16 best bars in Paris right now, according to our expert

By Antonia Bentel

Paris, the international capital of gastronomy, was long a poor city for drinkers. Beyond a hastily mixed spritz on a terrasse and wine-by-the-glass lists rarely venturing away from Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the Loire, drinks here were simply a complement to a meal – and bars as spaces for socialising, not serious mixology. Today, the bars in Paris are wildly different. Paris is now home to some of the world’s most innovative and lauded cocktail bars which stay open well into the early hours. Wine bars have done away with dusty bottles of Claret in favour of wax-sealed natural cuvées. And hotel bars are back with a vengeance, more fabulous than ever. If you’re looking for the best bars in Paris right now, you’re spoiled for choice. Read on, sip up, and say santé.

Every bar on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has eaten at that restaurant. When choosing bars, our editors consider both high-end and affordable establishments that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We're always looking for stand-out cocktails and wine lists, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new bars open and existing ones evolve.

1. Herbarium

The hotel bar is back. There are few better places to celebrate its return than the dark, sexy Herbarium at the Hôtel National des Arts et Métiers, where the lights are low, and the air is thick with the hotel’s custom scent. Even the cocktails have a signature fragrance that highlights each drink’s principal notes (perhaps coffee, jasmine or ginger) and the ingredients. Among the highlights are the Sud Sud Sud, a sun-soaked riot of Cognac and mandarin with a pear and bergamot marmalade, and the autumnal Haigball, which mixes Haig Club with cider and punchy apple, ginger, and cinnamon bitters. The best seats are undoubtedly at the bar itself, where you can let the evening descend into a romp through their extensive whisky selection or bring your night to a close with a nightcap after supper.

Address: 243 rue Saint-Martin, 75003 Paris, FranceWebsite: hotelnational.paris

2. Pavillon Puebla

If Hansel and Gretel grew up and stumbled into a Parisian fairytale, their temptation would resemble Pavillon Puebla, an ivy-covered cottage hidden in the wilds of Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. Only there are no gingerbread walls and witches here. Instead, two fairy-lit shady terraces surround a cosy cottage with ironwork chairs and low wooden benches haphazardly thrown together across the outside space. Inside, the vibe transitions from the living room to the dancefloor as the night wears on. In short, it’s just about the last place you expect to find in the middle of the most sprawling park in Paris. The team behind the Perchoir rooftops run this joint. The menu sticks to their crowd-pleasing formula: classic cocktails, plenty of rosé, and extensive cheese and charcuterie planches to fuel long afternoons in the sunshine. You can’t go wrong with their Casamigos Paloma or a Mezcal Sour.

Address: Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, 75019 Paris, FranceWebsite: leperchoir.fr

3. Dirty Lemon

Women-owned Dirty Lemon is a warm, welcoming, and inclusive little spot you could only find at the heart of the 11th arrondissement. Founder Ruba Khoury swapped a career in Michelin-starred kitchens for mixology, and the love poured into Dirty Lemon is evident from the menu of Palestinian-Mediterranean snacks and the bar’s buzz. The cocktail list, like the atmosphere, is women-led and flirtatious. A 50-50 split between classics and the team’s creations means you can move from a beautifully balanced Basil Smash (gin and verjus with fresh basil and strawberry) to a more adventurous Tomboys Don’t Cry, based around a fig- and Gorgonzola-infused vodka, or the sake-based Girl Next Door. From the street, there’s little to signal what awaits inside; look for the electric-yellow and subtle, pastel-pink facade.

