Previously, Parisian bars have, largely, offered a pretty unexciting selection of basic foreign lagers and the odd diamond in the rough bottle of Belgian beer. Things have started to change and fans of craft beer in Paris can now rejoice.The city of lights has seen a flurry of micro-breweries, specialist beer shops, and beer bars spring up across the city. Here are the ten places to drink beer in Paris.
This lovely bar offers the best selection of craft beers on tap in Paris. Combine their 20 beers available on tap with their extensive bottle selection and you have a whopping 150 different beers to choose from. The selection includes some great French craft beers alongside some more obscure Belgian and German offerings. Under represented countries such as Norway and Italy also get a shoe-in here, and, of course, there are some much loved gems from the UK and US. With beers like Brasserie St Germain, Craig Allen and Brewdog La Fine Mousse is guaranteed to keep everybody happy. The staff is friendly and informative, so don’t be afraid to seek a little guidance if needed. Located on the corner of a gentile square, with it’s sister restaurant just across the road, La fine Mousse is premium, and you won’t find a better beer selection and atmosphere anywhere in Paris.
Les Trois 8 is a small bar tucked away down a little side street in Menilmontant. It’s only a hop skip and jump away from La Fine Mousse. Les Trois 8 is relaxed and cosy, with a great rotating beer selection. Its tap selection has included London’s The Kernel and Paris’ own Bap Bap. If you take any more convincing, then how about a huge bottle selection that includes some great French brews such as Outland and (Ile de France) and Saint-Crucienne (Alsace) to tempt you. They host numerous events and the staff are welcoming too. To top it all off, their cheeseboard is also generous and the vegan pâté extremely tasty.
Brewberry Beer Cellar, Paris | Courtesy Le Bouillon Belge
Brewberry
Cécile Delorme’s well-regarded bar enjoyed the addition of a big bright bar opposite and the two are a total destination for beer lovers. The number of beers on offer are mind blowing and you can’t go wrong with rotating selections that include Mikkeller, De Struise, Flying Dog, To Øl, Prairie, Evil Twin and De Molen to name a few. The pretty location, in a student area on the pretty rue Mouffetard, makes the Brewberry shop and bar both great places to relax and peruse their selection. Sampling one or more very tasty beverages of the beer kind is obligatory.
If you fancy sampling some great Belgian beer, and perhaps a few French and German too, then prepare to venture far out east, because Le Bouillon Belge is the place. With over 100 bottles, they will cater for your every Belgian beer whim. The place is no frills but the service is good and the Belgian style chips come with a killer mayonnaise. Just watch out for those 12% bottles.
Up in the 18th is a bar that really showcases French beer, Le Supercoin. There are just three taps, with two offering some great French craft brews, but it’s the bottle menu that gets beer fans hot under the collar. A range from small producers such as Mont Salève, Fleurac, and La Franche at great prices and a friendly atmosphere is what the patrons flock for.
This train station café bar stocks a formidable beer selection that includes Craig Allen, Evil Twin, and Brew Dog. Put ideas of sipping a pre-train journey 1664 aside, because this place is serious about beer and the clued-up staff will ensure that you are drinking something far more interesting.
Bière et Malt, Paris | Courtesy The Frog and Rosbi
Bière et Malt
North of the bustling rue Montorgeuil, is precious little beer cave Bière et Malt, with an overwhelming selection. Let the owner, Mika, help you choose and you can enjoy the beer on site at one of the 4 tables. It’s a quirky place full of charm and an unexpected little haven off of the busy main boulevards.
Paris’ beer scene heavyweights, The Frog and Rosbfif, have six locations in Paris and have been brewing beer since 1993. Their bar at Bercy Village is set in a charming, historic Parisian neighborhood and has a good sized outdoor terrace. Their seasonal beers KAPOW IPA and Wham American Pale Ale are both very refreshing.
Biérocratie is a friendly well-stocked cellar in a pretty part of the 13th. You can choose from a good selection of 300+ French and international bottles such as L’Agrivoise, Crazy Hops, Brasserie du Pays Flamand, Gulden Draak, Bons Voeux, Hopus, and Orval. After a natter with the sociable staff, take your beers to drink in the pleasant bar next door for just a 1 euro corkage fee. Don’t wait to get home to try a good beer
Bar Demory is tucked away on the pleasant rue Quincampoix (also home to the great beer shop La Caves Bulles) just behind the Pompidou. Demory’s flagship bar may have a pop-up air about it, but it looks set to stay. This is worth toasting because they offer six guest international brews, as well as their own. The added bonus are the handmade sausages from the kitchen, which you can burn off by dancing to the DJ’s into the early hours.
