The vibrant city of Paris has long been associated with the arts, attracting visionaries like Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway to it’s many drinking spots. Fast forward to the present day and the Parisian nightlife is still a favourite of the millions that visit the city every year, thanks to a rise in trendy cocktail bars. To help you seek out the best the city has to offer, we’ve created a guide to the best cocktail bars in Paris that are sure to quench your thirst.
Little Red Door
This under-the-radar cocktail bar lies beyond a miniature red door (hence its name) in Paris’ cool Haut Marais district. Slide yourself onto a cushy bar stool and peruse the creative menu, aided in your selection by the dapper bartenders. The relaxed atmosphere, typically Parisian décor, exposed brickwork and vintage glassware make this the perfect place to linger. If you prefer beer to cocktails, they even have an excellent variety of locally brewed options.
Candelaria
Attracting a young cocktail-seeking crowd, Candelaria is a bar and taqueria that’s also located in the buzzing north Marais district. Voted one of the best bars in the world for three years running, this hangout brings the flavour of South America straight to Paris.
Pass through the white walled taco restaurant, with its aroma of slow-roasted pork and chicken, to find the unmarked doorway to the dimly lit drinks lounge beyond. Browse the menu of margaritas, pisco sours and tasty punches, and settle in for a relaxing evening.
Le Glass
Created by the people behind Candelaria, Le Glass is seen as the edgier version. Located in the bohemian area of South Pigalle, Le Glass stands out among a number of fantastic cocktail bars in the area. The glitzy interior of broken mirrors and disco balls attracts a mixed crowd of locals and visitors who enjoy the unbeatable atmosphere, especially late at night.
When it comes to drinks, they offer a South American influenced cocktail menu, artisanal beers (the draft Brooklyn IPA is excellent), and even select cocktails on tap.
Shake n’ Smash
This bar oozes New York cool. Set up for live music and boasting an eccentric décor of leopard skin, chaise loungers and lampshades; Shake n’ Smash is the perfect place to come for a casual meal and great entertainment. Pretty much everything on the drinks menu is homemade, including all the syrups, while the kitchen provides an ambitious food menu of traditional and fusion dishes.
Prescription Cocktail Club
Created by the geniuses behind sister venue the Experimental Cocktail Club, this bar has a cool 1930s speakeasy vibe and a relaxed lounge atmosphere, making it one of the most chilled out cocktail bars in Paris. Catering for the Left Bank crowds, the bar serves up all the classic cocktails, as well as a vast number of creative house drinks. If you’re seeking a quiet drink, come earlier in the evening or search for the secret second bar hidden behind a bookcase of leather bound volumes.
Hemingway was right when he said ‘Paris is a moveable feast’ and the French capital’s nightlife today only elevates and enhances this reputation. It’s a modern haven for cocktail lovers, with some of the most innovative and adventurous bars in the world dotted around the city.
Fancy visiting some of these cocktail bars in Paris for yourself? Book your Dover to Calais crossing today!
