Paris bars

Best bars in Paris

By Eppie Shepherd

Paris has long been known for its lengthy list of top restaurants serving bottles of rich French wine. But for a proper night in the city, where do you go? In recent years we’ve seen a boom of rooftop bars, cocktail parlors and champagne clubs serving our favorite tipples. So whether you’re looking for a late-night hangout or creative cocktail menu, take your pick of classic American bars, jazz venues and the best wine bars in Paris.

Our list of the 10 best bars in Paris includes...

  • Buddha Bar
  • The Bar Hemingway
  • Willi’s Wine Bar
  • La Terrasse at Hôtel Raphael
  • And more!

Buddha Bar Paris

The famous Buddha Bar is not exactly understated. Walk in and you’ll be greeted by an eight-meter Buddha followed by rich red interiors and dripping chandeliers. First opened in the 1990s, the Asian-themed institution has kept its style and ‘it crowd’ vibe. The drinks might be pricey but the experience is worth it.

Clown Bar

A bar named after clowns may not sound appealing but this Parisian favorite is less creepy jesters and more fantastic French food and wine. The historic venue was once the former canteen for the 19th-century winter circus, Cirque d’Hiver. Now a natural wine list attracts insiders and those who remember to book ahead.

Harry’s New York Bar

Fans of the Bloody Mary won’t want to miss Harry’s New York Bar, home of the hair of the dog. Since 1911, this legendary Parisian bar opened to comfort homesick Americans and has done so ever since. Now drinkers from every city flock to sip a martini or nibble a hot dog at one of the world’s best bars.

Willi’s Wine Bar

For more than 30 years, Mark Williamson has run the legendary Willi’s Wine Bar on the Rue des Petits Champs. The bright blue entrance leads to a contemporary lit room decorated with Willi’s own recognizable art prints. Run by an Englishman, the bar welcomes locals and tourists to taste excellent wine among good company.

Fréquence

For a French cocktail experience, head to Fréquence, a local hangout that as its names suggests, has many recurring fans. A long counter of soul and reggae vinyls are lined up for playing with a diverse range of cocktails on the menu.

Frenchie Wine Bar - Bar à Vins

Self-described as a place to share, sip, taste, talk, meet and mingle, the Frenchie Wine Bar is not surprisingly full of friends chattering over a few glasses. Head here early (when the bar opens at 6.30PM) to grab a stool and pick from the fantastic wine list. You’ll also want to order a selection of small plates prepared from the open kitchen.

The Bar Hemingway

Bar Hemingway is famous for many things - its lavish location at the Ritz Paris, its award-winning legendary barman Colin Field and of course, its former frequent visitor that gave the bar its name. Taking a seat in one of the bar’s 25 armchairs, you’re immediately transported back to a time of glamor and glitz, where F Scott Fitzgerald and Ernst Hemingway discovered a mutual love for drinking and writing. Choose from over 20 cocktails including Serendipity, Field’s famous creation.

La Terrasse at Hôtel Raphael

In the summer months, Parisians flock to alfresco cafés, picnics by the Seine River and suntrap terraces. To catch rays on a rooftop, La Terrasse is an elegant hangout on the 7th floor of the Hôtel Raphael. The garden terrace bar opens in spring, serving champagne, cocktails and fine wine against a panoramic 360° view over the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Sacré Cœur.

Le Caveau des Oubliettes

Head down into the Parisian catacombs and you’ll find more than skulls and crossbones. The eerie underground tunnels happen to provide a perfect stage for Le Caveau des Oubliettes. The intimate live music bar hosts pop-rock nights, and jazz jam boogaloo on Tuesdays - just watch out for the guillotine and torture instruments!

Le Dokhan’s Bar

With over 240 bottles on the menu, Le Dokhan’s Bar is the place to drink a few glasses of bubbles in Paris. The city’s original Champagne bar is rooted in luxurious tradition, serving the finest bottles available from household names and family estates in the Champagne region. The antique furnishings are a match for the decadent menu where you can pair a Dom Pérignon with a side of caviar.