Address: 24 rue de la Folie Méricourt, 75011 ParisWebsite: dirtylemonbar.com

4. Bisou

Baby-pink Bisou is a cocktail bar unlike any other. There’s no limit to your imagination here – and no menu. Instead, the bartenders will concoct a unique drink for €12 (about £10.50) using the 200 spirits and liqueurs stacked behind the marble bar. It might sound like a gimmick, but the team is passionate about their craft, turning vague pointers such as “I like gin-based cocktails that aren’t too sweet” into the right mix of floral and bitter. They garnish glasses with everything from fresh flowers to rubber ducks, often in a sustainability initiative to avoid waste. Typically for Paris, the outdoor seats are the most popular. The buzz of Republique and endless people-watching nearby have obvious appeal, but it’s more fun to squeeze into the bar itself, where you can watch each new creation take form accompanied by the constant rattle of cocktail shakers.

Address: 15 boulevard du Temple, 75003 Paris, FranceWebsite: bar-bisou.fr

5. Liquiderie

Belleville’s Liquiderie is as laidback as Parisian bars come. Beer taps line the industrial back wall, and the order-at-the-bar queue is a parade of beanies and backward caps. But look more closely; those IPA pours are only half the story. There’s also natural wine poured on tap straight from the barrel and from an enormous standing cooler of wax-sealed bottles. This selection is just a tiny sample of what’s on offer at their cave a short walk away near Parmentier. Everyone coming to “boire un coup” (grab a drink) here is serious about their booze. Seating is in short supply, but there’s plenty to snack on while you perch at a bar seat – starting with saucisse sec from the Auvergne, padrón peppers and beautiful Normandy oysters in season.

Address: 7 rue de la Présentation, 75011 ParisWebsite: liquiderie.com

6. Sherry Butt

After celebrating its 10th birthday last year, Sherry Butt is officially among the distinguished old guard of the Parisian bar scene. That said, this dark and sophisticated Marais bar feels like it’s been here for much longer. The building’s original rough-stone walls seamlessly mingle with the minimalist decor. Sherry Butt is an end-of-night place to nurse a peaty single malt. It’s a place to drink sedately through a Japanese whisky flight from a comfy lounge chair. Or, if you prefer your drinks mixed rather than straight, the short cocktail list chalked up behind the bar is just as much of a reason to make a detour. Lovers of sour and bitter flavours should start with the Frequency, based around an unexpected combination of Calvados, umeshu and Campari, then move off-menu. There’s no classic the Sherry Butt team can’t nail.

Address: 20 rue Beautreillis, 75004 Paris, FranceWebsite: sherrybuttparis.com

7. Le Syndicate

Pay close attention, or you’ll walk straight past Le Syndicat; the door is hard to come by, hiding in plain sight among flyers and posters. Once through the heavy gold curtain, you’ll find a cosy, dim-lit bar jam-packed with locals and a few tourists. All their cocktails follow one rule: they’re made with French spirits only. Over the years, we’ve tried a salty and fragrant concoction served in an unusual bone marrow-shaped cup with the question “Are you vegetarian?” and a Disney-inspired cocktail paired with candy-floss-flavoured helium to inhale from a balloon alongside. The team designed the current list in collaboration with a handful of France’s leading chefs, including Amaury Bouhours and Adrien Cachot, who’ve each lent their name to a signature cocktail. Expect the unexpected, such as Louise Borrat’s “I Know I Can” with a cornflake whey infusion inspired by her childhood and a CBD cream evoking weed-clouded adolescence. The vibe gets pleasantly rowdy as the 2am closing time approaches, a playlist of French rap and R&B keeping things lively. Little wonder this bar has nabbed a spot in the world’s 100 best bars. Sophie Knight

Address: 51 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010 Paris, FranceWebsite: syndicatcocktailclub.com

8. Bar Sotto

Marcel Proust may have been searching for lost time, but many Parisians are searching for the perfect Martini. Finally, they can rejoice. Tucked into the bottom of a spiral staircase at the back of the well-regarded Italian restaurant Carboni’s, Bar Sotto is not only one of Paris’ best bars but also one of its tiniest, with only a few tables and narrow barstools. The drinks and small plates unsurprisingly have an Italian influence – the buffalo ricotta, served with anchovies, is almost too good (we ordered two plates, as one was not enough). If you plan to dine at Carboni’s, arrive at Bar Sotto before your booking to sample the excellent antipasti from the restaurant’s menu at the bar before tucking into your pasta upstairs. The true jewel of the cocktail menu is the classic Martini, but the Negroni Sbagliato is another triumph – a perfectly balanced masterpiece, Prosecco replaces gin in the holy trinity of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.

