Unlike bowling, billiards (billard) is an original and ancient French game played with three balls and no pockets. If you want to watch or try your hand (for around €10 per hour, plus around €15 deposit), head for one of the following:Académie de Billard Clichy-Montmartre 84 rue de Clichy, 9e tel 01.48.78.32.85. The classiest billiard hall in Europe, where the players look like they've stepped out of a 1940s movie (or a Men in Vogue ad) and the decor is all ancient gilded mirrors, high ceilings and panelled walls. Pool tables too. €11 per hour. M° Place-de-Clichy. Daily 11am–4am. Blue-Billard 111 rue St-Maur, 11e tel 01.43.55.87.21. Cocktails, chess and backgammon as well as billiards, in an arty-intellectual café–bar close to Belleville. If you arrive between 2pm and 4pm, you can have the plat du jour and an hour's billiards for €8.50. €11 per hour. M° Parmentier. Daily 11am–2am. Salle de Billard des Halles niveau 2, 14 rue Porte-du-Jour, Forum des Halles, 1er. Two French billiard tables among the half-dozen pool tables. RER Châtelet-Les Halles. Tues & Thurs–Sun 9am–10pm, Mon 10am–9pm, Wed 10am–10pm.
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