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The Eiffel Tower framed by fall color
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Paris in November

November might not be the first month you consider for a trip to Paris. Hear us out though – the eleventh month isn’t all doom and gloom. The fall weather may mean you have to spend more time indoors, but with a world-class selection of museums to choose between, that shouldn’t be too much of a hardship. And as visitor numbers thin out, it’s all the easier to have a tête-à-tête with the Mona Lisa or a Van Gogh self-portrait. Paris in November certainly isn’t quiet when it comes to things to do either. Two public holidays and an expansive list of – largely indoor – events are sure to keep you on your toes, whilst the latter half of the month sees Christmas slowly put its festive embrace over the City of Light. Cultural delights When it comes to museums, art lovers visiting Paris in November can rejoice at the number of first-rate galleries, or panic because of the number of first-rate galleries. A common place to start is at the Louvre. But as the second-largest gallery in the world, its 38,000 objects can be overwhelming. Just across the River Seine, the Musée d’Orsay’s works span less than 70 years. It’s no less impressive for that, containing one of the most important collections of impressionist and post-impressionist art in the world, by the hands of luminaries including Renoir, Sisley and Gauguin. To delve into the thought processes and inspiration behind Pablo Picasso’s extraordinary output there’s Paris’s National Picasso Museum. Having lived in the city for over 40 years, its mass of sketchbooks, paintings and sculptures come directly from Picasso’s heirs, having initially formed part of his own private collection. It spans a lifetime of work, from his Blue Period to his surrealist masterpieces. Embrace sunset The nights drawing in during November have their advantages. Amongst them is the ability to experience the City of Light at its most enigmatic and atmospheric – when the sun settles over the French capital and its grand monuments are artificially illuminated. The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Sacré-Coeur Basilica are all elegantly lit. A Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus tour will save your feet, and also provide a little background to the backdrop of world-famous landmarks. Towards the end of the month, visitors to Paris are also able to experience the switching on of Christmas lights in around 150 streets. The obvious place to start is probably the Champs-Élysées, where no less than a million individual bulbs are draped over the trees. Elsewhere, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne are also reliable sources of festive cheer – and looming credit card limits. Check out alternatives to the high street The shopping doesn’t have to stop just because you head under cover. Some Parisians aren’t even aware of its maze of covered passageways. These decorative arcades host a fantastic array of independent stores, from jewelers to secondhand booksellers. You’ll also find a number of authentic cafés and bistros, whether you’re desperate for chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) or steak frites (steak and fries) and a glass of red wine. If the hot chocolate got you in the mood for all things cocoa based, you’re in exactly the right city. The history of how the odd-looking bean became one of the world’s most desirable crops can be discovered at The Gourmet Chocolate Museum Choco-Story. Meanwhile, the Salon du Chocolat fair at the end of the month sees five full days of chocolate-related fun. If the wines of France are more your cup of tea (to mix our metaphors), turn your attention to the city’s myriad caves (wine cellars). The third Thursday of November is the annual date set for the release of Beaujolais nouveau, and connoisseurs throughout Paris race to be the first to taste its youthful bouquet. Experience Paris on a day off ‘Beaujolais Day’ isn’t a national holiday – yet. However, Paris does have two bona fide jour fériés to prepare for in November. It begins with La Toussaint (All Saints’ Day) on the first of the month. With offices, stores and restaurants closed for the day many families pay their respects to lost loved ones. Visitors might instead make a short pilgrimage to heroes including Oscar Wilde or Jim Morrison of The Doors at Père Lachaise cemetery in the 20th arrondissement (district). The second national holiday lies ten days later on November 11. Commemorating the end of the First World War in 1918, Armistice Day focuses on the Arc de Triomphe. The French President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the main arch. Further details of this time reveal themselves at the Musée Clemenceau, the former home of the French wartime prime minister. A giant of his day, Georges Clemenceau counted Claude Monet among his friends, and supported Alfred Dreyfus during the affair bearing his name which rocked France at the turn of the twentieth century. Get set for Christmas In addition to the arrival of its Christmas lights, Paris in November sees the appearance of many other seasonal activities more usually associated with December. Stores big and small, budget and luxury, compete against one another to have the most alluring window displays, with the large department stores renowned for going all out on the decorations. At the same time, Alsatian-style chalets start to appear in various public spaces as Paris’s Christmas markets take form. The Tuileries Garden hosts one of the largest, combining funfair rides, souvenirs and a decent supply of vin chaud (mulled wine). The La Défense district’s version welcomes an amazing 350 different stalls, alongside a large outdoor ice rink. The Grand Palais opposite the Eiffel Tower is turned into one giant indoor ice rink from around the middle of November, with music and light displays some evenings. Other outdoor rinks include those at Le Plaza Athénée and the rooftop of the Galeries Lafayette flagship store on Boulevard Haussmann. Get the most out of Paris in November Brilliant museums, dazzling night-times, wondrous foods and the start of the Christmas festivities. Is there anything that could make November in Paris any better? How about savings on admission to many of its top attractions? Explore with Go City and that’s exactly what you get!
Ian Packham
Sun sets behind Notre Dame Cathedral
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Is Paris in May a good idea?

