Best Wine Bars for Nightlife in Paris
Dec, 24 2025
Paris isn’t just about croissants and museums-it’s where the night comes alive with wine, conversation, and low lighting. If you’re looking for real nightlife in Paris, skip the tourist traps with plastic glasses and overpriced cocktails. The city’s best wine bars are tucked into narrow alleys, hidden behind unmarked doors, or tucked under old stone arches. These aren’t places you find on a Google ad. They’re where locals unwind after work, where sommeliers know your name by the third glass, and where the wine list reads like a love letter to France’s regions.
Le Chateaubriand’s Back Room
Most people know Le Chateaubriand for its Michelin-starred dinner, but the real magic happens after 10 p.m. Behind a curtain in the back, you’ll find a tiny, standing-only wine bar with no menu-just a chalkboard with five wines by the glass. The owner, a former sommelier from Burgundy, pours what he’s feeling that night: a crisp Jurançon from the Pyrenees, a bold Cornas from the Rhône, or a rare natural wine from the Jura. No reservations. No table service. Just walk in, lean against the bar, and let him surprise you. It’s not fancy. It’s not loud. But it’s the kind of place that makes you forget you’re in a city of 2 million people.
La Cave des Abbesses
Nestled in Montmartre, just steps from the Sacré-Cœur, La Cave des Abbesses feels like a cellar your French grandmother secretly kept. The walls are lined with bottles from small producers you’ve never heard of-organic vineyards in the Loire, biodynamic growers in the Ardèche. They serve wine by the glass, bottle, or half-bottle, and the staff will gladly explain what makes a Coteaux du Layon different from a Sancerre. The vibe is cozy, not trendy. You’ll find artists, retirees, and expats sipping slowly, talking in low voices. They don’t play music. The only soundtrack is the clink of glasses and the occasional burst of laughter. Open until 2 a.m. on weekends, it’s one of the few places where the night doesn’t feel rushed.
Le Verre Volé
Le Verre Volé opened in 2008 and changed how Parisians think about wine bars. It was one of the first to focus on natural wines-unfiltered, low-intervention, made without additives. Today, it’s still the gold standard. The list rotates weekly, with over 80 wines from France, Italy, and Spain. You’ll find orange wines from Georgia, pet-nats from the Loire, and rare reds from Corsica. The bar is small, so you might end up sharing a table with strangers. That’s part of the charm. The staff doesn’t push sales. They ask what you like: fruity? earthy? tannic? Then they pour you something unexpected. It’s not a place to get drunk. It’s a place to taste something new and talk about it.
Bar à Vins du Vieux Colombier
In the 6th arrondissement, just off the Luxembourg Gardens, this spot has been serving wine since 1972. The decor hasn’t changed: wooden stools, zinc bar, vintage posters. The wine list is handwritten on a single sheet, updated daily. You’ll see bottles from Alsace, Provence, and the Southern Rhône, many priced under €8 a glass. It’s the kind of place where the owner, a retired engineer who studied viticulture in his 50s, still pours the wine himself. He’ll tell you why he chose that particular Beaujolais or why the 2020 vintage from the Languedoc is better than the 2019. No gimmicks. No Instagrammable decor. Just honest wine and honest conversation.
Le Comptoir Général
If you want something different, head to Le Comptoir Général in the 10th arrondissement. It’s not a traditional wine bar-it’s a cultural space with a bar, a library, and a courtyard filled with plants and lanterns. The wine list is global: Senegalese reds, Lebanese whites, and natural wines from the Canary Islands. They host live jazz on Thursdays and film nights on Sundays. The vibe is relaxed, almost bohemian. You can sip a glass of Cabernet Franc while reading a book on African poetry or listening to a local musician play the kora. It’s not quiet. It’s not classic Paris. But if you’re looking for a night that blends wine, art, and community, this is it.
La Cave de l’Île Saint-Louis
On the quiet, tree-lined island between the Seine and the Left Bank, this tiny bar feels like stepping into a Paris from 50 years ago. The shelves are packed with bottles from family-run vineyards, many imported directly by the owner. They don’t have a website. You can’t book online. You just walk in. The wine is served in thin-stemmed glasses, poured with care. They offer a “Tasting of the Week”-three small pours of wines that tell a story: one from a vineyard recovering from frost, another from a young winemaker using ancient techniques. It’s educational without being pretentious. The staff doesn’t talk down to you. They treat you like a fellow wine lover, not a customer.
