Steeped in history and home to high fashion and haute cuisine, Paris is undoubtedly one of the best cities in the world to visit. Little wonder then, that it also plays host to some of Europe’s most memorable bars and cafés.
From secret speakeasies to lavish hotel lounges, the City of Light has a little something for everyone. Follow us as we check out some of the best bars in Paris.
With an empire that now includes Beef Club, Fish Club, Prescription Cocktail Club and Curio Parlour, their first speakeasy joint is widely considered to be their best.
ECC is dark and intimate, with a hidden location down an unassuming alleyway. Plush velvet curtains shield the spot from prying eyes, while expert mixologists craft bespoke cocktails for a hip young crowd.
Said to be the birthplace of classic cocktails such as the Bloody Mary and French 76, Harry’s New York Bar is a Parisian landmark.
First opened in 1911, it was frequented in its prewar years by such literary giants as Hemingway, Sartre and F. Scott Fitzgerald. An American in Paris is said to have been composed in its underground piano bar.
A Parisian classic, this bar is a place to contemplate life in style over a cognac-infused cocktail.
It’s as impressive as the rest of the Four Seasons George V, with glittering chandeliers, red velvet chairs and the elaborate flower arrangements for which the chain is known.
Based in the hip Château d’Eau area, Le Coq is reminiscent of an effortlessly trendy cocktail bar in the East Village.
The draw here is a small but impressively curated list of molecular cocktails, featuring everything from native cognacs to liqueur d’ambrette, while the crowd is as cool as Paris gets.
One of the city’s hidden gems, Le Garde Robe is a wine bar with a difference: most of the labels here come from biodynamic French vineyards.
Located in the 1st arrondissement, it’s a small and intimate venue that offers expert wine knowledge, friendly service, and fabulous charcuterie and cheese boards to complement your carefully chosen bottles.
The epitome of hotel lounge elegance, Le Meurice’s Bar 228 has been home to bartender extraordinaire William Oliveri for 35 years.
A reimagining of the library at Le Meurice, it features dark wooden panelling, comfy leather armchairs and three imposing Lavalley murals.
The bar has a long history as a favored drinking spot of visiting Brits and the clubby feel creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, while still retaining the hotel’s innate French sophistication.