Paris is always a good idea. But Paris in May could well be the good idea to end all good ideas. Offering perfect sightseeing weather – sunny skies, almost no rain and very little humidity – Paris in May is a joy to behold. Temperatures which seem to rise by the day trigger a wealth of spring blooms alongside a sense of good cheer that even the surliest of Parisians can’t fail to get caught up in. Weather aside, Paris in May is able to boast a busy calendar of events and lengthening daylight hours in which to enjoy them to their max. Whilst the start of the city’s high season, there’s nowhere near the number of visitors as in July and August. The result? A happy balance between T-shirt wearing weather and entrance line lengths – which can of course be avoided by exploring with Go City! When in Paris... Paris has no fewer than four public holidays scheduled for May: Labor Day (May 1), World War II Victory Day (May 8), Ascension Day (40 days after Easter) and Whit Monday (or Pentecost, 50 days after Easter). Expect some shops and restaurants to be firmly closed for each. It’s best to check in advance though, with the Louvre’s mighty galleries closed on May 1 but open the rest of the month. Other museums may have reduced hours. What does this mean for anyone visiting Paris in May? It means the chance to see the city from the eyes of its residents. Many love nothing more than using their free days to head to the banks of the River Seine or one of the city’s multitude of green spaces. Spots on the Place du Vert Galant at the tip of Notre Dame Cathedral’s Île de la Cité are fiercely fought over because of its views across to the Louvre and the 18th-Century Hôtel de la Monnaie. But there’s no shortage of other potential picnic locations in a city with over 400 parks. Take a stroll Alternative activities on the Île de la Cité include a stroll among the stalls of the Queen Elizabeth II Flower Market. A stone’s throw from the stained-glass windows of the Church of Sainte-Chapelle and the ancient stonework of La Conciergerie, it has a particular significance on May 1. By tradition, the date is marked by giving a sprig of lily of the valley to loved ones. Every Sunday, it turns into a bird market alive with chirruping. The pleasant weather makes May in Paris a great time of year to pull on the walking shoes whatever your interests. The river’s banks are a good place to start, with a guided walking tour along the Seine full of fascinating stories from the city’s extensive history. Anyone who knows Paris a little already can instead explore the hidden gems of Le Marais, a residential area filled with historic sites such as Place des Vosges, once home to Victor Hugo, author of Les Misérables. Sun and sea – of a kind Hitting the sidewalks of the French capital isn’t the only way to discover the city. Visitors have been getting a bird’s eye view from the top of the Eiffel Tower since 1889. But those seeking elevated views of the tower itself can opt for the Ballon de Paris Generali instead. It’s the world’s largest helium-filled balloon. The adventures can continue beneath the waves at the Aquarium de Paris in the Trocadero Gardens opposite the Eiffel Tower. Concentrating on lifeforms found in French waters – which include islands in the Indian Ocean and Caribbean Sea – 60 tanks provide habitats for 7500 individual animals, including 50 sharks and 2500 jellyfish. Night owls will love the fact that the nearby Palais de Tokyo stays open late at least once a week. It’s home to the Paris Museum of Modern Art, one of two major contemporary collections in the city. The Pompidou Center is the other. Sample cordon bleu menus With café and restaurant tables again a firm fixture on the Paris streets after the chill of the winter months, May is also a great time to get to grips with the city’s famed food scene. For a lunch on the go that would make any Parisian proud, look no further than jambon-beurre. A ham sandwich with an added touch of class, both bakeries and cafés prepare this half-baguette containing butter and jambon de Paris ham in vast quantities each day. If you’re after a more leisurely midday meal the croque monsieur may be the answer, sharing many of the main elements of a jambon-beurre but with extra sumptuousness supplied by a béchamel sauce and a light grilling. Your tastebuds also won’t want to miss the Fête de Pain (Bread Festival) the week either side of May 16. An annual celebration of Saint-Honoré, the patron saint of bakers, it has the city’s artisans sharing their skills with the general public. Just add cheese for a perfect bite to eat! Major May events Around the same time, sports fans begin descending on the Bois de Boulogne for the opening rounds of the French Open Glam Slam tennis championships at Roland Garros. However, there are still plenty of other events for those who don’t know their Halep from their Barty or their Federer from their Nadal. The Printemps Des Rues street festival on the Canal Saint-Martin’s Quai de Jemmapes creates a magical atmosphere suitable for all the family. Dance, music and theater all come together for just one weekend to mark the coming of spring to the city’s streets. It’s the upmarket Saint Germain-des-Prés neighborhood that’s the main location for one of the city’s foremost music events – Festival Jazz. Its stages bring together new talent and household names wherever they might be found. There’s always a strong contingent of American musicians, alongside those hailing from as far afield as Cameroon and India. The Villette Sonique Festival at Parc de la Villette sees crowds welcoming not only jazz greats but also rock and post-punk experimental acts. Better still, it’s free to attend many of its outdoor daytime concerts! What to do in Paris in May May in Paris can more than hold its own against the other months of the year. Continuously improving weather, a relaxed holiday atmosphere and brilliant events mean a vacation at this time of year will be remembered for all the right reasons. And whilst Paris in May is the start of peak vacation season, with higher accommodation costs, don’t forget that by traveling with your trusty Go City app to hand you’re going to make substantial savings on admission to many of Paris’s top attractions!
Ian Packham
Rainbow over the Paris skyline
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Things to do in Paris for Pride Day

