The Bastille area of Paris is, in my opinion, home to some of the best bars in the city. The vibrant neighbourhood is host to some incredible young up and coming chefs, passionate bar owners and in-the-know-locals. The result? Fantastic food to nibble on whilst you drink superb wine and craft cocktails with a cool crowd.
This isn’t a list of quirky dive bars (if you want these click here), it’s where you’ll find the best cocktails, wine and incredible nibbles (apéro in French).
Where to Drink in Bastille
The Bastille bar experience is as cool as it gets, it’s modern Paris with a buzzing atmosphere and plenty of awesome drinks to boot. It isn’t sitting in a large stereotypical terrace with views onto the Eiffel Tower (although I do also like this!), it’s enjoying the raw, modern food and drink scene in an awesome city.
These bars are near the Place de la Bastille – 15 minutes walk max. Bars are in no particular order!
Fréquence
Fréquence for me, has to be one of the coolest spots in the city. A craft cocktail bar at heart, you’ll find some seriously good drinks here with only in-house creations and premium spirits on the menu.
The dimly-lit, Brooklyn inspired bar is famous for its wall of vinyls of behind the bar and yes, they spin them all night long (no Soundcloud in this bar!). Hungry? There’s a great menu of small sharing plates such as chicken Karaage, confit potatoes and dumplings.
On the smaller side, there’s limited seatings (which adds to the ambiance) so arrive early if you want a spot!
What to know before visiting
- You can’t reserve – it’s first come, first serve
- There’s limited seating so come early or prepare to wait for a seat!
- They don’t serve wine (although they do have Prosecco)
- Closed on Sundays and Mondays
- They’re open until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays
Address: 20 Rue Keller, 75011
Tel: 01 71 32 40 35
Website: https://www.instagram.com/frequenceparis/
Le Baron Rouge
Le Baron Rouge (the Red Baron in English) is one of those bars that perfectly incapsulates the food & drink culture of a city you visit. Loud, busy and oh so French, Le Baron Rouge is an awesome wine bar that you need to visit. The bar itself is small and is filled with old wine barrels, counter space and a few tables at the back.
The beautifully old Parisian zinc bar stretches round and also acts as counter space (note this is normal in Paris so you’ll need to be patient to order!). Behind the bar you’ll find a wall of squares which acts as their menu. Each square has a different wine (they must over 60 choices) and you can buy it in a glass, a pitcher (50cl) or a bottle.
They’ve got a great a selection of classical, organic and natural wines. As with any good wine bar in Paris they have some awesome cheese and charcuterie planches (mixed boards). I’d 100% recommend that you order a plate of their duck rillettes – they’re awesome.
What to know before visiting
- You can’t reserve – it’s first come, first serve
- There’s very limited seating so come early or prepare to stand
- Opening times vary each day but open all day from 10am-9:30pm on Saturdays
Address: 1 Rue Théophile Roussel, 75012
Tel: 01 43 43 14 32
Website: http://lebaronrouge.net
Red House
Over towards the Faidherbe-Chaligny metro station you’ll find an awesome American-French cocktail bar – the Red House. Super American South in vibes, it’s an unknown but really great craft cocktail and beer bar.
The two rooms are split with the second, smaller room showing live sport (especially American sports). But don’t think that this is some American sports bar where all the expats go. It’s much more than that and is distinctly of the area. You’ll find plenty of locals enjoying their awesome in house created cocktails and their imported beer on tap.
You won’t find wine here but do order one of their awesome cocktails. I always go for their Wild West Side cocktail (tequila, pepper and cucumber). If you’re hungry they have a great Tex-Mex menu with some killer tacos.
What to know before visiting
- You don’t need to reserve
- Open every day of the week
- They serve tacos Tuesday-Sunday
Address: 1bis Rue de la Forge Royale, 75011
Tel: 01 43 67 06 43
Website: https://www.instagram.com/red_house_/
Le Medusa
You’ll find Le Medusa just off the famous Rue de Roquette and boy is this is a great bar. Super intimate and with a nautical theme (it’s in the name), it’s a great place to spend a Saturday night with friends. Unknown to many (even locals) it’s a hidden gem that is definitely worth discovering.
The cocktails here are on the classical side but they’re made with care and some premium spirits. If you’re in the mood for a longer drink then they’ve got some great craft beer (from Parisian breweries) on tap. If you’re after a snack they have small cheese boards available.
What to know before visiting
- They’re closed Sundays and Mondays
- Open until 2am Tuesday-Saturday
Address: 48 Rue Basfroi, 75011
Tel: 06 06 98 35 45
Septime La Cave
You’ve no doubt heard of Septime, the famous 1 Michelin Star restaurant in the 11th but did you know they have a great wine bar next-door?
Septime’s La Cave is an awesome small, intimate wine bar serving the killer natural, small-producer wines that you’ll find in the restaurant.
Grab a seat and their super knowledgable staff will ask what kind of wine you like. Wine in France isn’t based on grapes but more on area and conditions where the wine is grown. So here you’ll need to describe the wine you like and you’ll no doubt be given an awesome wine. They’ve also got some killer charcuterie and cheese on hand if you’re feeling a bit peckish!
What to know before visiting
- Open every day of the week from 4pm-11pm
- There’s very limited seating inside
Address: 3 Rue Basfroi, 75011
Tel: 01 43 67 14 87
Website: https://www.septime-lacave.fr
The Famous ‘Bar Street’ in Bastille
You may have heard of a street in Bastille where you’ll find lots of bars and nightclubs.
This street is called Rue de Lappe and it’s an about a 2 minute walk from the north side of the Place de la Bastille.
Is it worth a visit? Yes if you’re a student, travelling Europe or want a cheap night out. These places serve cheap drinks (4€ pints) until late. Fun if you’re in the mood but don’t expect anything fancy here!
Looking for more great bars in Paris? Check our guides to the best bars in Montmartre and the best bars in Le Marais.
