There are tons of bars and nightlife spots in Paris, and since your time here is limited, you really don’t want to waste an evening at some mediocre, boring bar. That’s exactly why I put together this article, based on the spots I love most in the City of Light and on tips I picked up from people in the know. Here you’ll find quite a few secret hangouts that only Parisians like me really know about. So whether this is your first time in Paris or your tenth, I promise you’ll find plenty of interesting places here you didn’t know about.
So let’s get started!
Paris’s rooftop bars
This is without a doubt the latest trend in every major city in the world, and Paris, with its stunning views, is very much part of it. The magic of Paris’s rooftop bars comes from the combination of history, contemporary style and the breathtaking views of the City of Light that unfold from above. That’s why you’ll find that most of the best rooftop bars in Paris were built on top of historic buildings. And by the way, it’s not just mansions or hotels: it’s also department stores, swimming pools, legendary museums, theaters, movie theaters. In short, who doesn’t have their own rooftop these days?
Most of the guests at these spots are Parisians out for a drink with friends, or even holding business meetings. Don’t be surprised either if a fashion shoot or a film shoot happens to be underway while you’re there. After all, the buildings are stunning, the sunsets are breathtaking and the views are inspiring.
Important: it’s a good idea to book ahead for some of the trendiest bars, unless you want to stand in line for close to an hour or, in some cases, even get turned away at the door.
Now that I’ve told you a bit about Paris’s rooftop bars, let’s get to the interesting part: the bars I love most in Paris.
Terrass Hotel
The Terrass Hotel was built in 1911 on the hill of Montmartre and quickly became a fashionable spot where artists, writers and other celebrities of the era used to sit on the terrace that is now the bar and restaurant. Here are a few names of celebrities who sipped wine there while taking in the Parisian view from above: Édith Piaf, Jean Renoir, Henri Matisse, Jacques Prévert, Colette and many others. It’s no wonder the place earned the nickname “the artists’ hotel.”
The hotel has been owned by the same large French family for several generations. It underwent a full renovation in 2015 and became one of the most beautifully designed and welcoming hotels in Paris. The bar on the seventh floor has a simply wonderful view, from the hill of Montmartre below all the way to the Eiffel Tower glittering on the horizon (and I haven’t even mentioned the stunning sunset yet). So it’s no surprise that plenty of Parisians use the spot for romantic dates.
Practical information about the hotel and bar
Official website: Terrass Hotel
Address: 12-14 Rue Joseph de Maistre
Opening hours of the bar and restaurant: The rooftop bar and the restaurant are open every day. The bar, on the outdoor terrace at the top of the building, is open daily from 3:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Open access, no reservation needed, subject to seat availability.
Price: €
Why is it worth a visit? The stunning view, the special atmosphere and the beautiful interior design of the restaurant.
Brasserie Barbès
The neighborhood of La Goutte d’Or, in the 18th arrondissement, isn’t exactly the most charming part of Paris, but this particular brasserie manages to draw plenty of Parisians who love coming here for a drink. You’ll find Parisians of every kind here: young, old, nerds and hipsters who pack the place night after night. The spot also attracts quite a few writers, thanks to the literary prize that has been awarded here since 2018.
Practical information about Brasserie Barbès
Address: 2 Boulevard Barbès
Opening hours: Open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Price: €€
Why is it worth a visit? An unexpected location and a surprising atmosphere. An eclectic, interesting crowd.
The rooftop pool bar at Hôtel Molitor
In 1929, Olympic swimmers Johnny Weissmuller (1904–1984), the first Tarzan, and Aileen Riggin Soule (1906–2002) decided to build a pool in the 16th arrondissement, not far from the Parc des Princes stadium and Roland-Garros. Over the years the pool closed, and its Art Deco building was at risk of demolition. Luckily for us, the place eventually underwent extensive renovations and reopened as a 5-star hotel. The design and style of both the hotel and the bar have made it one of the trendiest spots in Paris.
Here you’ll find not just late Art Deco architecture but a bar overlooking the pool, a brasserie with excellent food, and of course no shortage of wealthy Parisians who come to see and be seen. If you’d like, you can stay in one of the hotel’s 124 beautifully designed, indulgent rooms, which gets you access to the pool and bar as well.
Practical information about Hôtel Molitor and its rooftop
Address: 13 Rue Nungesser et Coli
Open days and hours: Open every day from May through September. The rest of the year, only the brasserie by the pool stays open.
Price: €€
Why is it worth a visit? The charming Art Deco design (inside and out), and of course the unique pool. You won’t find many like it in Paris!
Rooftop Café Oz
The rooftop for young travelers par excellence (average age 18 to 30, max)! “Aussies” is the international nickname for Australians, and here you can find a real little slice of Australia thanks to the drinks served, the design and the English-speaking vibe. So what do you do here? Mostly drink beer and watch rugby and cricket matches on giant screens. But beyond that, there are also special evening events worth checking in on.
This bar is located in a quirky green building on the banks of the Seine that looks like a crocodile, near the Austerlitz metro station in the 13th arrondissement. This rooftop offers an exotic view, a cosmopolitan atmosphere and feels like a cross between a yacht club and a nightclub (during the summer).