Why These Bars Stand Out
What makes these places different from the rest? It’s not the lighting, the music, or even the price. It’s the wine. These bars don’t serve the same three Pinot Noirs every night. They don’t stock wine because it’s popular. They stock it because it’s made with care. You’ll find wines from small producers who farm less than five hectares. Wines that don’t make it to supermarkets. Wines that even many French people have never heard of.
These bars also respect the rhythm of the night. No one rushes you. You can stay for one glass or five. No last call at 11 p.m. Most stay open until 2 a.m. or later. You won’t find cocktail menus with fancy names. No one’s shouting over loud music. The focus is on the wine, the company, and the quiet joy of slowing down.
What to Avoid
Stay away from places that advertise “Parisian nightlife experience” or have neon signs. Avoid bars near the Eiffel Tower or Champs-Élysées that charge €15 for a glass of generic Bordeaux. These aren’t wine bars-they’re tourist traps. You’ll pay more, drink less, and miss the real Paris.
Also skip places that require reservations for a wine bar. If a place needs you to book a table to drink a glass of wine, it’s probably more about the ambiance than the wine. The best spots don’t care if you come alone, late, or without a plan.
How to Order Like a Local
- Don’t ask for “a red” or “a white.” Say what you like: “I like something light and fruity,” or “I want something with a bit of earth.”
- Ask for a “goutte” (a small pour) if you want to try multiple wines.
- Look for bottles with handwritten labels or names you don’t recognize-that’s often a good sign.
- Don’t be afraid to say “Je ne connais pas” (“I don’t know that one”). The staff will explain it.
- Tip is included. No need to leave extra unless you really want to.
Best Time to Go
Weekdays after 8 p.m. are ideal. That’s when the after-work crowd shows up and the real vibe begins. Weekends are livelier but can get crowded. If you want space, go on a Tuesday or Wednesday. If you want music or a crowd, go on a Friday or Saturday. Don’t show up before 7 p.m.-most of these places don’t open until then.
What to Pair With Your Wine
Most of these bars serve simple snacks: aged cheese, charcuterie, olives, or toasted baguette with duck pâté. Some have a small kitchen that serves warm dishes like onion soup or roasted vegetables. Don’t expect a full meal. This isn’t dinner. It’s wine, snacks, and time.
Are these wine bars expensive?
Not compared to tourist spots. Most glasses cost between €6 and €12. Bottles range from €25 to €60. You’re paying for quality, not branding. A glass at Le Verre Volé costs less than a cocktail at a bar near the Louvre.
Do I need to speak French?
No, but a few words help. Most staff speak English, especially at Le Verre Volé and Le Comptoir Général. But saying “Merci” or “C’est délicieux” goes a long way. The wine doesn’t care what language you speak-your curiosity does.
Can I bring a group?
Small groups of 3-4 work fine. Larger groups (5+) might have to split up. These bars are small. They’re not designed for parties. If you want a big group night, go to a restaurant with a wine list instead.
Are these places open on Christmas Eve?
Most close early or shut down entirely on Christmas Eve. A few, like La Cave des Abbesses and Le Chateaubriand’s back room, stay open for late-night guests. Call ahead if you’re planning to go on December 24. Don’t assume they’re open just because they’re open every other night.
What’s the best way to get there?
Take the metro. Most are within a 5-10 minute walk from stations like Abbesses, Sèvres-Babylone, or Jaurès. Taxis are expensive and hard to find late at night. Walking is part of the experience-you’ll discover hidden streets and quiet courtyards you’d never see otherwise.
Next Steps
If you’re visiting Paris in the next few weeks, pick one of these bars and go alone. Sit at the bar. Order a glass you’ve never heard of. Let the person behind it choose. That’s how you’ll remember Paris-not for the Eiffel Tower, but for the quiet moment when a stranger handed you a glass of wine and said, “Try this. It’s from a vineyard my cousin owns.” That’s the real Paris nightlife.