PARGuide
The Best Bars In Paris
photo credit: Cravan
A decade ago, asking for a cocktail meant ending up with a Martini Bianco or Rosso. Perhaps a rum and coke if you asked nicely. The other option was to stand up at the bar in a brasserie and sip a vodka soda underneath a cloud of cigarette smoke. Fast forward to today and Paris has a diverse bar scene that’s up there with some of the best in the world. There are (a lot) of speakeasies, single spirit-focused bars, wine bars, and restaurants that turn into bars that turn into nightclubs.
Most of the best bars in Paris are concentrated in Pigalle or Oberkampf, so head to those neighborhoods if you want to make a night of bar hopping. With so many places in Paris, we’re here to help you narrow down the list.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Caspar Miskin
For an evening that’ll make you feel like a celebrity, have drinks at Bar Les Ambassadeurs. It’s in a hotel previously owned by a count, and built to host actual ambassadors. You'll find original 18th-century frescos, low lighting, and chic velvet couches, which perfectly set the mood for date night—so bring your best, fashion-wise, and try not to freak out if Madonna walks past. As for the cocktails, they're excellent—each season they select a few ingredients and build drinks around each one, like an Old Fashioned infused with mushrooms. Of course, the classics are there, but maybe try something new—you’re in Paris on Place de la Concorde dropping €30+ per cocktail.
The Saint-Germain-des-Prés bar from Moët Hennessy feels like you’re drinking in your rich friend’s impeccably decorated townhouse with multiple levels and rooms with different themes. Prepare to have more than one round: start on the ground floor, which looks like a Parisian brasserie and serves an impressive variety of long, short, royals, and classic drinks, then grab another in the above room with velvet stools and a green marble bar. The swanky top floor is where to drink batched cocktails, poured tableside from “Cravan” labeled bottles, while cozied up in a low velvet chair. Reservations aren’t necessary but helpful during peak evening hours.
photo credit: Bar Nouveau
Bar Nouveau may be new, but it feels like it’s been around forever. The two-level Art Nouveau-inspired cocktail spot has a menu that’s short and straight to the point, so stop here when you’re overstimulated by all the art, shopping, and crowds in the Marais and don’t want to make any tough decisions. Old-school cocktails and spirits are the focus, whether you sit in the intimate upstairs or moody downstairs den. While you can always walk in, you should go on the earlier side when they open or later in the evening to ensure you get a table.
Bar Joséphine, located inside the Hotel Lutetia, is for the get-dressed-up date night, birthday, or special Left Bank celebration. It’s the romantic version of Paris often depicted in movies, with its high ceilings and frescos, which is nice as there aren’t many places with that “typical Paris feel” anymore. Cozy up to your date on the cushioned banquettes or get comfortable in the brown leather chairs with the piano view—there’s live music Thursday-Sunday (and sometimes Tuesday and Wednesday). The cocktails match the setting with beautiful glassware and cocktail garnishes, and you should, too—no T-shirts and jeans.
photo credit: Caspar Miskin
You think you’re walking up to this taqueria in the Marais for simple tacos and frozen margaritas at the counter. But shimmy past the barstools, and through the white door into Candelaria. It’s a dimly lit speakeasy that’s full of comfy banquettes and bar stools, and focuses on agave cocktails that may sound weird at first but work, like the Stay Puft with tequila, marshmallow, and absinthe. Because you can’t live on tequila alone, there are solid small bites, and the same barbacoa and asada-filled tacos from up front (though they’re slightly more expensive). The music gets louder as the night goes on, and some dancing may break out—you could end up being here all night.
photo credit: Marie Desprez
If the line is too long at Pink Mamma, put your name on the waitlist, head to the basement, and walk through the refrigerator into their speakeasy. The layout looks like a sexy chemistry lab with jarred concoctions and infusions in demijohns all along the walls. Those herbal elixirs are what you’re here for, like the Tropical Loveland cocktail with sweet potato-infused rhum or the coffee-scented vermouth Boulevardier. They don’t take reservations, which is perfect if you’re looking for a chill walk-in drink spot in Pigalle where your feet won’t stick to the floor.