Practical information about the Café Oz rooftop
Address: 34 Quai d’Austerlitz
Open days and hours: Open every night except Monday.
Price: €
Why is it worth a visit? If you’re young and looking for an inexpensive drink and a great view of Paris, this is definitely your spot.
Le Perchoir, on the roof of the BHV Le Marais department store
BHV is one of Paris’s first department stores, founded in 1856 in the 4th arrondissement on Rue de Rivoli, near the Hôtel de Ville. It was acquired a few years ago by the prestigious Galeries Lafayette group, renovated and turned into an upscale store selling housewares, art supplies and more. The store also has 8 restaurants and cafés, plus a wonderful rooftop on the sixth floor called Le Perchoir.
You’ll find a warm, cozy Scandinavian atmosphere here that lets you relax against the backdrop of the magical Parisian skyline spread out before you.
Practical information about the BHV rooftop
Address: 37 rue de la Verrerie
Open days and hours: Monday through Saturday from 8:15 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., and Sunday from 7:45 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Price: €€
Why is it worth a visit? It’s a pleasant spot with a great view. Perfect for selfies.
Note: Le Perchoir Marais has a little sister: Le Perchoir Ménilmontant, located in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, at 14 rue Crespin du Gast.
Le Georges, the rooftop of the Centre Pompidou
The rooftop “Le Georges” is named after Georges Pompidou (1911–1974), president of France from 1969 to 1974, and it sits on the roof of the famous museum that also bears his name. You’ll find a restaurant here and an outdoor terrace that’s wonderful on sunny days. You can visit after a visit to the Centre Pompidou, but also on its own, no museum visit required. You get there via escalators that run through a transparent tube, letting you watch Paris unfold slowly as the escalators carry you up.
Practical information about Le Georges
Menu: Traditional French bistro / gastronomic cuisine
Address: 6th floor of the Centre Pompidou
Open days and hours: Open daily except Tuesday, 12:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Price: €
Why is it worth a visit? If you love modern art, or just want to take in a wonderful view of Paris.
National on the Top, the rooftop bar at Hôtel National des Arts et Métiers
This is a stylish bar on the roof of the upscale Hôtel National des Arts et Métiers, not far from the museum of the same name. The hotel has 66 rooms, and even though it’s housed in a building in the Haussmannian style (second half of the 19th century), its approach is very modern, placing a strong emphasis on ecology and sustainability. At the rooftop restaurant you’ll find excellent Italian food and a wonderful view over the rooftops of Paris, the Centre Pompidou and even the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Beyond the great food, you’ll also find a rich drinks menu, so it’s no surprise the spot draws the Parisian in-crowd.
Practical information about the National on the Top rooftop restaurant
Address: 243 rue Saint-Martin
Opening hours: Weekdays from 5:00 p.m. to midnight, weekends from 3:00 p.m. to midnight.
Price: €
Why is it worth a visit?: The excellent food and the view. No wonder the place has plenty of regulars who keep coming back.
Le Bar du Louxor
This beautiful Art Deco building opened in the 10th arrondissement in 1921 and started its career as a silent movie theater. During the 1980s it was converted into a gay bar, but it eventually closed. In 2013 the place reopened as an arts and culture center. Along with the new opening of the Louxor, a rooftop bar also opened on the third floor, which quickly became a favorite among Parisians. And by the way, the movie theater itself came back from the dead too, so you can combine catching a film here with a cocktail on the rooftop afterward.
Practical information about the Louxor cinema bar
Address: 170 Boulevard de Magenta
Opening hours: Every day from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Price: €
Why is it worth a visit? Its history and its unique design.
The bar at Maison Souquet
One of Paris’s best kept secrets, especially in the 9th arrondissement. This former 19th-century brothel is now an indulgent boutique hotel with gorgeous design. You’ll find a beautifully designed bar and restaurant here, set in the very room where the house’s ladies once waited for their clients, and it’s open to more than just hotel guests, of course. That’s exactly why this bar and restaurant has become a favorite among Parisians, who use it for both social get-togethers and business meetings. You can read more about the hotel and the bar in the article Maison Souquet: when a Parisian brothel becomes an indulgent boutique hotel.
Practical information about Maison Souquet
Address: 10 Rue de Bruxelles (not far from the house where Émile Zola lived).
Opening hours: Every day from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Price: €€€
Why is it worth a visit? The stunning design and the wonderful cocktails made by the hotel’s very talented bartender.
The bar at the Hoxton hotel
The Hoxton is part of an international hotel chain found in some of the trendiest neighborhoods of London, Amsterdam, New York and other cities across Europe. This location has 2 beautifully designed bars and a restaurant with excellent Moroccan cuisine that has itself become quite trendy in recent years. If you’d like to read more about the hotel and the bar, I recommend Tamar Mor’s article about the hotel.
Practical information about the Hoxton bar
Address: 30-32 Rue du Sentier
Opening hours:
- Planches bar: open daily from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
- Jacques bar: open daily from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., and until 2:00 a.m. on weekends.
- Rivié restaurant: open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Price: €€€
Why is it worth a visit? The design, and the chance to sit on the terrace and enjoy a pleasant, upscale atmosphere.
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