Speakeasy à Paris
In the not so distant past, Speakeasies and hidden bars in Paris were few and far between, with cocktail culture limited to exclusive, relatively inaccessible hotel bars. The idea of a secret bar remained distinctly off-radar until the Experimental Cocktail Club opened in 2007. It was a runaway success and today they have 8 venues in Paris alone (including my Saint-Germain favourite, Prescription) with bars and hotels in NYC, London, Menorca, Ibiza, Verbier and Venice.
Over a decade later, one can barely swing a cat in Paris without hitting a newly opened concept bar or Speakeasy - often still met with eye-rolling cynicism but to which I say the more the merrier! Here is a guide to my favourite hidden bars and hard-to-find drinking dens in the City of Light, perfect for intimate candlelit evenings in the French capital. Santé!
La Candelaria
For a cool candelit cocktail, this is one of my favourite bars in Paris. Enter a scruffy Mexican “taqueria” from the unassuming Rue de Saintonge. Resist the tasty food smells, walk through past the tiny open-plan kitchen on your right and straight through the white door in front of you into a compact, atmospheric cavern.
Little Red Door
The Little Red Door is one of the OG hidden bars in Le Marais, winning awards left right and centre (*cough* World’s 50 Best Bars list). With a fairly simple, low-lit interior, head bartender Rémy Savage lets his drinks do all of the talking.
Website / Insta / 60, Rue Charlot
Jacopo
Beautifully designed Jacopo serves up simple and affordable cuisine by chef Thibault Sombardier. Unbeknownst to many, there is a super cool hidden bar behind a gilded door marked “Droguerie”, with a pool table, laid back vibe and an open cocktail menu tailored completely to your own tastes.
Le 43
This upscale rooftop bar is (bizarrely) located atop a Holiday Inn in the Latin Quarter. With one of the loveliest views in the capital, Le 43 has pretty sky high prices (and usually needs booking up to 2 weeks in advance..!) but is worth it for a sunset aperitif.
FB / Insta / +33 1 81 69 00 60 / 4 Rue Danton
Le Lavomatic
This rather nondescript building close to Place de la République is home to a fully operational laundromat by day. But by night, choose the right washing machine and reveal a spiral staircase ascending to a super kitsch, playful bar with swings and oversized boxes of fabric softener for seats.
No Entry
No Entry is hidden within the enormous (750m2!) Pink Mamma restaurant in Pigalle. Let one of the hostesses know you are there for cocktail and they will send you in the right direction. Hint - try the meat fridge (again, watch out for giant dangling hams..).
L’Epicier
Near the Plaçe de la République, L’Epicier is the most recent venture of the team behind Lavomatique. Enter the tiny delicatessen, pull the right box of couscous and reveal an entrance to what feels like the Souk in Marrakech. Multicoloured lanterns, Moroccan teapots and a divine mezzo menu. J’adore.
FB / 24 rue Notre Dame de Nazareth
Le 1905
This Belle-Epoque boudoir takes patrons back in time to 1905. Upstairs from bistro Vins des Pyrénées, this vintage drinking den serves cocktails worthy of theatrical escapism and, unusually for a vintage speakeasy, has a lovely sunny terrace for balmy evenings.
Moonshiner
Slightly trickier to find, Moonshiner is very Party-Chez-Gatsby. Enter neighbourhood pizza joint Da Vito, swoosh through the vault doors into their meat fridge (avoiding the dangling hams) to reveal a 1920s drinking den of yore. The bar has a vintage aesthetic without being overly self conscious (do not, I repeat do not wear spats).
FB / Insta / +33 9 50 73 12 99 / 5 Rue Sedaine
Le Syndicat
Behind a wall peeling with old gig posters not far from the Gare du Nord, Le Syndicat is an homage to all things French. Serving impressive French reinventions of classic cocktails, they only stock French spirits. Making cognac cool again, to a hip-hop soundtrack. Check out their sister bar La Commune too, with a focus on Punch!
Website / 51 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis
Mezcaleria
Another Marais winner. Watch Paris metamorphose into Oaxaca in the blink of an eye. Hidden within 1K Hotel, enter their beautiful Inka restaurant, saunter past the kitchen and through the heavy metal door into a bright, colourful, dia de los muertos Mezcal fever-dream.
Le
Très
Particulier
Le Très Particulier is the elegant, lavish bar of Hôtel Particulier in Montmartre. Not quite a Speakeasy, but finding the hotel can be a challenge (hint ring a doorbell down a pretty side street), but once inside, it feels a million miles away from Paris proper.
Insta / Hôtel Particulier Montmartre, 23 Avenue Junot
Special mentions also go to Nami, hidden underneath the Gyoza bar in Passage des Panoramas, Hammam under gourmet kebab spot Our, vault-like La Mina in the basement of Carbon restaurant & La Perdition, a cosy space under Ostrea Oyster Bar. Baranaan is a fun Indian-themed cocktail (& naan) bar set in an elaborate vintage train carriage, with screen windows showing views of a journey through India. Mabel is an unpretentious little rum bar behind a grilled cheese cafe! Promising the best sandwich of your life, their toastie menu is 👌🏼.
What are some of your favourite bars in Paris? I would love to hear from you if you have any tips or recommendations that I haven’t tried or mentioned above.. Bisous xx
P.S. A note on getting there - I always use Skyscanner to compare and find the best possible flights (using the “whole month” search option when I’m flexible with dates).
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