If you’re wondering where the who’s who of 1920s Paris came to drink and see and be seen, head to this institution inside the Ritz. Bar Hemingway looks like a cross between a smoker’s lounge and a fancy chateau library with photos of its namesake author, old fishing poles, and boxing gloves. Classic cocktails (€25-€36), heavy on whisky, are what you should order here. Thanks to its history, this place attracts a multigenerational mix of tourists, business people, and gray-haired folks rocking blazers with elbow patches. Arrive just at or a little before opening hours, or prepare to wait in line for a seat at the bar or one of the few round tables (there’s only room for about 30 people). There are bar snacks and light bites like miniature hot dogs, but no music, so you won’t want to linger.
photo credit: Sheena J Galan
In an area changing from industrial and warehouses to bobo chic, Gravity stands out—the small cocktail bar near Canal Saint-Martin looks sort of futuristic with its curved counter and wavy ceiling. It’s also the happy medium between a dive bar and a fancy drinking spot, so you’ll find good drinks, natural wines, and seasonal tapas like scallop sashimi and duck confit. And since you’ve already made your way here for date nights or casual cocktails, you’ll want to stay for the ‘90s and 2000s R&B playlist.
photo credit: Moonshiner
The city’s answer to the Prohibition-style speakeasy is Moonshiner. At this hidden spot in the 11th (push the metal door of the walk-in fridge in the back of pizzeria Da Vito), there’s 1920s jazz playing, Belle Epoque wallpaper, and exposed brick. Snag a table with the leather booths or sit at the bar. The drink list is heavy on whisky cocktails, and very fancy old whiskies you can order neat. Continuing with the times, there’s even an indoor smoking room, where you can have a cigar alongside other tourists and locals who love whisky, too. Just heads up, it gets standing-room-only crowded on weekend evenings.
photo credit: Le Syndicat
At Le Syndicat, you’ll never forget you’re in France, since this bar in the 10th only serves French spirits, mixers, herbs, and juices. There’s also no pretense, no fancy seating, or wall decorations—there’s not even a sign from the outside. But in a bold decorating move, copper centimes and various types of currency are stuck to the ceiling. The low lighting can pose a bit of a problem when you’re trying to read the drink menu, but just sit at the bar and chat with the bartender about your favorite spirit and they'll do the rest.
photo credit: Copperbay
Copperbay is your best option for cocktails near Strasbourg Saint-Denis station, partially because there aren’t many bars in the area. But this stylish, laid-back spot could be anywhere, and we’d still flock here for the drinks alone. The menu keeps things interesting, and is based on concepts like “mouthfeel” and fabric samples—yes, you actually can choose a drink by touching suede, silk, or leather. High wooden tables are perfect for groups looking for cocktails after work or couples getting to know each other in a cozy corner. If you’re by yourself, pull up to the bar to watch the experts in action and dive into the light bar food, like olives and cheese plates.
photo credit: Lucie Bremeault
Even if you don’t know anyone when you walk into this neighborhood bar, you somehow feel like you do. At Abricot, bartenders greet you with a bartender’s choice shot as soon as you sit down, which will likely make you want to order a cocktail faster. The nature-inspired colors, lots of natural light, and open space play into a “Cali-style” vibe that'll make you want to linger. Pop in for the tiniest martini ever and the vegan cornbread with maple butter, a family recipe from one of the owners, or come with friends to drink in the cozy alcove with a velvet booth and pillows.
photo credit: Bluebird
If you want to drink where the bartenders on this guide drink, come to Bluebird. It’s an energetic, retro-ish cocktail lounge in the 11th that looks like the deck of a cruise ship from the ‘60s, with wood paneling, multi-colored light fixtures, and an aquarium in the back. The drinks on the menu change every month, and are categorized as savory, salty, bitter, etc., which helps when you don’t exactly know what you have a taste for. There’s no food and only one table inside—the rest of the bar is full of stools along the wall, so it’s best for a quick drink after work or late at night after dinner.
This unstuffy Prohibition-like bar near Rue Montorgueil toes the line between a casual walk-in spot and a cocktail lounge that can get a bit clubby. You’ll find a progressive menu (think drinks made with ramen mix and egg yolk), and a rare liquor collection featuring older whiskies and some chartreuses. At a certain point in the evening, the crowd will shift to the side to “make” a dance floor, so expect the music to get loud and the room cramped. You may have to scream over the loud music to place an order, but you won’t mind. It’s never a bad move to pop in for a cocktail and a hot dog after a long day, or a drink before dinner.
photo credit: Caspar Miskin
Down the street from Jefrey’s, Experimental Cocktail Club (ECC) is the place that jump-started the city’s cocktail scene when it opened in Montorgueil in 2007. It’s still a staple and a cozy spot for a great drink made with new flavor combinations. You should chill with friends with a tequila and kombucha or a pistachio-infused apple brandy on the velvet couches pushed against the exposed brick walls, or make new ones at the bar. Just don’t come hungry since they don’t serve food.
