Bars and Dancing

Sure, a girl has to eat, but sometimes drinks are in order. Here are some addresses to quench your thirst, from smart and swanky to sweet and low-down.

L’Alimentation Générale
64, rue Jean Pierre Timbaud, in the 11th. 01 43 55 42 50.An affordable yet cool bar and club full of Parisians and hipsters, presenting an interesting mix of music styles. Decor is meant to look like a general store. In fact, this entire street is chock full of fabulous bars. Start at L’Alimentation Generale and work your way down for a terribly cool pub crawl.

Andy Wahloo
69, rue des Gravilliers, in the 3rd. 01 42 71 20 38. Right next to Le 404 (our favorite Moroccan place), this is a perfect spot to chill after Moroccan food. Fabulous North African vibe. Be sure to go there late!

Le Bar Dix
10, rue de l’Odéon, in the 6th. 01 43 26 66 83. Daily, 6 p.m.–2 a.m.
This is a charming dive near Odéon, where the cinnamon-laden sangria flows (almost) freely.

Bar Hemingway at the Ritz
15, Place Vendôme, in the Ritz, in the 1st. 01 43 16 30 30. Daily, 10:30 a.m.–2 a.m.
Elegant and historic, this is quite simply one of the greatest bars in the world, with prices to match.
Le Baron Rouge

Le Baron Rouge
1, rue Théophile Roussel, in the 12th. Tues–Thurs, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5–10 p.m. Fri–Sat, 10–10; Sun, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
At this bustling wine bar near the Marché d’Aligre, plastic plates are piled high with raw oysters, eaten on the sidewalk or in the wine barrel–lined interior. Enjoy great wines by the glass and, for the seafood averse, a selection of charcuterie and cheese. The oyster man appears on Saturdays and Sundays in winter only, but the wine bar is a happening scene year-round.

Barrio Latino
46–48, rue du Faubourg-St.-Antoine, in the 12th. 01 55 78 84 75. For tacos and tequila—this is a restaurant, bar and nightclub and is talked about as one of the greatest bars in Paris. Dress to kill or you’ll have to wait in line for the salsa.

Batofar
11, quai François Mauriac, port de la Gare, in the 13th, near the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand. 01 53 60 17 30. Batofar is a boat-bar-disco combo often with live music. That boat is especially fun in warm weather.

Chez George
11, rue des Canettes, in the 6th. 01 43 26 79 15. The perfect dive bar with chess, singing and affordable drinks. This is one of the oldest in the area.

Le China
50, rue de Charenton, in the 12th. 01 43 46 08 09.Live music or DJs and cocktails (don’t go for the food) in a posh setting. Recently reopened under a new name by the owners of Chez Janou, one of the Girls’ Guide’s favorite cafés in the Marais.

Curio Parlor
16, rue des Bernardins, in the 5th. 01 44 07 12 47. Tues–Thurs, 7 p.m.–2 a.m.; Fri–Sat, 7 p.m.–4 a.m.
A few steps but a far cry from the student pubs of the Latin Quarter, this speakeasy is part taxidermist, part brothel and all good.  

Le Divan du Monde
75, rue des Martyrs, in the 18th. 01 42 52 02 46. This place has it all, including a pub and concert hall, plus a nightclub and movie theatre.

Le Doudingue
24, rue Durantin, in the 18th. 01 42 54 88 08. A Montmartre neighborhood hangout with a Moroccan twist, serving everything from mojitos to martinis. Tables upstairs, and more of a lounge feel downstairs.

Experimental Cocktail Club
37, rue St.-Sauveur, in the 2nd. 01 45 08 88 09. Even the tonic water in your gin and tonic is artisanal at the ECC, which knows that a good drink cannot be made without good ingredients. The crowd gets younger and trendier as the clock ticks, but remains relaxed all night.

Follow Me
24, rue Keller, in the 11th. Open very, very late—you can dance all night long.

Le Fumoir
6, rue de l’Amiral de Coligny, in the 1st, near the Louvre.
01 42 92 00 24. Daily, 11 a.m.–2 a.m.
A gorgeous room with a long bar, tables filled with pretty people, a terrace facing the eastern end of the Louvre and above-average cocktails: do we need to say more?

