Our Guide to the Top Paris Cocktail Bars
The French capital may be best known for fashion, art, architecture, cuisine and cafés, but it also boasts a world-class cocktail scene. A handful of Parisian bars consistently find themselves on the lists of the 50 best bars in the world, including Le Syndicat, Little Red Door, the Experimental Cocktail Club, or the legendary Hemingway Bar at the Ritz run by one of the world’s top bartenders.
You’ll find all kinds of cocktails bars in Paris: lovely light and bright bars like Cravan or Aux Près perfect for pre-dinner drinks; beautifully designed, dimly-lit lounges like Night Flight or the Herbarium cocktail bar for romantic after-dinner drinks; special occasion spots like the five-star hotel bars of Hôtel Lutetia or the Ritz Paris; warm and welcoming bars buzzing with conversation for an evening out with friends like CopperBay, Le Renard Bar, or Tiger; and also a lot of unexpected places in Paris serving excellently crafted cocktails including a log cabin along the Seine and a stylish speakeasy hiding behind a taco stand.
If you’re in the mood for a particular beverage, here our our quick picks for which bar to go to in Paris:
- For a great gin and tonic: Fitzgerald, Bluebird, Tiger
- For rum-based cocktails in a Caribbean atmosphere: Le Comptoir Général
- For margaritas: Cyril Lignac’s Aux Près and Dragon or restaurant Le Voltaire
If you’re looking to try something new, you can’t go wrong with Paris cocktail bars Bespoke or Bisou. There’s no drink menu at these establishments. Instead, your friendly server — who speaks English, don’t worry — asks you which flavors you like and then the bartender crafts a custom-blended cocktail just for you!
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What to Know Before You Go to a Paris Cocktail Bar
Curious about the craft cocktail scene in the City of Light? Here’s a bit of local insight for enjoying an evening arrosé.
How much do cocktails cost in Paris?
Expect to spend 8-16€ for a drink at a typical cocktail bar in Paris. Prices do vary beaucoup from one bar to the next though, with some student-friendly spots offering 5-7€ cocktails during happy hours while drinks at upscale, iconic spots like the Hemingway Bar in the Ritz Paris go for 30€.
Where are the best cocktail bars in Paris?
Le Marais and the 10th Arrondissement have the highest concentration of top cocktail bars in Paris. The upper Marais has traditionally been the hotspot for hip hangouts, but more recently the 10th Arrondissement has become the place-to-be for trendy cocktail lovers in the city.
Where can you have a quiet drink in Paris?
If you’re looking for a more intimate atmosphere to take your significant other or for a first date, the trendy cocktail bars may not be your best option: they can sometimes be crowded and a bit too noisy. You’re better off going to the quieter cocktail bars of upscale hotels with a calmer crowd, like the bar of The Ritz, the Hôtel Costes, the Hôtel National des Arts et Métiers, the Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, or the Hotel Bachaumont.
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