Best Bars in Paris

When you think of best bars in Paris, the iconic drinking spots that define the city’s after-dark soul. Also known as Parisian wine bars, cocktail lounges, and brasseries, these places aren’t just about drinks—they’re where history, conversation, and rhythm come together after sunset. This isn’t the Paris of postcards. It’s the Paris where you slip into a dimly lit cellar in Le Marais, order a glass of natural wine from a sommelier who remembers your name, and end up talking until 2 a.m. about art, politics, or why the croissants here are better than anywhere else.

The Paris nightlife, the evolving scene of bars, clubs, and casual hangouts that keep the city alive after dark. Also known as Parisian evening culture, it’s shaped by centuries of café society, the rise of craft cocktails, and a quiet rebellion against tourist traps. You won’t find overpriced champagne flutes in fake boudoirs here. Instead, you’ll find bartenders who mix drinks with precision, owners who play vinyl from the 70s, and regulars who’ve been coming for 20 years. The Paris bars, the physical spaces where locals gather to unwind, connect, and celebrate. Also known as bistros, wine cellars, and cocktail dens, are spread across neighborhoods like Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Canal Saint-Martin, and the 10th arrondissement—each with its own rhythm. The real ones don’t have velvet ropes. They don’t need Instagram hashtags. They thrive because they feel like home.

What makes a bar in Paris truly great? It’s not the lighting or the name on the door. It’s the quiet confidence of the staff, the way the wine list changes weekly, the fact that you can walk in alone and leave with three new friends. You’ll find places where the bartender knows your drink before you speak, where the music is just loud enough to feel alive but not so loud you can’t hear yourself think. Some are tucked behind unmarked doors. Others sit right on the Seine, with wooden benches and bottles of rosé chilling in buckets. And yes, there are still a few old-school brasseries where you can order a steak frites and a carafe of red and feel like you’ve stepped into a 1950s film.

What you won’t find in this collection? Tourist traps with cover charges and fake French accents. What you will find? Real stories from people who’ve spent nights in these places—where the drinks are good, the company is better, and the memories stick longer than the scent of cigarette smoke on your coat. Whether you’re looking for a quiet corner to read, a place to dance to French indie rock, or a bar that serves absinthe the way it was meant to be drunk, the posts below will show you exactly where to go. No fluff. No hype. Just the bars that locals swear by—and why they keep coming back.