Address: 45 rue de Poitou, 75003 ParisWebsite: carbonisparis.com

9. Le Comptoir Général

Le Comptoir Général is perhaps the funkiest bar in Paris. It’s hard to say what kind of night you’ll have at LCG, but here’s a guess: after sneaking through the courtyard of a grand hôtel, you find yourself surrounded by the squawking of seagulls and a faint smell of…is that sea salt?...coconuts, maybe?...ah, just got a whiff of rum. Your eyes fly open and somehow, you’re holding a Daiquiri and conversing with a dead ringer for Hemingway. How did you suddenly land in Cuba? No sooner than you finish your drink, you swim back across the sea, to the safety of France, sipping pastis in an old village square. But not for long. Through another door is another adventure: welcome to Hollywood! You nurse an Old-Fashioned while sidled up against the aquarium bar in a 1960s starlet’s Los Angeles home. Oh, say it ain’t so – this is the end of the road, your time travelling adventure is now over. You exit back onto the streets of Paris and watch the motorcycles go by as you recoup and try in vain to smell the coconuts one last time.

Address: 84 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010 ParisWebsite: lecomptoirgeneral.com

10. Déviant

At Déviant, wine’s the thing. The bar has lost some of its cachet since it expanded from its original mirror-lined and standing-room-only space. However, its selection of unusual natural wines from across Europe is still worth checking out (try the über funky Le Temps Retrouvé rosé). Friendly sommeliers are always ready to guide you through some of the more obscure producers. Food is increasingly their second focus, with young, talented chefs plating Italian-, French-, and Spanish-inspired bites on silver platters and porcelain saucers. The menu changes seasonally – if you’re visiting in the summertime, the spicy Panzanella salad and octopus ceviche are both unmissable and unforgettable.

Address: 39 rue des Petites Écuries, 75010 ParisWebsite: deviant.paris

11. Fréquence

Fréquence is where music connoisseurs, cocktail aficionados and wannabe Brooklynites can coexist in perfect harmony. A strictly no-reservations and vinyl-only joint, Fréquence is a chic concept bar where records, not bottles, line the back of the bar. Bartenders reach into the depths of the plywood counter, concocting exceptional cocktails and mocktails for their patrons, who sway back and forth on the raw concrete floor to great tunes ranging from Motown to the Beatles to Angolan semba. If peckish, a plate of crispy-bottomed and chilli oil-laced dumplings is the perfect fuel before a final round. Guest DJs and other music curators are occasionally invited, hosting unique and lively themed soirées, so be sure to glance at the bar’s social media to see what’s on next.

Address: 20 rue Keller, 75011 ParisWebsite: instagram.com/frequenceparis

12. Harry’s New York Bar Paris

Harry’s New York Bar is an institution – opened in 1911 by the jockey Tod Sloan and helmed by Scottish barman Harry MacElhone. At “Sank Roo Doe Noo” (taxi directions immortalised by James Bond in A View to a Kill), you can hear history crackling. The Bloody Mary, French 75, and Sidecar were born there. Gershwin composed An American in Paris on the piano. Coco Chanel, Humphrey Bogart, Rita Hayworth, and Brendan Behan used Harry’s New York Bar as their Parisian watering hole. And now you. With plenty of new and classic cocktails, you’ll feel at home amongst the Chesterfields and cigar-stained walls, almost every inch covered by American college jerseys. Order a Harry’s Pick-Me-Up, a mix of Champagne, cognac, Grand Marnier, OJ, and grenadine, for maximum enjoyment (be careful, they’re deadly).

