In a land of wine drinkers , where a simple apertif to set about and some calvados after your repast have traditionally been about as adventurous as it get , Paris ' deglutition fit has become amazingly diverse and intriguing . As the cocktail acculturation in the City of Lights produce , we ’re excited to keep exploring the most interesting venues in the city . From midget dives that answer up something strange , to speakeasy - style bars decked out in pendent and reddened velvet , we ’ve found the most inventive , exciting , and wizardly cocktail bar in Paris .
Experimental Cocktail Club
By now , this billet is a staple among cocktail bars in Paris , and the one that is always necessarily note . Experimental Cocktail Bar is kind of pretentious and very expensive , but absolutely amazing . The atmosphere is dark and voguish , and the decor of expose beams , velvet drapes , sober furniture , and ledge full of exotic bottles tally to the honest-to-god - timey feeling of this place . You could almost suppose Cole Porter by the pianoforte in front of the bar , sip a martini ( apparently his key signature drinking , although it ’s hard to imagine the bartender here making something so plain ) . It might be too dark for photos , but staring for have drinks and sharing secrets .
Hotel Amour
SoPi , an abbreviation of South Pigalle , has always been charming , but in the last few years a series of smart bars and hotels have open in the minute street of this historic neighborhood . You might discern this area from François Truffaut ’s early motion picture , and in fact , Hotel Amour is located on the same street where the famous director originate up . This whorehouse - turned - clapper - in - cheek boutique hotel has a eating place that becomes the favorite cocktail bar of the city ’s chic ingroup around midnight . Focused primarily on the classic , the cocktail card does n’t look very imaginative at first glance , but try the Concombre dour with a touch of elderflower , made delightfully fluffy from orchis white . The touch drink , constitute after the hotel , is a fruity , tonic , vodka - based affair .
Dirty Dick
With its alien hobo camp theme decor and umbrella cocktails , Dirty Dick might be a bit on the tatty side for some . However , with tropical crapulence ( sometimes literally set alight ) , coconut - base cocktail , and a hipster crowd , it is really grueling not to have play at this spot . The smoky and odoriferous Polynesian Remedy is " the counterpoison to your daily routine " ( their words ) , while other drink are key out on the computer menu in verse – and not always with a deal of detail when it comes to what is really in there . If you ’re flighty about rolling the dice , we commend the Monkey Seed Monkey have sex , made with banana , raw sienna , and whisky .
La Bombe
On a bustling avenue close tole grands magasins , the fancy department stores of Galeries Lafayette and Printemps , this is the perfect stop after some retail therapy . However , verify to pound the after - oeuvre cause - fatigue crowd from the nearby Bourse arena . La Bombe offers a wide compass of cocktail , but narrow in mojitos , so choose for one of the eight dissimilar flavors – the Pimento being the most original , with its sting of chili . Oh , and during happy hours ( yes , plural form ) , the cocktails are a mere € 6 apiece .
Moonshiner
Get ready to travel back in time when heading to this old - fashioned , speakeasy - style bar – if you could witness it . Located in a muted back street just out from the sting and bustle of Place de la Bastille , Moonshiner ’s entrance is via an unassuming pizzeria . Head through a secret door in the back to find this lacrimation hole decorated in the style of a Prohibition - era after - hours joint . Drinks stray from uncomplicated poke to res publica - of - the - art mixology , so make your choice , then lean back to enjoy the low - key , retro jazz from the old - school gramophone . The Waiting for Yaya , made with absinthe and lilac , is a undecomposed choice , and the house Bloody Mary – which let in red wine – is worth a stumble in itself .
Le Kitch
This tiny hole in the bulwark is loaded with fun , kitschy decor : colorful lights , garden gnome , disco balls , and pastel furniture create the backcloth to dish its iconic drink , Le Shrek . Flavored with rummy , mint , and lime and spun in a sociable before serving , this is effectively a mojito schmalzy . If you think that sound weird , just suppose a mojito with the exact good amount of sweet , off , and booziness in each sip … obviously sip through a neon - colored drinking straw . Delicious . Come early , though – the tiny space fills up promptly .
