Paris is home to some fantastic cocktail bars but it’s hard to know where exactly are the best. This guide contains my favorite spots that I’ve found since I arrived in Paris 8 years ago. Classics to modernist creations – you’ll find some gems here.
Book mark this guide as I’ll be updating it regularly. Bars are in no particular order.
Harry’s Bar
Harry’s Bar is a legendary New York style cocktail bar located in the Opéra district and dates back to 1911. Home to many classic cocktails including the Bloody Mary and the French 75, it’s a really special spot.
The old school but really inconspicuous façade gives way to an incredibly un-Parisian, old fashioned bar. It’s genuinely impressive and is unlike the majority of bars that you’ll find here.
Mahogany paneling, college pennants and bartenders dressed in white, it’s like stepping back in time to the 1920s. It’s fun, friendly and the bar has a great atmosphere.
You’re coming to Harry’s Bar for the cocktails and boy are they good. They’re all €16 each and they range from the old school classics to their more modern creations.
Their Zombie is my favorite – a well balance mix of rum, vermouth and citrus. Dirty Martini is well done – nicely balanced with a lovely hint of Vermouth coming through. There’s of course other drinks on the menu including beer on tap and some great French wine.
What to know before visiting
- Open every day from midday until 2am
- Arrive early to get a table – or expect to queue!
Address: 5 Rue Daunou, 75002
Website: https://www.harrysbar.com/en/
Candelaria
This epic speak-easy behind a killer taqueria in Paris is a real gem in the Marais. Located on a small side street just off the rue Bretagne, the small taqueria with a neon sign doesn’t give much hint of the hidden bar.
Go through the tiny (and superb I should add) front restaurant and you’ll go into the dimly lit speak easy. It’s moody and very cool.
As you might expect, the drinks are all Mexican inspired. There’s a lot of Agave infusions with hints of smoke and warm chilli heat – they’re delicious.
Don’t expect the classics here – they’re all in-house creations. They’re well balanced, tasty and of course are made with only the best ingredients and spirits.
The best part of the Candelaria? If you’re hungry just go back through the entrance and order some of their killer tacos – you won’t regret it.
What to know before visiting
- They don’t take reservations
- Open every day until 2am
- Arrive early on weekends to get a table – or expect to queue!
Address: 52 Rue de Saintonge, 75003
Website: http://www.candelaria-paris.com/
Cambridge Public House
Just around the corner from the Candelaria is another well known and excellent cocktail bar, The Cambridge Public House. Yes you might think a British pub in the middle of the Marais is slightly odd but it works and is very popular.
Enter the dimly lit bar and you’ll feel like you’re stepped across the Channel into London. Yes it’s got a pub feel but you still feel very much in Paris.
Their cocktails are awesome. All in-house creations that are very creative. They use sous-vide infusions to create incredible flavour combinations paired with some high quality spirits.
The pub side is there with a great, locally brewed IPA on tap and some classic British pub food. Sausage rolls and pies cooked to order come out from the small kitchen in the back.
What to know before visiting
- They don’t take reservations
- Open every day until 2am
- Arrive early on weekends to get a table – or expect to queue!
Address: 52 Rue de Saintonge, 75003
Website: http://www.candelaria-paris.com/
The Little Red Door
Another great bar in the Marais is The Little Red Door. Featured in the The World’s 50 Best Bars list, it’s extremely popular and you’ll often find queues in-front of the entrance (which happens to be a very small red door!).
The dark and moody bar is a lovely place to be and is a perfect spot for a drink before dinner in Le Marais.
Like the majority of the modern cocktail bars in Paris you’re going to drink some fantastic cocktails. As well as the classics they feature seasonal, in-house creations.
TLRD focuses a lot on French produce and you’ll find their menu is built around ingredients from France. Their own cocktails are rather minimal but damn they’re good.
They use fermentation to bring a real kick to the classics. Fermented miso is added to their Old Fashioned and wow does it work.
What to know before visiting
- They take reservations for their tasting menus
- Closed on Sundays and Mondays
- Open from 6pm until late
Address: 60 Rue Charlot, 75003
Tel: 01 42 71 19 32
Website: http://www.lrdparis.com
Le Lipstick
If you’re in Montmartre and then you’ll need to visit a local favorite, the Lipstick. Located in a former strip club, the bar’s interior has plenty of nods to its past use.
It’s one of my favorite bars in Montmartre and is a perfect spot to grab a cocktail before before eating out in the area. The atmosphere is buzzing on a Saturday night filled with locals and in the know tourists.
The drinks are great and they’re all 10€. Expect classics with fun twists. You won’t find modernist techniques or fermented ingredients here but they pump out some seriously good drinks. Their Negroni is one of the best in the city and is really good value.
Finally if you’re wanting something else they’ve got lager on tap (at €5 a pint) and a decent wine selection. Finally, there’s no food or snacks served here.
What to know before you visit
- Open every day of the week until late
- You can reserve online
Address: 5 Rue Frochot, 75009
Website: https://www.instagram.com/lipstick_bar/
Red House
Over in the 11th arrondissement is a really great and criminally underrated craft beer and cocktail bar. The Red House is a Cali inspired bar with some serious rock and roll attitude.
Nestled in a small side street in the Bastille area, it’s a real where the locals spot. The vibe is buzzing and it’s a bar where you’ll easily find yourself staying all night.
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_/
