The Best Bars in Pigalle, Paris

Have you ever looked around a bar and thought that it would be more fun if you were playing ping-pong? Well, the team at Mini Pong have heard you and opened this fun space in the heart of Pigalle. With decor that looks straight out of 1960s Miami, you can find reasonably priced cocktails and the pièce de résistance – a ping-pong table tucked away in a private room.

Brussels Beer Project is a modern, warm space that has a seriously impressive beer selection with 20 beers on tap, from all corners of the globe, including the delicious creations brewed by the BBP team. Take a seat on the terrace and enjoy a Jungle Joy (brewed with passionfruit and mango) or a Bread Bitter (brewed with recycled bread) along with a delicious plate of Belgian fries, and once you’re done, purchase a bottle or two of your favourite concoction to take home with you.

Although Le Bar Fondamental provides an exciting selection of beers, brewed in-house at its micro-brewery, the bar still maintains an unpretentious and unintimidating vibe. With a cosy, dimly lit interior, it manages to be cool without imposing, and there’s a beer to suit every palate, from the beer snobs to the novices. Can’t decide what to try? The bartenders are extremely knowledgeable and happy to pass their wisdom on to you.

The name might reflect the naughty side of Pigalle, but inside Dirty Dick, you’ll find a tiki bar with just the right amount of kitsch. Go for one of the rum-based cocktails – they have over 55 different varieties – and expect it served in a coconut shell or a carved tiki bowl. Expect the Hawaiian-shirt-clad bartenders to put on a show; the cocktails served in a volcano are likely to involve real fire.

If you’re tired of drinking mojitos or Aperol spritzes and want a unique cocktail, L’Entrée des Artistes is a great place to start. Here you’ll find an ever-changing menu with combinations like Fat Beets (vodka, beetroot juice and ginger cordial), or Mon Vieux Tabac (cognac, rye whiskey and tobacco liquor). If you need something to soak up the many cocktails you’re sure to imbibe, the menu is available until midnight; after that, you can dance until dawn (they’re open until 5am on weekends).

Another bar with a nod to Pigalle’s seedy history, and owned by the team behind Mini Pong, Pile ou Face is a former “hostess bar” that has kept some allusions to its past – think velvet banquette lounges mixed in with pole-dancing bars. Try a cocktail like the Yellow Mary, or if you’re in a particularly bold mood, try their absinthe-infused Absintonic.

Le Sans Souci (French for “no worries”) is a popular local Pigalle hang-out, and for good reason. It’s not as trendy as some of the other bars on the list, but it’s still a great place for people-watching. If you see crowds spilling out onto the streets, it’s perfectly normal; indeed, it’s encouraged. Don’t expect an overly fancy drinks menu; at Le Sans Souci, you’re here for the atmosphere, great music and a fabulous night out.

Popular with tourists and local people alike, Edward & Sons is a no-frills, high-energy Irish-style pub. Expect the small space to get very crowded on the weekends, especially during happy hour from 4pm to 8pm, but it’s worth it if you’re after a decently priced beer or Guinness. It’s not a place for an intimate night out but rather a chance to hear some live music and even catch up with some sports on the televisions inside.

Glass is part of the Quixotic Projects family – the team is also responsible for Candelaria and Les Grand Verres. It’s an excellent location for a big night out – whether you are looking to line your stomach with some hotdogs and pickles (washed down with a Brooklyn IPA), or you want to try one of their famous boilermakers (a shot followed by a beer). Their cocktail selection is considered among the best in Paris, so get there early to grab a spot.