Paris Bars & Nightlife
Establishment
neighborhood
Folderol
10 Rue du Grand Prieuré, 11th
As far as we know, Folderol is the first of its kind: a natural wine bar slash ice cream shop. You order at the counter—there’s always a line—to get a glass of whatever the sommelier recommends and a scoop off the ice cream menu, which changes daily. Kids are welcome.
Donna
157 Rue Saint-Martin, 3rd
Donna is right down the street from the Centre Pompidou, so you can stop in after your museum visit to chat about Mondrian, Matisse, and Duchamp over a glass of natural wine. But this bar is worth going out of your way for, too: The wine list is tightly curated, the food creative, the crowd lively, and the playlist consistently good. Wander up to the second floor for a quieter, more intimate space.
Django
24 Rue Victor Massé, 9th
Pigalle is home to some of the city’s best nightlife, and Django is one of the most lively bars in the neighborhood for drinks and nibbles. They craft signature cocktails and small plates driven by whatever is freshest and most delicious this season.
Bonnie
10 Rue Agrippa d'Aubigné, 4th
While you can get a delicious lunch or dinner here (plus 360-views and the mirrored Olafur Eliasson installation The Seeing City), the real reason to visit is drinks and dancing; at 11pm, the restaurant transforms into a buzzy nightclub. Set on the top two floors of the SO/ Paris hotel, the club’s leather booths and 70s-disco vibe draws a chic fashionable crowd. Even if you don’t need a cigarette break, go out on the terrace to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle from afar.
Cravan
17 Rue Jean de la Fontaine, 16th
If you find yourself in the 16th, make a beeline for a delightful, resolutely French little wine bar with a few round tables and rattan chairs out the front called Cravan.
Martin Boire et Manger
24 Blvd. du Temple, 3rd
Martin’s is a casual joint, covered in glass like a conservatory, making it warm and steamy in the winter, fresh and airy in the summer.
Les Grands Verres
13 Ave. du Président Wilson, 16th
From the team behind Paris favorites La Candelaria and Le Mary Celeste, this grand, imposing new spot in the Palais de Tokyo sets the benchmark for restaurants within cultural landmarks. The heavy use of stone and wood could look austere, but the hundreds of hanging lightbulbs and gold accents warm the cavernous space right up
The Hoxton Paris
30-32 Rue du Sentier, 2nd
As in the Hoxton outposts in Amsterdam, Brooklyn, and London, the lobby here is massive. And in this case, it's also built into a courtyard. Velvet sofas, natural light, and gorgeous decorative features (like a 300-year-old spiral staircase) make for an absurdly pleasant place to spend a few hours. For a change of scene, move on to the Hoxton’s Jacques Bar and its floor-to-ceiling windows that look directly onto the rooftops of Paris. The Moroccan-influenced cocktail list includes the Postcard from Marrakech, made of orange blossom and gin—it tastes like summer in a glass.
Rivié
30-32 Rue du Sentier, 2nd
Rivié, one of the two bars in the Hoxton, has a wonderful brasserie, a lovely outdoor garden, and relaxing little nooks with armchairs and nice lighting. Settle onto a velvet barstool, order a glass of champagne or a dirty martini, chat with the friendly bartenders, and order plates of onion rings and tartare on toast as the evening slips into night.
Bar Hemingway
15 Place Vendôme, 1st
This moody, leather-accented bar is famous for being an old haunt of so many Paris creatives—in addition to Hemingway himself, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Cole Porter, and Gary Cooper were all regulars. Legend has it that Marcel Proust ordered a cold beer from here on his deathbed. Colin Peter Field, who ran Bar Hemingway for decades and arguably made it the destination that it is, is no longer there. However, his deputy, Anne-Sophie Prestail, took over in 2023 and has continued the tradition of deliciously stiff drinks and rose garnishes.