A short while ago, I was invited to discover the warm and welcoming Maison Vélib’EXKi, which has been open in the Opéra district since last September. The 200 m2 space is perfect for fighting the winter blues, meeting cycling enthusiasts, lovers of healthy food, or simply for having a good time in a nice setting.
The idea for this space was born from a partnership between EXKi, the quality fast-casual restaurant chain, and the City of Paris to open the first space dedicated to the Vélib’ community and cycling enthusiasts.
Personally, I particularly appreciate the values of citizenship, well-being, and environmental respect that are common to Vélib’ and promoted by these two brands in this contemporary space.
A quick reminder: EXKi’s story began in 1999, when three friends, passionate about good food, developed the idea of a high-quality fast-casual restaurant focused on natural products. The trio opened their first location in 2001, in Brussels. Today, EXKi has 73 restaurants spread across 5 countries.
This Parisian coffee-bike also offers various activities during the winter season: light therapy sessions, beanie knitting, preparation of solidarity soups, access to a reading corner with a collection of literature about cycling, and a Ride-In service (to order and pick up your lunch basket without getting off your bike)…
As for the food, EXKi offers healthy, vitamin-rich products to balance your diet, with dishes made from fresh, seasonal vegetables.
Service is very easy, like a self-service setup, so it is fast, simple, and efficient.
Another nice idea: you can pick up organic vegetable baskets delivered by tousprimeurs.com every week directly to La Maison Vélib’EXKi to cook at home.
Events at La Maison Velib EXKi:
Woolkiss, a slow fashion brand, offers on-site (or to go) a beanie knitting kit in the colors of La Maison Vélib’EXKi with bamboo needles, 100% natural light gray wool balls, accessorized with an orange or green pom-pom, and an instruction booklet.
Great tip: for the free knitting workshops organized regularly on-site (15 spots available per 1h15 session), the kit will be sold at the special price of €10 each instead of €35. Register on the La Maison Vélib’ EXKi Facebook page.
- A light therapy bar directly connected to Vélib’dynamo bikes, to recharge your energy, better regulate your biological clock, and boost your mood.
The recommended exposure time is 15 to 30 minutes of light therapy to effectively boost light intake.
Great tip: free activity until February 15, 2015.
- You can also sit at La Maison Vélib’EXKi to recharge your mobile phone or computer batteries by pedaling!
Events in other EXKi stores:
- EXKi regularly invites you to participate in making a large solidarity soup.
The concept: from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, volunteers meet to wash, peel, and chop as many vegetables as possible to concoct a delicious soup that will be donated to the La Mie de Pain charity and distributed for free to people in need.
In short, it is a place you absolutely must discover (especially since addresses like this are sorely lacking in this neighborhood) and whose very cool activities are also worth following closely!
La Maison Velib EXKi 22, rue Chaussée d’Antin - 75009 Paris Open weekdays from 8 AM to 9 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan and EXki Photos are not royalty-free; permission from the photographer is required before any use