photo credit: Christophe Meireis
This women-owned bar co-created by an ECC alum is your neighborhood gathering spot in Belleville. It’s laid-back-cool without even trying, hence why you can come as you are, whether you stop by after lounging at a nearby park or before heading to a concert—very rarely is Combat overly crowded. In the summer, outdoor seating spills onto the sidewalk, and people ordering and receiving drinks at the window add to the lively atmosphere. You can pretty much order whatever you're in the mood for here: great cocktails with new flavor profiles using homemade bitters and tinctures, no/low-ABV cocktails that are made with the same care as those with alcohol, natural wines, and beer. There are even aquavit and pickleback shots if you want to drink like you’re in college (but with much better alcohol).
photo credit: Dirty Dick
If you need a daiquiri—not the frozen version from a machine where you only taste ice and alcohol, but one that’s a shaken, well-balanced mix of rum, sugar, and lime—Dirty Dick is your spot. The tiki bar in Pigalle has mainly rum-based drinks and punches, including some involving fire, and it can get pretty loud and crazy with all the shot-taking and screaming bartenders. While this isn’t a first-date spot, it is a great place for impromptu dancing between the tables in that Hawaiian shirt that’s been collecting dust in your closet. Get here with a group of friends, share the Flamingos on Acid sangria bowl, and then call a taxi to get home.
photo credit: Nicolas Matheus
Think taps are just for beers? Think again. The Honey Moon is a spacious, all-tap cocktail bar near Place de la Bastille, with over 38 taps pouring manhattans, cosmos, and more. Sure, drinks are served with a hint of fizz, but once it settles, the tasty, well-crafted beverage shines through. And because bartenders aren’t shaking and stirring each cocktail, you have more time to spend with friends in the retro-y setting with neon lights, diner-like leather booths, and disco music playing in the background. The line at the bar moves quickly, even if you roll up with a big group (they take reservations for parties of five or more).
Castor Club is unmarked, but you’ll recognize the cocktail bar tucked on a side street in Saint-Germain-des-Prés by the large wooden doors and bouncer standing out front. Once inside, you’ll feel like you’re in a country cabin or hunting lodge. The walls and ceilings are covered in wood, country music usually plays, and high velvet booths built into the walls add a cozy feel, whether you’re here for after-work drinks or date night. On weekends, the cavernous downstairs sometimes doubles as a dance floor with country dominating the playlist, so come to show off your best two-step, and drink creative cocktails, like the spicy Aye Aye Captain Cap with gin, chili, and blueberry.
photo credit: Alice Pages
Tiger is a gin lover’s paradise, and that’s not just because there are over 100 different bottles on the menu and 1,000 combinations of the classic gin and tonic. This Saint-Germain-des-Prés bar feels like an actual paradise, thanks to the palm frond wallpaper, teal tiles everywhere, and festive vibes that give off summer even on the darkest Paris days. Order an Oh My Dog (the “Tiger” emblazoned into the ice cube is a nice touch), and a cheese and charcuterie plate from the short menu of bar snacks. Reservations aren’t necessary but are highly recommended, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when everyone near the Sorbonne looks for a classier alternative to all the dive bars in the area.
photo credit: Danico
Danico isn’t quite a speakeasy, but it’s a bit hidden inside the Italian restaurant Daroco, and accessible through the historic covered Galerie Vivienne mall. The space was formerly a Jean Paul Gaultier store and the bartenders wear striped shirts as a nod to that, and, yes, it’s all really French. The menu of 12 cocktails changes every few months and is centered around a specific country and its spirits, like sake and whisky from Japan. Low music plays in the background, which adds a sophisticated ambiance for the couples and pre-opera drinkers at the tables, and out-of-towners sitting around the bar.
The swanky late-night drinking, dining, and dancing spot near the Eiffel Tower is Fitzgerald. It’s a French restaurant serving entrecote and risotto by day, and at night it turns into a speakeasy where the motto is: “Time To Drink Champagne And Dance On The Table.” To get there, head through the padded doors in the back, and descend into the Art Deco-style room full of velvet chairs, leather booths, and fashionably dressed people who may be past the “clubbing phase” but still want to dance. The drinks are mainly classics, plus creative ones like the Champagne, a blend of gin, bitters, rosemary syrup, lemon, and tonic. That or an actual glass of champagne might be the liquid courage you need to hop on the table when the weekend DJ starts going and the servers hand out sparklers.