Harry’s New York Bar
5, rue Daunou, in the 2nd. 01 42 61 71 14. Daily, 10 a.m.–4 a.m.
A classic address for classic cocktails. Entering the swinging doors of Harry’s is like walking into a time capsule. Sip your perfect Manhattan and think about the scores of Americans in Paris (some very famous) who have done the same.

Ice Kube Bar
1–5, passage Ruelle, in the 18th. 01 42 05 20 00. 
For a bit of ICE, try the Ice Kube Bar in the übertrendy Kube Hotel, where you must reserve to drink—and witness a bar made of ice. These seem to be popping up everywhere now (we even saw one in South Africa!), but this is the only one in Paris.

The Lizard Lounge
18, rue du Bourg Tibourg, in the 4th. 01 42 72 81 34. 
Said to be one of the best bars in Paris—attracts an English and American crowd. It’s a tiny place but boasts a good burger.
Mama Shelter
109, rue de Bagnolet, in the 20th. 01 43 48 48 48. Open daily.
Young and hip and cosmopolitan, this Philippe Starck–designed boutique hotel and restaurant in the far reaches of the 20th Arrondissement feels more than a little bit New York.
Murano Urban Resort
13, blvd du Temple, in the 3rd. Terribly trendy with vodka galore.
Nirvana Lounge
3, ave Matignon, in the 8th. 01 53 89 18 91. 
Very posh food/music venue akin to the famous Buddha Bar (bring the bucks).
Beyond Oberkampf
When we first went to the rue Oberkampf, in the 11th Arrondissement, we walked for miles trying to find the bars. Now it’s awash with bars and people—the original being Café Charbon (109, rue Oberkampf; 01 43 57 55 13).  Now we hear that the area up the hill in the 20th has even hipper music and serious cocktails.
Try Studio de L’Ermitage (8, rue de l’Ermitage; 01 44 62 02 86) or Les 3 Chapeaux (48, rue des Cascades; 01 46 36 90 06), La Maroquinerie (26, rue Boyer; 01 40 33 35 05), which is a literary café hosting world music acts, and La Bellevilloise (19, rue Boyer; 01 46 36 07 07),  which is a bar, café and club that holds art exhibitions.

L’Olympic Café
20, rue Léon, in the 18th. 01 42 52 29 93. Bar and world music/jazz venue.

Pause Café
41, rue de Charonne, in the 11th. 01 48 06 80 33. This is the place in the Bastille.

La Perle
78, rue Vieille du Temple, in the 3rd. 01 42 72 69 93.Sleek, hip Marais bar with a gay twist and a young cute crowd mixed with a few of us older gals.

Le Petit Fer à Cheval
30, rue Vieille du Temple, in the 4th. 01 42 72 47 47. Daily, 9 a.m.–2 a.m. (kitchen open noon–1:15 a.m.)
Named for the exquisite horseshoe-shaped zinc bar that dominates the room, this is a great place for a beer or a glass of wine, and for taking in the cast of Marais characters that wanders in and out all night. If it’s too crowded, the literary Belle Hortense, just across the street, is also a good bet.

Prescription Cocktail Club
23, rue Mazarine, in the 6th. 01 45 08 88 09. Closed Sun.
Another address from the Experimental Cocktail Club people, the Rx here is for drinks or champagne among a well-heeled left-bank crowd.

Rosa Bonheur
2, ave de la Cascade, in the 19th. 01 42 00 00 45. Wed–Sun, noon–midnight.
There is plenty of bonheur, indeed, at this sprawling indoor/outdoor café at the top of the Parc des Buttes Chaumont.

Le Secret
16, ave de Friedland, in the 8th. 01 53 53 02 02. Mon–Sat, noon–2 a.m.
An elegant yet unpretentious bar for grown-ups, just off the Champs Elysées, Le Secret is a discreet choice for excellent cocktails.
Sir Winston
5, rue de Presbourg, in the 16th, near the Arc de Triomphe. 01 40 67 17 37. Open till 4.
An homage to Prime Minister Churchill. Disco and jazz can be heard here. Also owned by the same group: 

SoMo (168, rue Montmartre, in the 18th; 01 40 13 08 80) , in Montmartre, the place to see and be seen. SoMo stands for South Montmartre, of course, and is a play on SoHo in New York and London.Please also consult our section Nightlife for Gals.