With over 5,000 bars, Paris offers something for every version of a night out — the historic café where Hemingway drank, the inventive cocktail bar that ranks among the world's best, the natural wine bar where locals gather after work, the karaoke box where birthdays get properly celebrated. Here are twelve that represent the best of the city after dark.
A natural wine bar in the lively Pigalle neighbourhood that has quickly become one of the most beloved addresses in Paris. Small plates, exceptional low-intervention wines, and the kind of convivial atmosphere where you always end up talking to the table next to you.
One of the most acclaimed cocktail bars in Paris — the bar of the Hôtel Lancaster, run with extraordinary precision. The cocktails are technically impeccable, the atmosphere is refined, and the service is some of the best in Paris.
Consistently ranked among the world's best bars — Little Red Door in the Marais has a remarkable cocktail program built around seasonality and French terroir. Each cocktail is a narrative about a place or a season. Intimate, thoughtful, and extraordinary.
A tiny, dimly lit taqueria with an even tinier hidden bar behind a secret door in the back. La Candelaria has one of the best mezcal and tequila selections in Europe, and the cocktails made with them are remarkable.
The bar where the Bloody Mary and the Sidecar were allegedly invented. Harry's New York Bar has been part of Paris since 1911 — Hemingway drank here, Gershwin composed on the piano downstairs. It is not fashionable; it is completely irreplaceable.
The bar of the Hôtel Bristol is one of the most beautiful rooms in Paris — richly panelled wood, English club atmosphere, impeccable cocktails. The most civilised place in the city for a pre-dinner drink.
A beautifully designed Art Deco cocktail bar with an exceptional menu of classic and contemporary cocktails. One of the most elegant bar rooms in Paris — the interior alone makes it worth visiting.
The finest gin bar in Paris — over 300 gins from around the world, served by people who genuinely understand them. The Tiger Gimlet is the house signature; the tonic selection is as thoughtfully curated as the gin list.
Paris's finest karaoke experience — private boxes, extensive song catalog, great cocktails, and the perfect venue for a birthday, a work party, or just a very good night out. BAM delivers the full Japanese karaoke experience in the heart of Paris.
A beautifully appointed wine bar near the Palais Royal — excellent natural wines, good small plates, and a warm atmosphere that makes it one of the most enjoyable spots for an aperitivo in central Paris.
A champagne bar dedicated exclusively to Champagne — no other wine, no spirits, no apologies. Arbane's selection covers grower champagnes rarely seen outside of the Marne valley. The most educational and delicious place to drink bubbles in Paris.
A genuine neighbourhood bar in the 11th arrondissement — unremarkable from the outside, extraordinary from within. The natural wine list is excellent, the small plates are generous, and the welcome is some of the warmest in Paris.
