This section is a list of pubs/bars with some descriptions where
applicable and in no particular order. Beware in some of the French
oriented bars you will pay more for your drinks if you are seated
as opposed to at the bar. In these establishments you will not
be allowed to buy a beer at the bar and then sit. Apparently fights
have broken out with drunk tourists not really understanding this.
Also, depending on the time of year most bars close at either
02h00 or 04h30. Make sure you have enough francs for cab fare
home, the metro shuts down at 01h00.
Also, a very good guide at Adams
Page. He seems to keep up with these places and scores them
accordingly.
Chatelet - Les Halles Area
A real popular party area at nights, especially on weekends.
You find a variety of bars here. Many anglo oriented bars being
either British, Irish or Australian. Many french oriented bars
too. Some bars are open until 06h00.
Le Baragouin
17 rue Tiquetonne 75002 Paris Tel: 42.36.18.93. Le Baragouin
is a typical French bar where the clientele is an eclectic mix
of french and anglos. The claim to fame of this place is the 12F
pints of beer from 20h00 to 21h00. Drafts of Guinness are available
at 20F.
Cafe Oz #2
rue St. Denis, metro Chatelet, sortie Place St. Opportune. This
is the larger of the two Cafe Oz's in Paris. A pub with only Fosters
on draft. Price of a schooner (smaller than a pint) of Fosters
is 34F with no happy hour. Some of the bottled/canned beers are
from 28F on up and tastier than the tapped Fosters. Clientele
used to be primarily anglo but has lately had a large French following.
Generally a nice place and packed on Fridays and Saturday nights.
If you want to guarantee getting in be here by 22h30 on a weekend.
The doormen can, and do, get particular about who they let in.
During the week this place is fairly empty, comparatively, but
still a fairly good crowd.
Dicey Riley's
rue Montorogueil near St. Eustache Church. An authentic Irish
Pub where you can get real fish and chips for 45F. This used to
be a fun place to go to but for some reason the bar staff has
changed and it's not what it used to be. Still its good for that
authentic Irish atmosphere. Live Irish music on random nights.
Guinness Tavern
(around the corner from Cafe Oz). One of the few bars that has
live music nightly. Primarily french bands playing old American
covers from the 60's on through the 90s. The seating is handled
by a maitre'd and he usually does a good job of purposely mixing
up the sexes at large tables. So guys and gals on your own this
is a good place to try out if you're on your own. But the prices
are steep. There is no entrance fee but pints of Guinness are
52F. The band starts playing around 22h00 and the place is usually
packed by then.
Horse's Mouth
120 rue Montmarte. Seems to be a lively hangout. Could it be
because of the long happy hour 16h to 19h?
Cafe Noir
A little ways along rue Montmarte this place is a late night
bar that has tons of people in a small place.
Oscar Wilde's
Is another late night bar not far from Cafe Oz. This place is
open until 5am and has a generally friendly clientele.
Bastille
Another party area much like Chatelet. Not as much fun as Chatelet
though. There are lots of anglo/french bars around here. But once
02h30 comes along most places are closed.
Route 66
8 rue de Lappe An American bar in Paris. Absolute crap.
The wait staff could care less if you get served, and a lot of
the times the air conditioning isn't working. I have never
had a pleasant experience here. Happy hour is 18h00 to 20h30.
Skip this place and head to Cafe Iguana instead.
Cafe Iguana
at the corner of rue de Lappe. A nice atmosphere bar. Two levels
with the bar on the ground floor. A nice place to take a girl
and sit down and chat. Not a pickup bar in the least. Drinks are
rather high priced with pints of beer starting at 40F. They make
pretty good margaritas and sometimes have specialty house drinks.
An attentive and friendly staff here too.
Sans Seyz
down the street and around the corner from Route 66. A french
bar with primarily a french clientele but also several euro/americans
stumble in too. A place I call a pack bar literally. By 00h00
you will have trouble moving and/or getting to the bar. There
is a seating area but don't count on sitting there. A good place
to meet people of various backgrounds/countries. Dress code is
enforced on Friday and Saturday nights, strictly.
Champs-Elysées
Where people come out to see and be seen. After seeing the sights
along the avenue there are several late night bars.
Chesterfields
124 rue La Boetie. An American establishment with a mix of french/anglo
clientele. There is a main restaurant area for eating and then
a bar area with a live band stage. Lately they have had some excellent
music imported from Austin Texas. The likes of Ian Moore, Sue
Foley and Chris Duarte amongst others. Down side is the bands
don't start playing until 23h00 in the evening. Up side is the
bands hang around for at least a week. Open until 05h00.
Catcus Charly
68 rue de Ponthieu, 75008 Tel: 45.62.01.77. Another American
establishment this is primarily a restaurant on the main floor
with more seating and a bar upstairs. The bar is small. There
is a small stage at one side of the upstairs that has a band on
holidays like St. Patrick's Day. But don't expect anything over
a two piece band here. Crowded and primarily a french clientele.
Montparnasse
Not lots of places to go to around Gare Montparnasse.
Mustang Cafe
84 bd du Montparnasse 75014 Tel: 43.35.36.12. Another tex-mex
place with happy hour from 16h00 to 19h00 50% off all drinks.
The bar area is long but narrow. Primarily an eating establishment
where you are crammed up in traditional french style. A mix of
french/anglo clientele with anglo waitresses. The tex-mex is not
something a Texan will like but seems to be on par with typical
french ideas of tex-mex. Not many girls hang out here and the
bar area is rather smallish.
Le Mousequotiers
(not sure of the spelling). Has lots of pools tables. Is primarily
a sit down place. Decent food.
Brasil Tropical
for a touch of Brasil with a French flair, if you are into dance
shows you will want to drop by this place. Lots of Brasilian dancing
by some very good performers. Dinner prices here are extremely
high starting at 695F. Reservations are required. Dress does not
seem to be enforced.
The Fifth
Amongst the Sorbonne University is an eclectic nightlife to say
the least. I have found this place to be interesting and bizarre.
For instance on Halloween, 1995 there were guys in the streets
doing firebreathing acts and I'm pretty sure it wasn't their profession
by trade.
Sweeney's
18 rue Laplace, RER Luxembourg. One of the best pubs in Paris.
The barstaff is incredibly friendly, the clientele a friendly
mix of different nationalities. You'll find conversation here
easily. Quite a number of pub games too including 'Name that tune'
where the winner gets a sizable quantity of alcohol poured into
them. If you go nowhere else in Paris you will have done well
coming here.
1929
3 rue Thouin metro Cardinale Lemoine. A fairly cozy french bar
with a primarily french clientele. The place tends to fill up
at nights. Drinks are very reasonably priced. Sometimes tough
to get the pretty barmaids attention though you won't mind waiting.
This place does it up for Halloween in grand style.
Violon Dingue
not far from 1929 is a nightclub/bar. The upstairs is primarily
a crowded bar scene. Downstairs is a dance floor. Live bands play
downstairs. Weekends finds a 50F cover to get in, free coke with
the entrance ticket. Drinks are reasonably priced.
Cafe Oz #1
rue Saint Jacques. The original Cafe Oz this place is tiny and
charges the same high prices as it's larger sibling. Not worth
coming to this one.
XV
The Fifteenth is not known for a party atmosphere. Primarily
a sedate residential area bordered by the Eiffel Tower and Montparnasse.
But, even locals must have a drink once in a while and here is
where they go.
La Cristal
metro Sevres-Lecourbe. When you exit the metro La Cristal is
in the plaza. A french bar with primarily french clientele. Reasonably
priced drinks.
