven Squares at Boom Boom Villette, an indoor leisure space that opened its doors on April 4, 2024. From digital bowling to virtual reality, laser tag and interactive mini-golf, this gigantic 5,000m² leisure space promises an immersive experience for gamers, families and children alike... We've been there, we'll tell you all about it! [Read more]

A total of 21,000 m2 will be devoted to leisure activities. Other attractions include Quiz Room, already open, L'Île de Tortuga, a kid's park with trampolines, and Shuffled, a British shuffleboard game inspired by London's Electric Shuffle.

Quiz Room: the quiz game moves to Boom Boom Villette
After a store in the 6th district of Paris, Quiz Room is now in the 19th district, in Boom Boom Villette. A new game room now available offering quizzes, but also blindtest! [Read more]

On the food side, Boom Boom Villette hosts a 4,000 m2 Food Market with 23 kiosks, as well as three bars, including a wine bar and a beer bar. These include restaurants that are the talk of Paris: Graine, PingWoo, Noura, Pokké, Meatpacking, Soya, New Soul Food, The Grilled Cheese Factory and Bollynan, to name but a few. There will also be a "Chef" kiosk, hosting short residencies for chefs who are the talk of Paris (with Merouan opening the ball in February 2024), as well as a kiosk showcasing an emerging culinary talent, in residence for 3 to 6 months and chosen in a competition organized by Apsys.

In addition, there will be cooking workshops, cooking shows and masterclasses for all gourmets and gourmands. As for events, concerts, talks, showcases, DJ sets and other cinematic encounters are also planned, in collaboration with Live Nation. All events are free of charge, but registration is required.

Our verdict on the food at Boom Boom Villette:

A cuisine that the editors were able to try out... There's a lot of food on the program, so we won't go into detail here. Note that you can already find all the addresses proposed by Boom Boom Villette in Paris. So, how good is the food at Boom Boom Villette? Whatever you choose, you're sure to eat well... From smash burgers and nans to soul food and couscous.

We particularly liked the smash burger, voted the best smash burger in Paris (and no wonder, it's so good). We also loved the fine cuisine at Bollynan, and its rose lassi. In short, a fine cuisine to be savored without moderation if you happen to be in the area!

As for the decor, it's all very pretty, a far cry from the aseptic spaces that have to meet particular specifications. Here, each stand has been given carte blanche to propose its own identity, and it shows. It's pleasant and gives the food court a very interesting cachet. Note also the presence of babyfoots and retrogaming arcade terminals, for a moment of fun between two meals.

A great place to enjoy the best of Parisian food. All you have to do is make up your own mind!

Urban art will also play a major role in this Food Market, with Hopare, an urban artist, injecting pop and fun into the place through numerous works by international artists.