Address: 5 rue Daunou, 75002 ParisWebsite: harrysbar.fr

13. Andy Wahloo

Andy Wahloo is a world traveller and professional party guest. Andy Wahloo is a man of mystery. Andy Wahloo is also a figment of the imaginations of Hakim and Momo Mazouz, the creative minds behind one of Paris’ best (and best-known) bars. His story is splashed across the bar’s creative cocktail menu, with drinks brought back as souvenirs from Andy’s far-flung travels and a wide range of wines and Champagnes homage to Andy’s Franco-Moroccan roots. Try the Souk with bourbon, argan oil, Calvados, and orange blossom syrup. Fittingly for the fictional home of such a consummate music-lover and notorious partier, the music played at Andy’s is wide-ranging and loud, with DJs worldwide. Check the bar’s frequently updated website to see the month’s lineup.

Address: 69 rue des Gravilliers, 75003 ParisWebsite: andywahloo-bar.com

Sarah James

Olivia Morelli

Condé Nast Traveller

Eleanor Aldridge

14. Serpent à plume

At Serpent à Plume, a night of mysterious, mystical fun awaits. After walking through a classic, unassuming bistro off the Place des Vosges and through a 1970s wooden archway, you go down polished concrete steps to find yourself in an alternative reality. White velour banquettes offer refuge for perfectly poised and impeccably dressed Parisians and visitors. A DJ spins great tracks between Jean Royère sconces; beautiful couples gyrate to the beat. Order a cocktail from Serpent à Plume’s whimsical menu as you take in the scene. The PickPocket, a blend of tequila, chartreuse and pomelo, topped with shiso and white chocolate mousse, is as improbable, decadent, and expensive as Serpent à Plume itself.

Address: 24 Place des Vosges, 75003 ParisWebsite: serpentaplume.com

15. Combat

The inimitable Margot Lecarpentier founded Combat. She has arguably redefined the Parisian cocktail scene more than any other mixologist, creating one of the best bars in Paris. You’ll still find Margot behind the marble counter pouring and serving drinks or chatting to regulars who covet the wobbly chairs and tables squeezed outside onto Rue de Belleville. Inside, dainty flowers and ferns hang from the ceiling and music you’ve probably never heard of (but love instantly) seeps from the corners of the room. The atmosphere might be relaxed, but the drinks are marvels, made by an all-female crew with unwavering finesse. Different cocktails are dreamt up regularly. Our pick? Gin with cumin, umeshu, and dry vermouth, garnished with a single Castelvetrano olive). Not a drinker? No problem, as Combat will serve perhaps the best mocktail you’ll ever sip. Light bites include cheese plates and coarse terrines with crunchy cornichons. Perhaps best of all, the bar is open every day until 2am, except for a slightly earlier close on Sundays.

Address: 63 rue de Belleville, 75019 ParisWebsite: facebook.com/CombatBelleville

16. Le Mary Celeste

Le Mary Celeste, run by Quixotic Projects (who also own the city’s least-secret speakeasy, Candelaria), is the kind of bar you can always find an excuse to visit. Sunny day? Drop in for a platter of oysters and a glass of Vinho Verde as you soak up the easygoing atmosphere of the Haut Marais. Craving a great cocktail? Come late, and bring your sense of humour to sip a “Hufflepuff” (with Beefeater, vermouth, Mirabelle eau de vie and lime) or “F*ck my Wine” featuring Rancio sec from Roussillon, macvin du Jura and Muscadet). Starving? Share the duck tartare or mussels in coconut milk. The bar is named after the legendary Mary Celeste ship, which was discovered floating in the Atlantic with all alcohol accounted for and no crew to be found. Reservations are available and worthwhile if you plan on having a proper supper or a long, boozy lunch; otherwise, walk-ins are welcome until just before closing at 2am.

Address: 1 rue Commines, 75003 ParisWebsite: lemaryceleste.com

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