A Night on the Town: The Ultimate Paris Bar Crawl

Paris isn’t just about croissants and the Eiffel Tower. By midnight, the city transforms into a living, breathing party machine - and if you know where to go, you’ll spend the night moving from one unforgettable bar to the next without ever feeling lost or overcharged.

Start in Le Marais: Where the Crowd Is Young and the Cocktails Are Crafted

Begin your crawl in Le Marais, the neighborhood where Parisians actually go to unwind after work. Head to Bar Hemingway at the Hôtel Ritz - not because it’s fancy, but because it’s quiet, expertly mixed, and feels like a secret. Order a classic Old Fashioned. The bartender knows your name by the third sip, even if you’ve never been there before.

Then walk five minutes to Le Comptoir Général. This place doesn’t look like a bar. It looks like a Moroccan attic crossed with a jungle greenhouse. Lanterns hang from the ceiling, vintage books line the walls, and the playlist switches from French chanson to Afrobeat without warning. Their rum-based cocktails are strong, sweet, and served in mason jars. Don’t ask for a menu - just say “surprise me” and trust them.

Move to Saint-Germain-des-Prés: Jazz, Wine, and Old-World Charm

By 11 p.m., cross the Seine to Saint-Germain. This is where Parisian intellectuals used to debate philosophy over absinthe. Now, they do it over natural wine and vinyl records.

Le Caveau de la Huchette is a jazz cellar that’s been open since 1947. You’ll hear live saxophone and trumpet while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with locals who’ve been coming here for 30 years. No reservations. No cover. Just a small table near the back and a bottle of Beaujolais for €12. If you’re lucky, someone will invite you to dance.

Next door, Le Procope - the oldest café in Paris - stays open until 2 a.m. It’s touristy, yes, but the wine list is serious. Try a glass of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It’s not cheap, but it’s the kind of wine that makes you pause, sip slowly, and realize you’re sitting where Voltaire once argued about religion.

Hit the Canal Saint-Martin: Underground, Unpolished, and Real

After midnight, head northeast to Canal Saint-Martin. This is where the real Paris nightlife lives - no velvet ropes, no bouncers checking your shoes, just friends on benches, dogs tied to lamp posts, and bars that don’t care if you’re wearing jeans or a suit.

Bar du Marché is tucked under a bridge and has no sign. You’ll know it by the smell of grilled cheese and the sound of French indie rock. Their signature drink? The Canal Sour: gin, lemon, elderflower, and a splash of soda. It’s light, fizzy, and dangerously easy to drink three of.

Walk ten minutes to Le Perchoir - a rooftop bar with a view of the entire canal. It’s not cheap (€18 for a cocktail), but it’s worth it. The city lights reflect off the water, and the crowd is a mix of artists, students, and expats who’ve chosen Paris over home. Order the Parisian Negroni - it’s made with local vermouth and tastes like the city itself.

End in Oberkampf: The Wild, Loud, and Unapologetic Finale

By 2 a.m., you’re ready for chaos. That’s Oberkampf. This is where Parisians go when they’re done being charming and just want to scream into a microphone.

La Belle Hortense is a bar that doubles as a live music venue. Bands play punk, garage rock, and French rap every night. The walls are sticky with spilled beer. The floor is covered in cigarette butts. And the bartender? He’s seen it all. He’ll hand you a pint of bière artisanale for €5 and say, “You look like you need this.”

Across the street, Bar de la Marine is a dive bar with a secret: it’s open 24 hours on weekends. You’ll find students sleeping on the couch, DJs spinning vinyl, and someone playing piano badly but with heart. Order a pastis - the anise-flavored liquor that’s been the French night’s unofficial drink since the 1950s. Sip it slowly. Add water. Watch the clock. The sun will rise before you know it.

What to Know Before You Go

Paris bars don’t operate like American ones. There’s no happy hour. No shots. No loud DJs blasting Top 40. What you get instead is atmosphere, patience, and a real sense of place.

• Most bars close between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. - no exceptions. Don’t expect to find a 24-hour spot unless it’s in Oberkampf or near Gare du Nord.
• Cash is still king. Many smaller bars don’t take cards. Keep €20-€30 in your pocket.
• Parisians don’t tip. The price you see is the price you pay. No need to leave extra.
• Don’t ask for ice in your whiskey. It’s considered rude. If you want it cold, order it on the rocks - and know that it’ll be one or two cubes at most.
• Wear something that fits in. No flip-flops, no baseball caps backwards, no neon. Parisians notice. And they don’t mind if you’re not French - but they do mind if you look like you’re trying too hard.

Where to Skip

There are places that look like bars but are traps for tourists. Avoid:

• Bars near the Eiffel Tower that offer “all-you-can-drink” deals. The wine is boxed, the cocktails are syrupy, and the staff won’t make eye contact.
• “Irish pubs” in Montmartre. They’re owned by Americans and play U2 on loop. You’re not in Dublin.
• Any bar with a sign in English that says “Open 24/7” - unless it’s in the 18th or 19th arrondissement. In central Paris, that’s a red flag.

Final Tip: Walk, Don’t Ride

Paris is a city built for walking. The best bars are never more than 15 minutes apart. Take the Metro only if you’re exhausted. Otherwise, let your feet guide you. You’ll stumble on hidden courtyards, street musicians, and open windows where someone’s singing along to Edith Piaf. That’s the magic.

By 5 a.m., you’ll be standing on a bridge over the Seine, cold air on your face, the city quiet around you. You won’t remember every drink. But you’ll remember the way the lights looked on the water. And you’ll know - this is why people come back to Paris.