Oh l’amour! There’s a reason Paris is known as the City of Love, what with all those romantic boulevards, cute sidewalk cafés, handsome bridges, and swoonsome sunset strolls along the banks of the Seine. But love really comes to town in June, when the annual Pride festival – or Quinzaine des Fiertés – kicks off. Two weeks of shows, parties, exhibitions and debates in support of the LGBTQ+ cause, the festival is a celebration of love, diversity and inclusion that takes in everything from drag performances to dance shows, sporting spectaculars, bingo nights, roller-skating events and, of course, the grand finale: a joyful parade (aka the Marche des Fiertés) that snakes through the streets of Paris on the last Saturday of the month, drawing in up to 750,000 spectators and participants. Ooh la la! Dive in for our guide to all the best things to do in Paris on and around Pride Day. La Marche des Fiertés There are around 50 LGBTQ+ events taking place in council and municipal buildings and other gay-friendly spaces around Paris during the fortnight that precedes the Marche des Fiertés. Many of these are held in and around Le Marais, Paris’s beautiful, atmospheric and storied gay district. French speakers can find a full program on the country’s official Pride website.  But, as month-end approaches it’s really all about the Marche des Fiertés, Paris’s vibrant Pride parade, which sees the city center explode in a riot of dancing, singing and laughter, all wrapped up in a simply enormous outpouring of love. The route usually begins at (or near) the Tour Montparnasse, which just happens to be the city’s only skyscraper. Naturally, then, it’s also home to Paris’s highest observation platform – perfect if you want to watch the rainbow-colored parade from above. There are passionate, rousing speeches from around 1PM before, at 2PM, the crowd commences its two-hour crawl to the Place de la République, via Place de la Bastille. Spectators can expect to spot flamboyant floats, carnivalesque costumes, drag queens, stilt walkers, roller skaters, and more. The conclusion of the Parade doesn’t spell the end of Paris Pride. Far from it, in fact. The party continues until late in the evening, thanks to thrilling live music and wild drag performances on the main stage at Place de la République (or sometimes Place de la Bastille, depending on the parade route).  And nor does it end there: lively street parties continue across Paris well into the wee small hours, and it’s also a great (if somewhat busy) time to visit Paris’s finest gay bars and clubs. Hit up the Marais district for some of the most popular in town, among them the legendary Café Cox, Le Cud Bar, Les Souffleurs, and La Perle. LGBTQ+ Art & Culture We get it: massive, high-on-life crowds ain’t everybody’s cup of thé. So here’s the good news: you don’t need to join the end-of-June party to get a taste of Parisian LGBTQ+ culture. Try these for size instead: The Louvre: the largest (and most-visited) museum on the planet holds an extraordinary collection of gay art. We’re talking Ancient