Le China
Evoking the atmosphere of a ' 30s Shanghai floorshow , Le China is a bang-up topographic point to soak up a retro flavour , as well as a beverage ( or two ) . Recline in one of the aged Fourth Earl of Chesterfield sofas that line the cellar of this Hellenic eatery , and enjoy one of the many different drinks on offer from the well - stock ginmill . Although most classic are represent on the freehanded cocktail list , verify to throw an extra glimpse at the specials , Les creationsdes barmans du China . The Cointreaupolitan is lemony and tasty , while the Ginger Inspiration , topped with Champagne , has a invigorated hustle to it .
Candelaria
In this swanky part of the Marais neighbourhood , between minimalist designer computer memory and art gallery , you ’ll want to seek out a simple , genuine taqueria with a doorway in the back that conduct to a unstinting cocktail bar . Agave - ground pot likker rule the carte du jour , and pelt rampart hanging , colourful pillow , and a young , beautiful bunch complete thetrès coolambience . The El Gallo del Oro , made with mezcal , vermouth , and chocolate will by all odds perk you up . If you ’re face for something more traditional , the theme song Gimlet Candelaria , made with gin , pep , and burnt lime , might be more your cup of tea .
Tiger
masses in the know will gibe at the idea of entering this little jumble of bar streets behind Mabillon , but peopletrulyin the know will tell you that it ’s worth braving the busy alleyway there for this snare - inebriate haven . decorate in wanton , bare wood and medal tree prints , this blank offer no less than six variation on the house specialty , a gin rummy & tonic crafted with its own house - made tonic water . There is also a great survival of different form of gin rummy , including some quite rarefied varieties , if you are willing to give for them . If not , the Tanqueray tonic with lemon and rosemary is a substantial bet , and will only place you back € 12 .
Hotel Lutetia
This historic hotel has been home to the intellectuals of the early 20th C , with epithet such as Jean - Paul Sartre , Henri Matisse , and Marcel Proust among its unconstipated patrons . Seized by the Germans during the military control , it was turn over into a repatriation center after the liberation of Paris . In the ' 50s , the luxury hotel was doctor and reopened , and the forte-piano bar became the blistering spot for malarkey , and the glitterati of Paris returned , especially to view Josephine Baker perform . Come here to enjoy unrecorded nothingness in the iconic Art Deco bar during weekend , and you might just get a peep at ace such as Juliette Greco and Dita Von Teese , who frequent the place . You ’ll have to bear off a small while , though – Hotel Lutetia is currently conclude for renovation , but it ’s set to open up again in May 2017 .
Baton Rouge
This Louisiana - theme cocktail ginmill is decorate with whisky bottles and voodoo dolls , and the gang is grown - up but decadent . Add to that the most beautiful cocktail carte , each drink with its own tarot card - style exemplification , and name calling such as Holy Marie Laveau and Nola Fizz , and you have all the makings of a spellbinding evening .
Harry’s New York Bar
Strangely , this exact legal community was once located on the other side of the pool ; in 1911 , an entire bar in the Big Apple was dismantled , made a transatlantic tripper , and then reassembled in the rue Daunou in the prestigious Opéra region . Back in the day , Coco Chanel was known to pop in on a regular basis , Hemingway like to pass time here , and Ian Fleming mentioned the bar in his short story " From a View to a killing . " The vibe is very previous - schooling , and the drinks are also appropriately classic – try the pretty Blue Lagoon with vodka , grapefruit , and the blue-blooded curacao that gives the drink its tropical ( and rather vicious - depend ) chromaticity . Or , perhaps , just go for the time - honour Bloody Mary – hearsay has it the iconic drink was actually gestate in this very bar .
Sign up herefor our daily Paris electronic mail and be the first to get all the food / drink / fun in the City of Light .
Courtesy of Tiger
Experimental Cocktail Club Paris
Dirty Dick
Moonshiner
Le China
Courtesy of Tiger
Joseph Biolatto