Greek vases featuring eye-popping homoerotic illustrations, an 18th-century sculpture of the heroic gay couple from Virgil’s Aeneid, several busts of Emperor Hadrian’s plaything Antinous, and a number of pieces by Renaissance geniuses Michelangelo and da Vinci. Top Louvre visiting tips here. Père Lachaise Cemetery: not just an utterly beautiful cemetery, with broad, leafy boulevards flanked by gothic gravestones and monumental memorials, Père Lachaise also just happens to be the final resting place of several gay icons of yore. Pay your respects at the graves of Oscar Wilde, Édith Piaf and Maria Callas, as well as the tomb shared by Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas, and that of Jean-Jacques Régis de Cambacérès, the Napoleonic nobleman considered by many to be the father of gay liberation. Luminor Hôtel de Ville: this beloved Marais cinema is where it’s at for the latest indie, arthouse and indeed blockbuster LGBTQ+ movies, especially during Quinzaine des Fiertés and other Paris LGBTQ+ film festivals. Latest listings here.  Les Mots à la Bouche: this Marais bookshop has been a stalwart of the Paris gay scene since 1980, stocking the full gamut of LGBTQ+ literature from art books to comics and erotic novels. Best of the Rest: Paris’s Top Attractions Paris Pride sees many of the city’s renowned landmarks light up in rainbow colors. Of course, the Eiffel Tower gets involved, beaming out its technicolor message of love and unity after dark throughout the Quinzaine des Fiertés. Then there’s the Arc de Triomphe and aforementioned Tour Montparnasse, as well as the countless local businesses – cafés, boutiques, galleries – that brighten the streets with beautiful rainbow flags and bunting. Heck, even Disneyland Paris gets in on the act! Feel the love on a stroll along the Seine, learn to say ‘I love you’ in 250 different languages at the wildly romantic-sounding Mur Des Je t’aime (Wall of Love) in Montmartre, or take a day trip to one of the utterly swoonsome chateaux that are easily reached by train from the capital. A Paris attraction pass from Go City can save you up to 50% when visiting multiple famous landmarks. There are over 100 attractions, tours and activities to choose from, including many mentioned in this guide. Here are just some of the highlights: A guided climb of the Eiffel Tower (a mere 674 steps up to the second level) Entry to the mighty Louvre Museum A trip to the top of Tour Montparnasse, the only skyscraper in Paris Romantic Seine cruises (with or without Champagne) Guided walking tours that include LGBTQ+ mecca Le Marais, Père Lachaise Cemetery, arty Montmartre, and a stroll around the favorite hotspots of fictional fashionista Emily Cooper, heroine of Netflix rom-com ‘Emily in Paris’. A fashion show at the iconic Galeries Lafayette Perfume- and macaron-making experiences Entry to the stunning Château Fontainebleau and Palace of Versailles … and much, much more! Find out more about the available pass types and get yours here.
Stuart Bak

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